Willard And Johnson Win First Championships: Bicknell And Brachman Win Features At Merrittville
Thorold, Ontario ... The 1998 Point Seasons ended for Merrittville Speedway's DIRT Sportsmen and Modified divisions with two first time champions crowned September 5th in the Star Headlight and Lantern sponsored Labor Day special.
Tammy Willard earned her first Sportsmen Title while Alan Johnson won the Modified title.
50 laps was the distance for the Modifieds with 12 time track champion Pete Bicknell coming home the winner while Chad Brachman won the 25 lap Sportsmen event. Points continue for the Late Model and Street Stock divisions with feature winners were Don Spiece and Jeff Dayman in the Late Model and Street Stock divisions respectively.
Following the Modified heats 15 drivers redrew for feature starting spots with Ken Cosgrove picking the pole position. At the drop of the green Cosgrove took the lead - finding an advantage over fellow front row starter George Jowdy. A close race in the early stages, Cosgrove set the pace to the halfway point. At that point the St. Catharines driver came into slower lap traffic but it didn't affect the leader as he was able to maintain a 5 car advantage over the field.
With Cosgrove out front quite a battle for runner-up spot was going on between Joe Plazek, Pete Bicknell and Jim Begolo. Bicknell finally took over second along the back-stretch of lap 27 and by lap 30 was challenging Cosgrove for top spot. Cosgrove set the pace until the back-stretch of lap 38 when Pete Bicknell took control. Cosgrove soon became held up by lap traffic allowing Bicknell top open up a lead of some 10 cars with no cautions yet slowing the pace.
At the finish it was Bicknell out front ahead of Joe Plazek while Jim Begolo made a late race charge to take third spot. Alan Johnson came from 14th starting spot to take 4th in the final stages while early leader Ken Cosgrove had to settle for 5th - a fine outing nonetheless. Rob Krull, Brian Stevens, Don McGinnis, George Jowdy and Scott Wood closed out the top 10.
"It's a been a pleasure coming to Merrittville every week," relates Central NY seasoned veteran Johnson, adding, "the competition's been tough ... (car owner) Mike Maroney has given me a fantastic race car each week ... hopefully I'll see the fans here at all the fall specials."
"We'll have to take a look at our program, " relates Ken Cosgrove who earned a spot in the Prolong 358 Modified portion of Super DIRT Week in Syracuse NY this October,' ... " we don't have the funds right now ... without a radio ... didn't know who was coming but it was great to be able to run with them."
Jack McKinney set the pace at the start of one of the closest Sportsmen points finales in recent years. Going into the event - 5 drivers mathematically had a chance at the championship.
Two early cautions before the third lap would slow McKinney's pace in the 25 lap event with Larry Lampman the new leader before his pace was slowed on lap 5. Larry Lampman again in the John McKenney No. 19 set the pace on the restart and quickly opened up a comfortable lead on the field. Another caution slowed the pace - eliminating a 20 car lead built up by the Port Colborne driver.
With defending champion Lampman leading the event - the race to watch was for second between challengers Chad Brachman and Tammy Willard. Caution on lap 15 would cool the action between the two with Lampman in control once again. Yet another caution would slow the field on lap 18 with Lampman holding top spot on the restart.
One final caution on lap 23 saw a number of cars lose control in turn 4 - the incident unfortunately involving several front-runners - the leader Larry Lampman and rookie point contender Joe Middlemiss among others.
Unfortunately Lampman would have to restart at the rear of the field and in the two lap dash to the checkered Chad Brachman held top spot over newly crowned sportsmen champion Tammy Willard.
"I hate to see things end as they did ... he's (Larry Lampman) a great runner," reflects feature winner Chad Brachman, adding " it's great to be in victory Lane again."
