Sunday August 11, 2013 THOROLD, ONTARIO – CMH Sales & Leasing presented Help A Child Smile Night August 10th at Merrittville and when it was all said and done – Chad Chevalier was smiling after winning her first Feature in the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Division.
Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action also saw Boyd MacTavish, Cory Turner, Derek Wagner and Kyle Pelrine in Victory Lane in the Rick’s Delivery Sportsman, Hoosier Stock, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite and Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Divisions respectively.
“I’d like to dedicate tonight’s win to my friend JD who lost his wife Joyce to cancer this week,” said first time 2013 Winner Chad Chevalier, who was awarded the hard charger award in last Monday’s Bob Sr. Super DIRTcar Series Big Block 100, “the 100 lapper and tonight were two different tracks – we’ve been fast all year but ran out of luck a few times. We have been working hard on set-ups and it’s coming together.”
Tommy Flannigan, in the CMH Sales & Leasing # 72 was first to lead the 35 lap Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature before Chevalier took control the first time through Turn 2. Landing into the runner up spot quickly was Tim Jones with the two breaking away from the field by lap five.
Caution would slow the field on Lap 11 after Mat Williamson slowed down the back stretch. Chevalier chose the outside for the restart with Robbie Krull now in the runner up spot. Jones would fall to fourth spot behind Flannigan.
The Port Colborne Driver was able to pull away to a lead of some five seconds by Lap 20.
Chevalier was into lap traffic by Lap 22 but was hardly slowed, as by Lap 30 was off to a lead of almost a half lap.
Bicknell and Mike Bowman made late race moves to charge into third and fourth behind Krull with Erick Rudolph following into fifth. Bicknell almost spun out late in the race but rallied in the last few laps to take the runner up spot from Krull on the homestretch.
The top five were Chevalier, Bicknell, Krull, Bowman and Rudolph.
“This is a once in a lifetime deal,” said Boyd MacTavish of Ransomville NY of his recent teaming up with rookie Rob Clark of Georgetown, “we actually became friends on Face Book first and we talked there about me running an asphalt late model he owns and here at the track ended up parking beside each other. I took him under my wing and have helped him with set ups and coaching … and he’s helped me out financially. We’ve got some big plans and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Robert Baker beat front row starter Charlie Lynch to lead the 25 lap Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Feature before Brent Begolo took control on Lap 3. Begolo pulled away to a good lead right away with Robbie Rounce holding off Greg Panunte and Boyd MacTavish for the runner up spot.
Just as Begolo was about to come up on slower cars the first caution slowed the field on Lap 16.
Begolo resumed control on the restart with MacTavish the challenger eventually taking over top spot on Lap 18. Once out front the MacTavish was able to pull away to a healthy lead through to the finish.
MacTavish and Begolo were followed by Robbie Rounce, Greg Panunte and Adam Leslie. In post race inspection, Rounce was disqualified and received no points or money.
Mark Fawcett was back in his Camaro and was first to lead the 15 lap Hoosier Stock Feature with Pete Reid quickly facing a challenge from Cory Turner. Kevin Knapp would take third from Reid out of Turn 4 to complete Lap 4.
By the halfway point Turner was closing in on the leader and pulled alongside down the back stretch of Lap 10, he would take over the lead on Lap 11. Into Turn 2 of Lap 13, Fawcett would lose control of his car and miraculously Kevin Knapp and the rest of the field were able to avoid the car.
“I really screwed up last night (at Ohsweken) … my car was in a heap after last night so I needed to get a picture tonight for my guys,” admitted the Caistor Centre driver, “I have a great crew behind me … they got it back together and here we are.”
At the finish, Turner was followed by Reid, Murray and Knapp.
Rookie Row had Evan Leonard and Dylan Davidson taking the field to the green flag of the 15 lap Feature for the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites with Davidson the first to lead.
By Lap 2 Randy Hollingshead was on the move and down the backstretch of Lap 3 became the new leader.
Derek Wagner and Paul Klager were also on the move and by Lap 6 Wagner was catching the leader Hollingshead until the first caution slowed the pace on Lap 7. Jamie Gilbert slowed on the exit to the pits in his first start in a number of years as he was filling in for Rick Koabel who will be out with a broken collar bone suffered away from the track this past week.
Initially, Hollingshead was back out front on the restart until Wagner took control the next time down the backstretch. Hollingshead was now being challenged by Klager with the battle allowing Wagner to drive away to a healthy lead.
At the finish, the Top Five were Wagner, Klager, Hollingshead, Josh Sliter and Rick Brubacher.
“Thanks to Merrittville, Erica, Pete and the family for having us, ” thanked Wagner in Victory Lane, “I’d like to be out more but with the new house … my focus has been on that.”
The final events of the season for the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders will decide the Triple Crown Series and the overall points and it may come down to a battle between two friends Evan Curtis and Kyle Pelrine.
“Not as big a difference as I would have liked tonight,” revealed Kyle Pelrine in Victory Lane of his rivalry with Curtis with the two now separated by just eight points, “On the track we are both racers … but off the track we can kick back and joke about it all.”
Garnet Wilson was the first to lead the 15 lap Feature ahead of Chris Laskey and Mike Sadusek. The race to watch was between point leader Curtis and Pelrine to sort out the top five.
By halfway, the two had caught up to the front runners with Pelrine leading the charge on Wilson and Laskey. Lap 9 would see the first caution when Sadusek was sitting the wrong way between Turns 3 and 4.
On the restart the new leader was Pelrine with two and three wide action through the field. Pelrine was quickly off to a ¼ lap on the field and stretched it to the finish.
Pelrine and Curtis were followed by Dillan Sliter, Kyle Rothwell and Rocco Conte.
PIT NOTES
The night began with Bill Bleich announced as the B&C Truck Centre Mack Canada Driver of the Week. Merrittville Speedway would like to thank all the drivers that helped in the track preparation.
The Speedway’s Grantham Lions Kids Club and others were also featured in Box Car Races at intermission.
Winners were Liam McNulty (Mini Stock Division), Blake Scapillato (Mod Lite Division) and Nick Doyle (Modified Division). Alexa Corbett’s pink Todd Gordon replica entry was named Best of Show.
As good as the night was for Cory Turner – his brother Ryan had problems early in the night and was unable to start the Hoosier Stock Feature.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Avondale Food Stores will present a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event Saturday August 7th that features the finale of the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series.
With the Annual Best Appearing Dog Contest on tap – the Night will also feature action in the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modifieds, Rick’s Delivery Sportsman, Hoosier Stock and J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Divisions.
The Great Clips Grandstand Ticket Office open at 5:30. Showtime is 7:00.
For further information – call the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.For directions to Merrittville Speedway click on www.merrittvillespeedway.com/track_map
For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 62nd Consecutive Season in 2013 – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville)
BOBCAT OF HAMILTON DIRTcar 358 MODIFIED FEATURE (35 laps) Chad Chevalier, Pete Bicknell, Robbie Krull, Mike Bowman, Erick Rudolph, Tim Jones, Tyler McPherson, Bill Bleich, Chris Steele, Tommy Flannigan, Fred Carleton, Scott Wood, Todd Gordon, Rick Hoctor, David Flannigan, Ken Winnfield, Mat Williamson.
RICK’S DELIVERY DIRTcar SPORTSMAN FEATURE – (25 laps) Boyd MacTavish, Brent Begolo, Robbie Rounce, Greg Panunte, Adam Leslie, BJ Willard, Brad Rouse, Cody McPherson, Gary Lindberg, James Friesen, Travis Miller, Justin Sharp, Paul Gaboury, Rob Knapp, Jason Farraway, Jason Moore, Robert Baker, Joey Mastroianni, Austin Wood, Charlie Lynch, Chris Bellamy, Paul Williamson, Jordan Cosco, Derick Hodge. DNS – George Bosse, Ron Kingsbury, Gord McIntosh, Paul Cunningham.
HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE (15 laps) Cory Turner, Pete Reid, Rob Murray, Kevin Knapp, Paul Wichert, Brad Sheehan, Billy Bleich Jr., Brett Robbins, Mark Fawcett, James Thompson. DNS – Ryan Turner.
J&S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING MODIFIED LITE FEATURE (15 laps) Derek Wagner, Paul Klager, Randy Hollingshead, Josh Sliter, Rick Brubacher, Kory Howe, Dylan Davidson, Rob Misener, Evan Leonard, Jason Corless, Jeff May, Kellie Mason, Ray Sliter Jr., Marty deMoel. Jamie Gilbert.
TURN 4 COLLISION 4 CYLINDER (15 laps) Kyle Pelrine, Evan Curtis, Dillan Sliter, Kyle Rothwell, Rocco Conte, Rob Overholt, Tyler Lanfantaisie, Tony Kelly, Garnet Wilson, Chris Laskey, Jason Coutu, Greg Wilson, Nathan Monahan, Jeff Hill, Mike Sadusek, Kyle Haynes, Kourtney Kocarik, Bob Gill, Mike Giberson, Chris Shepherd, Brandon Boychuck, Jeff Larmet, Sam Iftody. DNS = Gabriel Attallah, Leroy Buscumb.
Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions with local heroes and up and coming new stars. Make your plans … call your friends and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to home!
Your Local Dirt Track is where it’s at and the countdown to the Brian’s Tire Championship Finale featuring the 50 lap John Spencer Memorial 358 Modified Main Event and Autograph Night Saturday August 31st has begun at Merrittville Speedway has begun – the Best Family Entertainment in Niagara!
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2013 62nd Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Bobcat of Hamilton, Rick’s Delivery, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision 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.
Lucas Oil Products is one the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives. Through innovative product research and development along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.
Look for Lucas Oil Products at your favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including B&C Truck Centre, Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage
From: Jim Irvine/ Assistant General Manager- Merrittville Speedway
905-892-8266
jimirvine@cogeco.net
merrittvillespeedway.com
twitter.com/merrittville
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