STEVENS HOLDS OFF CHALLENGERS FOR FIRST WIN OF SEASON AT MERRITTVILLE

Thorold, Ontario .8/2/98..... The month of August kicked off with some great racing at Merrittville Speedway with Brian Stevens leading the way with his first feature victory of the season in the 358 Modified feature. Joe Middlemiss continued quite a story in winning his fourth Sportsmen win of the season with other winners Randy Hollingshead and Jeff Dayman in the Late Model and Street Stock divisions.

Don Turner was first to lead the 35 lap Modified feature before Rich Vinson took control on the third circuit. Vinson immediately ran away to a comfortable lead on the field before a lap 11 caution slowed the pace. Vinson - looking his strongest of the season remained the leader on two other cautions - lap 15 and then again on lap 20. Brian Stevens was among the drivers on the move to this point in the race and soon after the lap 20 restart was challenging for top spot. Stevens took control in turn 2 with Vinson now the challenger. A lap 23 caution was followed by another on lap 24 with Stevens in control. Vinson regained top spot in turn 2 of lap 27 with Stevens pulling alongside to challenge. The two second generation drivers ran neck and neck until Stevens found the advantage along the back-stretch of lap 33. A late caution again slowed the race for top spot between Stevens, Vinson and point leader Alan Johnson. On the restart it was Stevens again out front and at the finish enjoyed a car length lead over the field.

Rich Vinson had his best race since becoming a Merrittville regular in taking the runner-up spot with Alan Johnson third. Don McGinnis and Don Spatarico closed out the top 5 while Joe Plazek, Don Martin, Ken Cosgrove, Fred Carleton and George Jowdy finished out the top 10.

"The car was a little tight," informed Brian Stevens in Victory Lane, " it took 6 or 7 laps after restarts for the car to stay fast and smooth ... I've got to thank the crew ... they've worked hard and made alot of changes today."

Second generation driver Jack McKinney took control of the 25 lap Sportsmen feature at the drop of the green with John McKenney the new leader when a caution slowed the field on lap 4. Rob Pietz was the new leader on the restart before back-to-back cautions slowed the veteran's pace on laps 9 and 10. Pietz again set the pace as leader on the restart before Joe Middlemiss began to challenge - the rookie taking the lead out of turn 4 to complete lap 11. To the half-way point Middlemiss opened up a 10 car lead before a lap 19 caution closed the comfortable lead. On the restart it was Middlemiss again out front and despite one final caution on lap 22 - ran to a 5 car length lead at the finish.

Rob Pietz, a hard charging Chad Brachman, Larry Lampman and Joe Meisel closed out the top 5 while Garry Moreash, Tammy Willard, Bill Podwinski, Gary Kruchka and Rob Devenyi finished out the top 10.

Herb Hunter set the pace at the start of the 15 lap Late Model feature before caution on lap 2 slowed the field after contact between cars in turn 2. Ron Reece was the new leader on the restart before Ken Sargent took control with an inside pass. Two cautions on laps 7 and 9 would slow Sargent's pace before misfortune also struck the leader. Sargent slowed off the pace while under the lap 9 caution and retired to the pit area. Ron Reece regained the top spot with Randy Hollingshead now challenging. Hollingshead's challenge was all the more interesting as the front of the hood had come loose and was flying in the wind - no doubt affecting Hollingshead's vision. Caution slowed the field on lap 12 and on the restart Reece was again being challenged by Hollingshead. Hollingshead powered around Reece along the back-stretch of lap 14 and at the finish was a car length out front.

Following Hollinsghead and Reece was Jack Cassell, Boyd McTavish and Herb Hunter as the top 5 while Don Spiece, Brian Halliwell, Todd Zelichowski, Jim Neufeld and Tony Royston closed out the top 10.

In victory Lane, Randy Hollingshead dedicated the Victory to Grace Erskine.

Mike Stevenson set the pace at the start of the 12 lap Street Stock feature before Dave Gifford took control in turn 1 of lap 1. Gifford was able to pull away from the field right away but as the race neared the half-way point Jeff Dayman was closing quickly. Caution would slow the chase on lap 6 with Jeff Dayman the new leader on the restart. Dayman also pulled away to a comfortable lead but the driver on the move in the last half was Alex Whalen. Caution would slow the pace on lap 10 with Dayman in control once again on the restart. Alex Whalen was again on the move with his sights on top spot but at the finish Dayman was able to maintain a 2 car length margin of victory.

Behind Dayman and Whelan was Dave Gifford with Chris Crawford and Tom Wilson as the top 5. Mike Stevenson, Chuck Martin, Bruce Colbert, Rob Knapp and Darren Zumpe.

Modified Heats First 1. Dan Miller, 2. Brian Stevens, 3. Rob Krull. Second 1. Rich Vinson, 2. Pete Bicknell, 3. Don Spatarico. Third 1. Alan Johnson, 2. Wayne Conn, 3. Don Turner.

Modified B Main 1. Fred Cade, 2. Scott Wood, 3. Martin Polhill, 4. Doug Gordon, 5. Chris Ricker, 6. Jay Clause, 7. Doug Swinson, 8. Corey Gruhl, 9. Scott Harris, 10. Dave Flannigan.

Sportsmen Heats first 1. Rob Pietz, 2. Joe Middlemiss, 3. Larry Lampman. Second 1. Ken Walsh, 2. John McKenney, 3. Chad Brachman. Third 1. Garry Moreash, 2. Guy McPherson, 3. Pete Cosco.

Late Model Heats First 1. Ken Sargent, 2. Jack Cassell, 3. Herb Hunter. Second 1. Ron Reece, 2. Randy Hollinsghead, 3. Rob Murray.

Street Stock Heats First 1. Chris Crawford, 2. Jeff Dayman, 3. Dave Gifford. Second 1. Rob Knapp, 2. Bruce Colbert, 3. Tom Wilson.

Action returns Monday August 3rd with the 358 Modified in the spotlight in the 6th Annual Trevor Wilkens Memorial Modified Classic presented by Texaco Havoline and Performance Racing News. The Skoal, Inc. Super DIRT Series event - 98 laps for the Modifieds also has action in the sportsmen and Late Model divisions. Regular action resumes Saturday August 8th with David Chevrolet Oldsmobile Corvette presenting Welland Tribune Carrier and Reader Appreciation Night featuring a full card of racing plus a Demolition Derby. The folks from the Kacey Lynne Jamboree will also be in attendance. Gates open either night at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266.