4 first time 2016 winners too

Thorold, Ontario – The Ontario Truck Driving School hosted KIDSRACE and the big winner was the Canadian National Autism Foundation.

Also big winners were 4 drivers who won their first Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series features of Merrittville Speedway’s 65th Anniversary Season June 18th.

Tommy Flannigan, (Port Robinson), Rob Murray, (St. Catharines) and two Niagara Falls Drivers Mike Sadusek and Rob Knapp each visited Victory Lane in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified, Hoosier Stock, Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder and Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Divisions.

The Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lites were featured in a 20 lap TUSA Series Event with Beamsville’s Paul Klager taking home the win – his fourth of the season.

Also featured were the Hoosier Stocks in a 10 lap Do Anything Go Anywhere Giveaway Dash for Cash presented by the Welland and Fort Erie Timber Marts. Pete Reid of Stevensville took the win and the $500 Prize Money.

“I got a little worried when I saw Erick’s number on the Board,” said Tommy Flannigan in 358 Modified Victory Lane of runner up Rudolph, “I was able to use lap traffic to my advantage … it’s great to win one for the Sittlers – sometimes they come unexpected.”

James Friesen was first to lead the 35 lap Feature for the Pinty’s 358 Modifieds with Scott Wood taking over top spot crossing the finish line to complete the first lap.

Just as Tim Jones was closing in on the leader caution would slow the pace on lap 7.

Wood and Jones were side by side on the restart until Wood edged ahead down the backstretch. A lap 16 incident would slow the field for the second time.

Contact between Wood and Jones on the restart sent Jones spinning into the infield with Tommy Flannigan the new leader when racing resumed. Two and three wide battles for position through the field allowed Flannigan to pull away to a quick lead. Erick Rudolph would take over second spot by lap 20 although almost a full straightaway behind the leader.

Increasing lap traffic in the closing laps allowed Rudolph to narrow the gap but 35 laps would come too soon.

Flannigan and Rudolph were followed by Mike Bowman, Chris Steele and Chad Brachmann.

“I almost drove off the end,” said Rob Knapp in Victory Lane after winning his first Sportsman Feature, “ I saw Cody’s tire and I just tried to stay focused … I kept thinking hold my line … hold my line.”

The original start for the 25 lap Sportsman Feature was called off with an opening lap incident slowing the pace before one lap was in the books.

Darrell Farraway set the pace on the start with fellow front row starter Joey Mastroianni almost meeting with disaster somehow holding on to the runner up spot. Lap 5 would see Rob Knapp as the new leader exiting Turn 2.

By lap 8, Knapp would lead the field into lap traffic until caution slowed the pace on lap 9.

Knapp resumed control on the restart until caution would put the field under red after contact between Trevor Wright and Gord McIntosh in front of the Insta-Insulation Turn 1 Lap Counter. Both drivers were ok but their cars were not.

Once racing resumed, Knapp would regain top spot ahead of Brad Rouse and Cody McPherson. Just past halfway – the race to watch was the one for second between the two St. Catharines drivers.

Caution on lap 22 had Knapp out front on the restart with McPherson taking over the runner spot.

At the finish, Knapp was followed by McPherson, Rouse, Brent Begolo and Paul Gaboury.

“I’ve got to thank my crew … they have been working like crazy,” said former Hoosier Stock Champion Rob Murray back in Victory Lane, “they’ve got this car rocking1”

Steve Shaw first to lead the 20 lap Hosier Stock Feature before caution slowed the field with just one lap complete. Cars three wide on the restart had Jack Myers and Kyle Pelrine taking over the top two spots.

By lap 4, the new leader was Rob Murray with Pete Reid following into second spot.

Just past halfway, Murray would lead the field into lap traffic but the slower cars weren’t slowing down the former Champion.

What would slow him was a caution on lap 14. Murray and Reid were side by side on the restart before Billy Bleich and Mark Fawcett took over second and third.

Murray would hold almost a quarter lap lead through to the finish ahead of Bleich, Fawcett, Reid and Myers.

“I had no clue Trevor was so close … this is unbelievable,” said Mike Sadusek in 4 Cylinder Victory Lane, “I’ve got to thank Rob Goulding … he helped rebuild the car last Sunday and raced it at Humberstone … and here we are!”

On the original start Trevor Want unfortunately fired too early with Vincent Pagnotta the new leader when the 15 lap Feature for the 4 Cylinders went green. The first time down the backstretch – Mike Sadusek took control of top spot.

