Thorold, Ontario – Lococo Wholesale kicked off the first doubleheader of 2015 with Rankin Cancer Run Night featuring a 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event at Merrittville Speedway May 16th with three drivers leading the way taking home their second wins.

James Michael Friesen of St. Catharines had his number come up twice the same night as both his wins came within minutes of each other. After learning over the one way RACEceiver Radio that he had won the St. Catharines CYO Hockey 50-50 Draw, the third generation driver won for the second time – taking home the 25 lap Feature for the Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Division.

Bill Bleich, (Port Robinson) and Mike Sadusek (Niagara Falls) both won their second career features in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified and Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Divisions respectively.

Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action also saw St. Catharines driver Rob Murray win his first of 2015 and Port Colborne’s Josh Sliter in Victory Lane for the second time in the Hoosier Stock and Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Divisions..

“I could hear Gary behind me,” said James Michael Friesen in Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Victory Lane, “I didn’t know what to do … it made it interesting for sure. It’s pretty cool to win the 50-50 too. I’ve got a ride for Monday (May 18th) so that will help with the expenses for sure!”

The last 5 laps of the 25 lap Event had Lindberg closing in on the leader and a home stretch last chance try fell a ½ car length short.

Friesen appeared to be on cruise control until a lap 19 slowed the pace on final time. Two laps earlier, Friesen the third generation driver had driven away to about a straightaway lead until back to back cautions on laps 17 and 18.

First it was for Jordan Cosco who slowed in Turn 4 and then a multi-car incident that ended early leader Justin Sharp’s night. Austin Wood was the initial leader at the start before losing top spot to Sharp.

With the early action through the pack sometimes 5 wide – Friesen landed in third and made his way through to top spot before lap 10.

At the finish, Friesen and Lindberg were followed by Rob Knapp, Brad Rouse and Jay Mallory.

“We’ve been struggling so far this year,” said Bill Bleich after winning the 35 lap Feature for the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Division, “the crew has been working real hard … so it’s great to be here in Victory Lane.”

Todd Gordon was first to lead the final Feature of the Night before Bleich took control well before a lap 8 caution involving Mat Williamson and Davey Moore between Turns 3 and 4.

With Bleich back out front to a huge lead the battle between Mike Bowman and Tim Jones was the one to watch. Eventually Tommy Flannigan would join in with the trio catching runner-up Todd Gordon as well.

At the halfway point with all this action behind him, Bleich had ran away to a full straightaway lead before Bowman took over second spot.

At the finish, Bleich prevailed over Bowman with Flannigan making a late race charge to taked third from Todd Gordon with Tim Jones settling for fifth.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Mike Sadusek after winning his second career Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature, “the car would go anywhere tonight … despite only running on 3 Cylinders – I can’t complain.”

Go Fast Teeple and Jeffrey Larmet led the field to the green flag for the 15 lap Feature for the 4 Cylinders with Larmet taking control of top spot right away. Just as quick – Alex Riley would land in the runner-up spot with Sam Iftody making a back stretch move pay off taking control of top spot on lap 4.

Rob Goulding would take the lead with Mike Sadusek following into second just before a caution would slow the field on lap 6.

Goulding resumed control on the restart with Sadusek the new leader when another lap turned on the Lucas Oil Live Leaderboard until caution again slowed the pace on lap 8.

Sadusek pulled away from the field on the restart with Leroy Buscumb challenging Goulding. After clearing the car, Buscumb was some 5 car lengths behind the leader with the last half of the race to go.

In the closing laps Sadusek would pull away with Goulding, Buscumb, last week’s Feature Winner Kyle Haynes and Tyler Lafantaisie rounding out the top 5.

Jim Lampman was first to lead the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature with the pace slowed right away after Billy Bleich and Chris Crawford’s cars became hooked together. Crawford and opening night winner Dave Bailey who was collected were able to continue while Bleich’s night ended early.

Pete Reid was the new leader on the restart with Rob Murray taking over top spot into Turn 2. Defending Champion Mark Fawcett would fall in behind Murray with the pair pulling away from the pack.

Jason Fontaine settled into third spot comfortably ahead of Kevin Knapp and Lampman who rounded out the top 5. Down the backstretch of lap 14 Fawcett tried to overtake Murray to no avail while Knapp and Lampman had closed on Fontaine.

