DON McGINNIS AND MERRITTVILLE'S DARLING OF DIRT TAMMY WILLARD MAKE MERRITTVILLE RETURNS SUCCESSFUL

Thorold, Ontario ... A number of drivers are making a return to Merrittville Speedway in 1998 and two crowd

favorites - Tammy Willard of St. Catharines and Don McGinnis of Ransomville NY wasted little time in finding the

way to the winner's circle at the Thorold track in the Sportsmen and 358 Modifieds divisions respectively -

Saturday May 9.

Defending Late Model points champion Ken Sargent of Fenwick got his season on track with his first victory of

the new season after a troubled start while sophomore Street Stock driver Alex Whalen of Niagara Falls won for

the second time of the young season.

Darlene Gifford of Niagara-on-the-Lake rounded out the winners in the Pen Centre Mother's Day Eve Madness

race card in taking the first Ladies Race of the year.

"I couldn't do anything without the crew ... they've worked very hard to get me here," relates Don McGinnis after

accepting his first checkered flag of the season, adding, " I've got to thank (car owner) Terry St. Amand .. also

Randy Williamson and Pete Bicknell - they've helped alot in getting the car set-up."

Ken Cosgrove was first to lead the 35 lap 358 Modified feature under a full moon - which had real effect on the

main event. A multi-car incident in turn 1 of lap 2 forced officials to stop the event as the track was blocked with a

number of cars including that of Pete Bicknell, Alan Johnson, Martin Polhill, Brian Stevens, Jim Begolo, Ron

Spatarico with Spatarico cradled off the race track. Cosgrove regained the lead on the restart before another

caution on lap 6 involved another group of top drivers. Cosgrove again set the pace until Brian Stevens and Pete

Bicknell came together high in turn 1 on lap 11.

Doug Gordon was on the move and soon began to challenge Cosgrove for top spot. As the race neared the

half-way point Gordon was catching the leader pulling alongside along the front-stretch of lap 17. Cosgrove

regained the advantage along the back-stretch until Gordon regained the lead on lap 20. From 11th starting spot

another driver making a move in the last half of the race was Don McGinnis. By lap 23 McGinnis took over

second spot. McGinnis became the new leader in turn 1 of lap 27 after Gordon slowed suddenly. McGinnis almost

immediately pulled away to a 20 car lead with early leader Ken Cosgrove settling for second. Jamie Turner and

Alan Johnson rebounded from earlier incidents to finish third and fourth while Doug Gordon rejoined the pace but

dropped back to fifth. Rich Vinson, Scott Wood, 98 rookie Bill Krull, Martin Polhill and Pete Bicknell closed out

the top 10.

Ken Walsh was first to lead the 25 lap Sportsmen feature with the St. Catharines veteran immediately opening up

a lead of 10 car lengths on the field. On the move in the early going was Chad Brachman who took over second

spot by lap 4. Caution for debris on the track slowed the pace on lap 4 and on the restart Brachman powered into

the lead out of turn 4 on the restart. Brachman also would jump to a 10 car lead with Tammy Willard taking over

second spot. By lap 10 Willard began to close in on the leader even through lap traffic. Willard eventually caught

Brachman pulling side-by-side by lap 19. Brachman held the lead until Willard took control out of turn 4 of lap 22.

With Willard out front slight contact between Brachman and a slower lap car allowed Larry Lampman to take

second spot. Brachman settled for third with Rob Pietz and Garry Moreash closing out the top 5. Pete Cosco, Joe

Middlemiss, John McKenney, John Hagerman and Tim Lipsitt rounded out the top 10.

"Happy Mother's Day, Mom!," the first words of an overjoyed Willard as the two met amidst family and friends in

Victory Lane," adding, " I really didn't think we'd be here this quick ... it's going to be a great year - hopefully

we'll get back here again!"

Jack Cassell was first to lead the 15 lap Late Model feature with the St. Catharines driver maintaining a car length

lead on the field before caution slowed the pace on lap 5. On the restart Ken Sargent took control of top spot with

another incident on lap 12 slowing the field once more. Sargent held top spot through to the finish and at the

checkered flag - enjoyed a 10 car length lead over runner-up Ron Reece. Todd Gordon, Jack Cassell and Bill

Bleich closed out the top 5 with Randy Hollingshead, Herb Hunter, Brian Halliwell, Don Spiece and Rob Murray

as the top 10.

Sophomore Street Stock driver Dave Gifford started on the pole of the 12 lap feature and after a lap 1 restart -

opened up a lead of some 20 car lengths on the field. By the half-way point Gifford opened up a half lap lead -

taking the front-runners into slower lap traffic. A lap 7 caution again slowed the field and while under caution the

leader Gifford retired to the pit area. Alex Whalen became the new leader on the restart and by the finish a lead of

some ten cars for his 2nd victory in as many runs. Darryl Ebersole ran a fine second in his first ever showing while

Rob Knapp, Sam Cooper and Dan Gilbert closed out the top 5. Chris Crawford, Bill King, Al Smith, Tom Wilson

and Jeff Wilson rounded out the top 10.

Darlene Gifford took control of the special Ladies Race and with the event caution-free was able to open up a lead

of a half lap. Darlene's car was that of husband Dave's Street Stock. Darlene took bragging rights in the family -

the first to visit Victory Lane - although Dave appeared to be on his way to victory before retiring to the pits early

in his Street Stock feature.

Merrittville Speedway's Social Club recently received approval of a 50/50 weekly drawing in support of the

Thorold Big Red Meats Blackhawk Junior B Hockey Team's Scholarship Fund. Glen Currie won $505.

STREET STOCK HEATS First 1. Sam Cooper, 2. Dave Gifford, 3. Darryl Ebersole. Second 1. Mike Ward, 2. Jeff

Dayman, 3. Dan Gilbert.

LATE MODEL HEATS First 1. Jack Cassell, 2. Bill Bleich, 3. Don Spiece. Second 1. Ron Reece, 2. Ken Sargent,

3. Todd Gordon.

SPORTSMEN HEATS First 1. Ken Walsh, 2. Chad Brachman, 3. Bill Podwinski. Second 1. Rob Devenyi, 2. Joe

Middlemiss, 3. Tammy Willard.

358 MODIFIED HEATS First 1. Bill Krull, 2. Wayne Conn, 3. Rick Richner. Second 1. Ken Cosgrove, 2. Fred

Cade,. 3. Alan Johnson. Third 1. Luke Carleton, 2. Bill Willard, 3. Scott Wood. Consolation 1. Rich Vinson, 2. Don

Martin, 3. Pete Bicknell.

Action returns to Merrittville with the first double-header of the new season with racing both May 16th and

Monday May 18th. Saturday's card - Catfish Derby Kid's Night will see a full race card in addition to free Kid's

face painting and pony rides. Monday's action sees the 358 Modifieds in a 50 lap Syracuse qualifier on Kleen-Flo

Product Night. All other divisions will complete the Victoria Day extravaganza as well as FIREWORKS. Gates

open at 5:30 both dates with racing starting at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266.