By Lap 5, Tyler Lafantaisie would take second from Jay Moulton several car lengths behind the leader Sadusek. Into lap traffic, the last three laps found the leaders coming up on a whole pack of cars.

Lafantaisie would close to within a couple car lengths with one lap to go but in the final go round ran out of time.

At the finish, Sadusek was followed by Lafantaisie and Kyle Rothwell who made a late race charge to take third. Tony Kelly and Moulton rounded out the top 5.

“We’ve got a new motor in this thing,” said Paul Klager in Mod Lite Victory Lane for the 4th time in 2016, “I couldn’t be happier … I have all the kids with me tonight – thanks to my Dad … he works on the car as much as I do.”

Jeffrey May and Rob Misener led the field to the green flag of the 20 lap TUSA Series Event for the Mod Lites. By lap three May was being challenged by Josh Sliter.

Down the front stretch of lap 4, Sliter got a little high and lost several positions with Paul Klager and Derek Wagner taking over second and third.

At halfway, Klager closed to within a couple car lengths until caution on lap 11 after Wagner clipped the guardrail in Turn 4.

May resumed control on the restart with Klager and Sliter looking to challenge the leader until a caution on lap 14 slowed the field.

Klager was the new leader on the restart ahead of May with Chris Watson taking over third. Two cars came together back in the pack slowing the pace once again on lap 15.

Klager resumed control of top spot on the restart with Derek Wagner coming all the way from the tail end of the field landing in the runner up spot.

A caution on the final lap delayed the checkered flag setting up a one lap dash.

Wagner who opened the busy weekend with a win at Ohsweken made a good effort but it was Paul Klager coming home out front for his 4th win of the season. May, Watson and Misener rounded out the top 5.

Jim Lampman led the field to the green for the Welland and Fort Erie Timber Mart Dash for Cash with the field quickly three wide at the front of the pack. By the time everyone settled in – the new leader was Pete Reid.

Quickly Reid was able to pull away from Jack Myers in the runner up spot with Dave Bailey challenging.

The battle allowed Reid to drive away to the win with Myers’ second place finish for not as he was disqualified. Lampman took over second with Bailey, Crawford and Kyle Pelrine closing out the special event.

Coming to a stop in Victory Lane, Reid’s right rear tire went flat.

PIT NOTES

Merrittville Speedway would like to thank all the businesses and individuals who supported the annual KIDSRACE Night in support of the Canadian National Autism Foundation. To learn more or to make a donation visit www.cnaf.net

A highlight of Autograph Night had to be getting a look at the Bobby Orr Trophy won by the Niagara Ice Dogs as 2016 Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference Champions. The trophy was on display of Fred Carleton’s #96 Bones Mobile.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Cotton Inc will present the annual visit of the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Gary Cunningham Memorial Saturday June 25th.

Joining the special Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program - the Pinty’s 358 Modifieds, Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks and the second Ballhockey.com Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College.

The Canada Day Celebration will also feature $1 Piller’s Hot Dogs in the Grandstands and a FIREWORKS Display by Firemaster Productions.

Grandstands will open at 4:00 with Show Time at 7:00 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. 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

Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature (35 laps) Tommy Flannigan, Erick Rudolph, Mike Bowman, Chris Steele, Chad Brachmann, Pete Bicknell, Gary Lindberg, Ryan Susice, Fred Carleton, Mark D’Ilario, Wayne Conn, Tim Jones, Scott Wood, Tyler McPherson, Phil Vigneri, James Friesen, Todd Gordon.

Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Feature (25 laps) Rob Knapp, Cody McPherson, Brad Rouse, Brent Begolo, Paul Gaboury, Jay Mallory, Darrell Farraway, Joey Mastroianni, Chris Bellamy, Justin Sharp, Chris Watters, Charlie Lynch, Paul Williamson, Tom Richau, Jim Harbison, Sean Dominey, Joey Herremans, John Babion, Justin McKay, Gord McIntosh, Trevor Wright.

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Rob Murray, Billy Bleich, Mark Fawcett, Pete Reid, Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine, Chris Crawford, Steve Shaw, Jim Lampman, Mike Miller, Chris Schneider, Ryan Dinning, Mason Smith, Robin Mortensen, Jason Fontaine, Tanner Podwinski, Dave Small, Tony Shintani. DQ – Jack Myers.

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

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

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, St. Catharines Discount Auto Parts and RCM Racing Equipment.