SPECTACULAR NIGHT FOR FIRST TIME 98 WINNERS AT MERRITTVILLE

Thorold, Ontario..7/12/98..A capacity crowd enjoyed a spectacular night at Merrittville Speedway with the rain-delayed Empire Super Sprint Card joining the regular card of DIRT-sanctionned action. First time winner along the MAC Tools 15th Anniversary ESS Tour was Dan Kaszubinski while 358 Modified stand-out Pete Bicknell also won for his first time of the 98 season. Repeat winners included Chad Brachman, Randy Hollingshead, Jeff Dayman and Darlene Gifford in the Sportsmen, Late Model, Street Stock and Ladies Race divisions respectively in the Davey Automotive Loctite Product night at the Thorold track.

Pat Parker was first to lead the 20 lap Empire Super Sprint feature before Mike Lauterborn took control along the front-stretch of lap 1. A lap 4 caution on slowed the pace with Lauterborn in control once again on the restart. Another caution on lap 8 slowed Lauterborn and on the restart the veteran was able to pull away to an eventual 1/2 lap lead on the field. Lauterborn's healthy lead was cut on lap 11by yet another caution. Out front once again on the restart Lauterborn led the field as the laps wound down. Towards the end of the race Dan Kaszubinski was on the move as was ESS favorite Mike Woodring. The two set their sights on the front of the pack and were closing in. With the checkered flag in sight Kaszubinski made his challenge - taking the high groove through turns 3 & 4 around to the start finish line. At the stripe it was Kaszubinski out front with Lauterborn settling for second. Mike Woodring, Rob Dietrick, and Mike Stelter closed out the top 5 while Mike VanDusen, Bobby Parrow, Scott Holcomb, Doug Emery and Bubby Kerrick rounded out the top 10.

"As the race wound down ... I found that the top was very fast," relates Kaszubinski, adding, " Mike left the groove open ... I went up and the car held it's position ... we've been second so many times ... this could really change our season."

The 35 lap 358 Modified feature saw Fred Carleton lead the field to green before a multi-car incident in turn 4 slowed the early pace. Carleton resumed control on the restart before Bill Krull took control in turn 1. A lap 4 caution would slow the field with Ken Cosgrove the new leader on the restart. Quickly Cosgrove opened up a 20 car length advantage on the field. Lap 15 saw a caution after Andy Green spun in turn 4 with misfortune striking the leader. The incident happened right in front of Cosgrove with his evasive action finding him spinning also. Brian Stevens was the new leader on the restart with Pete Bicknell soon to challenge. The two ran side by side for a number of laps before Bicknell found the advantage along the back-stretch of lap 16. With Bicknell out front challengers Stevens and Alan Johnson were closing in on the defending points champion as the race neared the lap 30 mark. As the front-runners came up on slower cars Stevens was able to close right in on Bicknell - mounting a challenge for top spot. In the race for top spot slight contact didn't slow either driver down with Bicknell holding on for what unbelievably was his first feature victory of the season.

"It's nice to finally win ," exclaims Pete Bicknell, " we've finished 2nd four weeks in a row ... The crew made some changes that at one point may not have been the best but I found some good bite high and low ... that last bit of lap traffic though ... thankfully everything ran great."

Following Bicknell and runner-up Stevens was points leader Alan Johnson with Don McGinnis and Scott Wood as the top 5. Jamie Turner, Don Martin, Doug Gordon, Jim Begolo and Ken Cosgrove closed out the top 10.

Tim Lipsitt was first to lead the 20 lap Sportsmen feature before a lap 4 caution slowed the field. Ken Walsh was the new leader with a caution on the restart delaying the return to action. Walsh set the pace on the restart with Chad Brachman on the move and challenging as the race neared lap 10. Along the front-stretch of lap 10 Brachman took control and soon enjoyed more than a 10 car lead on the field. Brachman was slowed on lap 14 after rookie sensation Joe Middlemiss spun out of third spot. Brachman again set the pace and soon enjoyed a 10 car lead on the field. One final incident slowed the pace on lap 18 with Brachman again out to a good lead on the restart. In the closing laps however Larry Lampman was on the move - closing quickly on the leader.

At the finish Brachman held true with Lampman at most a half car length behind. Ken Walsh, Joe Meisel, and Guy McPherson rounded out the top 5 with Rob Pietz, Tammy Willard, Joe Middlemiss, Bill Podwinski, and Tim Lipsitt closing out the top 10.

Second generation driver Don Spiece took control at the start of the 15 lap Late Model feature. Spiece soon enjoyed a comfortable lead on the field. An early caution slowed the field with Spiece out in front once again. Randy Hollingshead was soon to challenge. Hollingshead found the advantage in turn 4 of lap 8 and became the new leader. With Spiece and Ron Reece now battling for second Hollingshead was able to pull away slightly from the field. Reece eventually took over the runner-up spot on lap 13 and closed on the leader but at the finish it was Hollingshead out front by two car lengths.

Following Randy Hollingshead, Ron Reece, and Don Spiece was Jack Cassell, Boyd McTavish, Ken Sargent, Steve Heigl, Brian Halliwell, Tony Royston (97 Mod Stock Points champ at Merrittville) and Todd Zelichowski to close out the top 10.

Gord Kostyk was the initial leader of the 12 lap Street Stock feature with an early caution slowing the 24 car starting field - the largest of the season. Kostyk resumed control on the restart with Jeff Dayman quick to challenge. Along the back-stretch of lap 3 Dayman took control. Towards the end of the event Dayman continued to set the pace into increasing lap traffic with the defending champion able to open a comfortable lead.

At the finish, Dayman was followed by Kostyk, Alex Whelan, Rob Knapp and Chris Crawford as the top 5. Dave Gifford, Shawn Keus, Mike Stevenson, Chuck Martin and Glenn Lampman closed out the top 10.

Street Stock Heats First 1. Gord Kostyk, 2. Todd Saunders, 3. Alex Whelan. Second 1. Chris Crawford, 2. Shawn Keus, 3. Jeff Dayman.

Late Model Heats First 1. Don Spiece, 2. Randy Hollingshead, 3. Jack Cassell, Second 1. Ron Reece, 2. Tony Royston, 3. Brian Halliwell.

Sportsmen Heat First 1. Tony Royston, 2. Chad Brachman, 3. Joe Middlemiss. Second 1. Joe Meisel, 2. Guy McPherson, 3. Tammy Willard. Third 1. Ken Walsh, 2. Jay Mallory, 3. Rob Pietz.

Modified Heats First 1. Ken Cosgrove, 2. Don McGinnis, 3. Don Turner. Second 1. Bill Krull, 2. Chris Ricker, 3. Alan Johnson. Third 1. Pete Bicknell, 2. Jamie Turner, 3. Doug Gordon.

Modified Consolation 1. Jim Begolo, 2. Rich Vinson, 3. Don Spatarico.

Action continues Saturday July 18th with Rust Check presenting the Skoal, Inc. And 7-11 Food Stores Custom Cruise Night. On track action will feature the 358 Modifieds in a 50 lap event with the rain-delayed Mid Season Championships offering double points in all classes. After the races it's the 1st annual Pit Party presented by the Merrittville Speedway Social Committee - open to race fans and race teams. Gates will open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266 or for Cruise Info call 905-646-3000.