Merrittville Speedway: Great night of racing for Merrittville opener on May 10

For Release - Sunday May 11, 2008 From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Speedway Public Relations - 905-892-8266

Thorold, Ontario (May 11) - While Pen Centre Merchants and staff celebrated their 50th Anniversary - Canadian Tire Financial Services Employees were among the grandstand audience as Merrittville Speedway presented its first 5-division race card of 2008, on Saturday May 10th.

If the Season Opener is any indication of what's to come - Southern Ontario and Western New York Race Fans are in for quite a 57th Season at the Thorold d-shaped oval. Although Pete Bicknell (L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified), Brad Rouse (Original Pizza Logs Sportsman), Mike Dooley (Hoosier Stock) and Trevor Goulding (Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders) each won their first events of the new season from front row starting spots - none had it easy.

A driver more familiar with the end of the season made an opening night visit also worth the 5 hour driver from Somerset PA as Mikey Hay won the 25 lap opening round of the J&S Heating Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour. A probable record car count saw 133 drivers sign in for the first regular points event.

The first half of the 35 lap Main Event for the 358 Modifieds resembled the Sportsmen Feature from April 26th's Baron Roofing Spring Sizzler with many cautions slowing the pace in the early going. Once the race got to half way though - the two front-runners - Pete Bicknell and Chad Brachmann put on quite a thrilling display of driving as the two criss-crossed paths a number of times in quite a vicious battle for top spot.

"Wow … it was super fast tonight," relayed a relieved Pete Bicknell in Victory Lane, "we had an awesome race … it was back and forth a couple of times - the cushion was a little high but you could hit your marks and get a good drive off."

After Brachmann set the pace in the early going - a steady stream of cautions would slow the pole-sitter's pace. While nearing the half-way point it didn't seem like Starter Doug Leonard's cross-flags were ever going to appear as he was too busy with his caution flag. Once past halfway however Bicknell and Brachmann got involved in quite a torrid battle for the lead - the two swapping P1 - sometimes a number of times each lap.

Eventually Bicknell would find the advantage and took control of the lead but in the latter stages increasing lap traffic kept Brachmann and the field close. One final caution on lap 33 may have given Bicknell the break he needed as he was able to hold top spot with a clear track in the two lap dash ahead of Brachmann, Scott Wood, Larry Lampman and Brian Stevens. The win for defending Points Champion Bicknell put an end to a two year win streak for Larry Lampman - the past two years the Port Colborne two time points champion had won Season Openers - and in dramatic fashion. Lampman had to be satisfied with his showing though after suffering engine woes back in the April 26th 100 lap event.

Brad Rouse had to be satisfied with his outing too - although it has been quite a couple weeks since setting fast time on Test Tune and Time Trial Day April 19th. "It's been a long winter - and a long early season," revealed Brad Rouse, "I can't thank my sponsors enough for their support - and a special thanks goes to my crew."

The crew has been busy as since earning the pole, Rouse had met with misfortune - up until leading all 25 laps of the Sportsman Feature.

Not without several challenges from (early season winner) Mike Bowman however. While the early part of the event suffered a few cautions, the latter half was caution-free and although Bowman was able to get a couple of good runs on the leader - he could never overtake top spot. "I like running the top so I went there," informed Rouse, "and I know Mike likes the bottom - we ran each other hard but clean … that's the way it should be - this definitely helps."

Rouse and Bowman were closely followed at the line by Mark D'Ilario in third who earlier in the night presented Merrittville Speedway with the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup alongside Lucas Oil's Steve Snowden - the humongous trophy the Smithville Driver earned last September for his home track at the Brighton Speedway. Sophomore driver Brandon Easey and defending points champion Chad Chevalier closed out the top 5.

Mike Dooley lost the pole to Barry Blanchard by but when it came to the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature - the main event was all his. The former Points Champion has always been partial to the bigger style of car - shucking the recent influx of Camaros and the like into the division - a choice on some nights that can be a good one or one not as good.

It was Dooley's type of track as it came up tacky, "it was just awesome!." The lead pack at one point was running pretty tight only slowed by two cautions but at the finish Dooley was able to out run Bill Hogue, Rick Beales, Jeff Dayman and April 26th winner Dolph McCready.

Mikey Hay rarely if at all has not seen Merrittville outside of the month of September when J&S Heating presents the annual Dwarf Car International. With three local tracks hosting Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour Events this season in addition to two in his home state of Pennsylvania and another in West Virginia - the invader drew first blood and made a local connection he enjoys look good.

Fellow competitors Adam Murphy and Mark Brighton own and operate Five Star Racing Products when not behind the wheel himself and along with Hay and designed the winning car - kind of a sharing of ideas with Hay's Evolution Race Cars.

"There are only a couple words - It's just absolutely awesome," replied Hay in Victory Lane when asked what he thought of Merrittville's surface in May, "I'll be paying a couple more visits leading up to the Rose Webber - thanks to Merrittville for hosting the series."

From the pole, Trevor Goulding took control of the 15 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature before caution slowed the field on lap 4. Just before the multi-car incident - the only yellow flag of the event, defending champion Abel Castelein slid into the infield in the same turn after contact with another car.

Goulding set the pace through the balance of the event for the win, "This track is just awesome," explained Goulding much like his fellow winners through the night, "Thanks to my wife and kids - and my sponsors!"

