(November 27, 2017) THOROLD, ONTARIO – Merrittville Speedway’s 66th consecutive season officially came to a close with the Night of Champions Saturday November 25th honoring the 2017 Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series Champions and other award recipients.
Chad Brachmann took home top honors for the third time in his career in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Division resulting in the Sanborn NY resident being named the Archer Truck Centres Driver of the Year.
Thorold’s Brent Begolo won his first Wood Motor Company Modified Lite Title as a rookie and when combined with repeating his second place finish in the S&W Service Centre Sportsman Division from last season was named the 2017 Performer of the Year.
Brad Rouse of St. Catharines and Dave Bailey of Hagersville both won their second career championships in the S&W Service Centre Sportsman and Hoosier Stock Divisions.
Two other Drivers celebrated their first Championships – Tony Kelly of Niagara Falls and Gregg Rauscher of Thorold in the Central Fabricating and Welding 4 Cylinder and Novice Sportsman Divisions.
Competitors in three Mini-Series were also honored with Brad Rouse receiving a $500 Gift Certificate towards the purchase of a GM 602 Crate Engine from Sportsman King of the Crate Series Sponsor David Chevrolet Corvette Buick GMC
Claudia Spiteri and Kyle Tomaski presented cash and trophies to the top three in the Eataly Foods Pro 4 Triple Truck Challenge Series won by Dylan Llord of St. Catharines.
Tomaski also sponsored the Triple Crown Series for the 4 Cylinders which had as it’s Champion – overall Champion Tony Kelly.
2017 Feature Winners also received Awards including Brad Rouse who rereceived the Sterling Silver Award from Ken Walsh after winning August 12th’s Feature that honors Bill Willard Sr.,
Co-announcers Jim Handley and Lou Caetano performed Masters of Ceremony duties – presenting the top 12 points finishers from each division with point fund monies in addition to a wide variety of special awards.
Special Awards:
Tucker Wood, (Wood Motor Company Modified Lite Division), Donny Lampman, (Hoosier Stock Division),Trevor Wright, ( S&W Service Centre Sportsman Division) received 2017 Rookie of the Year Awards.
Traditionally Rookie of the Year Awards are presented to the top Rookie in the Point Standings. 2017’s Modified Lite Rookie Brent Begolo asked that his award be presented to Wood, also a Rookie who turned 12 in July.
Best Appearing Car Awards were presented to Cole Hardy, (Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder Division), Tucker Wood, (Wood Motor Company Modified Lite Division), Derek Van Mil, (Hoosier Stock Division), Trevor Wright, (S&W Service Centre Sportsman Division) and Fred Carleton, (Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Division).
Several history-laden awards were also presented during the event.
The Ed MacPherson Construction Kelley-Winger Sportsmanship Award was presented by the Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee to Sportsman Competitor Gord McIntosh.
After a crash at Ransomville for fellow competitor James Friesen left his car unrepairable – McIntosh provided Friesen with his car to maintain his points.
The Begolo-Little Award for the Most Improved Driver was presented to 4 Cylinder Competitor Alex Riley of Thorold for his 3rd place finish in the Triple Crown Mini-Series and 2nd place in the Overall Standings in the Central Fabricating and Welding 4 Cylinder Division.
The Pete Cosco Memorial Merrittville Speedway Car Owner of the Year Award was presented to Andrew Sittler of St. Catharines.
The Gordie Award named after former Merrittville Announcer and Wall of Famer Gordie Wilson goes to a person, or group of people who exhibit dedication to the sport was presented to former owners Pete Bicknell and Randy Williamson and their families both of St. Catharines.
For more than 30 years the two have operated Bicknell Racing Products serving the racing community. In 2017, the industry leading company won more than 730 Features and more than 50 Series and/or Track Championships across North America and Australia.
