A late race downpour kept Mat Williamson from Victory Lane but not his 2nd straight John Spencer Memorial Win. Williamson is pictured here after his first last season. (Photo-Julie Davidson)
Friesen, Crawford, Sliter and Rothwell also win while McPherson, Fawcett, May and Buscumb earn Championships in Brian's Tire Repair Night
Thorold, Ontario – Brian's Tire Repair Night closed the month of August and the 2014 Championship Chases Saturday Night at Merrittville Speedway with Mat Williamson of St. Catharines winning his second straight John Spencer Memorial 50 lap Feature and 1st Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Championship.
St. Catharines driver James Michael Friesen won the Sterling Silver Award in taking the 25 lap Feature for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman Division while Cody McPherson also of the Garden City won his third Overall Championship.
Welland's Kyle Rothwell won the 20 lap Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Series Finale for the 4 Cylinder Division but it was Leroy Buscumb also from Welland who won both the Mini-Series and Overall Titles.
Chris Crawford of Welland won the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature with Mark Fawcett of Canfield taking home his first championship.
With the entire night being run in memory of Pete Cosco – Port Colborne's Josh Sliter put his #17 in Victory Lane in the special 17 lap Feature for the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites while Jeff May of Mount Hope won his first career championship.
With the Pete Cosco-owned 17c 358 Modified driven by Chris Steele sitting between the flags at half mast, the late racer, sponsor, car owner and owner of Humberstone Speedway made his final lap in the Pleasantview Memorial Gardens Funeral Coach paced by two of his grandsons – Jordan Cosco and Dylan Davidson who compete in the Sportsman and Modified Lite Divisions.
Cosco's final lap was in front of family who were surrounding the start-finish line, Drivers and their cars parked on the front-stretch waiting to meet the fans for Autograph Night and the entire pit area who lined the backstretch.
Tyler Davidson and Jacob Cosco – saluted their grandfather who passed away suddenly Wednesday with ceremonial green and checkered flags.
"This is just unreal," said Williamson about 17 hours after becoming perhaps the youngest Modified Champion in the Thorold track's now 63 year history. Now 24, Williamson began his racing in the Tuesday Night Kart Racing before moving up to at first the Sportsman and then 358 Modified Divisions where in the last 4 years he has finished second in the standings three straight years (2010 to 2012) with a third last season.
The race for the 2014 Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Title had Williamson leading former Champion Chad Brachmann by 17 points going into the 50 lap John Spencer Memorial.
Starting from the pole after a pre-race draw, Williamson virtually left the field behind from the start. With action three and four wide behind him – his advantage was a full straightaway by halfway.
A few laps before a lap 28 caution, three time Spencer winner Mike Bowman took over the runner-up spot with the two side by side for the restart. A Caution one lap later had Williamson still in control with another on lap 32 finding 6 time Spencer Winner Pete Bicknell in third.
Unfortunately the lap 32 caution was for Brachmann who slowed with driveline problems which meant that Williamson was the Points Champion for the first time in his career.
The question to be answered in the final stages ... Could he hold off the two multi-time Spencer Winners?
When action resumed, Bowman mounted a challenge but by lap 35 – Williamson pulled away to a comfortable lead. The question would get answered some 10 laps later when a sudden downpour ending the event at lap 45.
Williamson, Bowman and Bicknell would finish in that order with the Archer Truck Service Driver of the Week Tim Jones and Tommy Flannigan as the top 5.
Chad Chevalier, Tommy Flannigan and Pete Bicknell won the Qualifying Heats for the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modifieds.
Going back a week to August 23rd's event, Chris Steele's 17c met with engine issues and to try and maintain a Top 5 Point finish – the St. Catharines driver drove Todd's Gordon's #28. In the Finale it would be Williamson that would offer up his back-up car for Steele as the two share sponsorship from S&W Service Centre owned by former racer Wayne Conn.
Williamson's #6 was relettered 17C with Steele able to hold onto 5th for the Cosco Family.
"I'm happy for sure," relayed James Michael Friesen in Victory Lane for the second time in 24 hours only to finish 2nd in the Point Standings again, "but this is all overshadowed ... we lost a good guy in Pete Cosco."
The 25th running of the Sterling Silver Trophy presented by former racer Ken Walsh in honor of racing pioneer Bill Willard Senior had one of the most drama-filled finishes come into focus after a lap 15 caution.
