SEVEN FEATURES NET SEVEN DIFFERENT WINNERS AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Thorold, Ontario …June 1, 2002… The month of June kicked off at Merrittville Speedway with a great night of action, which saw seven different drivers visit victory. TRW Employee Recognition Night had the 4 cylinder division in double features with John Low and Bob Gill splitting the victories. Rain from May 25th also created two 358 Modified features with Larry Lampman winning the 20 lap delayed event while Brian Stevens won the regular 35 lap event.
The night also saw first time 2002 winners in Adam Ferri, Butch Zimmerman and Dolph McCready in the Sportsmen, Pro Stock and Street Stock divisions.
Picking up from the previous week, Pete Cosco set the pace at the start of the 20 lap 358 rain-delayed feature. Through to lap 12, Cosco set the pace until caution slowed the rookie and the field. Cosco resumed control of top spot on the restart with Larry Lampman quick to challenge. Along the backstretch, Lampman took control out of turn 2. Quickly, Lampman pulled away to a 20 car lead on the field.
In for his first feature win of the new season, Pete Bicknell and Pete Cosco who settled for third spot followed Lampman. Paul Ashton and Scott Wood closed out the top 5 while Jamie Turner, Greg Panunte, Ken Winfield, Brian Stevens and Rob Krull rounded out the top 10.
In lieu of qualifying heats, Lampman drew a number in Victory Lane, which saw the top 12 inverted to set the field for the nightcap 35 lap event.
Front row starters Todd Gordon and Chad Brachmann were involved in quite a battle for top spot at the drop of the green. Brachmann eventually took control of top spot before Gordon became the new leader along the front-stretch of lap 11. Brachmann never lost sight of the lead and it was quite a back and forth battle until Brachmann again found the fast groove. To the halfway point Brachmann opened up a 5 car lead on the field.
As the field encountered increasing lap traffic, several drivers were on the move including Brian Stevens and Pete Bicknell.
Through the slower cars, Brachmann now had a 10 car lead on runner-up Stevens who also enjoyed the same lead over third runner Bicknell. The rookie and the two veterans had pulled away slightly from the rest of the field. In the closing stages Stevens made a charge to challenge Brachmann - taking control of top spot along the backstretch of lap 34. The two unfortunately made contact in turn 3 of the final circuit with Stevens going unchallenged to the checkered flag - his second of the season. Bicknell captured his second 2nd place finish of the night with Scott Wood, Larry Lampman and Rob Krull also having great runs to close the top 5. Greg Panunte, Don Turner, Jamie Turner, Todd Gordon and Paul Ashton completed the top 10. Brachmann had to settle for 12th spot.
Mark Feor was first to lead the 25 lap Sportsmen feature before Adam Ferri took control on lap 4. Ferri's pace was slowed on lap 8 for caution. Ferri - the 2001 Mr. DIRT Sportsmen Rookie of the Year resumed control on the restart and by the half-way point had opened a 20 car lead. Caution slowed the field on lap 19 and once again Ferri resumed control of top spot.
Through to the finish Ferri enjoyed a comfortable lead until a late race charge by Rob Pietz. Pietz made a last minute run but at the start-finish line fell a half car length short. Wayne Conn, Chad Chevalier and Jeff Leggett followed Ferri and Pietz while early leader Feor, Jay Mallory, Ken Cosgrove, Rob Knapp and Gary Kruchka rounded out the top 10.
From his second starting spot, Butch Zimmerman out-raced pole-sitter Jeff Dayman to take the initial lead in the 15 lap Pro Stock feature. It was a lead that the Burt NY native never would relinquish despite several cautions that slowed the field on numerous occasions. Through each restart it was Zimmerman out front and through to the checkered flag for his first ever Merrittville feature win. Dereck Lemyre had his career best finish in taking the runner-up spot with Jason Harper, Dan Gilbert and Rick Baker as the top 5. Jeff Dayman, Bill Gill, Mike Ward, Steve Devos, Shawn Keus and Bill Wade closed out the finish.
4 Cylinders were in for Twin 12 lap features and the opener had John Low as the first to lead. A lap 3 caution slowed the veteran's pace with the S-10 Pick-Up of Low in control once again. By the halfway point Low would open up a 10 car (or truck) advantage on the field with caution once again slowing the pace on lap 11. Blair Young took brief control of top spot before starter Barry Davidson called off the restart. When the green did return it was Low out front once again.
At the finish Young followed Low with Norm Mark, Mike Baxter, and Andy Tallach as the top 5. Bob Gill, B52, Brian Lawrie, Doug and Larry Erskine filled out the top 10.
The second 12 lap event saw Roger Shenstone as the first to lead. Shenstone fell off the pace early on with 27 now taking over top spot. Lap 3 saw Mike Baxter take control of top spot before the field was slowed on lap 4 after several cars came together. Norm Mark was the leader on the restart before another caution came on lap 5. Mark resumed control once again before Bob Gill became the new leader along the backstretch. Gill was also slowed for an incident on lap 7. On the restart and through to the finish Gill set the pace and by lap 10 opened up a 20 car lead. At the finish Mark, Blair Young, Andy Tallach, B52 191, Shenstone, 27, 4 and Larry Erskine, followed Gill.
Kevin Kocarik was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock feature building quite a lead until caution on lap 2. Kocarik set the pace until an incident on the restart slowed the Fonthill driver's pace once again. Kocarik regained top spot on the restart before Chris Ellis became the new leader on the backstretch. Ellis' pace was soon slowed on lap 7 with Rob Murray quick to challenge on the ensuing restart. Dolph McCready also joined the fray with Murray taking the lead along the backstretch of lap 9. Front-runners Murray and McCready began to pull away from the field in quite a battle for top spot. With the white flag displayed Murray unfortunately fell victim to a right rear flat tire making contact with the leader. Murray retired to the pits with McCready coming around for the checkered flag. Kirk Wilson and Mike Dooley followed with Kocarik and Richard Champigny closing out the top 5. Dave Dykstra, Jerry Deschamps, Aaron Vasas, Ron Kingsbury and Ellis rounded out the top 10.
Action in June continues June 8th with a full card of action for the Street Stock, Dwarf Car, Pro Stock, Sportsmen and 358 Modifieds. The rain-delayed Ladies Race from May 25th has been added to the card in addition to a Mechanics race. Gates open at 5:30 with racing starting at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com