JOHNSON AND BRACHMAN WIN SPOTS IN
VICTORIA DAY SPECIAL AT MERRITTVILLE
By Alexis De Wolfe
Racing returned to Merrittville Speedway on May 22 after being rained out two Saturday's in a row, for the Victoria Day Spring Nationals presented by Toolneeds Inc. FOAR SCORE Fan Club Night saw Mike Ward (95) make it three in a row by championing the Street Stock Feature, and Ken Sargent (25) made it two in a row by being the first to the checkered in the Pro-Stock Feature. With a large group of cars out to qualify for Syracuse the Sportsmen and Modifieds ran consolation features with Joe Meisel (15) and Larry Lampman (42) winning each respectively. The 25 lap Sportsman feature was dominated by Chad Brachman (3), earning him a spot at Syracuse. Danny Johnson (27j) won the 50-lap modified feature despite difficulties getting to the race track.
The Street Stock's were the first to hit the speedway, and there was a lot of energy after being off the track for two weeks. Three cars ran off the end of the track on the first lap, signaling the first caution. Chris Crawford (4c) held the lead with Darren Zumpe (11z) behind him for the restart. The pack started to spread out on the restart but still managed to run three wide into turns one and two. Crawford began running into lapped traffic on lap five, with Mike Ward (95) sneaking up on him. The yellow flag flew once again on lap seven as Al Smith (49) came to rest against the rail on turn four. The top five at the half way mark were Crawford, Ward, Zumpe, Rob Knapp (Y2K), and Mike Dooley (310). Darlene Gifford (34c) and another car got tangled in turn four to bring out yet another caution on lap 11.
Ward swung his way around Crawford to take the lead with four to go and held onto it for the rest of the race, he was followed to the checkered by Crawford, Knapp, Lloyd Cichocki (8c) and Dooley.
Shawn Keus (7s) started on the pole for the 15 lap Pro-Stock Feature, and held the lead through until lap 4, after Ken Sargent (25) relieved him of the position. Rick Baker (78) got turned around in turn four on lap five and started down the straightaway backwards before getting turned around to continue the race. Sargent began to run into lapped traffic on lap seven. Three laps later four cars were in a battle for third spot with Roger Chrysler (21k) taking up fourth behind Sargent, Don Spiece (88) and Keus. Chrysler pulled into third spot on lap 12 with three to go.
Sargent held onto it for the checkered, being followed in by Spiece, Chrysler, Dan Gilbert and Keus.
Joe Meisel (15j), Bobby Davidson (73), Westley Talon (21x), John McKenney (19j) and Jack McKinney (57) moved onto the Sportsman feature out of the consolation race. Larry Lampman (42), Rick Richner (26), Jimmy Begolo (16), Harry Sittler (37) and Joe Middlemiss (11) moved up from the Modified consi.
Chad Brachman (3) took the pole in the Sportsman 25 lap feature and held onto the lead for the entire race. Dean Hoffman (19) was black flagged in the first lap, as he had not earned a berth in the feature. The field consisted of 24 cars. Randy Chrysler (21k) did his best to relieve Brachman of the lead, but found himself chasing the entire race. The yellow flag came out on lap five as Brad Rouse (18r) broke on the back straightaway and Bobby Davidson (73) came to rest on turn one. The cars restarted and played bumper cars all the way around the track, something was bound to give and it finally did as a cluster of cars got together in turn one bringing out the second caution of the race. All the cars got going under their own power though and the race was underway. Brachman maintained the lead through the next caution followed by Chrysler, Fred Carleton (96), Billy Krull (z1) and Tim Lipsitt (29). Once again they went into the corners three wide on the restart and Ken Walsh (7) and Rouse got together on lap 10 bringing out yet another caution. On lap 13 Brachman started pulling away from Chrysler but Carleton moved up to challenge the 21k car. Carleton got into Chrysler going down the back straightaway and passed him only to be driven off the top of three and four. This left the top five as Brachman, Gary Moreash (124), Scott George, Wayne Conn (8c) and Lipsitt. George moved up to challenge Moreash for second spot and took it from him with two to go.
Brachman held onto the lead from flag to flag, and was followed by George, Conn, Moreash and Lipsitt.
Pete Bicknell (42) took the pole in the Modified feature, which was also a Syracuse qualifier. Joe Plazek (1) had the outside pole and would prove to be a contender. Bicknell jumped to the early lead in the 50 lap race. Ken Cosgrove (9) sat back in third spot behind Plazek. The pack was well spread out after five laps. Danny Johnson (27j) sat back in sixth spot after four laps and was trying to break into the top five. On lap 11 Johnson moved up to take third spot and kept running. Bicknell broke leaving Plazek the leader on lap 12, with Johnson and Cosgrove trailing behind him. Johnson sat right on Plazek's bumper on lap 15 but Plazek managed to pull away from him. Johnson moved into the lead on lap 17 and started putting space between him and the rest of the pack. Billy Krull (z1) was up in fourth spot with Rob Krull (123) behind him. Brian Stevens (44) moved up from the back of the pack to sit in fourth spot on lap 29. Stevens managed to take third spot from Billy Krull on lap 37 and looking for second, which he grabbed two laps later.
Johnson held onto the lead to qualify for Syracuse Sunoco Race Fuels portion of Super DIRT Week as well as the Victoria 200 at Fulton speedway - both this fall. Stevens placed second followed by Joe Plazek, Krull and Cosgrove.
Join us again next week for the St. Catharines Standard Carrier and Reader Appreciation Night featuring a Full Card and Kart Display. Race Fans can look forward to action on and off the track with the return of the rain-delayed Spectator One-on-One Challenge. Prior to race time race fans over 19 can enter the Budweiser Ultimate Pit Pass Contest with prizes to include Winston Cup Tickets. Gates will open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30. For further information contact 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.