Murray would hold off Fawcett by about 5 car lengths with Kevin Knapp making a late race move to take third from Fontaine with Lampman fifth.

Former Karters Dylan Davidson and Chris Watson led the 15 lap Feature to the green flag for the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lites with Davidson the first to lead. Quickly Jamie Gilbert was the new leader while team-mate Josh Sliter took over top spot just ahead of a caution on lap 3.

Sliter set the pace on the restart until a multi-car incident between Turns 1 and 2 slowed the return to action on lap 4.

Sliter - the former Champion would grab the lead once again in the restart until caution right away after last week’s feature winner lost control in Turn 4. Sliter drove away from the field when the green flag dropped.

Sliter’s margin would grow to almost a straightaway ahead of Jamie Gilbert with Misener regrouping to take third ahead of Chris Watson and Dylan Davidson.

PIT NOTES

May 9th Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature Winner Mark D’Ilario who closed last Saturday taking home a Power Washer from Dave’s Small Engines made It a third win after being named the Archer Truck Service Driver of the Week.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Merrittville Speedway’s first Holiday Doubleheader of 2015 concludes Monday May 18th when Zavitz Financial Strategies and Employee Benefit Solutions as hosts of the 44 lap Brian Stevens Memorial for the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds with $4,444.00 going to the winner.

Rounding out the Holiday program are the RUSH Late Models, Hoosier Stocks and the first Ballhockey.com Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College.

The Grandstand Gates open at 5:30 for both events. Showtime is 7:00.

To reach Merrittville Speedway call 905-892-8266 or via e mail – ebicknell@cogeco,net. Merrittville Speedway is located at 2371 Merrittville Highway in Thorold Ontario.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 64th Consecutive Season in 2015 – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Become a fan of Merrittville Speedway on Face Book at www.facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Merrittville

Rick’s Delivery DIRTcar Sportsman Feature – (25 laps) James Michael Friesen, Gary Lindberg, Rob Knapp, Brad Rouse, Jay Mallory, Austin Wood, Chad Chevalier, Paul Gaboury, Cody McPherson, Ryan Ferri, Brent Begolo, Joey Mastroianni, Robert Baker, Justin Sharp, Gord McIntosh, Chris Storm, Jordan Cosco, Tim Zack, Larry Pearce, Jason Moore, Rob Clark, Gord Moreau..

Pinty’s Delicious Foods DIRTcar 358 MODIFIED FEATURE (35 laps) Billy Bleich, Mike Bowman, Tommy Flannigan, Tim Jones, Todd Gordon, Tyler McPherson, Chad Brachmann, Scott Wood, Wayne Conn, Chris Steele, Billy Dunn, Pete Bicknell, Mark D’Ilario, Boyd MacTavish, Travis Miller, Dennis Giancola, Chris Bellamy, Fred Carleton, Mat Williamson, Davey Moore.

Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature (15 laps) Mike Sadusek, Leroy Buscumb, Rob Goulding, Kyle Haynes. Tyler Lafantaisie, Kyle Rothwell, Alex Riley, Sam Iftody, Mike Giberson, Jeffrey Larmet, Jeremy Smith, Kourtney Kocarik, Gary Hodason, Sam Pidgeon, Jay Moulton, Jason Coutu, Go Fast Teeple, Brandon Pidgeon..

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Rob Murray, Mark Fawcett, Kevin Knapp, Jason Fontaine, Jim Lampman, Kyle Pelrine, Dave Bailey, Chris Crawford, Pete Reid, Dale Gyokery, Brad Sheehan, Billy Bleich, Mason Smith, Derek VanMil, Lee Winger..

Rev’s Full Throttle Power Sports Modified Lite Feature (15 laps) Josh Sliter, Jamie Gilbert, Rob Misener, Chris Watson, Dylan Davidson, Ray Sliter, Jr., RJ Pietz, Jeffrey May, Marty deMoel, Steven Beckett, Kellie Mason,

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2015 64th Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Rick’s Delivery, Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports, Hoosier Tire Canada and Van Raine Construction and Contingency Partners http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/contingency.html 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.

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