Dunn, Lindberg, Bleich, Sliter, Hage and Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research also winners

Thorold, Ontario – Congenital Diaphagmatic Hernia Awareness Night came home a big winner July 18th at Merrittville Speedway as $1,500.00 was raised through donations.

On behalf of Rob Clark and his family – thanks to the race fans that contributed and to the drivers that took part in the drive.

Caledon's Kyle Haynes took home his second of three Triple Crown Series Events for the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Division – his third win of 2015.

Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action also had Billy Dunn of Watertown NY take home his 2nd win in the Pinty's Delicious Foods 358 Modified Division while Port Robinson's Billy Bleich winning his first Hoosier Stock Feature.

Gary Lindberg of Ridgeway visited Victory Lane for the 6th time of the season in the Rick's Delivery Sportsman Division as did Josh Sliter in the Rev's Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lites.

Originally scheduled for June 27th's Cotton Inc Night – Benjamin Hage of St. Ann's won the second Ballhockey.com Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College.

"This is Evan Curtis' old car and I just beat him with it," said Kyle Haynes at the conclusion of Round 2 of the 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series 20 lap Event, "he's helped me a lot with it ... I always wanted to beat him!"

Curtis who is running a limited schedule this season was quick to take the lead getting by a pair of 11s as Mike Giberson and Brian Teeple led the field to the initial green flag.

By lap 3 – Haynes was in control with the two swapping spots several times in the early stages. By the halfway point, Haynes and Curtis had pulled away to a comfortable lead while current point leader Kyle Rothwell pulled into the infield off the pace.

The first caution slowed the field on lap 14 after a number of cars came together with Haynes back in control on the restart. With two laps to go – Curtis would pull alongside Haynes with Rob Goulding making a late race charge as well.

At the finish, Haynes was followed by Goulding with Mike Sadusek taking third from Curtis. Sam Iftody rounded out the top 5.

The Triple Crown Series Finale for the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Division is set for Saturday August 8th's Niagara Employment Help Centre Night.

"They stuck with me and I stuck with them," said Billy Dunn after his second win in his first season at the Thorold track, "I knew sooner or later I would get used to the track and get this engine figured out ... one of these days I'll win a race when everyone's here!"

Dunn in his Randy Slack-owned #3 raced Karts for Bob Slack who missed his first win while on holidays and was off Kart Racing with his son Dalton at the New York Dirt Kart Series Event at Ransomville Speedway.

Dave Flannigan Jr was first to lead but the first time down the backstretch it was Fred Carleton in top spot.

Lap 4 would see the race slowed with a red flag after a number of cars coming together between Turns 3 and 4 including Point Leader Chad Brachmann whose night would end early.

Carleton was again in top spot on the restart with a number of cars at the back of the pack coming together slowing the pace on lap 5. The return to action was delayed after a number of cars came together at the tail of the field once again.

Carleton set the pace on the restart with Billy Dunn challenging and taking over the lead on lap 7. Erick Rudolph would quickly take over the runner up spot in the Rob Clark Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness # 19.

By the half way point Dunn opened up almost a straightaway lead on Rudolph who appeared to have collected some clay in his right rear. Lap 21 saw Todd Gordon slow off the pace which may have been good for Rudolph who was trying to clean out the wheel under yellow.

With Dunn out front, Rudolph was being pressured by Tyler McPherson who took over second on lap 24.

Quickly Dunn pulled away to almost a straightaway lead once again when on lap 29 Rudolph would pull into the infield – the vibration causing damage to the 19.

Dunn would stretch his lead over McPherson at the finish with Mat Williamson, Mike Bowman and Tommy Flannigan as the Top 5.

"I can't thank my crew and Niagara Drive Train enough," said Billy Bleich after his first Hoosier Stock Feature Win of the season, "last night we snapped the driveshaft in half."

Kyle Pelrine and Chris Crawford led the field to the green flag until down the back stretch the first time the leader was Billy Bleich.

By lap 2, Kevin Knapp was the new leader with Bleich keeping pace.

Door to door action between the two until Bleich took control to start lap 7. Quickly Bleich would pull away to a couple car length advantage to the half-way point.

Caution would slow the pace for the first time on lap 12 after Pat Thompson was sitting the wrong way in Turn 2.

Bleich regained control of top spot on the restart ahead of Knapp, Rob Murray and Mark Fawcett.

Down the backstretch of lap 15, Fawcett would land in the runner up spot but fell a car length short at the finish.

Bleich and Fawcett were followed by Rob Murray, Knapp and Dave Bailey.

"Luckily I had built up a good lead ... at the end I wasn't good," said Gary Lindberg after holding on for his 6th Sportsman Win, "I couldn't slow down the rpms to run the bottom - I thought I would be passed by someone."

