SIMONS AND DAYMAN SPLIT TWIN 15'S; BICKNELL TAKES MERRITTVILLE MODIFIED OPENER
Thorold, Ontario..May17..- ..Merrittville Speedway race fans and teams braved the cool temperatures enjoying a great night of racing in the What's Up Kids/Choo Choo Charlie's Kids Night. Leading the way were Street Stock drivers Rick Simons and Jeff Dayman who split the Twin 15 lap events while Pete Bicknell won the first point event of '97 for 358 Modifieds in taking the 35 lap event. Jay Mallory made a triumphant return to the Sportsmen division - winning the 20 lap event with Ron Reece and Harry Vanderzanden also victorious in the Pro-Stock and Mod Stock divisions respectively.
Rob Krull was first to lead the 35 lap Modified feature and after a lap 1 caution regained the top spot only to have Don Martin take control along the backstretch. Caution would also slow Martin's pace immediately with the Lockport NY driver in control once again when action resumed. Yet another caution slowed the field once more with Pete Bicknell the new leader with the restart. Cautions again on laps 8 & 9 found Martin in control before Bicknell resumed the lead after a lap 15 restart. Martin kept the top spot in focus as he stayed right with leader Bicknell but as the race neared the 20 lap point, Bicknell began to pull away slightly. In no time Bicknell came up on slower cars - but the lap traffic did not slow the leader. Two cautions would slow Bicknell's pace once again on laps 32 & 33. In the two lap dash to the finish Pete Bicknell held a two car length advantage over Brian Stevens who made a late race charge to take the runner-up spot. Don Martin held on for third spot while Scott Wood and Martin Polhill rounded out the top 5. Mark Sylvies, Doug Gordon, Harvey Hainer, Terry St. Amand and Jamie Turner closed out the top 10.
Chris Charest was first to lead the opening 15 lap Street Stock feature with one caution slowing the field at the half-way point on lap 8. On the restart it was the Selkirk native in control once more. Without incident Charest was able to build up a10 car advantage on the field at the finish - however a rules violation involving his carburetor was grounds for disqualification. Second place finisher Rick Simons was then credited with the victory while Paul Reichel, Tim Knapp, Ron Gravestock and Mike Ward closing out the top 5.
Dave Gifford and Chris Crawford battled for top spot at the start of the second 15 lap Street Stock feature with Crawford taking the top spot just past the start-finish line. a lap 4 incident slowed the field with Crawford in control once again - caution slowed the field again on lap 5 and then on the restart for an incident involving some of the front-runners. Mike Ward came out the leader on the restart but the Niagara Falls driver also fell off the pace and into the pits after his hood flew up. Tim Knapp was now the leader with Jeff Dayman challenging. Dayman took control in turn 3 of the thirteenth lap and through to the finish held at most a half car lead on Tim Knapp with Al Smith, Chris Charest and Chris Crawford rounding out the top 5.
Ken Walsh was first to lead the 20 lap Sportsmen feature before Jay Mallory took control along the front-stretch in completing the fourth lap. Two cautions at the lap 8 mark slowed Mallory's p[ace and again on lap 15. Through to the finish Mallory set the pace with Garry Moreash on the move and closing. Mallory found the fast lane around the track on the last lap pulling away slightly with Garry Moreash settling for second spot. Pete Cosco, Larry Lampman and early leader Ken Walsh rounded out the top 5. Joe Meisel, Rob Pietz, Bill Krull, Tim Jones and Ken Winnfield closed out the top 10.
Ken Sargent was first to lead the 10 lap Pro Stock feature before Ron Reece took control out of turn 4 at the end of lap 2. With the race caution free, Reece was able to pull away to a lead of over 10 car lengths by the half-way point. Through to the finish Reece cruised to victory with Sargent closing in but settling for second. Bill Bleich, Steve Heigl and Todd Gordon closed out the top 5.
Harry Vanderzanden was first to lead the 10 lap Mod Stock feature. Quickly Vanderzanden ran away to a half lap lead maintaining the lead to the finish. Late in the race Kevin Reichel stormed into second spot while Dave Colavecchia settled for third. Tony Royston and Ken Hildreth rounded out the top 5.
Action returns Saturday May 24th with Midas Muffler and Brake Shops joining with Garden City Lawn Equipment to present the Mel Swart Spring Championships for all divisions. A special attraction will take place on the Kart Track - sure to mow you away, the TORO Lawn Mower Invitational. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30.