Brachman's Labor Day victory earned the North Tonawanda NY driver the Sterling Sliver Trophy presented annually by fellow sportsmen competitor Ken Walsh and his race team in memory of local racing pioneer Bill Willard Sr. - on the final point race of the season. "I don't mind it ... I'd take it any time," relates Tammy Willard after being sprayed by champagne in a front-stretch celebration with family, friends and crew, " I feel great for our team ... but I feel for Larry also."
Tammy Willard becomes the newest Merrittville Speedway Skoal, inc. Sportsmen Series Champion - joining her brother Bill Willard Jr. and brother-in-law Guy McPherson who are former divisional champions. Willard becomes the first female Sportsmen champion at Merritville and even probably across the DIRT circuit - not to mention the first brother and sister to ever win championships
"This will surely take some time to sink in," further post race comments from an overwhelmed Tammy Willard.
Brachman and Willard were followed by Garry Moreash, Pete Cosco, Joe Meisel, Ken Walsh, rob Devenyi, Guy McPherson, Ryan Hunsinger and Larry Lampman.
Todd Zelichowski set the pace at the start of the 12 lap Late Model feature before Jack Cassell took control into turn 1 of lap 2.
An incident on lap 3 would slow the pace with Don Spiece in the new leader on the restart. At the half-way point the race was slowed once more after contact between Boyd MacTavish and Todd Zelichowski found MacTavish slowing along the front-stretch. On the restart Spiece was in control once more and in the last half of the race stretched his lead to almost a half lap on the field.
Spiece was followed by early leader Jack Cassell, Ron Reece, Randy Hollingshead, Brian Halliwell, Ken Sargent, Todd Zelichowski, herb Hunter and Scott Fisher.
Lloyd Cichocki was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock feature before Bruce Colbert took control along the back-stretch of the first lap. An incident involving several front-runners slowed the race with Dave Gifford the new leader on the restart. Quickly Gifford pulled away to a 10 car lead. Lap 6 saw another incident slow the pace with Jeff Dayman the new leader after Gifford drifted high in turn 4 on the restart.
Two cautions in the last half of the race would slow Dayman's pace - the second seeing Mike Stevenson almost jumping entirely over the turn 3 guardrail after contact with other cars on lap 9. Dayman held top spot through to the finish with rookie Shawn Keus coming from 15th starting spot to take second - less than a car length behind the leader. Dave Gifford and Chris Crawford closed out the top 5 with Todd Saunders, Phil Rudachuk, Rob Knapp, Bruce Colbert, Al Smith and Doug Robbins as the top 10.
Street Stock Heats First 1. Chris Crawford, 2. Dave Gifford, 3. Chuck Martin. Second 1. Tom Wilson, 2. Gord Kostyk, 3. Rob Knapp.
Late Model Heats First 1. Jack Cassell, 2. Brian Halliwell, 3. Don Spiece. Second 1. Boyd McTavish, Ken Sargent, 3. Todd Zelichowski.
Sportsmen Heats First 1. Larry Lampman, 2. Jack McKinney, 3. Tammy Willard. Second 1. Rob Devenyi, Ken Walsh, 3. Garry Moreash. Third 1. Guy McPherson, 2. Joe Middlemiss, 3. John Hagerman.
Modified Heats First 1. Don Spatarico, 2. Scott Wood, 3. Jim Begolo. Second 1. Ken Cosgrove, 2. Pete Bicknell, 3. Alan Johnson. Third 1. Jamie Turner, 2. Rich Vinson, 3. Joe Plazek.
The month of September continues Saturday September 12th with the first of a double-header weekend. Jr. B Hockey Pre-Season Face-Off Night sees all divisions in action - 358 Modifieds, Sportsmen, Late Models, and Street Stocks plus a Motocross Exhibition. Gates will open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30.
Sunday September 13th sees another CMRC Motocross event starting at 10:30. Grandstand Admission is free.
One final night of Stock Car action takes place September 19th with the excitement of the Empire Super Sprints making one final visit.
For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.vaxxine.com/merrittvillespeedway.