DANNY JOHNSON IS THE AZURIX CHAMPION ON MERRITTVILLE'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT
Danny Johnson (27j) went home the big winner in the Azurix North American Triple 50’s at Merrittville Speedway’s 50th Anniversary celebrations Monday night. It was a spectacular night at Canada’s longest running dirt track as fireworks lit up the sky at the end of every 50 lap event – both to celebrate Merrittville’s 50th Anniversary as well as Canada Day. Street stock twin 15’s were also featured on this special card – veteran racers and team mates Chris Crawford (3c) and Lloyd Cichocki (8c) won the 1st and 2nd features respectively.
Music from Under the Sun greeted the record number of fans as they entered the early opening gates on Monday afternoon. Using the recently installed transponders, Matt Sheppard (9s) qualified first out of the time trials, turning a lap in 16.458 seconds. 2000 Merrittville Modified Champion Pete Bicknell (42) qualified in second, followed by Boyd MacTavish (93x), Larry Lampman Jr. (42l) and Brett Hearn (20). There was only 2/10’s of a second difference amongst the top five.
Lloyd Cichocki (8c) and Chris Crawford (4c) started the first 15-lap feature in the front row, and completed the first circuit of the racetrack side by side. Crawford didn’t pull ahead until he was leaving turn two on the second lap. Greg Ayres (17) lost the front end of his car in a crunch in turn four of that lap bringing out the first yellow. Crawford pulled back into the lead on the restart, after Ayres was taken to the pits. Nick Micallef (27) moved up to challenge Cichocki for second spot, but fell back on lap three. Chris Charest (3) nearly caused a caution on lap four when his car went careening into the infield, but he was clear before the pack came back around. Cichocki was back up trying to find a line around Crawford, in the mean time Kirk Wilson (08) was sliding his way up through the pack and landed in third spot. Darren Zumpe (11z) went high out of turn four, allowing Wilson the spot. The yellow came out on lap eight as Jerry Deschamps (f30) spun it around in turn four. Zumpe got around Wilson on the restart, but fell back in the remaining laps. Wilson was up knocking on Cichocki's back bumper with only three laps to go. Crawford came around to take the checkered and was followed in by Cichocki, Wilson, Micallef and Jason Harper (19jr).
A full pack of 35 Modifieds roared onto the track next for the first of the Triple 50’s. Robbie Krull (123) and Rick Richner (26) started on the lead row. Krull pulled away to the early lead, only to have the yellow flag come out on the second lap. Don Turner (39) spun out and landed in the infield. Krull pulled it to the highside on the restart, and took an easy lead over the field. Steve Paine (7x) moved into second spot on the restart, getting around Richner. Scott Wood (38) went a little wild down the front straight and bounced himself into the wall hard, but was able to keep control, without bringing out a yellow. Richner succumbed to Matt Sheppard (9s), and had to fight off Danny Johnson (27j) for fourth spot on lap nine. Johnson spun out on lap 10 bringing out the second caution, no one ran into him, and he started tail on the restart. The top five at lap 10 were: Krull, Paine, Sheppard, Richner and Brett Hearn (20). Krull once again used the outside groove to fly into the lead. The yellow came out on lucky lap number 13 as Fred Cade (12) and Sam Crogan (7) tangled in turn one. A major wreck in turn four on lap 16 brought out the caution again, and left seven cars damaged, only Brian Stevens (44) didn’t make it back onto the track to take the green for the restart. Chad Brachmann (3b) found himself in fifth spot on the restart, but Sheppard had other ideas, and took the spot back on lap 18. John Ramsey (25r) found himself being towed to the pits after a collision with the front wall on lap 19. Wood broke into the top five on lap 21. Sheppard tried to regain his position, but Wood wouldn’t let him around. Hearn moved up to challenge Paine for second spot on lap 26, and grabbed the position two laps later. The yellow flag didn’t reappear until lap 31 when Cade spun out in turn one. Johnson was up to sixth spot after starting tail on the tenth lap. The yellow came back out on the restart as Ray Bliss Jr. (27z) and Paul Ashton (3a) tangled in turn four. The top five with 12 laps to go were Krull, Hearn, Paine, Wood and Sheppard. Sheppard tried to move up into fourth spot, but couldn’t make it around Paine. Krull held it to the line and was followed in by Hearn, Johnson, Paine and Wood.
