BICKNELL AND BRACHMANN DEFEND TITLES AT MERRITTVILLE

Carleton, Meisel and Dooley take second wins

Thorold, Ontario … Hoosier Tire Canada Employees and Guests enjoyed a great night of action at Merrittville with Pete Bicknell winning the 50 lap 358 Modified main event. Second time 2000 winners were Joe Meisel (Sportsmen), Mike Dooley (Street Stock) and Ken Gamlin (Dwarf Car). Pro Stock Feature winner Darren Kish won for the third time.

Second generation driver Rich Vinson led the field to take the green of the 50 lap 358 Modified Point Finale with an early incident on lap 1 slowing the pace. Vinson again was slowed on lap 3 - holding control until lap 5 when Fred Carleton took over top spot.

Some 20 laps went into the record books with Carleton in control until caution slowed the field again on lap 24. On the ensuing restart Carleton was out front with pressure from Scott Wood - second place challenger. By lap 30 though, Carleton began to pull away from the field.

Like Vinson before him - Carleton was slowed a second time for a multi-car incident in turn 1. The same battle returned on the restart with Carleton being pressured for the lead by Wood. While the two front-runners were setting the pace, Pete Bicknell had quietly made his way to the front and soon the joined the fray.

Along the backstretch of lap 43 Bicknell took control of the runner-up spot and now set his sights on leader Carleton. Through increasing lap traffic Bicknell looked for advantage but when the checkered flag dropped it was Fred Carleton in for his second win of the 2000 Season in the Terry St. Amand-owned #96.

Fred Carleton, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Jim Begolo and Brian Stevens rounded out the top 5.

Tim Lipsitt was first to lead the 25 lap Sportsmen Point Finale before the first of many cautions slowed the pace on lap 3. Joe Meisel was the new leader on the restart with his pace immediately slowed on lap 4 for an incident involving point leader Chad Brachman and other in turn 4.

With Meisel in control of top spot the early race was for second with Lipsitt being challenged by Garry Moreash and Paul Ashton as well. Back to back cautions once more on laps 12 and 13 would slow the field once again.

With Meisel in control of top spot on the restart - the new challenger was Paul Ashton who took over the runner-up spot on lap 14. The pace would be slowed once more on lap 15 after John Hagerman in the borrowed Guy Bougie # 67 lost control along the backstretch.

Meisel's patience would be tested one last time with back-to-back events slowing the pace on lap 19. Through to the finish, Meisel would keep control of top spot with Paul Ashton settling for second. Randy Chrysler made a late race charge to take third sport with Chad Brachman regrouping to take fourth. Garry Moreash would close out the top 5.

Meisel was awarded the annual Sterling Silver Award that honors Bill Willard Senior and is presented by Ken Walsh and The Silvr 7 Sportsmen Race Team.

Up and coming driver Shawn Keus set the pace at the start of the 15 lap Pro Stock Point Finale before veteran Rick Baker took control on lap 3. With Baker out front a close battle developed behind him involving Jeff Dayman and Darren Kish.

On lap 8 Baker drifted high allowing Kish to take control of top spot. With the battle for top spot raging other drivers were on the move with rookie Dan Gilbert and veteran Don Spiece third and fourth respectively.

Spiece lost control of his car slowing the pace on lap 13 while at the same time early leader Baker slowed after losing a wheel. Spiece again lost control of his car on the restart in turn 4 and before racing could resume - Spiece was involved in another incident after Tom Green made contact with the 88.

With Kish out front caution one last time on lap 14 would create a one lap dash to the finish with Kish the winner of the race and also of his first Merrittville Speedway Pro Stock Points Championship.

Runner-up Ken Sargent was the big winner in the first ever Central Collision Services Pro Stock Roulette. Drivers were given secret ballots and the runner-up spot received the most votes to receive the $300 bonus.

Shawn Keus, A. J. Schulz and Dan Gilbert closed out the top 5.

John Wrobel set the pace at the start of the 15 lap Dwarf Car feature with Mike Green in control on lap 2. Green set a quick early pace - opening up a ½ straightaway lead on then runner-up Ray Webber. Green unfortunately drifted a little high on lap 10 with Lee Webber the new leader.

Lap 11 saw Webber out front with Ken Gamlin the new challenger in the runner-up spot.

Caution on lap 12 would slow the field after Bill Perry made contact with the front stretch wall. Gamlin became the new leader on the restart and would hold top spot through to the checkered.

It was the third win for Gamlin in just three starts at Merrittville with Lee Webber, Ray Webber, Mike Green and Jeff Johnson closing out the top 5.

The 15 lap Street Stock Feature saw Rick Simons as the initial leader before caution slowed the pace on lap 1. Aaron Vasas took control on the restart with caution slowing the field on lap 6 after leader Vasas came to s atop in turn 1.

Rob Knapp took control on the restart with another caution slowing the pace on lap 9 for an incident involving the leader once again. The caution was actually for another incident but while under caution Knapp developed a flat left rear tire. Knapp was able to control the car and kept top spot on the restart until Mike Dooley got by on lap 12.

Just as Dooley took control caution slowed the field but it was the rookie who was in control on the restart. Through to the finish it was Dooley out front with Lloyd Cichocki making a late race charge to take the runner-up spot. Rob Knapp held on for third despite the flat tire with Chuck Martin and rookie Peter Reid closing out the top 5.

PIT NOTES - Good to see Sportsmen drivers Jack McKinney and Pete Cosco back in competition after illnesses. Chad Brachmann was crowned Sportsmen Champion for the second straight season while Pete Bicknell won his unprecedented 14th title at Merrittville Speedway. Darren Kish captured the Pro Stock Championship and Ken Walsh made a final checkered flag lap as he bids racing good by with his retirement at the end of the season.

Action continues September 9th with the running of the 30 lap Open Wheel Wide Open Event plus Street Stocks, Dwarf Cars and the first 2000 visit of the Mini Stocks. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit merrittvillespeedway.com.

50 Lap 358 Modified Feature - Fred Carleton, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Jim Begolo, Bill Krull, Brian Stevens, Ken Cosgrove, Rick Richner, Larry Lampman, Jamie Turner, Dan Miller, Joe Middlemiss, Andy Green, Chris Ricker, Luke Carleton, Harry Sittler, Fred Cade, Don Spatorico, Rich Vinson, Todd Gordon, Bill Podwinski, Don Turner, Scott Harris, DNS - Frank Plazek

25 lap Sportsmen Feature - Joe Meisel, Paul Ashton, Randy Chrysler, Chad Brachman, Garry Moreash, Shawn Sliter, George Bosse, Bob Davidson, Gary Kruchka, Ken Winnfield, Jack McKinney, John McKenney, Brian Elliotson, John Hagerman, Wayne Conn, Pete Cosco, Tim Lipsitt, Rob Ledingham, Brad Rouse, Wayne Ashton, Dennis Giancola, Ken Walsh, Glenn Styres, DNS - Guy Bougie

15 lap Pro Stock Feature - Darren Kish, Ken Sargent, Shawn Keus, AJ Schulz, Dan Gilbert, Jeff Dayman, Butch Zimmerman, Don Spiece, Rick Baker, DQ - Tom Green, DNS - Alex Whalen

15 lap Dwarf Car Feature - Ken Gamlin, Lee Webber, Ray Webber, Mike Green, Jeff Johnson, Wally Billings, David Russell, John Wrobel, Dave Ackler, Carl Ballinger, Chris Rimmen, Scott Gailer, Ken Breedin, Noel king, Frank Blajzczak, Doug Summerhayes, Bill Perry.

15 lap Street Stock Feature - Mike Dooley, Lloyd Cichocki, Rob Knapp, Peter Reid, Rick Simons, Tony Visca, Mike Ward, Bruce Colbert, Dave Whelan, Cam Fournier, Chuck Martin, Darlene Gifford, Greg Ayers, Tom Emery, Mike Stevenson, Gerry Deschamps, Aaron Vasas, Chris Crawford, Kevin Kocarik, Jeff Cook, Darren Zumpe