BRACHMANN WINS FIRST EVER 358 MODIFIED EVENT
By Alexis De Wolfe
Race fans were able to experience the thrill on Saturday night at Merrittville Speedway with the virtual race car video game provided by Canadian Tire Stores of St. Catharines. Race fans were also able to check out Peter Gibbons winning race car - two time national CASCAR champion powered by 350 parts from Canadian Tire.
Chad Brachmann (3) won his first ever 358 Modified race, taking the lead in the feature with only two turns left before the checkered flag. This was only the third race Brachmann had started in. Rob Murray (1) pulled off a win in the street stock feature after winning his heat. 2000 Dwarf Champion Lee Webber (17) won his first feature of the season after warding off last week’s feature winner Jeff Johnson (63). Rick Baker (78) lead the pro stock feature from flag to flag, to bring home the checkered, and Rob Leddingham (19jr) won the Sportsman feature, after making a drive up from the middle of the pack.
Gerry Deschamps (f30) took the early lead in the street stock feature with Rob Murray (1) chasing him down. The pack went into turn four of the first lap three wide, and came out four wide, adding to the excitement of the race. Something went wrong with Deschamps car on lap seven, and he succumbed to Murray’s push for the lead. Deschamps quickly faded back through the pack, until he spun in turn two on lap 10 bringing out the first caution. Kirk Wilson (08) had made a great run through the pack, going from dead last to fourth spot when Deschamps spun out. Murray held the lead as Lloyd Cichocki (8c) and Mike Dooley (310) fought it out for second place. Cichocki maintained the upper hand to follow Murray to the checkered in second spot, followed by Dooley, Wilson and Aaron Vasas (6).
Bill Perry (9) took the early lead in the 15-lap dwarf feature. Wally Billings (37) made a push up the inside to move into second spot, two laps into the race. Last weeks feature winner Jeff Johnson (63) powered up through the pack to land in third spot on the second lap. A caution was called as Dave Ackler (7) and Jim Varble (15) got together in turn one. Billings grabbed the lead on the restart, but Perry and John Wroebel (6) got together in turn one to bring out yet another caution. Lee Webber (17) managed to move up side by side with Johnson for the lead on the restart. Webber and Johnson battled back and forth, until Johnson landed himself in the rail on turn four, slowing him down. Webber maintained the lead on the restart on lap six, but Billings was right beside him and the two of them paced eachother, swapping the lead, until Webber decided to rocket forward. Johnson managed to make it back up to fifth spot and two laps later he was in third, only to break on the front straightaway and have to limp back to the pits, his night of racing over. Webber held a good lead over Billings, with Ackler and Chris Rimmen (7x) fighting over fourth spot with Ackler ahead, with Dave Russell (88) sitting in third spot. Webber took the checkered followed by Billings, Russell, Ackler and Rimmen rounding out the top five.
The Sportsman took to the track next to run their B Main to qualify six more drivers for the feature at the end of the night. Tim Lipsitt (29) and Mike Martin (93) started the race in the lead, with Martin rocketed to the front of the pack. Jack McKinney (57) spun out on the back straightaway, narrowly avoiding taking some won with him on his high spin turn about. The yellow flag flew and McKinney joined in at the tail of the pack. Martin held the lead on the restart, while Sean Sliter (71s) got under John McKenney (19j) for the second place spot. The caution came out with only one lap left in the B main as Lipsitt rammed himself into the front wall. Martin held the lead to the checkered, Sliter, McKinney, Brad Gravestock (90), Sean Kott (s5) and 7 (?????), all qualified for the feature.