Track officials noticed that apparent problems with Willard's great grandson McPherson with a radius rod dragging and the rear end moving around in the car.
Charlie Lynch was first to lead the 25 lap Feature for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman Division and right away pulled away to a ¼ lap lead. By lap 5 – Brent Begolo and Friesen had landed in second and third. Before a lap 12 caution, Brad Rouse had joined the front-runners who had pulled away from the field.
Involved in the incident – Jordan Cosco and BJ Willard with both cars left with severe right side damage.
Friesen was the new leader on the restart with Rouse now in the runner-up spot. A multi-car incident including Rob Knapp's 2K which he had rellettered 17c on lap 15 slowed the pace once again with McPherson's issues coming into the picture.
Action was quickly slowed once again on lap 16 for a Turn 4 incident that involved half the field with Friesen in control on the restart.
Going into the night - 20 points separated the two third generation drivers. Friesen had to win the race to have the best shot with McPherson having to finish back in the field. With Friesen taking the checkered flag ... he would have to wait for the points update.
McPherson would hold on for an 8th place finish and would hold onto his 3rd career Championship by just 2 points.
"On the one restart ... I just felt a snap," revealed a relieved McPherson who was towed from Victory Lane with the link dragging, "the Lucky 7 was lucky tonight ... it just held on!"
Lynch, McPherson and Paul Gaboury won the Qualifying Heats for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman Feature.
Walsh's began his award in 1990 in honor of Willard Senior who at one time owned a car driven by Friesen's grandfather Stan Friesen.
"This one's for Pete and the family," said Kyle Rothwell after winning the 20 lap Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Series Finale, "it's awesome to be here on such a night."
Rothwell took the lead from initial leader Jocelyne Wiley the first time into Turn 1until caution slowed the field on lap 2.
Rothwell was back out front on the restart ahead of quite a battle for second with Wiley, Tyler Lafantaisie, Sam Iftody, Evan Curtis, Jason Coutu and Leroy Buscumb going at it.
At the halfway point, Rothwell had opened up a huge lead on defending Triple Crown Champion Lafantaisie with the two into lap traffic by lap 14. Lafantaisie would close in on the leader but could only get as close as 5 car lengths at the finish.
"Compared to last year's 13th place finish this is just unreal," said Triple Crown Series and Overall Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Champion for the first time Leroy Buscumb."
Jocelyne Wiley, Kyle Rothwell and Garnet Wilson won the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Qualifying Heats.
"We blew up last week and the crew put it all together for me as I was away on scheduled holidays ... this one's for them," said Chris Crawford in Hoosier Stock Victory Lane, "it's cool to win on Brian's Tire Repair Night for sure."
Crawford would take control of top spot on the first lap from rookie Kyle Pelrine and drove away to a comfortable lead by lap 5.
At the same time, Billy Hogue who went into the night 14 points out of top spot began to challenge Pelrine and took over the runner-up spot on lap 12. Jason Fontaine would also make a late race charge to take third spot with defending champion Kevin Knapp finishing 4th ahead of Pelrine.
"I just stayed close to Kevin," said newly crowned first time Hoosier Stock Champion Mark Fawcett, "I tried to keep an eye on Billy too ... it sure was a nail biter."
Fawcett would finish 4 points ahead of Hogue with Knapp 6 points out of top spot.
Peter Reid and Billy Hogue won the Hoosier Stock Qualifying Heats.
"It's been a good year," said 4 time J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Champion Josh Sliter in Victory Lane, " we never finished out of the top 3 except for a couple nights we raced at Sharon."
Josh's dad Ray Sliter Jr. lead the field to the initial green flag before Evan Leonard took over top spot on the second lap. The battle for the lead quickly became a three wide war with Chris Watson landing into top spot
Watson would be slowed on lap 6 for an incident that involved point leader Jeff May who was able to continue. Watson would hold off Sliter on the restart with Sliter the new leader on lap 7.
One final caution would slow the pace on lap 11 with Sliter holding top spot at the finish. Chris Watson would settle for second with Paul Klager, Rob Misener and Dylan Davidson fifth in the 17 lap event run in memory of his late grandfather.
"In all my racing ... I've never seen such a different animal as Merrittville," revealed first time J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Champion Jeff May – probably referring to the unique d-shaped oval, "it's so nice to come out on top of the standings."
