JOHNSON GOES FROM WORST TO FIRST IN WILKENS MEMORIAL AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario ..8/4/98... In front of one of the largest crowds in recent years, Alan Johnson of Phelps NY went from 30th starting spot to first to win the 6th Annual Trevor Wilkens Memorial Modified Classic - part of Dirt Motorsports Skoal, Inc. Racing Super DIRT Series Tour presented by Texaco Havoline and Performance Racing News. Also finding the way to the winner's circle in the Civic Holiday special was Larry Lampman and Ron Reece in the Sportsmen and Late Model divisions respectively.
The start of the 98 lap event saw Pat O'Brien of Kingston and Don McGinnis (driving the new Cosco/St. Amand owned 17c) of Ransomville NY race to the green flag with McGinnis finding the advantage along the back-stretch. O'Brien took control of top spot down the back-stretch of lap 2 before caution slowed the field. Scott Wood of St. Catharines was on the move in the early going - taking control of top spot - powering around the outside of turn 4 in an impressive move. Another caution on lap 11 slowed the field with Wood in control once again. The second generation driver quickly pulled away to a 10 car lead. Another second generation driver Brian Stevens also of the Garden City was also on the move in the early going and began to close in on the leader to lap 20.
The race was slowed for caution on lap 21 with Wood in control of the field and running the high groove. Stevens once again began to challenge wood and along the front-stretch of lap 26 - became the new leader. Wood now the challenger never lost sight of top spot - pressuring Stevens until he regained the lead on lap 30. With lap traffic now a factor Stevens began to challenge once again taking over top spot out of turn 4 completing lap 37. With Stevens and Wood battling for the lead, Pete Bicknell - another St. Catharines driver was also on the move and soon caught the front-runners. Bicknell took control of the runner-up spot on lap 48 and set his sights on Stevens. Bicknell took control of top spot along the back-stretch of lap 49 and by lap 50 opened up a lead of some 10 car lengths.
Misfortune would strike early leader Scott Wood - off to his best race of the season - as the front-runner's car lost a left rear tire in turn four - slowing the field on lap 65. Bicknell set the pace on the restart with Alan Johnson on the move and challenging Stevens for runner-up spot. Johnson had come from 30th spot to the top 5 just past half-way and was now in the runner-up spot by lap 75. Johnson took to the outside groove to challenge Bicknell. Johnson took control with some 25 laps to go and ran unchallenged to the checkered flag. Brett Hearn of Sussex NJ made a late race charge to take the runner-up spot ahead of Pete Bicknell. Tim McCreadie of Watertown NY and Brian Stevens closed out the top 5 while Jim Begolo of Thorold, Don McGinnis, Joe Plazek of Caistor Center, and St. Catharines drivers Doug Gordon and Ken Cosgrove rounded out the top 10.
The win for Johnson - his eighth of the season at Merritville had it's moments. Scheduled to start 4th - the point leader unfortunately was relegated to last spot in the field after his car wouldn't start in the pit area prior to race time. Rules state that the car must fire on it's own without a push vehicle.
"Everything just came together ... we really didn't know what to expect," relates defending race champion Johnson who won last year's 97 lap event, " the crew just did a great job ... it was set up for late in the race - the car ran good all the way around ... all I could do was just keep plugging away."
The race which was a qualifying event for the Prolong Lubricants 358 Modified Championship held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse NY has Pete Bicknell, Brian Stevens, Jim Begolo and Don McGinnis as representatives of Merrittville Speedway with Johnson and the other front-runners already holding 'spots'.
Rob Pietz was first to lead the 25 lap Sportsmen feature - setting the pace until caution slowed the field on lap 4. Tammy Willard was the new leader on the restart with Pietz back to second . Caution would slow the field once more on lap 5 with Chad Brachman the new leader. Brachman got a little high in turn 4 of lap 7 - scuffing off some speed which allowed Pietz to regain top spot. Larry Lampman was now on the move taking control of top spot along the back-stretch of lap 8. Lampman and runner-up Pietz pulled away slightly from the field by lap 10 until caution again slowed the pace on lap 13. Lampman regained the lead on the restart with the point leader pulling away from the field with a tremendous battle for second behind him. A late caution slowed the field allowing Lampman to stay in control once again. Through to the finish Lampman opened up a lead of some 20 car lengths with Chad Brachman charging back to take the runner-up spot. Rob Pietz, Joe Middlemiss and Tammy Willard closed out the top 5 while Garry Moreash, Randy Chrysler, Ken Walsh, Guy McPherson and Joe Meisel closed out the top 10.
Tony Royston was first to lead the 15 lap Late Model feature and after a lap 3 caution - retained top spot on the restart. Ken Sargent took the lead in turn 1 and soon opened up a lead of 5 car lengths. Another incident on lap 10 slowed the field with Royston returning to top spot on the restart. Jack Cassell and Ron Reece both were pressuring Royston for the lead as the race wound down. Royston drifted high in turn completing lap 13 - allowing Reece to become the new leader. At the finish Ron Reece was in for the win - some 5 car lengths ahead of Jack Cassell with Herb Hunter, Boyd McTavish, and Rocket Randy Hollingshead rounding out the top 5. Jim Neufeld, Rob Murray, Don Spiece, Tony Royston and Brian Halliwell closed out the top 10.
Modified Heats first 1. Ron Smoker, 2. Pat O'Brien, 3. Doug Gordon. Second 1. Bill Mullin, 2. Fred Cade, 3. Joe Plazek. Third 1. Pete Bicknell, 2. Don McGinnis, 3. Brian Stevens. Fourth 1. Alan Johnson, 2. Todd Burley, 3. Scott Wood.
Modified Consolations First 1. Andy Bachetti, 2. Rich Vinson, 3. Martin Polhill. Second 1. Tim Fuller, 2. Ken Cosgrove, 3. Don Turner.
Sportsmen Heats 1 Tammy Willard, 2. Pete Cosco, 3. Guy McPherson. Second 1. Rob Pietz, 2. Larry Lampman, 3. Garry Moreash. Third 1. Jack McKinney, 2. Chad Brachman, 3. Bill Podwinski.
Late Model Heats First 1. Tony Royston, 2. Rob Murray, 3. Boyd McTavish. Second 1. Ken Sargent, 2. Jack Cassell, 3. Herb Hunter.
Action continues into August with David Chevrolet Oldsmobile Corvette presenting Welland Tribune Reader and Carrier Appreciation Night - featuring racing in the Modified, Sportsmen, Late Model and Street Stock divisions. A fund-raiser for the Kacey Lynne Jamboree - the night also features another Demolition Derby. Gates open at 5:30 - racing starts at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266.