Fawcett, Rothwell And Watters Win First In Seaway Mall Night

Thorold, Ontario – With the Seaway Mall getting us all ready for Mother’s Day … 6 Drivers were ready for Race Day sharing visits to Victory Lane Saturday May 7th.

In three events to start the 2016 Season both Brad Rouse and Paul Klager both have scored natural hat tricks. Rouse of St. Catharines won this 3rd Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Feature while Klager of Beamsville is three for three in the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Division.

In recent years it has been well into summer before the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Division has a repeat winner but St. Catharines’ Mike Bowman earned his second 35 lap Victory of the season.

First time winners included defending Hoosier Stock Champion Mark Fawcett of Canfield, Welland’s Kyle Rothwell in the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder and Chris Watters of St. Thomas in the Yager Bros Trucking Novice Sportsman Divisions respectively.

“We made a couple changes just before Feature Time,” said Brad Rouse after winning his third 25 lap Sportsman Main Event, “I put a shock on that we save for when the track slicks up … I could drive it anywhere I wanted.”

Rouse who started from 11th drove his way into the runner-up spot by about the halfway point after overtaking Jay Mallory. On lap 14 – he was the new leader.

Last week’s Novice Feature Winner Tom Richau set the pace at the start until Darrell Farraway took control on lap 6. Mallory and Rob Knapp who was named the Archer Truck Service Driver of the Week to start the night were battling for second with Knapp quickly taking on Farraway for top spot.

Trying to celebrate his Birthday with his first Feature Win of the season was former Champion Cody McPherson who took control of second spot on lap 18. Unfortunately one lap later both McPherson and Knapp were collected in an incident with slower cars slowing the pace on lap 19.

Rouse resumed the lead on the restart and once again after a lap 22 caution through to Starter Steve DeVos’ Checkered Flag.

Rouse was followed by Justin Sharp, Paul Gaboury, Mallory and Brent Begolo.

“Tonight … it all came down to set up,” said three time Modified Lite Feature Winner Paul Klager, “I’ve got a strong motor but with the slick track – I couldn’t use it.”

Klager, who started 10th was quickly into second by lap 3. After a false start on the original green flag, Ray Sliter Jr. was first to lead the 20 lap event before sophomore driver Steven Beckett took control by lap 2.

Klager became the new leader on lap 6 with cautions on laps 10 and 14 slowing the field.

On the lap 14 restart, Beckett apparently lost control of his car sending a chain reaction back through the field in Turn 4. The incident resulted in Dillan Sliter flipping the former Wally Billing #37 several times.

Sliter’s younger sister Ryleigh probably saw the whole incident unfold in front of her and it was Dillan that walked away from his car to let her know he was OK.

With Klager out front on the restart the race to watch was for second between former Champion Jeffrey May and Rob Misener. With Klager in control of top spot through to the finish, May took second with May, Shawn Sliter and Chris Watson as the Top 5.

“I couldn’t decide just what to do … it was a last minute decision to switch lanes,” said two time Pinty’s 358 Modified Feature Winner Mike Bowman of the battle with Pete Bicknell, “we’ve played this game before.”

Bowman beat Scott Wood to the green flag on a lap 10 restart after defending Champion Chad Brachmann slowed down the front stretch.

Tim Jones was first to lead the 35 lap Feature through a lap 3 restart after Bill Bleich slowed. Quickly Bowman was challenging Wood for second before Wood closed in on Jones. Wood became the new leader on lap 8 with Wood, Bowman and Jones three wide for top spot.

Lap 13 wasn’t lucky for Rookie Gary Lindberg fresh off his first win the week earlier with the second generation driver slowing with engine trouble.

With Bowman out front on the restart, Jones was quickly back to second. A big shuffle had Pete Bicknell come from almost nowhere to take over the runner up spot with Tyler McPherson battling Jones for third.

By the halfway point, Bowman had opened up a lead of about a half straightaway but by lap 20 – Bicknell had caught the leader.

Bowman and Bicknell were side by side crossing the start-finish line to start lap 25 with Bicknell in top spot on lap 26. Bowman regained top spot one lap later and at the finish was 8/10th’s of s second ahead of Bicknell.

Jones, McPherson and Chris Steele rounded out the top 5.

