FIRST TIME WINNER GILBERT JOINS REPEAT WINNERS AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario … The month of July closed at Merrittville Speedway with a lot of action on track and on line. Through the night, race fans were encouraged to give LAN racing a try with computers donated by St. Catharines firm Morcor Systems and with games provided by SIM Addiction. Five lucky fans as well as all feature winners received free DTR games by Ratbags that features amazing skins of local Merrittville cars by Jetskins graphics. WERACEONLINE Night at the Thorold track saw several repeat winners including Rob Knapp, Jeff Johnson, Chad Brachmann and Brian Stevens in the Street Stock, Dwarf, Sportsmen and 358 Modified divisions. The lone new winner of the 2000 season was Pro Stock rookie Dan Gilbert.
Scott Wood was first to lead the 35 lap 358 Modified feature and quickly opened up a ¼ lap lead by lap 3. By lap 11 Wood had pulled away from the 24 car field by almost a half lap with the battle for runner-up spot involving Andy Green, Fred Cade, Brian Stevens and Pete Bicknell. Bicknell was the racer on the move in the early going with the St. Catharines driver taking control of second by lap 14. The first caution slowed the field on lap 20 - eliminating quite an advantage for Wood. Wood set the pace on the restart and then again on a lap 29 restart after caution slowed the pace for only the second time. Wood regained top spot on the restart with Brian Stevens quick to take over the runner-up spot on lap 30. Another caution on lap 31 again slowed the action with Wood the leader on the restart. Out of turn 4 to start lap 33 Stevens took control of top spot - holding the point to the checkered flag and his second feature victory of the season.
Pete Bicknell took the runner-up spot late in the race with Scott Wood settling for third. Larry Lampman and Joe Middlemiss rounded out the top 5 with Andy Green, Bill Krull, Fred Cade, Fred Carleton and Ken Cosgrove as the top 10.
2000 Rookie Paul Cunningham and veteran Ken Walsh set the pace to the green flag of the 25 lap Sportsmen feature before Walsh took control of the lead along the backstretch of the first lap. A caution on lap 4 would slow Walsh's pace for the first time. On the restart Walsh set the pace leading the field in the early stages. Chad Brachman was on the move in the early going and by lap10 had taken over second place. Along the backstretch of lap 12 Brachman took control of the event with Walsh and other challenger Rob Ledingham not giving up easily. the trio raced for top spot with contact between the front-runners slowing the field on lap 14. Brachman re-took control on the restart and in the closing laps - ran to the feature victory. Rob Ledingham held on to the runner-up spot with Wayne Conn making a late race charge to take the third spot. John Hagerman and Joe Meisel closed out the top 5 while first-time 2000 starter Stewart Friesen, Randy Chrysler Garry Moreash, Paul Ashton, and Pete Cosco as the top 10.
The 15 lap Pro Stock feature saw rookie Dave Gifford as the initial leader before veteran Rick Baker took control on lap two. Baker held the point until another 2000 rookie took control in Dan Gilbert. Gilbert went virtually unchallenged as leader with the race for second spot involving early leader Rick Baker, Tom Walker in the AJ Schultz 88 and point leader Darren Kish. Through the entire race the veterans gave chase but it was the rookie Gilbert holding top spot. Lap 13 saw challengers Baker and Walker make contact with Baker subsequently black-flagged and Walker losing track position. At the finish it was Dan Gilbert in for his first win with Don Spiece, Randy Chrysler, Jeff Dayman and Dave Gifford as the top 5.
Chris Rimmen was first to the green flag in the 15 lap Dwarf Car Feature with Jeff Johnson in control by lap 2. A lap 4 caution saw point leader Lee Webber slow in turn 1 with Johnson in control once again on the restart. With Johnson leading, Dave Russell was leading a charge to overtake the leader with Wally Billing also in the lead trio. The front-runners were pulling away from the field. By lap 11 Billing had caught the leader - challenging on the outside for top spot. Johnson was able to hold off Billing until the two exited turn 4 with the checkered flag in sight. In the short sprint to the finish - Billing was able to find an advantage and took top spot by the finish line but in post race inspection was found to be illegal. Johnson then was credited with the win with Dave Russell in the runner-up spot. Ray Webber took third spot with Chris Rimmen and Bill Perry as the top 5.
Tony Visca was first to lead the 15 lap Street Stock feature setting the pace until turn 4 of lap 4 where Rob Knapp took over top spot. With Knapp out front the battle for runner-up spot soon involved Darren Zumpe and Todd Saunders. Leaving all the action behind him - Knapp was able to open up a lead of almost a half lap. Saunders soon found a groove to his liking and was closing in on Knapp with the race now past halfway. Knapp soon encountered lap traffic and actually used it to his advantage - opening up a comfortable lead on the field in the closing stages. At the finish it was Knapp in for his second win of 2000 with Todd Saunders settling for second. Chuck Martin made a late race charge to take third spot with Mike Ward and Darren Zumpe as the top 5.
Merrittville plays host to its final double-header of the season as action Saturday August 5th sees racing in all divisions on track for a Family Fun night. Prior to race time, there will be free face painting and pony rides for children and more. Monday August 7th - Pete Cosco Haulage presents the 8th Annual Trevor Wilkens Memorial Modified Classic featuring a 100 lap 358 Modified Sunoco Race Fuels Super DIRT Series Event by performance Racing News plus Sportsmen who will race for $1500 to win and Pro Stocks. As well on Monday, St. Kitt’s Autobody will be donating 2 bikes – one boy's and one girl's to add to the long weekend excitement. Gates open for either event at 5:30 with racing at 7:30. For further information contact 905-892-8266 or visit merrittvillespeedway.com.