BICKNELL AND MOREASH TAKE SECOND FEATURES OF YEAR AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario ..8/9/98... Merrittville Speedway played host to Welland Tribune Readers and Carriers and the Rose City race fans saw a great night of racing with Pete Bicknell and Welland resident Garry Moreash both winning their second features of 98 in the Modified and Sportsmen divisions respectively. Winning for the first time in the Late Model division was Tony Royston of Chippawa while Alex Whalen of Niagara Falls returned to the Street Stock winner's circle in the David Chevrolet Oldsmobile Corvette Night.
Jamie Turner was first to lead the 35 lap 358 Modified feature and despite an early caution on lap 2 - the second generation driver was able to pull away to a comfortable lead after the restart. Cars slowing on lap 13 brought out the yellow flag once again but to no avail it was Turner out front once again - soon enjoying a comfortable lead on the field once again. Back-to-back cautions on laps 23 and 24 slowed Turner's pace briefly with the Caistor Center driver keeping top spot on each restart. Soon to challenge though was Pete Bicknell who took control in turn 1. On the full moon night of action it was Bicknell's turn for restarts with cautions again on laps 25 and 40 slowing the field. Bicknell held top spot through to the finish with the race for runner-up spot the challenge. Don McGinnis made a late race charge to take second with Alan Johnson and Brian Stevens following the Ransomville NY driver to the finish. Jamie Turner would have to settle for 5th with George Jowdy, Bill Krull, Rob Krull, Fred Cade and Scott Wood as the top 10.
"I didn't know if I was ever going to see it (Victory Lane) again," informed Pete Bicknell, " the track was extremely fast ... but so was the competition ... I've got to thank the crew - they made a lot of changes to the car."
John Hagerman set the pace at the start of the 25 lap Sportsmen feature before a lap 1 incident slowed the field. Hagerman again set the pace on the restart but along the back-stretch - Ken Walsh took control of top spot. Off to his best start of the season - Walsh survived several restarts as leader as the full moon took it's toll on the Sportsmen also. Misfortune would unfortunately strike the leader also as shortly after a lap 17 restart - Walsh coasted into the infield - dropping from top spot. Garry Moreash became the new leader with Tammy Willard and Joe Middlemiss battling for second. Willard found the advantage and would challenge Moreash on lap 22 but one last caution on lap 23 would slow the field once again. In the two lap dash to the finish - Moreash would hold top spot but only by a car length over Joe Middlemiss who overtook Tammy Willard. Pete Cosco and Larry Lampman would close out the top 5 while Chad Brachman, Joe Meisel, Ken Taylor, John Hagerman and Jack McKinney rounded out the top 10.
Tony Royston was first to lead the 15 lap Late Model event - setting the pace until caution on lap 4 would slow the field after Rob Murray made heavy contact with the front-stretch wall - the car suffering heavy right-side damage. When action resumed - Ken Sargent was the new leader until another caution slowed the pace on lap 7. Tony Royston regained top spot on the return to racing with misfortune again striking defending points champion Ken Sargent. Sargent would drop off the pace on lap 10 - retiring to the pit area. On the move late in the race was rookie Boyd McTavish. McTavish caught Royston on lap 14 and tried to take top spot but Royston held his own by a car length at the finish. Following Royston and McTavish were veterans Don Spiece, Ron Reece and Randy Hollingshead while Jack Cassell, Jim Neufeld, Todd Zelichowski, Steve Heigl and Brian Halliwell finished out the top 10.
Mike Stevenson was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock event before Rob Knapp took control along the back-stretch of the first circuit. The next time around Dave Gifford was in control before Knapp regained control along the front-stretch. The two ran side-by-side challenging for the lead before Gifford took control as caution slowed the pace. Gifford resumed control on the restart with Whalen challenging to the halfway point. The last half of the race still had Gifford holding off Whalen until the final time down the home-stretch. Gifford drifted a little high in turn 4 allowing Whalen the slightest of margins - a few feet at the finish. Behind Whalen and Gifford - Chris Crawford, Adam Ferri and Steve Marshall closed out the top 5. Ferri was later disqualified moving first timer Mike Cove into the top 5 while Jeff Dayman, Tom Wilson, Mike Stevenson, Bruce Colbert and Gord Kostyk closed out the top 10.
Modified Heats First 1. Rob Krull, 2. Scott Wood, 3. Don Turner. Second 1. Jamie Turner, 2. Alan Johnson, 3. Wayne Conn. Third 1. Bill Krull, 2. Fred Cade, 3. Brian Stevens.
Sportsmen Heat First 1. Ken Walsh, 2. Garry Moreash, 3. Pete Cosco. Second 1. Rob Pietz, 2. John Hagerman, 3. Joe Meisel. Third 1. Chad Brachman, 2. John McKenney, 3. Guy McPherson.
Late Model Heats First 1. Brian Halliwell, 2. Jim Neufeld, 3. Rob Murray. Second 1. Tony Royston, 2. Ken Sargent, 3. Boyd McTavish.
Street Stock Heats First 1. Chris Crawford, 2. Mike Stevenson, 3. Tom Wilson. Second 1. Dave Gifford, 2. Gord Kostyk, 3. Steve Marshall.
Feature winners Bicknell, Moreash, Royston and Whalen received trophies from the Kacy Lynne Foundation for their victories on the fund-raising night.
The Empire Super Sprints make their second visit of '98 - Saturday August 15th. Joining the Sprint Cars in the Davey Automotive/ Raybestos Brakes sponsored spectacular will be the 358 Modifieds, Sportsmen, Late Models and Street Stocks. Gates will open at 5:30 with action at 7:30. When the Sprints take to the track Pete Bicknell will be behind the wheel of one of the racers. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit http://www.vaxxine.com/merrittvillespeedway.