The Crew Chief of Year Award named after Billy Matthews went to Hoosier Stock Veteran Jim Lampman of Caistor Centre who in 2017 fielded Hoosier Stocks for his son Donny Lampman and daughter Kathleen as well sometimes racing three nights a weekend. Preparing the younger racers for the future – all three cars rarely missed Wednesday Nights practices.
Before Race Director Tom Beales closed out the proceedings with a preview of the 2018 Season, Merrittville co-owner Lorraine Spiece awarded a $250 Auto FX Graphics and Signs Gift Certificate to Sportsman Competitor Jay Mallory via a draw of Drivers in attendance.
Beales announced that at the 2018 Awards Banquet the Top 5 Drivers in the S&W Service Centre Sportsman Division will be eligible for a drawing for a Wegner W16 Engine that would facilitate a move to the Pinty’s 358 Modified Division in 2019.
With the recent announcement of the new Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6 Division, the Novice Sportsman Division will not be returning in 2018. Beales also thanked all the Race Fans, Race Teams, Staff and Sponsors on behalf of Don and Lorraine Spiece for everyone’s support in their first season of ownership.
For information on Merrittville Speedway’s 66th consecutive season as the best family entertainment in Niagara – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com or call the Office during business hours – 905-892-8266.
Merrittville Speedway is located at 2371 Merrittville Highway in Thorold Ontario.
Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Division Top 12 in Points.
Chad Brachmann, Gary Lindberg, Mat Williamson, Pete Bicknell, Ryan Susice, Scott Wood, Tim Jones, Fred Carleton, Todd Gordon, Mike Bowman, Tommy Flannigan, Greg Panunte.
S&W Service Centre Sportsman Division Top 12 in Points.
Brad Rouse, Brent Begolo, Cody McPherson, James Friesen, Justin Sharp, Rob Knapp, Jay Mallory, Luke Carleton, Trevor Wright, Dave DiPietro, Dave Flannigan Jr., Charlie Lynch.
Hoosier Stock Division Top 12 in Points .
Dave Bailey, Rob Murray, Kyle Pelrine, Jim Lampman Vince Fargnoli – James Thompson, Trevor DeBoer, Billy Bleich Jr., Dave Small, Bill Podwinski, Brad Sheehan Go Fast Teeple.
Wood Motor Company Modified Lite Division Top 12 in Points.
Brent Begolo, RJ Pietz, Tyler Winger, Steven Beckett, Chris Watson, Jeff May, Tucker Wood, Rob Misener, Craig Martin, Marty deMoel, Ryleigh Sliter, Randy Giroux.
Central Fabricating and Welding 4 Cylinder Division Top 12 in Points.
Tony Kelly, Alex Riley, Jay Moulton, Cole Hardy, Tom Neale, Sam Iftody, Austyn Werstroh, Vincent Pagnotta, Garnet Wilson, Trevor Want, Jason Coutu, Chris Laskey
David Chevrolet King of the Crates Series for the S&W Service Centre Sportsman Division – Top 3 in Points
Brad Rouse, Brent Begolo, Cody McPherson
Tomaski Racing 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series Top 3 in Points
Tony Kelly, Rob Sauder, Alex Riley
Eataly Foods Pro 4 Triple Truck Challenge by Tomaski Racing Top 3 in Points
Dylan Llord, Kyle Tomaski, Nathan Monahan
For a complete listing of the 2017 Points Standings – click on http://www.speednetdirect.com/points.php?track_id=8430&nav_step=results
For further information on Merrittville Speedway visit http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2017 66th Anniversary Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions was brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Pinty’s Delicious Foods, S&W Service Centre, Hoosier Tire Canada, Wood Motor Company and Central Fabricating in addition to many marketing partners Visit them at http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.
Celebrating 15 years of serving the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara Regions, Bobcat of Hamilton is a leading provider of compact equipment for a wide variety of markets – striving to empower customers to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
To learn more about more about the Bobcat of Hamilton Advantage click on www.bobcatofhamilton.com.
Bobcat of Hamilton … One Tough Animal!
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