THREAT OF RAIN DOESN'T STOP THREAT OF ALAN JOHNSON AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario ..5/3/98... Despite unsettled weather and a slight mist in the air - Alan Johnson made a successful debut as a Merrittville regular in taking the 35 lap 358 Modified season opener. Defending Point Champion Larry Lampman earned the Sportsmen feature while Randy Hollingshead won for the first time in the Late Model division. Rounding out the list of winners was second year driver Alex Whalen who made the trip to Victory Lane in the Street Stock division.
"It's great to be in a competitive car," relates Alan Johnson in Victory Lane for the first time of 98, adding, " it was a great race for the fans." Johnson was referring to the Transaction Group 358 Modified owned by St. Catharines businessman Mike Maroney.
Martin Polhill out-raced 98 rookie Bill Krull to the initial green flag at the start of the 35 lap Modified feature and right away faced a challenge from Brian Stevens. With Stevens and Polhill battling for top spot the two pulled away from the field by some 20 car lengths. Stevens surged into the lead along the back-stretch of lap 2 with Polhill regaining the lead out of turn 4 of lap 4. With the front-runners Polhill, Stevens and now Pete Bicknell and Alan Johnson setting the pace the four began to pull away from the field. Stevens regained the top spot on lap 12 with Polhill again in front on lap 13. The two swapped the top spot once again with Alan Johnson taking over third and catching the leaders by lap 15. Just past the half-way point Polhill led the field into lap traffic. Polhill was able to use the slower cars to his advantage until caution slowed the field for the first time on lap 23. Polhill survived another restart also as leader after a lap 24 incident that again slowed the pace. In the closing stages Johnson was on the high side and challenging Polhill with the veteran taking control along the front-stretch of lap 32. Through to the finish Johnson was able to maintain a 5 car advantage for the victory.
"The track was in great shape ... two grooves high and low ...with starting 9th ... we needed the track to get to the front," Victory Lane comments from the Phelps NY driver. Previous to 1998, Johnson ran only a limited schedule of special events and going back to last season he is 3 for 3 as he won in both appearances.
Following Johnson, Martin Polhill settled for second, with Brian Stevens, Pete Bicknell and Jamie Turner rounding out the top 5. Jim Begolo, Don Martin, Don Turner, Scott Wood and Rob Krull closed out the top 10.
Ken Walsh was first to lead the 25 lap Sportsmen feature with caution on lap 2 slowing the veteran's pace. Walsh resumed control on the restart with Joe Meisel taking control of top spot in turn 1. Caution again would slow the field with Ken Walsh dropping from second spot with problems. Meisel would set the pace until another caution on lap 5 with Meisel again out in front on the restart. Larry Lampman was on the move in the early going from his 7th starting spot and on lap 6 caught the leaders. Lampman hugged the bottom groove and overtook Meisel into turn 3 of lap 6. With Lampman out front the field was slowed once again wqith Meisel dropping off the pace. Lampman resumed control on the restart with the challenge now from Garry Moreash. The two traded spots as leader several times, with Lampman in control again by lap 14. Soon Lampman opened up a 5 car advantage on the field stretching the margin to some 20 car lengths by lap 20. Lampman's lead was cut on lap 23 as caution slowed the field for the final time. Through to the finish Lampman remained in control of top spot with Garry Moreash settling for runner-up spot. Pete Cosco had a fine third place showing while Tammy Willard and rookie Joe Middlemiss closed out the top 5. John Hagerman, John McKenny, Chad Brachman, Bill Podwinski, and Rob Devenyi filled out the top 10.
The start of the 15 lap Late Model feature saw Randy Hollingshead beat pole-sitter Rob Murray to the green flag. Almost immediately Hollingshead was able to pull away to a 10 car lead. From his 7th starting spot Ron Reece was on the move early to the runner-up spot but the Welland driver could not close on the leader - Hollingshead maintaining his advantage. Reece would catch the leader through the turns but down the straight-aways Hollingshead reopened the distance between the two. In the closing laps Reece closed in somewhat on the leader but at the finish it was Hollingshead in for his first of the new season - celebrating with a reverse 'Polish' victory lap.
Following Hollingshead and Reece was Rob Murray with a good third place finish with Bill Bleich and Todd Gordon closing out the top 5. Opening night winner Don Spiece, Brian Halliwell, Herb Hunter, Jack Cassell, and Anthony DeLazzari closed out the top 10.
Jeff Wilson was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock feature with caution slowing his pace on lap 4. After the restart Wilson's pace was slowed again on lap 5. Once again Wilson set the pace on the restart before Alex Whalen took control on lap 6 between turns 3 and 4. In the last half of the race Whalen opened up a 1/4 lap lead on the field with Jeff Wilson settling for second. Mike Ward, Rob Knapp and Dan Gilbert rounded out the top 5 with Bob Deswiage, Bruce Colbert, Sam Cooper, Dana Turner and Chris Crawford as the top 10.
PIT NOTES ... Both Ken Sargent and Jeff Dayman unfortunately unable to start their features ... 28 358 Modifieds on season opener. Former Mod Stock driver Anthony DeLazzari purchased the Jarrod Yuhasz Late Model.
Heat Results
Modified First 1. Martin Pollhill, 2. Jamie Turner, 3. Jim Begolo. Second 1.Bill Krull, 2. Don Turner, 3. Wayne Conn. Third 1. Brian Stevens, 2. Pete Bicknell, 3. Alan Johnson. Consolation 1. Don Spatarico, 2. Don McGinnis, 3. Doug Gordon.
Sportsmen First 1. Joe Meisel, 2. Bill Podwinski, 3. Ken Walsh. Second 1. Garry Moreash, 2. Larry Lampman, 3. Rob Pietz.
Late Model First 1. Jack Cassell, 2. Rob Murray, 3. Bill Bleich. Second 1. Randy Hollingshead, 2. Bruin Halliwell, 3.Todd Gordon.
Street Stock First 1. Jeff Wilson, 2. Jeff Dayman, 3. Mike Ward. Second 1. Alex Whalen, 2. Shawn Keus, 3. Rob Knapp.
Action continues through May with a special Mother's Day Eve program featuring a full card of racing plus the first Ladies Race of the new season. When the gates open at 5:30 the Pen Center will be giving away 250 $10 gift certificates to the first 250 Mothers with the second 250 Mothers receiving a Pen Hat. Racing begins at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.vaxxine.com/merrittvillespeedway.