VINSON FIRST TIME FEATURE WINNER: REECE FIRST TIME CHAMPION AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario .9/12/98.. It was another night of firsts at Merrittville Speedway September 12th as Rich Vinson won his first ever DIRT 358 Modified feature ever while Ron Reece became the season's third first time Points Champion - taking the title in the Late Model Division. Tammy Willard won the 35 lap Sportsmen feature while Jeff Dayman edged one step closer to his second straight Street Stock Title in taking the 12 lap Street Stock feature.
Second generation driver Rich Vinson was first to lead the 35 lap 358 Modified feature - pulling away to a comfortable lead before caution slowed the field on lap 10. Vinson regained control on the restart with another incident slowing the pace again on lap 11. Vinson regained top spot on the restart but not until the back-stretch. Again Vinson built a comfortable lead before another incident slowed the pace on lap 19. With Vinson out front once more on the restart the race to watch was for runner-up spot between brothers-in-law Jamie Turner and Joe Plazek. Two back-to-back cautions on laps 24 & 25 gave a pause in the battle but on the restarts it was Vinson in control once again. Plazek began to close in on the leader before Vinson pulled away once more prior to a lap 29 caution. Vinson once again set the pace on the restart and in the six laps to the finish was able to hold off a strong challenge from Joe Plazek.
Lap after lap Plazek tried to overtake Vinson as the two raced out of turn 4 but it was to no avail as Vinson was able to maintain a 1/2 car length advantage to the checkered flag.
"I tried to hug the bottom groove," relates an overwhelmed Vinson in Victory Lane for the first time, " I knew Joe was there ... he was really pushing me ... an excellent track - lots of bite and smooth - sorry Mom and Dad missed it but this one's for them ... my wife and children ... the crew ... our sponsors ... it's been a long time coming!"
Rich Vinson received the Sue St. Amand Memorial Trophy presented annually by the St. Amand family - her children and grandchildren.
Following Rich Vinson was Joe Plazek, Jamie Turner, Don McGinnis, Fred Cade, Ken Cosgrove, Bill Krull, Scott Wood, Jon Cornwell and Harry Sittler.
Jack McKinney set the pace at the start of the 25 lap Sportsmen feature and right away opened up a comfortable lead on the field. On the move in the early going was rookie Joe Middlemiss who caught McKinney as caution slowed the field on lap 6. After the return to racing was delayed initially Middlemiss became the new leader on the restart. To the halfway point and beyond Middlemiss set the pace - pulling away to lead of some 20 car lengths before caution slowed the event once more on lap 18.
The restart saw Middlemiss slow off the pace with an unfortunate right rear flat tire with Tammy Willard taking control. Ken Walsh was soon to challenge for top spot until one final caution slowed the pace on lap 22.
Willard regained control on the restart and in the closing laps was able to open a lead of some 5 car lengths on runner-up Ken Walsh. Rob Kott, Bill Willard and Bill Podwinski closed out the top 5 while John McKenney, Pete Cosco, Ryan Hunsinger, Tim Lipsitt and Gary Kruchka rounded out the top 10.
Ken Sargent was first to lead the 12 lap Late Model season finale and the Fenwick native jumped out to a considerable lead from the drop of the green. Past the half-way point the driver on the move was Randy Hollingshead who was closing in on the leader. Caution would slow the field on lap 10 and then again on lap 11 with Sargent in control on each restart. In the one lap dash to the finish Sargent came home out front - less than a car lengths over runner-up Don Spiece. Ron Reece and Jack Cassell rounded out the top 5 while Brian Halliwell, Herb Hunter, Kevin Sharp, Scott Fisher and Todd Zelichowski closed out the top 10.
"This is just great ... it's something we've always wanted," reflects first time champion Ron Reece, adding, " I thought going in that every thing would go wrong ... I just had to treat it a regular night though and not a championship."
Locking up his first Merrittville Late Model Championship had special meaning as it was his 11th Wedding Anniversary and his wife Donna is a big supporter of his racing. Reece's car number is 11.
Rob Knapp was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock feature before rookie Chuck Martin took control. With Martin out front veteran Jeff Dayman was quick to challenge although Martin held a 2 car lead to the half-way point. Along the back-stretch of lap 6 Dayman found an advantage and took over top spot before caution slowed the pace on lap 7. Dayman resumed control on the restart - pulling away to a comfortable lead. In the closing laps Chris Crawford began to close in on the leader in what also is a battle for top spot in the points race.
Jeff Dayman cruised to the win with Crawford ten car lengths behind in second spot. Chuck Martin held on for third with Alex Whalen and Rob Knapp closing out the top 5. Steve Marshall, Phil Rudachuck, Dave Gifford, Doug Robbins and Bruce Colbert rounded out the top 10.
Street Stock Heats First 1. Tom Wilson, 2. Rob Knapp, Al Smith. Second 1. Chris Crawford, 2. Alex Whalen, 3. Chuck Martin.
Late Model Heats First 1. Ken Cosgrove, 2. Ron Reece, 3. Kevin Sharp. Second 1. Jack Cassell, 2. Randy Hollingshead, 3. Todd Zelichowski.
Sportsmen Heats First 1. Jack McKinney, 2. John Hagerman, 3. Ken Walsh. Second 1. Joe Middlemiss, 2. Pete Cosco, 3. Rob Devenyi.
Modified Heats First 1. Don Martin, 2. Scott Wood, 3. Fred Cade. Second 1. Bill Krull, 2. Don Turner, 3. Rob Krull. Third 1. Jamie Turner, 2. Rich Vinson, 3. Brian Stevens.
The 1998 Stock Car Season closes at Merrittville Speedway with the Empire Super Sprints making their third visit of the season - Saturday September 19th. Also on the card is a 30 lap Sportsmen-Modified Open plus the Street Stocks and the New York Dwarf Car Association. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30 for further information contact 905-892-8266.