STEVENS LEADS GARDEN CITY DRIVERS TO WINNER'S CIRCLE AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario...Veteran Brian Stevens led a group of Garden City Drivers to Victory Lane in taking the 35 lap 358 Modified feature victory on the City of St. Catharines night at the Thorold track. Other St. Catharines drivers also victorious were Jay Mallory and Brian Halliwell in the Sportsmen and Pro Stock divisions. Larry Lampman, Tony Royston, Paul Reichel and Patti Rockey were also winners in the second Sportsmen feature, the Mod Stock, Street Stock and Ladies Races respectively, which were all part of the Best Fuels/Garden City REMAX sponsored race card.
"We've run good all year," relates second generation driver Brian Stevens, adding, "it feels good to be back in Victory Lane after 5 years away."
Harry Sittler was first to lead the 35 lap 358 Modified feature before multiple cautions on lap 5 slowed the field in the early going. Sittler resumed control on the restart with Brian Stevens now challenging for top spot. Flyin' Brian finally took control in turn 2 of lap 11 with his pace slowed on lap 16 just before coming into lap traffic. Stevens again set the pace in two restarts, the most notably coming on lap 24 when contact between front-runner Jamie Turner and Pete Bicknell sent those drivers into the infield. Both were able to continue with Flyin' Brian Stevens out front once more when action resumed. One final caution on lap 34 eliminated a 20 car lead built by Stevens on the field but in the one lap dash to the finish Stevens was able to hold the lead by almost 5 car lengths.
"I owe it all to the crew...after last Saturday we had to rebuild our motor and then today change the rear-end," remarked the two time points champ Stevens.
Following Stevens was Doug Gordon with Don Martin making a late race charge to take third. Scott Wood and Ken Cosgrove closed out the top 5. Harry Sittler, Wayne Conn, Fred Cade, Terry St. Amand and Don Spatarico completed the top 10.
The Sportsmen division was spotlighted in Twin 15 lap features and it was Pete Cosco in control at the start of the first. Several cautions slowed the pace in the early going with Cosco holding top spot on each ensuing restart. Larry the Lion Lampman took control on lap 9 exiting turn 4 with caution slowing the field on lap 10. Lampman resumed control on the restart and with one last caution on lap 11 for debris on the track - Lampman ran away to a 10 car lead in the closing 4 laps for his second Merrittville Victory of '97. Pete Cosco settled for second while Chad Brachman, Scott George, and Steve Devos closed out the top 5. Jay Mallory, Mark Potter, Ken Walsh, Joe Meisel and Rob Pietz rounded out the top 10.
Bob Davidson was first to lead the 2nd 15 lap Sportsmen feature with a lap 2 caution slowing the field. Davidson set the pace on the restart through to a second caution on lap 9. Davidson resumed control of top spot on the restart with Jay Mallory soon to challenge. Mallory overtook Davidson along the back stretch of lap 13 and took his Best Fuels/Chevron Sportsmen to the finish line for his second victory of the season. Rob Pietz made a late race charge to take runner up spot with Bob Davidson settling for third. Larry the Lion Lampman and Scott George closed out the top 5 while Bill Podwinski, Chad Brachman, Ken Walsh, Garry Moreash and Joe Meisel finished in the top 10.
Jack Cassell was first to lead the 15 lap Pro Stock feature until Steve Heigl found the lead along the back-stretch. Cassell was quick to return to top spot on the next lap before caution eased the battle on lap 2. Cassell resumed control before Brian Halliwell stormed into the lead in turn 4 of lap 3. A caution on lap 8 slowed Halliwell's run - on the restart second generation driver Halliwell resumed control and by the checkered flag had built a lead of at least 20 car lengths over Randy Hollingshead. Ron the Ruler Reece, Ken Sargent and Bill Bleich closed out the top 5 while Jack Cassell, Rob Murray, Herb Hunter, Rick Miller and Len Wiley completed the top 10.
Dave Colavecchia set the pace at the start of the 12 lap Mod Stock feature with a lap 4 caution then slowing the field. Colavecchia resumed control on the restart until Tony the Tiger Royston came to challenge at the half way point. Along the back stretch of lap 6 The Tiger took control of the top spot and never looked back. Through to the finish the battle remained for runner up spot with Dave Colavecchia holding out for second over Jeff Kline who had to settle for third. Ken Hildreth and Greg Panunte closed out the top 5 while Shawn Sliter, The Captain Kirk Wilson, Derek VanMil, Kevin Reichel and Tom Dobson closed out the top 10.
Rookie Vic Speirs was first to lead the 12 lap Street Stock feature before an early caution slowed the field. When racing resumed the new leader was Paul Reichel with the points leader holding top spot on another restart after a lap 6 caution slowed the field again. Reichel held the lead on the restart and through to the finish opened a 20 car lead on the field. Sam Cooper, Jeff Dayman, Bruce Colbert and Tim Knapp rounded out the top 5 while Chris Crawford, Wayne Howard, Wes Thoms, Jeff Intine, and Rick Simons closed out the top 10.
The night finished off with the first Ladies Race of the season. The ladies took to the track and immediately Tammy Gennings led the 12 lap event. Gennings - the wife of Sportsmen driver Rob Pietz set the pace until Ms. Merrittville '96 Patti Rockey stormed into top spot along the front stretch of lap 3 after Gennings got hung up in lap traffic. Rockey set the pace through to the finish with Gennings making a late race charge only to fall 5 car lengths short at the checkered flag. Shani Bleich, Michelle Johnson and Robin Mawhinney closed out the top 5 while Kathy Heigl, Chrissy Michaud, Darlene Gifford, Patty Cichocki and Lori Moreash rounded out the top 10.
Action continues with Rust Check presenting the Skoal, Inc and 7-11 Food Stores Custom Cruise Night. On track action will feature regular events for all 5 divisions plus the first Demolition Derby of the new season. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30. For cruise or race information call 905-892-8266.