Thompson gets the job done in Hoosier Stock Better Bonus Event

Thorold, Ontario – The Niagara Employment Help Centre Night featured the 2015 Triple Crown Series Finale for the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Division and the Hoosier Stock Better Bonus Event hosted by the Welland and Fort Erie Timber Marts Saturday August 8th.

Welland’s Tyler Lafantaisie won the 20 lap Finale while Caledon’s Kyle Haynes took home the Title for the 3 Race Mini-Series.

St. Catharines driver James Thompson took home $750.00 after winning the 12 lap Dash for Cash for the Hoosier Stocks with Jason Fontaine of Port Colborne winning the 20 lap Feature.

Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action also had St. Catharines’ Mike Bowman win the 35 lap Feature for the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds, Gary Lindberg of Ridgeway the 25 lap Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Feature and Port Colborne’s Josh Sliter – the 20 lap Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Feature.

“This car was always good … I pulled it out of the weeds … it’s good to crack one off,” said 1st time 2015 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Lafantaisie, “thanks to Al, Kyle and Rob and everyone who helped the last 2 weeks to get this thing here!”

Sam Iftody and Kurtis Wiley led the field to the initial green flag to start the 20 lap Event with Wiley taking the lead the first time down the backstretch. With cars 4 wide charging to the front … Iftody, Wiley and Mike Sadusek quickly became swallowed up in a front stretch incident that left Iftody on his side against the wall in Turn 4.

Once Iftody’s car was righted – the Fenwick driver climbed back in telling a track official, “I wrecked it … I’m going to drive it in.”

Evan Curtis was the new leader on the restart after the red flag with Lafantaisie quickly landing in the runner up spot. Lap 3 would see Rob Goulding’s Triple Crown Title Chance go away having to head to the pits with a flat tire. The Port Colborne driver who began the night as the Archer Truck Service Driver of the Week went into the Finale with an outside chance – sitting 26 points out of top spot.

Lafantaisie would take oiver top spot and once out front wasn’t slowed – even coming up on slower cars just past halfway.

Having shelved his #06 Car of this season for last year’s # 95 – Lafantaisie went unchallenged to the final checkered flag of the night with Curtis, Kyle Haynes, Alex Pidgeon and Kyle Rothwell as the top 5.

“It’s a good night for sure,” said Haynes also in Victory Lane after winning the Triple Crown Series, “I used to hate Triple Crown Nights … we didn’t used to do so good – but this year I guess we did good.”

Having recently hosted the 64th Reunion Night, the Welland and Fort Erie Timber Marts Night didn’t have the Hoosier Stocks as part of the celebration. With their Better Bonus Event on now until September 6th – Jake den Hollander and Jeff Hill wanted to reward the division with their own Better Bonus Event.

St. Catharines driver James Thompson held off Jim Lampman by a couple feet to win the $750.00 first place prize with Dale Gyokery, Kyle Pelrine and Kevin Kocarik as the top 5 in the 12 lap Special Event.

“This is probably the biggest win of my career so far,” said Thompson in Victory Lane, “we didn’t have the car for the feature … but it came around to us for the Dash – thanks to Timber Mart for this great event and thanks to Jason (Fontaine) for picking me.”

Billy Bleich beat fellow front row starter Kyle Pelrine to the green flag to start the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature. By lap 5, Jason Fontaine had taken over the runner up spot a few car lengths behind the leader.

At the halfway point, Jim Lampman was challenging Kyle Pelrine for third with Bleich maintaining the advantage on Fontaine.

Lap 15 saw Fontaine close in on Bleich’s rear bumper with the two leaders almost a straightaway ahead of the field.

Into Turn 3 on lap 18, Fontaine took control of top spot and at the finish the Top 5 was Fontaine, Bleich, Lampman, James Thompson and Pelrine.

“I knew I was catching Billy (Bleich) … I was getting such a good run in 3 and 4,” said 3 time winner Fontaine drew the names of the drivers that would start the Better Bonus Event, “side by side racing like that is awesome.”

“It was always a good car … I’m glad we bought it back from Travis Cunningham,” said Mike Bowman in Pinty’s 358 Modified Victory Lane for the second time, “it’s turned our year around.”

Todd Gordon was first to lead the 35 lap event out-racing Australian Brett Clarke to the initial green flag before the field was slowed right away.

A traffic jam back in the pack saw Scott Wood in trouble but having never really lost momentum – the yellow was for debris.

Gordon resumed control on the restart with Mike Bowman quick to challenge the leader. Also joining the battle for top spot was Fred Carleton. When Bowman took the lead – he quickly drove away. When Pete Bicknell took over the runner-up spot on lap 8 – he was almost a straightaway behind the leader.

