7.7.18 Merrittville Speedway Results

July 9, 2018 THOROLD, ONTARIO – For more than 50 years as Niagara’s premier full service waste provider … it’s been all about the three Rs … Reduce … Reuse and Recycle.
Modern Corporation’s Summer BBQD Sizzler at Merrittville Speedway Saturday July 7th was all about two more Rs – Racing and Rewards … especially for the Lucky 13 drivers who shared in increased win money and those who also received the winner’s share provided by the Speedway’s owners Don and Lorraine Spiece.
Mike Bowman of St. Catharines took home his 2nd straight S&W Service Centre 358 Modified Feature while Dave Bailey of Hagersville and John Couture of Niagara Falls both won their second Hoosier Stock and Dave’s Auto & Speed Centre V6 Features of 2018 following up early season wins.
Jeremy Cooper also of Niagara Falls won his first career Feature in the Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder Division while former Champion Cody McPherson of St. Catharines won the David Chevrolet Sportsman Feature.
Defending Vansickle Pet Valu & Groomingdale’sMod Lite Champion Brent Begolo took home his 5th Win of the season.
“I don’t think I have ever won back to back here,” said Mike Bowman after dominating the 35 lap 358 Modified Main Event earning $1,500. Bowman would pick 8th and 12th spots in Victory Lane with Pete Bicknell and Tom Neale splitting the same $1,500.
“The track was good after the intermission work and it came in nice for our feature,” said Pete Bicknell post race, “Mike (Bowman) was so good around the bottom – none of us could catch him.”
“This year has been such a big step from 4 Cylinders,” said 2018 Rookie Tom Neale after his biggest payday, “the car has been getting there – with the extra money … maybe some new tires will help that much more.”
A daring move probably as low as he could get exiting Turn 4 was the move of the race for Bowman in squeezing under Bicknell and eventually taking over top spot from initial leader Scott Wood. Two laps later Bowman opened up a 2.1 second lead on the battle for second between Wood, Bicknell and Tim Jones. By lap 10, Bowman’s lead was almost a full straightaway.
Jones would eventually take second spot with Ryan Susice pressuring Wood.
Approaching halfway, Bowman was also approaching lap traffic until a lap 19 caution slowed the pace.
Bowman resumed control of top spot on the restart holding off Jones with Chad Brachmann taking over third spot. Jones would be challenged by Brachmann and Susice with Brachmann taking the runner up spot on lap 22.
Bowman was able to stretch his lead once again with Brachmann and Jones settling for second and third respectively at the checkered flag. Gary Lindberg and Mat Williamson both made late race charges to round out the top 5.
“I’ve been having some engine trouble the last while,” said Dave Bailey in Hoosier Stock Victory Lane for the first time since May, “it’s great to be back on top.”
Bailey drew sixth with Brad Sheehan also receiving the winner’s share of a $500 prize.
The start of the 20 lap Feature had Kyle Pelrine in control of top spot until a lap 5 incident slowed the pace. Pelrine, Jason Fontaine, Rob Murray, Brad Sheehan, Ken Sargent and Bailey would break away from the pack with some two and three wide racing behind the leader.
Three cautions just past halfway would find Pelrine as the leader until the third as Bailey had taken over top spot just ahead of the yellow flag. Two and three battles behind Bailey allowed him to pull away from the field by about a ¼ lap at the finish.
Pelrine held on for second with Murray, Dave Small and Jim Lampman fifth.
“It took me about a week to build it,” said John Couture In V6 Victory Lane after successfully debuting his new Pontiac, “thanks to the Smalls … Dave’s Auto & Speed Centre and my wife.”
“It was a lot more tonight with more cars out there for sure,” said Point L:eader Adam Plazek after Couture drew second spot for the Bonus Money.
Chris Mussat was first to lead the 12 lap Feature ahead of a 5 wide race to fill out the top 5. When things settled down – Couture was the new leader. Couture would be slowed a couple times before halfway before a third caution lap 7.
Kyle Miller in the Cameron Lane #48 would take the lead on the restart before Couture returned to top spot on lap 10. Brighton Speedway’s Rick Phillips and Plazek would get by Miller with Plazek eventually taking second spot. Couture, Plazek and Phillips were followed by Miller and Mussat at the finish.
“I’ve been watching the video the last few weeks,” said Brent Begolo after winning his 5thMod Lite Feature, “the top is the place to be – as the race went on I figured out what I had to do. Thanks to Vansickle Pet Valu and Groomingdale’s for their support of the division and to the guys at the shop … Team JSR is really a team effort.”
In Victory Lane, Begolo drew 12th position with 2018 Rookie Dave Cornish receiving the winner’s $300 share as well.
It was Cornish who would take the field to the initial green flag before Chris Watson was the new leader the first time into Turn 1. Chris Perry would take third the next lap before Watson and the field were slowed on lap 5.
Begolo who started 10th was into the runner up spot ahead of a lap 9 caution with Waton setting the pace on the restart. Begolo and Watson were quickly side by side with Begolo taking over top spot to start lap 10.
Three late cautions set up a one lap dash with Begolo holding off Jeff May, Watson, RJ Pietz and Randy Giroux who closed out the Top 5.
“It’s about time,” said Jeremy Cooper after landing in Victory Lane for the first time in his career, “I have had lots of troubles that last few weeks and have got so much help so thanks everyone. I wasn’t expecting this at all.”
“With 5 to go … I got hit in the face with water,” said Alex Riley after getting the $ as well after a 15th place finish, “I looked at the gauge and it was at 280 … so I pulled into the pits at the right time in more ways than one.”
Cooper took control at the start of the 15 lap Feature for the 4 Cylinders and by lap 5 held a 10 car advantage over Jay Moulton. Racing to halfway, the battle to watch was the one between father and son … Tony and Anthony Kelly for third.
Slight contact between the two resulted in Anthony losing a few positions. Defending champion Tony Kelly would keep his momentum however and soon challenged Moulton.
At the finish, Cooper had pulled away to almost a straightaway lead on Moulton who edged Kelly by half a car length. Cole Hardy and Olivier Larocque closed out the Top 5.
Cody McPherson making a rare 2018 start found his old groove in the last half of the 25 lap Feature with his eyes on the $1,000 prize who gave the same amount to Rob Knapp after the draw.
“That’s quite a payday for 6th spot,” said Knapp on the frontstretch, “a driveshaft broke in the heat so that will help get us a new one for sure.”
After a couple early cautions at the start, it was Lee Mallory who set the pace until fellow second generation driver Dave DiPietro became the new leader on lap 6. The field was slowed for caution once again on lap 13 with DiPietro out front once again.
The race to watch was for third spot behind DiPietro and Adam Leslie between McPherson, Ryan Ferri and Paul Gaboury. After they went three wide it was McPherson who would get the spot with Brent Begolo following into fourth.
Leslie would get a little high in Turn 2 of lap 16 with McPherson taking advantage to take 2nd spot some 10 car lengths behind DiPietro. By lap 20, McPherson had closed in on the leader with the two side by side on lap 21.
DiPietro would keep an advantage until McPherson would use lap traffic to take over top spot through to the finish. DiPietro, Leslie, Begolo and Gaboury would round out the top 5.
PIT NOTES
Not only was it a Big Night for Racers … it was a big night for Race Fan John D’Amico who won a Lifetime Grandstand Season Pass.
Modern Corporation Night also features the Big Rig Truck Show and Shine and by a fan vote – the 1970 Dodge owned by Wayne Swinson was the winner.
A Big Thank You to Semenuk’s Esso for providing prizes for all the entries.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Cotton Inc. along with Merrittville Speedway’s Reunion Committee will present Nostalgia Night with a Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series Event featuring the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial for the S&W Service Centre 358 Modifieds Saturday July 14th!
At 7:00, Barry Davidson and Steve DeVos will be the 67th Season Inductees into the CAA Niagara Wall of Fame in addition to two more honourees receiving CAA Niagara Dedication to Racing Awards.
Joining in on the racing are the David Chevrolet Sportsman, Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinders, Dave’s Auto & Speed Centre V6 Divisions in addition to Vintage Race Cars.
Pits will open at 5:00, Grandstands at 5:30 and Show time is 7 PM.
For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 2018 Season, Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book https://www.facebook.com/groups/merrittvillespeedway/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/Merrittville?lang=en
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2018 67th Anniversary Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – S&W Service Centre, David Chevrolet, Hoosier Tire Canada, Vansickle Pet Valu & Groomingdale’s, Central Fabricating and Welding and Dave’s Auto & Speed Centre in addition to many marketing partners Visit them at http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.html and visit them when you require their products and/or services.
Celebrating more than15 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!
MODERN CORPORATION SUMMER BBQD SIZZLER – SATURDAY JULY 7TH, 2018
Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series Complete Results
S&W Service Centre 358 Modified Feature (35 laps) Mike Bowman, Chad Brachmann, Tim Jones, Gary Lindberg, Mat Williamson, Ryan Susice, Scott Wood, Pete Bicknell, Todd Gordon, Fred Carleton, Adam Leslie, Tom Neale, Tom Richau, Tom Flannigan.
David Chevrolet Sportsman Division Feature (25 laps) Cody McPherson, Dave DiPietro, Adam Leslie, Brent Begolo, Paul Gaboury, Rob Knapp,Ryan Ferri, Brad Rouse, Jordan Cosco, Jay Mallory, Greg Panunte, James Friesen, Justin Sharp, Robbie Johnstone, Trevor Wright, Dave Small, Darrell Farraway, Vince Fargnoli, Lee Mallory, Paul Cunningham, Luke Carleton, Chris Bellamy.
Hoosier Stock Division Feature (20 laps) Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine, Rob Murray, Dave Small, Jim Lampman, Brad Sheehan, Jason Fontaine, Barry Blanchard, Bill Podwinski, Ken Sargent, Tanner Podwinski, Robin Mortensen, Donny Lampman, Andrew Reece, Chris Schneider, Kathleen Lampman.
Vansickle Pet Valu & Groomingdale’s Modified Lite Division Feature (15 laps) Brent Begolo, Jeff May, Chris Watson, RJ Pietz, Randy Giroux, Chris Perry, Marty deMoel, Zach Trotter, Craig Martin, Ray Sliter Jr., Rob Misener, Dave Cornish, Josh Sliter, Tyler Winger.
Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder Division (15 laps) Jeremy Cooper, Jay Moulton, Tony Kelly,Cole Hardy, Olivier Larocque, Austyn Werstroh, Same Iftody, Anthony Kelly, Dave Hoyle, Mike Giberson, Daniel McKay, Cameron Lane, Alex Riley, Cole Susice, Vincent Pagnotta.
Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6 DivisionFeature (12 laps) John Couture, Adam Plazek, Rick Phillips, Kyle Miller, Chris Mussat, Kevin Conley, Alana McDonald, Tom Cole, Jordan Fidler, Tina Ronning, Kenny Hair, JJ McDonald.