US DRIVER TAKES THE FLAG IN CANADA DAY CLASH AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario...Phelps NY driver Alan Johnson took top honors June 30 in winning the opening round of the 3 race Slick 50 Shoot-out Series for 358 Modifieds at Merrittville Speedway. In Sportsmen action, Tonawanda NY driver Chad Brachman won his first ever feature at the Thorold track while repeat winners were Ron the Ruler Reece, Harry Vanderzanden and Chris Charest in the Pro-Stock, Mod Stocks and Street Stock divisions respectively.
"I couldn't have asked for a better car," relates Alan Johnson who drives a limited schedule for car owner and St. Catharines businessman Mike Maroney.
Fred Cade was first to lead the 50 lap Slick 50 Shoot-out Series opener with three cautions slowing the veteran's pace all before lap 9. With Cade out front, one driver on the move in the early going was Alan Johnson. Starting from 7th spot Johnson quickly made his way to the front - taking control across the stripe to start lap 15. With Pete Bicknell in tow the two front-runners began to pull away from the field to the half-way point. Johnson maintained a 10 car lead on Bicknell to lap 30 when the leader first came up upon slower cars. Bicknell was able to close the margin on Johnson by lap 32 but the leader negotiated lap traffic with ease - stretching his lead to some 10 car lengths once more. Late in the race Bicknell closed in on Johnson but at the checkered flag the margin of victory for Johnson was some 10 car lengths.
"It's Pete's track...but the car was running so good I could stick to the bottom. The crew told me that he (Bicknell) was right on my heels - tonight if he was going to get me, he'd have to work for it around the top," revealed Johnson in Victory Lane.
Following Johnson and Bicknell at the finish was Canada Joe Plazek, Harvey Hainer in his best finish of the season, Don Martin, early leader Fred Cade, Rob Krull, Brian Stevens, Terry St. Amand and Ken Cosgrove.
Johnson will now represent Merrittville Speedway in the Prolong 358 Modified Championship at Syracuse NY this October.
Ryan Hunsinger was first to lead the 20 lap Sportsmen feature before a lap 1 incident slowed the rookie's pace. On the restart Hunsinger and veteran Bill Krull were side by side until Krull took control along the back-stretch. Immediately Krull pulled away to a 10 car lead before caution again slowed the field on lap 7. Krull resumed control on the restart with Joe Meisel the new leader along the back. Caution again on lap 12 would slow Meisel's pace with the Hamilton native still in the lead when action resumed. Chad Brachman was next to challenge - taking the lead out of turn 2 on lap 13. Brachman also pulled away to a 10 car lead - maintaining the advantage through to his first ever Merrittville checkered flag. Larry Lampman Jr. made a late race charge to take the runner-up spot with Joe Meisel settling for third. Bill Krull and Paul Ashton closed out the top 5 while Rob Pietz, Garry Moreash, Bill Baker, Scott George and Bill Podwinski rounded out the top 10.
The Sportsmen feature was a qualifying race for July 2nd's event in Syracuse NY as well as for Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge NY in September. With Brachman getting the spot earlier in the season at Ransomville, Larry the Lion Lampman will now represent Merrittville at these two Sportsmen Championship events.
Jack Cassell was first to lead the 15 lap Pro-Stock feature setting the pace until Ron the Ruler Reece took control along the back-stretch of lap 1. Two cautions would slow Reece's pace on laps 3 and 8 with the Welland driver holding top spot on each restart. At the finish The Ruler was followed by Ken Sargent, Brian Halliwell, Tom Walker, Bill Bleich, Randy Hollingshead, Randy Chrysler, Jack Cassell and Todd Zelichowski.
The 12 lap Mod Stock feature saw Jeff Kline as the initial leader before Harry Vanderzanden took control in turn 2 of the first lap. Vanderzanden's pace was slowed on lap 4 and then again on the restart with the veteran in control once more as action resumed. Another caution on lap 7 would slow Vanderzanden with the leader able to open up a 10 car lead by lap 10. Tony the Tiger Royston, Kevin Reichel, Mark Edwards and Derek VanMil raced to close out the top 5 while Jeff Kline, Shawn Sliter, Rich Ferri, Kevin Janzen and The Captain Kirk Wilson rounded out the top 10.
Sam Cooper out-raced fellow front row starter Garry Rowe to take the lead of the 12 lap Street Stock feature. Rowe pulled alongside Cooper to challenge along the back-stretch with Cooper finding the advantage there. A lap 3 caution found Mike Ward the new leader but the Niagara Falls driver's pace was slowed immediately on lap 4 for another caution. Ward managed to resume control on the restart before Chris Charest took control exiting turn 4 in completing lap 5. Charest set the pace through to the finish for the win with Chris Crawford making a late race challenge to settle for runner-up spot only a car length behind. Paul Reichel and Sam Cooper closed out the top 5 while Roger Beaulieu, Rick Simons, Jeff Dayman, Brian Rorison, Dan Gilbert and Vic Speirs completed the top 10.
The month of July kicks off with the 358 Modifieds in the spotlight once more in the 2nd round of the Slick 50 Shoot-out Series with another 50 lap event on tap. The Quaker State/Slick 50 sponsored race card is Mid Season Championship Night with double points up for all divisions. When the gates open at 5:30 race fans can meet their favourite Modified drivers in a pre-race photo and autograph session. The first 500 fans will receive a free gift from the night sponsors.
The first green flag is set to drop at 7:30.