Rick Baker (78) and Mike Ward (95w) started the pro stock feature on the lead row. Baker charged to the early lead. Jeff Dayman managed to grab third spot on the first lap, with Herb Hunter (95) up to fourth. Hunter spun out off the back of the track bringing out the first caution of the race. Sean Keus managed to make it up to fourth spot before the yellow flag flew. Ken Sargeant (25) surged up to third spot on lap four. A major pile up on turn four in the fifth lap greatly reduced the number of cars running on the track. Collected were Dayman, Ward, Sargeant, Hunter, Keus and Steve Devos (13). Baker held his lead on the restart, as Roger Chrysler (t21) made it past the pack and nabbed second spot. Baker held it on the restart as Dayman and 22 ????? collide on turn two in lap six but manage to keep moving. Baker held it till the checkered as Devos made came back to place second followed by Bill Bleich (108), Dayman and Chrysler.
During the intermission the fans were treated to a spectator race, where street cars were put against each other in head to head match ups. The cars completed a full circuit of the racetrack, the loser was sent home and the winner stayed around for the next match up. J.T. Miller of St. Catharines won the event in a Chevy minivan.
Rob LeddinghamBobby Davidson (73) started the sportsman feature with the pole, with Chris Ricker (13) beside him. Davidson took the early lead, but Pete Cosco (17c) moved up to strip him of it coming out of turn four on the first lap. Yellow on the second lap as Sean Kott (s5) came to rest in turn one. Joe Meisel (15j) made it up to second spot before the yellow. Meisel flew to the lead on the restart. Chris Wood (4w) added some excitement to the race by launching himself up and over the tires in turn four, but didn’t cause a caution. Yellow on lap five as nine cars pile up in turn four. Brad Rouse (75) managed to sneak into third place before the caution. After five laps the top five were Meisel, Cosco, Gary Moreash (124), John Hagerman (71h) and Wayne Conn (8c). The cars were able to get themselves untangled and joined the tail of the pack for the restart. Once again cars piled up in turn four on the restart, only three were unable to keep going though. Meisel took the lead on the restart, followed by Moreash. Moreash grabbed the lead coming off of turn four on lap eight. Rouse and Randy Chrysler (21k) sat back and fought for fourth spot. Yellow as Gary Kruchka (21) got sideways in turn four on lap 10. Meisel slid into fourth spot on the restart as Rob Leddingham (19jr) rocketed into second spot. Yellow once again as Rob Pietz (69) came to rest in turn two with a flat tire. Moreash and Leddingham ran side by side of the restart, only to have Leddingham rocket into the lead going into turn three. Leddingham increased his lead as Chad Brachmann (3b) moved up to challenge Rouse for fifth spot. . Leddingham held it to the line followed by Moreash, Chrysler, Conn and Meisel.
Chad BrachmannThe 358 modified ran caution free in their 35 lap feature. Ken Cosgrove (9) and Joe Plazek (1p) started the race in the lead row. Chad Brachmann (3) started flying around the outside of the track to challenge Cosgrove for second spot, but was unable to clinch it. Dan Miller (22) managed to wrangle fourth spot on lap two. Plazek holding onto his lead after five laps. Brachmann moved up to challenge Cosgrove for second again on lap six, and managed to tear it away from him. Pete Bicknell (42) last week’s feature winner, started his move to come from the back of the pack, averaging a place a lap. At the halfway mark, the top five cars were Plazek, Brachmann, Cosgrove, Miller and Todd Gordon (8eh). Fred Carleton (96) and Scott Wood (38) sat back fighting for sixth spot with Wood ahead. Plazek found himself in lapped traffic with 15 laps left in the race, slowing him considerably. Cosgrove caught Brachmann in the lapped traffic on lap 23 and passed him for second spot. Wood managed to climb up to fourth spot by lap 26. Brachmann made up the time and passed Cosgrove on the inside on lap 31, setting his sights on Plazek. Brachmann managed to get under Plazek with only two laps to go, but couldn’t clear him until they came out of turn two on the last lap. Brachmann managed to grab his first 358 feature win after only 3 starts in a modified car. Plazek had to settle for second with Cosgrove and Gordon placing third and fourth respectively. Bicknell landed himself in fifth spot after starting 18th.
Join us at Merrittville speedway next weekend for Mother's Day Eve Madness - Fabulous 50th Full Card + Ladies Races. For more information called the track hot-line at 905-892-8266.