SKOAL Inc. and 7-11 Food Stores host ESS at Merrittville Speedway
August 14, 1999
By Alexis De Wolfe
After three weeks of rainouts racing finally resumed at Merrittville Speedway on Saturday night. Dave Gifford (34c) stole the win from Alex Whelan (57k) in the street stock feature, when Whelan was disqualified. Ken Sargent (25) made it nine in a row in the pro-stock class and Pete Cosco (17c) came down to the checkered to greet his fans in the Sportsman class. The modified feature found Pete Bicknell (42) the winner, after which the Empire Super Sprints hit the track and Rob Dietrick (10) won the 20-lap feature.
The street stock feature found the pack bunching on the first lap, and Al Smith (49) lost control wiping out Chuck Martin (3) in the process bringing out the first caution of the 12 lap feature. Bruce Colbert (97) held the lead on the restart, as Alex Whelan (57k) started moving up through the field. The second caution came out on lap five when Aaron Vasas (66) spun it around, and was unable to get out of the way before the pack was on top of him. Whelan and Chris Crawford (4c) found themselves in the infield on lap seven as they battled their way down the front straightaway. The next lap Tom Emery (22) found himself glued to the rail in turn four, bringing out the third caution, when he collected a variety of cars with him.
As Whelan and Dave Gifford (34c) came out of turn four they got hung up on each other with Whelan just a nose ahead of Gifford to the checkered, but the win was awarded to Gifford, as Whelan was penalized for rough driving. Crawford placed second after Whelan was disqualified, followed by first timer Jim McDonald (37), Rick Simons (69) and Al Smith (49) came back to round out the top five.
Shawn Keus (7s), Bill Bleich (108) and Chris Buttigieg (31j) got tangled up on the back straightaway on the first lap, bringing out the first caution of the Pro Stock feature. Ken Sargent (25) took the lead away from Todd Zelichowski (18) after Zelichowski had a great run, but was unable to hold him off, while Ron Reece (11) snuck by him behind Sargent. Sargent started to run away with it and nobody could catch him. The top five were Sargent, Ron Reece, Don Spiece, Tom Walker & Brian Halliwell.
The Sportsman class were on their best behaviour on Saturday night, managing to race flag to flag with no cautions, only the second time this season that they've done it. Ken Walsh (7w) took the early lead in the feature followed by Andy Imbeault (47) and Pete Cosco (17c). Randy Chrysler (21k) sat on Cosco's back bumper but was unable to take it away as Cosco went zooming to the front of the pack and held his lead for the remainder of the race without looking back once.
By the end of the race he had a good quarter lap on the rest of the pack. Chrysler came in second followed by Chad Brachman (3), Greg Panunte (99p) and Gary Moreash (124) filled out the top five.
The modifieds had a wild ride. Rich Vinson (93) took the early lead, while cars got together in turn four on the first lap, collect Doug Swinson (71), Jim Begolo (16), Rick Richner (26) and Harry Sittler (37). Scott Wood moved up to second place on the restart battling Vinson for the lead. The second caution came out when Don Turner (39) wheel hopped over Billy Krull (z1), and caution continued after the restart when three cars got jumbled in turn one. Wood got the jump on the restart, leaving Vinson to chew on his dust. Bicknell started moving up and managed to take the lead, just before Joe Middlemiss (11j) got hit hard in turn four, bringing the ambulance out onto the track. Middlemiss was fine, but a little shaken up after a really hard hit, but after going into the pits managed to join the pack before the green flag flew, maintaining his position on the lead lap.
Bicknell held onto the lead to the checkered followed by Wood, Begolo, Brian Stevens (62) and Ken Cosgrove (9).
The Empire Super Sprints were the last class to take to the track Rick Hart (21h) took the early lead in the race as Mike Stelter (36) and Bubby Kerrick (61) fought for second place, leaving Kerrick ahead. Yellow came out onto the track on lap three as a car was looking the wrong way.
Rob Dietrick (10) was looking for the lead on the restart and managed to wrestle it away from Hart on the fourth lap. Kerrick managed to take the lead away for a few short laps before Dietrick moved back up to come down to the checkered flag ahead of the field.
The Merrittville Speedway Social Committee capped off the evening with a hamburger & corn roast in the pits. Many thanks to all of our competitors and the ESS for your contribution and participation.
Next up, The Fairview Mall presents fan appreciation night and a Ladies Race. For more information, call our 24 hour raceline (905) 892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com