Rick Koabel and Paul Klager won the Qualifying Heats for the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Division.
PIT NOTES
Brian Sims of Brian's Tire Repair and Brian's Sports Cards and Collectables posted a $100 Cash Bonus to drivers finishing in 5th spot in each of the features. Tommy Flannigan (358 Modified). Chris Bellamy, (Sportsman), Leroy Buscumb, ( 4 Cylinder), Kyle Pelrine (Hoosier Stock) and Dylan Davidson, (Modified Lite) all took home the extra cash.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Merrittville Speedway's63rd Season will come to a close with the Tripleheader Weekend anchored by the 2 day J&S Heating and Air Conditioning TUSA Canadian International Modified Lite Championship Weekend powered by Rev's Full Throttle Powersports – Friday September 5th and 6th that will feature Modified Lite Drivers from across Canada and the US in addition to the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders, the Mike Knapp Ford Pro 4 Trucks from the Humberstone Speedway, a 25 lap Street Stock Open Event and heats for Sunday's Enduro on the Friday Night.
Saturday Night – Night 2 for the Modifiied Lites will see 50 lap Events on the schedule for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman Division as part of the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series in addition to a combined event for the Hoosier Duel on the Dirt Series against the Brighton Speedway Pro Stocks.
The 63rd Season closes Sunday September 7th with the Ballhockey.com 100 lap Enduro accelerated by Niagara College in addition to Monster Truck performances...
The Grandstand Gates open Friday and Saturday Nights at 5:30 with Showtime for both events is 7:00. Sunday's Enduro has the Grandstands opening at 11:30 with Show Time set for 1:00.
For all the news on Merrittville Speedway's 63rd Consecutive Season in 2014 – 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)
BOBCAT OF HAMILTON DIRTcar 358 MODIFIED John Spencer Memorial (45 laps) Mat Williamson, Mike Bowman, Pete Bicknell, Tim Jones, Tommy Flannigan, Chad Chevalier, Chris Steele, Brandon Easey, Todd Gordon, Scott Wood, Tyler McPherson, Travis Miller, Ryan Susice, Fred Carleton, Brett Clarke, Luke Skywalker, Chad Brachmann, Shayne Pierce, Dennis Giancola, David Flannigan.
RICK'S DELIVERY DIRTcar SPORTSMAN Sterling Silver Feature – (25 laps) James Friesen, Brad Rouse, Gary Lindberg, Brent Begolo, Chris Bellamy, Rob Knapp, Charlie Lynch, Cody McPherson, Paul Gaboury, Ryan Turner, Robert Baker, Austin Wood, Joey Mastroianni, Justin Sharp, Tyler Puchalski, BJ Willard, Jason Farraway, Gord McIntosh, Matt Sharpe, Gord Moreau, Robbie Rounce, Ray Hockridge, Derick Hodge, Jordan Cosco..
TURN 4 COLLISION 4 CYLINDER Triple Crown Series Finale (20 laps) Kyle Rothwell, Tyler Lafantaisie, Evan Curtis, Evan Curtis, Jason Coutu, Leroy Buscumb, Sam Iftody, Mike Sadusek, Jocelyn Wiley, Kurtis Wiley, Mike Giberson, Greg Wilson, Jeremy Smith, Kyle Haynes, Garnet Wilson, Cam Collens, Kourtney Kocarik, Alex Riley, Gabriel Attallah.
HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE (20 laps) Chris Crawford, Billy Hogue, Jason Fontaine, Kevin Knapp, Kyle Pelrine, Mark Fawcett, Pete Reid, Brad Sheehan, Rob Murray, Marcel Michaud, Jim Lampman, Chris Schneider..
J&S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING MODIFIED LITE Pete Cosco Memorial (17 laps) Josh Sliter, Chris Watson, Paul Klager, Rob Misener, Dylan Davidson, Jeff May, Rick Koabel, Ray Sliter, Jr., Dean Pronovost, Evan Leonard, RJ Pietz, Marty deMoel, Kristy Dulaj..
Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions with local heroes and up and coming new stars. Make your plans ... call your friends and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to home!
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2014 63rd Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway's 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Bobcat of Hamilton, Rick's Delivery, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision 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 is one the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives. 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.
Look for Lucas Oil Products at your favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including B&C Truck Centre, Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage