GORDON ONLY FIRST TIME WINNER AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario...Doug Gordon was the lone first time winner August 2nd at Merrittville as the veteran won the 358 Modified 35 lap feature - his first of the season. Garry Moreash took his second in the 35 lap Sportsmen Special while Brian Halliwell won his 4th straight Pro-Stock feature. Tony Royston and Paul Reichel were also victorious in the Mod Stock and Street Stock divisions respectively.
Joe Meisel was first to lead the 35 lap Sportsmen Special with Garry Moreash the new leader in turn 4. An early caution slowed the field on lap 3 with Meisel in control once more on the restart. Another caution slowed the field on lap 5 with Meisel again in control before another incident slowed the field on the restart. Meisel held off Moreash's challenge on the restart. Caution once more on lap 9 saw Moreash the new leader. On the restart Meisel was quick to challenge for top spot with the Stoney Creek driver running side by side with Moreash for a number of laps. Moreash took control in turn 4 of lap 15 with another caution slowing the field once again on lap 16. Garry Moreash resumed control on the restart and by lap 20 had pulled away to a 20 car lead. The driver on the move late in the race was Bill Krull with the Newfane NY native taking second spot on lap 25. Through lap traffic in the closing stages Moreash continued to set the pace with the "Zoomer" Krull quickly closing in.
"I knew the top was fast...but Joe (Meisel) would give it to me," relates Garry Moreash in Victory lane for the second time of '97 adding "I found something in turn 4 just before the last caution and we took off from there."
At the finish Moreash came home on top with the margin of victory cut to 5 car lengths by a hard charging Bill Krull in second. Larry "the Lion" Lampman, Rob Pietz and Paul Ashton closed out the top 5 while Chad Brachman, Pete Cosco, Bill Podwinski, Joe Meisel and Steve Devos closed out the top 10.
After a false start at the green flag of the 35 lap Modified feature, veteran Bill Sheldon was first to lead. Rookie Any Green took over top spot on lap 3 before a multi-car incident in turn 1 slowed the field on lap 6. Bill Sheldon resumed control of top spot on the restart with Andy Green quick to return to the lead. Green eventually opened up a lead of some 10 car lengths before another caution slowed the pace on lap 13. Ken Cosgrove was the new leader on the restart before another incident on lap 14 again slowed the field. Cosgrove resumed control on the restart - setting the pace through three other restarts after cautions slowly took the race to lap 20. Doug "Flash" Gordon became the new leader along the front stretch of lap 24 with his pace slowed on lap 29 after Wayne Conn made heavy contact with the front stretch wall - dropping from a sure top 5 finish. Gordon resumed control on the restart with one final caution on lap 33 setting up a two lap dash to the finish. Gordon held the lead with a two car length advantage over Ken Cosgrove while "Flyin'"Brian Stevens, Terry St. Amand and Don Spatarico closed out the top 5. Rob Krull, Don McGinnis, "The Blue Streak" Turner, Bill Sheldon and Bill "the Thrill" Willard rounded out the top 10.
"We win as a team, we lose as a team, and we race as a team," the philosophy of first time '97 winner Doug Gordon in a post race interview. "The track was in good shape...lots of bite..everything just went our way...we're happy to be here."
Rob Murray of St. Catharines was first to lead the 15 lap Pro stock feature with a caution on lap 4 slowing the field. Murray set the pace on the restart looking his strongest of the season. Also running strong was Randy Hollingshead with the Hamilton native taking over top spot out of turn 2 on lap 7. As the race continued the two front-runners had pulled away on the field. Hollingshead had a 5 car lead on runner-up Brian Halliwell who in turn had a 20 car advantage on the field. Coming out of turn 4 for the last time with the checkered flag in sight, Randy Hollingshead had a right rear tire go flat and dropped off the pace. At the finish line the new leader was Brian Halliwell for the 4th straight week with Randy Hollingshead unfortunately having to settle for second. Rob Murray had a fine showing in taking 3rd while Ron "the ruler" Reece and Steve Heigl made up the top 5. Todd Gordon, Bill Bleich, Randy Chrysler, Dolph McCready and Todd Zelichowski closed out the top 10.
Tony Royston was first to lead the 12 lap Mod Stock feature with a caution slowing the field just past the halfway point on lap 7. "The tiger" Royston resumed control on the restart and set the pace through to the finish. Jeff Kline made a late race charge to take second with Ken Hildreth, Captain Kirk Wilson, Guy Bougie, Kevin Janzen, Gary Kruchka, Tom Dobson and Lloyd Cichocki as the balance of the top 10.
Chris Crawford was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock feature with a caution on lap 1 immediately slowing the field. Crawford resumed control on the restart with Paul Reichel challenging for top spot. The second generation driver took control along the front-stretch and by the half-way point had opened up a lead of almost a half lap on the field. Early leader Crawford dropped from second on lap 9 with a flat tire unfortunately but there was no stopping Reichel who maintained the margin of victory through to the finish. Bob Deswiage, Bruce Colbert, Jeff Dayman and Darren Zumpe closed out the top 5 while Alex Whalen, Roger Beaulieu, Sam Cooper, Tim Knapp and Rick Simons closed out the top 10.
Action continues at Merrittville with David Chevrolet presenting City of Welland/Kacey Lynne Foundation Night. On track action will feature the Pro-Stocks in Twin 15 lap events in addition to regular events for all other classes.
The event will close with a Demolition Derby. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266.