The second modified feature found the pack inverted, from their finishing positions in the first feature. Jay Clause (4) and Alex Hoag (7h) started up front. Hoag took the early lead. Todd Gordon (8eh) moved up to try and get around him for the lead. Fred Cade (12) poked his nose into third spot on lap three. Andy Green (24) lost the handle in turn four, and only collected one car - Chris Ricker (13) - despite the fact that most of the field had to split to get around him. Gordon tried to take the outside line on the restart, but Hoag was able to block him, but Gordon finally got around him on lap nine. Fred Carleton (96) moved up into second spot on lap 11, but Pete Bicknell (42) passed him on the same lap to take the spot. The yellow came out on lap 16 as Sam Crogan (7) lost control and took Vic Coffey (32c) with him. Carleton jumped the restart with Bicknell right behind him, but as Carleton jumped the spot, he was actually two cars behind Bicknell. Alan Johnson (12j) was up to third spot on lap 21. Matt Sheppard (9s) was up to fifth spot after starting the race in 21st. The yellow came out on lap 24 as Green spun out again. Sheppard slid up into second spot on the restart, but quickly fell behind. Danny Johnson (27j) was up to fourth spot on lap 25. A caution came out on lap 28 as Greg Panunte (99p) spun out between turns one and two. The top five were: Bicknell, Sheppard, Alan Johnson, Danny Johnson and Gordon. Danny and Alan were fighting it out for third spot, but Danny pulled ahead on lap 37. Ken Cosgrove (9) broke into the top five on lap 38. Sheppard tried to hold off Danny Johnson, but just couldn’t hold him back on lap 41. Bicknell started running into lapped traffic on lap 42. Danny Johnson made the move on him and got around him with six laps to go. Danny Johnson took the checkered and was followed in by Bicknell, Sheppard, Alan Johnson and Cosgrove.
The street stocks made their return for their final race of the evening next. Rick Champigny (06) and Chris Charest (3) started the second street stock feature on the lead row. Jeff Cook (1a) spun himself out in turn four, but managed to get going without drawing a caution. Champigny and Jason Harper (19j) went careening down the front straightaway and into the infield on the next lap, while they were locked together. Charest took the lead on the front straightaway, and Peter Reid moved into second, but Reid spun out and slid into the infield. Yellow on lap five as Darren Zumpe (11z) spun out and collected Darlene Gifford (34c) and several other cars. Lloyd Cichocki (8c) jumped into the lead on the restart, with Chris Crawford (4c) close behind him. Nick Micallef (27) spun out on lap six and took a few cars with him. Harper split the third and fourth place cars going into turn three, and managed to wrangled third spot out of the deal. Jerry Deschamps (f30) made it into fifth spot on lap nine. The top five at lap ten were Cichocki, Crawford, Kirk Wilson (08), Champigny and Mike Dooley (310c). Wilson moved into second spot out of turn four on lap 11, but Crawford fought back. Yellow on lap 12 as Brian Jacobi (49) lost control on the front straightaway. Cichocki held it to the checkered and was followed in by Wilson, Dooley, Crawford and Champigny.
The final race of the evening was the third Triple 50 which was lined up according to points acquired from the first two events. Danny Johnson (27j) and Matt Sheppard started the race on the lead row. Sheppard took the early lead, but only for a lap as Johnson powered back and took the position on lap two. Johnson was using the low groove on the track, and it worked well for him. The yellow made its first appearance on lap three as Billy Krull (z1) came to rest on the outside of turn four. Steve Paine (7x) moved into third spot on lap five, and tried to get around Sheppard for second, and made it a lap later. Alan Johnson (12j) got around Sheppard as well and took fourth spot from him. Sheppard was back up into third spot on lap ten. The yellow came back out on lap 12 as Andy Green (24) got loose between turns one and two. Paul Ashton (3a) had a wild ride on the restart, nearly flipping his car, as vehicles were bouncing one another down the front straightaway. Ashton got out of his car, and was able to take the long walk back to the pits unaided, his car had to be cradled to the pits between two tow trucks – as of press time he is fine, but a little sore. Fred Carleton (96) was underneath him when he went up and returned to the track without his roof. There was yet another yellow on the restart as Gordon spun out in turn four. He landed himself tail from tenth in one quick move. As the cars slowed on the front stretch for the yellow, Gordon drove into Scott Wood (38) causing damage to both cars. Alan Johnson flew up the outside on the restart, trying to get second spot, and got it on lap 16. Todd Burley (89b) moved up to fourth spot on lap 16. Burley made a move up he outside of corner three and made it into third spot on lap 21. Brett Hearn (20) inched his way up into fifth spot on lap 24. Burley pulled up into second spot on lap 26 coming out of turn four. The yellow came out on lap 27 as Jay Clause (4) spun out all by himself in turn four. Burley tried to put a run on Danny Johnson for the lead on lap 34, but couldn’t get around him. Hearn moved around Paine for third spot on lap 38, Sheppard tried to follow Hearn around but Paine closed the door on him. Yellow on lap 40 as Rich Vinson (93) spun out in turn four. Vinson got moving again, and raced around the track and rammed Alex Hoag. Johnson ran the race in the lead from green to checkered and was followed in by Burley, Alan Johnson, Hearn and Paine.
With the points calculations complete – The Azurix North America top five finishers over all were Danny Johnson, Brett Hearn, Steve Paine, Matt Sheppard and Alan Johnson.
It’s back to racing on Saturday night at Merrittville Speedway on July 7th when official pace car supplier David Chevrolet Oldsmobile presents - Fabulous 50th Full Card + 25 lap dwarf car challenge. For further information call The Speedway hotline 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.