Alan Johnson Returns To Merrittville Victory Lane
Thorold, Ontario ..8/25/98... Race fans at Merrittville Speedway enjoyed a great night of racing on Fan Appreciation Night hosted by the Fairview Mall and STP. Alan Johnson returned to 358 Modified victory lane while Rob Kott was awarded his first sportsmen victory after post race inspection disqualified Chad Brachman. Ron Reece and Alex Whalen also won in the Late Model and Street Stock divisions while Shani Bleich won the Ladies Race.
Wayne Conn was first to lead the 35 lap Modified feature before a multi-car incident in turn 4 of the first lap slowed the second generation driver's pace. Conn resumed control on the restart and almost immediately pulled away a 10 car lead. Another caution on lap 6 would slow the field with Doug Gordon the new leader on the restart. Gordon's pace would soon be slowed for a lap 10 incident involving Scott Wood and Jim Begolo. Down the front-stretch of lap 14 several cars got out of shape but regained control but the race was slowed as a back-stretch incident saw several cars make heavy contact with a slowing Pete Bicknell. Two other cautions would test Gordon's patience as leader on their restarts on laps 19 and 21. The final restart on lap 21 saw Gordon in control with Alan Johnson soon to challenge. Johnson found the advantage along the front-stretch of lap 24 and became the new leader. Johnson enjoyed a comfortable lead through to the finish with Gordon settling for second - his best finish of the season. Martin Polhill, Ken Cosgrove and Don McGinnis closed out the top 5. Fred Cade, Jim Begolo, Brian Stevens, George Jowdy and Don Turner rounded out the top 10.
Rob Kott set the pace at the start of the 25 lap Sportsmen feature - right away running away to a comfortable lead. Kott and front-runner Bill Podwinski left the pack behind in the early stages. By lap 0 Kott came up on slower lap traffic with the first caution on lap 15 slowing the field. Kott regained control on the restart with Chad Brachman soon to challenge. Brachman took control along the back-stretch of lap 17. Brahman's pace was slowed quickly on lap 19 with two other cautions in the closing laps setting up a 2 lap dash to the finish from lap 23. At the checkered flag Brachman ran to a 5 car length lead on the field.
Following Brachman was early leader Rob Kott, Joe Meisel, Bill Podwinski, Garry Moreash, Ken Walsh, Pete Cosco, Larry Lampman, Joe Middlemiss and John Hagerman. With Brahman's misfortune the win was awarded to Rob Kott with Rob Devenyi moving up a position to close out the top 10.
Todd Zelichowski was first to lead the 12 lap Late Model event. Don Spiece was quick to challenge for top spot - finding an advantage and the lead on lap 3. Caution would slow the field on lap 6 after Randy Hollingshead slowed on the racing surface. Spiece set the pace on the restart with his challenger now Ron Reece. Reece pressured Spiece on the inside and took control of the lead on lap 8. Another caution on lap 10 slowed the pace with Reece in control. Through to the finish Reece maintained a 5 car lead on earlier leader Spiece. Jack Cassell, Boyd McTavish and Brian Halliwell closed out the top 5. Tony Royston, Ken Sargent, Todd Zelichowski, Herb Hunter and Randy Hollingshead closed out the top 10.
Chuck Martin was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock feature before a first lap caution slowed the pace after point leader Jeff Dayman slowed in turn 1. Martin set the pace on the restart only to have another caution slow the event on lap 2. Martin resumed control of top spot with Gord Kostyk the new leader after Martin drifted a little high on the track. Kostyk's pace was slowed on lap 8 and after the restart the challenger soon was Shawn Keus. Keus closed in on Kostyk with unfortunate contact between the two front-runners in turn one of lap 11 found Keus black-flagged. At the checkered flag the winner was Alex Whalen while Kostyk had to settle for second. Mike Cove, Todd Saunders and Mike Stevenson rounded out the top 5 while Chuck Martin, Jeff Intine, Doug Robbins, Bruce Colbert and Rick Simons closed out the top 10.
The Ladies Race series 8 lap event was won by Shani Bleich who led from flag to flag. Bleich was followed by Christine Porter, April Hewitt, Chrissy Michaud, Karen DeLazzari, Darlene Gifford, Shannon Walker and Grace Arnold.
The night also featured a special exhibition from the New York State Dwarf Car Association.
The month of August closes with a full card of racing featuring a full card of Modified, Sportsmen, Late Model and Street Stock racing with a Demolition Derby closing the night. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30. For further information contact 905-892-8266.