WOOD PULLS AWAY FOR FIRST WIN; PARROW HOLDS ON FOR ESS WIN AT MERRITTVILLE
Thorold, Ontario...6/14/97....Race fans at Merrittville Speedway witnessed a sizzling night of racing June 14th with 6 divisions producing new winners in all divisions. Local driver Scott Wood led the way in earning his first of '97 in the 358 Modifieds while other first timers were Rob Pietz, Todd Gordon, Mark Edwards and Chris Charest in the Sportsmen, Pro-Stock, Mod Stock and Street Stock divisions respectively. Rounding out the winners in the Kleen-Flo Product Night presented by Davey Automotive was Bobby Parrow who won the Empire Super Sprint feature.
John Hagerman was first to lead the 35 lap Modified feature but after losing power for an instant the new leader was Wayne Conn. The second generation and rookie driver set the pace through a lap 5 caution with veteran Ken Cosgrove taking control just as caution slowed the field again on lap 7. A number of incidents slowed the field several times with Cosgrove keeping top spot until Scott Wood took control on lap 11. Wood was able to pull away slightly from the field but nearing the lap 25 mark Cosgrove was catching the leader as the pair led the field through increasing lap traffic. Wood managed to open up a 5 car lead by lap 30. In the closing laps the margin of victory increased to some 20 car lengths for the second generation driver from Thorold. Wood became the third different winner in the three Modified point events that are in the books to date.
Following Wood was Ken Cosgrove who had to settle for second and Wayne Conn who had his best finish in third since moving up to the division from Sportsmen. Pete Bicknell and Mark Sylvies rounded out the top 5 while Doug Gordon, Don Martin, Fred Cade, Davey Moore (in brother-in-law Harvey Hainer's car) and Brian Stevens closed out the top 10.
Billy Bradshaw was first to lead the 20 lap Empire Super Sprint feature before veteran Bobby Parrow overtook the rookie along the front-stretch of lap 1. Parrow almost immediately ran away to a 20 car advantage on the field - coming into lap traffic by lap 5. Parrow kept setting the pace not letting the slower cars affect him. The driver on the move though was 'local' driver Mike Woodring. The Hamburg NY native started 15th and made a charge to the front late in the race that had the largest crowd of the year on their feet. In one lap and a half stretch Woodring passed 6 cars en route to the front but at the finish - Parrow held on to the top spot by less than a car length. It was the first win of the season for Parrow of Waterloo NY and the third in four races for the traveling Sprint Car group.
Following Parrow and Woodring to the finish were George Suprick, Lance Yonge, Craig Lane, early leader Bill Bradshaw, Craig Keel, Scott Holcomb, Tim Kelly and Ray Preston.
The Empire Super Sprints return to Merrittville Saturday August 16th.
Joe Meisel lead the largest Sportsmen field of the season to the green flag of the 20 lap event with caution immediately slowing the field. Meisel resumed control on the restart before Tim Jones took control in turn 2. Caution would slow the field once more in the early going on lap 3 with Rob Pietz the new leader when action resumed. Pietz - also a second generation driver survived three other cautions to get his first victory of the season. Tim Jones challenged the Port Colborne driver for top spot late in the event but settled for second - two car lengths behind while Larry Lampman took third. Jay Mallory and Joe Meisel closed out the top 5 while Paul Ashton, Garry Moreash, Billy Krull, Chad Brachman and Pete Cosco rounded out the top 10.
Jack Cassell was first to lead the 20 lap Pro-Stock feature before Ron Reece took control in turn 4 of the first lap. Reece immediately pulled away to a 20 car lead on the field and by lap 9 opened up his lead to almost a half lap. A caution on lap 11 would bring the field back to the leader with the Welland driver in control once again on the restart. Misfortune struck Reece on lap 14 as his car slowed in turn 4 with apparent over-heating problems ending quite a dominating display. When action resumed Todd Gordon was the new leader with the St. Catharines driver setting the pace until one last caution on lap 18 set up a 2 lap dash to the finish. In the end it was Todd Gordon ahead of fellow second generation driver Bill Bleich with Ken Sargent settling for third. Randy Hollingshead made quite a late race charge to take fourth while Brian Halliwell closed out the top 5. Jason Harper, Rob Murray, Kevin Sharp, Jack Cassell and Jarrod Yuhasz closed out the top 10.
Defending Mod Stock Points Champion Mark Edwards was first to lead the 20 lap Mod Stock feature with tow cautions slowing the veteran before the halfway point. The second on lap 9 saw Tony Royston in control on the restart. Jeff Kline slowed along the front stretch but unfortunately for leader Royston - the Chippewa native slowed prior to the caution flag appearing allowing Mark Edwards to return to top spot. Edwards would survive one last restart for an incident on lap 15. Royston never lost sight of the top spot but at the finish was a car length behind Edwards. Kirk Wilson, Ken Hildreth and Kevin Reichel closed out the top 5. Post-race inspection found Reichel to be disqualified moving Anthony DeLazzari to fifth with Al Reece, Guy Bougie, Derek VanMil, Jeff Kline and Charlie Kingston rounding out the top 10.
Mike Ward set the pace at the start of the 20 lap Street Stock feature - setting the pace until Chris Charest took control along the back stretch of lap 5. Ward battled back to regain the lead in turn 4 of the same lap. Charest mounted a challenge along the back of lap 7 with the Slekirk driver taking control in the same turn 4. Caution on lap 14 slowed the field with Charest in control on the restart. Through to the finish Charest opened up a lead of some 20 car lengths over Ward who held off Billy King who settled for third. Roger Beaulieu and Bruce Colbert closed out the top 5 while Jeff Dayman, Paul Reichel, Barry Wallace, and Al Smith closed out the top 10.
Action continues at Merrittville Speedway Saturday June 21st with the Pro Stocks in the spotlight in a 25 lap event - the opening round of the Pro Stock Top Gun Series involving events at other local tracks as well through-out the summer in addition to regular events for the Modifieds, Sportsmen, Mod Stocks and Street Stocks. CAW Night will see free Loctite Products for race fans and race teams when gates open at 5:30. Racing begins at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.vaxxine.com/merrittvillespeedway.
EMPIRE SUPER SPRINT FINISH - JUNE 14TH
1. Bobby Parrow #9 - Waterloo NY
2. Mike Woodring #19 - Hamburg NY
3. George Suprick #87 - Clark's Summit, PA
4. Lance Yonge #17 - Penn Yan NY
5. Craig Lane #5 - Dundee NY
6. Billy Bradshaw #2 - Groton NY
7. Craig Keel #8 - Weedsport NY
8. Scott Holcomb #91 - Granby CT
9. Tim Kelly #12 - Waterloo NY
10. Ray Preston #39 - Romulus NY
11. Dan Kaszubinski #20 - Syracuse NY
12. Mike Lauterborn #41 - Rochester NY
13. Phil Mott #15 - Hinsdale NY
14. Tom Taber #57 - Belfast NY
15. Bob Poolak #28 - Auburn NY
16. "Bubby" Kerrick #61 - Gorham NY
17. Dan DeCracker #47 - Williamson NY
18. Joe Timerson #81 - Auburn NY
19. Dick "Crash" Nash #48 - Auburn NY
20. R.C. Raigle #21 - Manlius NY
21. Dick Spadaro #29 - Altamount NY
22. Bill Coffey #13 - Caledonia NY
23. Mark Bragman #3 - Camillus NY