“We made some changes this week … to bring us closer to what Tony (Kelly) has” said 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Kyle Rothwell, “it was a great race with Tyler who is driving my car … this one’s for my car owner’s Mom Susan Clarke who we lost a few weeks ago.”

Alex Riley – an adopted member of Rothwell and Tyler Lafantaisie’s Twisted Metal Racing Team was first to lead the 15 lap Feature with action 4 wide back in the pack.

Riley and Craig Coutu had pulled away to a quick early advantage on the field until a lap 3 caution.

The restart had Riley in control with Jeff Hill in second before taking over the lead on lap 4. A lap 7 caution slowed Rothwell who had just taken over the runner up spot from Mike Sadusek.

Hill set the pace through a lap 8 restart and would have Rothwell on the inside and Sadusek on the outside as challengers.

Rothwell would take over top spot with Lafantaisie following into second in the closing laps.

At the finish, Rothwell came home a couple car lengths ahead of Lafantaisie with Sadusek, Hill and Kelly as the top 5.

“It’s all about getting seat time,” said Chris Watters after winning his first Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Novice Feature, “I’ve only been in the car a few times … I learned a lot tonight with the different track conditions.”

Robbie Johnston was first to lead the 10 lap event before caution had Watters as the new leader.

Watters was followed by Mike Beyore and Johnston.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Cotton Inc. will present a 6 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program featuring the opening round of the Triple Crown Series for the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Division. During intermission, the Tuesday Night Lucas Oil Weekly Karting Series Teams will present an Exhibition on the infield track.

Grandstands will open at 5:30 with Show Time at 7:00 PM.

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. Merrittville Speedway’s Office is open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and is located in the Grandstand Area on the ground floor of the Lucas Oil Tower.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 65th Consecutive Season in 2016 – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville

Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Feature (25 laps) Brad Rouse, Justin Sharp, Paul Gaboury, Jay Mallory, Brent Begolo, Cody McPherson, Darrell Farraway, Joey Mastroianni, Mark Chiddy, Jesse Penner, Chris Bellamy, Rob Knapp, Jim Harbison, Tom Richau, Chris Storm, Zach Sam, Mike Beyore, Trevor Wright, Gord McIntosh, ean Dominey, Chris Watters.

Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Feature (20 laps) Paul Klager, Jeffrey May, Rob Misener, Josh Sliter, Chris Watson, Josh Sliter, Steven Beckett, Tyler Winger, Marty deMoel, Ray Sliter Jr., Craig Martin, Ryleigh Sliter, RJ Pietz, Dillan Sliter..

Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature (35 laps) Mike Bowman, Pete Bicknell, Tim Jones, Tyler McPherson, Chris Steele, Ryan Susice, Erick Rudolph, Fred Carleton, Tommy Flannigan, Mark D’Ilario, Wayne Conn, Scott Wood, Travis Cunningham, Todd Gordon, Dave Flannigan Jr., Chad Brachmann, Randy Chrysler, Gary Lindberg, Bill Bleich.

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Mark Fawcett, Dave Bailey, Peter Reid, Billy Bleich, Dave Small, Chris Crawford, Jack Myers, Jim Lampman, Kyle Pelrine, Steve Shaw, Chris Schneider, Mike Miller, James Marr, Nick Dennis, Tony Shintani, Jeremy May..

Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature (15 laps) Kyle Rothwell, Tyler Lafantaisie, Mike Sadusek, Jeff Hill, Tony Kelly, Jason Coutu, Alex Riley, Vincent Pagnotta, Jeremy Smith, Gary Hodasun, Clinton Nicholls, Kourtney Kocarik, Jay Moulton, Sam Iftody, Tom Neale, Gregg Lounsbury, Austyn Werstroh, Trevor Wart, Brian Teeple, Olivier Larocque, Kyle Miller, Cole Hardy..

Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Novice Division Feature (10 laps) Chris Watters, Mike Beyore, Robbie Johnston.

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2016 65th 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, Yager Bros Trucking, Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports, Hoosier Tire Canada and Van Raine Construction 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.

Lucas Oil Products, Inc., is the world leader in the production high performance oils, fuel treatments and problem solving additives with the largest variety of shelf products of any oil company in North America. Lucas Oil’s premium formulas are marketed worldwide and retail at more than 40,000 auto parts stores across the continent and at virtually every truck stop across Canada.

Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favourite automotive retailer or maintenance center including Kala’s Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts and RCM Racing Equipment.