Caution would slow the pace once again on lap 10 and by the halfway point – Bowman was back to a straightaway advantage with Carleton challenging Bicknell.

By lap 21, Bowman was into lap traffic until Bicknell slowed with a flat tire on lap 27 again allowing the field to catch up to the leader.

With Bowman out front on the restart – the battle for second was three wide between Carleton, Bill Bleich and Mat Williamson.

In the closing laps, Carleton could close in on Bowman in the turns but down the straighaways – Bowman would pull away from the Niagara Employment Help Centre # 96.

At the finish, Bowman and Carleton were followed by Williamson, Bleich and Erick Rudolph.

“The track was fast and that makes it hard to come from the back,” said Gary Lindberg in Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Victory Lane for the 7th time of the season, “I knew I had a chance to get by Austin (Wood) on the outside of Turns 3 and 4 – I would’ve liked to race him right to the end.”

Joey Mastroianni was first to lead the 25 lap Feature with Austin Wood quickly landing in the runner up spot. By lap 6, the third generation driver was closing in on the leader and at the start finish line of lap 9 took control of top spot.

By lap 10, Gary Lindberg was now in second and closed in on Wood with the two into lap traffic by lap 14. Lap 20 had Lindberg right on Wood’s rear bumper and after getting hung on with slower cars – Lindberg as able to overtake Wood.

In the closing laps, Lindberg drove away to a comfortable lead with Wood settling for second. Chad Chevalier, Brad Rouse and Rob Knapp would round out the top 5.

“I didn’t see what happened or who it was but I was talking with (Track Official) Bob Duyn while under red … it was good to here that Chris is ok,” said Josh Sliter after his 6th Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Feature Win.

Racing into Turn 1 on lap 12, Chris Watson flipped his car violently end over end several times while running mid pack stopping the 15 lap event.

Sliter had just taken the lead from Jamie Gilbert after a lap 11 restart and by lap 15 had opened up a 5 car advantage on the race for second between Gilbert and Paul Klager.

Gilbert had taken over top spot from initial leader Steven Beckett the second time into Turn 2.

With Sliter first across the line, Gilbert regained second from Klager with Rob Misener and Beckett as the top 5.

The Kid’s Box Car Races proved to a big night for two families as before his dad Jason won his feature – Ryan Fontaine took his age division. After Ethan McNulty won his division his younger brother’s Danny Johnson inspired car took home Best in Show honors. Emma Smith rounded out the winners after taking the checkered flag in her age category.

On behalf of the Honeywell Safety Kids Club – thanks to all those who made some great looking entries once again.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Avondale Food Stores will present a 5 division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program Saturday August 15th featuring a TUSA Series Event for the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Division and the Best Appearing Dog Contest.

The Grandstands open at 5:30 with Show Time at 7 PM.

To reach Merrittville Speedway call 905-892-8266 or via e mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 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 Finale (20 laps) Tyler Lafantaisie, Evan Curtis, Kyle Haynes, Alex Pidgeon, Kyle Rothwell, Alex Riley, Jeremy Smith, Brian Teeple, Kourtney Kocarik, Kurtis Wiley, Jay Moulton, Mike Giberson, Rob Goulding, Jeffrey Larmet, Sam Iftody, Mike Sadusek.

The Welland and Fort Erie Timber Marts Hoosier Stock Better Bonus Event (12 laps) James Thompson, Jim Lampman, Dale Gyokery, Kyle Pelrine, Kevin Kocarik, Dave Small.

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Jason Fontaine, Jason Fontaine, Billy Bleich, Jim Lampman, Kyle Pelrine, Dave Bailey, Mark Fawcett, Dale Gyokery, Davie Small, Chris Crawford, Jack Myers, Kevin Kocarik, Chris Schneider, James Marr.

Pinty’s Delicious Foods DIRTcar 358 Modified Feature (35 laps) Mike Bowman, Fred Carleton, Mat Williamson, Bill Bleich, Erick Rudolph, Chad Brachmann, Tyler McPherson, Mark D’Ilario, Tim Jones, Tommy Flannigan, Scott Wood, Travis Miller, Dennis Giancola, Pete Bicknell, Brett Clarke, Rick Hoctor, Todd Gordon, Boyd MacTavish, Billy Dunn.

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

Rev’s Full Throttle Power Sports Modified Lite Feature (20 laps) Josh Sliter, Jamie Gilbert, Paul Klager, Rob Misener, Steven Beckett, RJ Pietz, Dean Pronovost, Dylan Davidson, Ray Sliter, Jr., Marty deMoel, Derek Moore, Chris Watson, 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 athttp://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.

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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.