The night ended with quite a spirited Open Wheel Pit Crew Race with a driver in Victory Lane – certainly not a stranger to it back in his driving days before becoming the crew behind his son and fourth generation driver - BJ Willard. Former Sportsman Champion Bill Willard Jr bested the field but it was in his son-in-law Travis Braun's 358 Modified. Is there a comeback in the works? "The car handles so good," relayed the racer turned wrencher, "I really hate having to give it back."

Merrittville Speedway Results - Saturday May 10, 2008
Pen Centre Canadian Tire Financial Tire Services Employee Night

L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature - 35 laps
Pete Bicknell, Chad Brachmann, Scott Wood, Larry Lampman, Brian Stevens, Rick Richner, Dan Miller, Chris Steele, Ken Cosgrove, Fred Carleton, Bill Bleich, Darren Peters, Travis Braun, Andrew Sittler, Tim Jones, Alan Sleight, Todd Gordon, Derek Wutzke, Boyd MacTavish, Travis Cunningham, Derek Lemyre, Tom Flannigan, George Bosse, Todd Kendrick. DNQ - Scott George.
L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Heat Winners - First - Ken Cosgrove, Second - Scott Wood, Third - Larry Lampman.

Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature - 25 laps
Brad Rouse, Mike Bowman, Mark D'Ilario, Brandon Easey, Chad Chevalier, Tyler McPherson, Joe Middlemiss, Greg Panunte, BJ Willard, Ken Winnfield, Justin Sharp, Luke Carleton, Rob Knapp, Don Spiece, Mark Dixon, James Michael Friesen, Darren Zumpe, Robbie Rounce, Mat Williamson, Darrell Farraway, Rick Bellante, Tony Cowal, Lee Winger, Mark Chiddy. DNQ – Ryan Weese, Ron MacAuley, Graham Mackay, Norm Mark, Jim Johnstone, Jay Doerr, Kevin Sharpe.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Heat Winners - First - James Michael Friesen, Second - Tyler McPherson, Third - Brandon Easey.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman B Main Winner - Luke Carleton.

Hoosier Stock Feature - 15 laps
Mike Dooley, Bill Hogue, Rick Beales, Jeff Dayman, Dolph McCready, Rob Murray, Brent Begolo, Cody McPherson, Kevin Knapp, Ron Kingsbury, Jason Fontaine, Dave Small, Shayne Pierce, Billy Bleich, Barry Blanchard, Mark Fawcett, Kevin Kocarik, Rob Disher, Russ Davidson, Ron Loggie, Michael Bosse, Vince Fargnoli, Kirk Wilson, Richard Champigny. DNQ – Tyler Anderson, Adam Gracey, Jack Myers.
Hoosier Stock Heat Winners - First - Jeff Dayman, Second - Bill Hogue, Third - Brent Begolo.
Hoosier Stock B Main Winner - Mark Fawcett

J&S Heating Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour Feature for the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites - 25 laps
Mikey Hay, Shawn Sliter, Paul Klager, Jamie Gilbert, Adam Murphy, Ray Sliter, Jr., Dave Russell, Josh Sliter, Jeff Johnson, Adam Leslie, Scott Billing, Jordan Curran, Jason Corless, Derek Bredin, Greg Mills, Daniel Russell, Dale Leonard, Bob Bredin, Rick Brubacher, Andy Tallman, Kory Howe, Wayne Robins, Kellie Mason, W. Scott Phillips. DNQ - Joel Szigatti.
J&S Heating Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour Heat Winners - First Shawn Sliter, Second - James Curran, Third - Paul Klager

Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature - 15 laps
Trevor Goulding, Rob Overholt, Garnet Wilson, Ron Cosco, Damian Gore, Chris Laskey, Tony Kelly, Tony Kelly, Unknown, Abel Castelein, Evan Curtis, Rob Goulding, Mike Giberson, Bob Gill, Dave Larroque, Greg Wilson, Matt Deschamps, Charlie Lynch, Jocelynne Wiley, David Lopes, Terry Larmet, Ed MacLean, Rocco Conte, Greg Wilson, AJ Castelein.
Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Heat Winners - First - Chris Laskey, Second - Ron Cosco.

Merrittville Pit Notes: Inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion and former Champ Car Racer Andrew Ranger was a guest in the Lucas Oil VIP Suite.
The Infield Flags flew at half mast in memory of several individuals lost to the racing community since last season - Lynn Coutu-Sim, Roger Hill, Bruce Swartz, Jr., Dave Halliwell, Oliver Tallman and Joe Cosco.
Merrittville Speedway presents it's first holiday doubleheader of 2008 with the BRP Can Am Late Models featured Saturday May 17th. Joining the Meridian Credit Union Rankin Cancer Run Night are the Sportsman, Hoosier Stock, Open Wheel Lites and 4 Cylinders.
The Financial Care Group presents Monday Night Madness Monday May 19th featuring the 50 lap opening round of the 2008 Lucas Oil 358 Modified Shoot Out plus a 40 lap Sportsman and 25 lap Duel on the Dirt Home Track Street Stock Events. Capping off the Monday Show is a Konzelmann Estate Winery Enduro Qualifier.

Gates open at 5:30 with Show time at 7:00. For further info call 905-892-8266 or visit http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com. /

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS: The 2008 DIRT Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway's 5 Divisions is brought to fans by partners including the Pen Centre and Canadian Tire Financial Services in addition to contingency sponsors Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Hoosier Tire Canada, Inside Track Motorsport News, Intercomp, ISC Racer's Tape, Jaz Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Motorsports Safety Systems, Port City Racing, R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Sway-A-Way, Ultra Shield Race Products, Outerwears and XRP, Inc.