Joey Mastroianni was first to lead the 25 lap Feature for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman Division with fellow front row starter Brent Begolo edging ahead on lap 2. Mastroianni would regain top spot and by lap 4 opened up a comfortable lead.

By lap 5 Gary Lindberg was in the runner up spot and raced into the lead down the backstretch of lap 8.

Brad Rouse would challenge Mastroianni for second – taking the spot with 10 laps to go – some three seconds behind the leader..

By lap 18, Lindberg was into lap traffic with Rouse being challenged by Chad Chevalier.

With Lindberg facing increasing lap traffic in the final 5 laps – a stuck throttle allowed Chevalier to close to a second of the leader. .

Lindberg and Chevalier were followed by Rouse Mastroianni and Begolo.

"I couldn't believe everyone went to the bottom," said Josh Sliter of the start of the Modified Lite Feature, "I just followed Jamie (Gilbert) to the front around the cushion."

Mike Jouneaux was first to lead the Modified Lite Feature with Jame Gilbert into second from an eighth place start in the first lap.

By lap 2, Gilbert was the new leader with Josh Sliter the challenger until a lap 4 caution stalled the battle.

Sliter who also started as deep as Gilbert was the new leader on the restart only to be slowed once again on lap 5.

Sliter resumed the lead in the return to action with Gilbert being challenged by JSR Team-mate Rob Misener. Nearing the half-way point Sliter had pulled away to a lead of about a ¼ lap.

Lap 11 would see that lead go away with another caution with Sliter back out front once again.

With Sliter out to a commanding lead – the last 5 laps saw Misener and Jeff May making charges to overtake Gilbert. Chris Watson rounded out the top 5.

After taking the lead early from James Mercer – it appeared that Hoosier Stock Racer Peter Reid would take home the Ballhockey.com Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College.

Reid was on cruise control until lap 17 when Dave Laroque became the new leader. Three laps later Reid would slow off the pace and with two to go – Benjamin Hage was in control.

At the finish, Hage was followed by Laroque, Jason Coutu, Nick Sarantakos and Reid.

Hage will now start the Season Finale 100 lap Enduro on Sunday September 13th from second spot. The final Qualifier will take place Monday August 3rd as part of the Bob St. Amand Senior Memorial 100 presented by L. St. Amand Enterprises and St. Amand Auto and Truck Repair.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Merrittville Speedway closes the month of July this Saturday when Hingston Metal Fabricators presents Minor Sport Night featuring a full 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event.

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

Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series Round Two (20 laps) Kyle Haynes, Rob Goulding, Mike Sadusek, Evan Curtis, Sam Iftody, Jeremy Smith, Alex Pidgeon, Tony Kelly, Alex Riley, Katie Cosco, Mike Giberson, Kourtney Kocarik, Gary Hodason, Kurtis Wiley, Terry Larmet, Brandon Pidgeon, Tyler Lafantaisie, Jason Coutu, Brian Teeple, Eric Larmet, Kyle Rothwell.

Pinty's Delicious Foods DIRTcar 358 MODIFIED FEATURE (35 laps) Billy Dunn, Tyler McPherson, Mat Williamson, Mike Bowman, Tommy Flannigan, Pete Bicknell, Tim Jones, Fred Carleton, Mark D'Ilario, Chris Steele, Boyd MacTavish, Travis Miller, Dave Flannigan Jr., Chris Bellamy, Brett Clarke, Erick Rudolph, Todd Gordon, Bill Bleich, Scott Wood, Chad Brachmann.

Rick's Delivery DIRTcar Sportsman Feature – (25 laps) Gary Lindberg, Chad Chevalier, Brad Rouse, Joey Mastroianni, Brent Begolo, Rob Knapp, Justin Sharp, Cody McPherson, Jason Moore, Jay Mallory, Paul Gaboury, Austin Wood, James Friesen, Adam Leslie, Jordan Cosco, Chris Storm, Gord Moreau, Derick Hodge.

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Billy Bleich, Mark Fawcett, Rob Murray, Kevin Knapp, Dave Bailey, Jim Lampman, Dale Gyokery, Kyle Pelrine, Chris Crawford, Chris Schneider, Pat Thompson, Pete Reid, Brad Sheehan, Derek VanMill. .

Rev's Full Throttle Power Sports Modified Lite Feature (15 laps) Josh Sliter, Rob Misener, Jeffrey May, Jamie Gilbert, Chris Watson, Dylan Davidson, Paul Klager, Steven Beckett, Dean Pronovost, Marty deMoel, RJ Pietz, Ray Sliter Jr., Mike Journeaux, 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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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.

Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favourite automotive retailer or maintenance center including KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage.