By Jim Irvine
Thorold, Ontario … “It all started with some bantering back and forth with two of my employees – both who are stock car racing enthusiasts,” says Joe Dennison, President of Daytona Automotive Equipment in Brighton Ontario.
“Next thing I knew I had the cheque book out and ‘Daytona Duel in the Dirt’ was a reality,” explains Dennison, “ it seemed almost natural that the only way to solve the dispute between my two guys – Terry and Dave - as to which track had the best drivers was a team challenge between the two tracks – Merrittville and Brighton Speedways.
Terry Kaiser is the Niagara area representative for Daytona Automotive Equipment while Dave Culford – who races a car at Brighton, is a Daytona Service Advisor.
The end result is a 100 lap challenge race for the Daytona Champions Flag between the best Hoosier Stock drivers from Merrittville Speedway and Pro Stock drivers from Brighton Speedway. The 100 laps will be split between 50 lap events at Merrittville Saturday September 10th after the opener at Brighton Sunday September 4th.
“Originally, I was thinking that if we sponsored this event it might put the bantering to rest,” says Dennison, “but I can see that one of the guys is going to want a rematch about five minutes after the Champions Flag is presented.”
“Merrittville Speedway is the oldest and best 3/8th’s mile dirt tracks in Canada, regularly attracting some of the finest racers from Southern Ontario and the eastern US … Dave,” boasts Kaiser.
“Hold on to your hat Terry,” Culford steps in,” you aren’t a real driver until you have won a Pro Stock feature at Brighton Speedway.”
“I think we have the edge,” informs Erica Bicknell, General Manager of Merrittville Speedway, “we have great drivers and the fans in Southern Ontario to cheer them on.” As Bicknell completes her words, Mark Rinaldi, owner of Brighton Speedway responds that he has found the perfect spot at his facility to hoist the Daytona Champions Flag for the coming year.
Daytona Automotive Equipment has posted a $1000 Team Challenge Fund that will be awarded to the winning Merrittville Hoosier Stock or Brighton Pro Stock Team. All of the Merrittville Speedway Driver points will be added up as will all of the Brighton Driver points for the two races. The team with the most total points will win the $1000.00. To be included in a team’s total - a driver must have attempted to qualify for both events.
Daytona Automotive Equipment is also providing a Champions Flag that will fly at the winning Speedway the following season.
Daytona Automotive Equipment – with Head Offices and a warehouse facility in
Brighton Ontario – manufactures a line of automotive lifts, tire changers, wheel balancers and auto body frame machines for the automotive service and repair industry.
Daytona Automotive Equipment is distributed across North America. For further information call 1-866-219-9991 or visit www.daytonaproducts.com.
In addition to the $1,000 Daytona cash award, more than $2,000 will be awarded to the top 10 drivers in the two race series in a Point Fund donated by Environmental Remediation Contractor D.L. Services and Lawns We Do – two Brighton Speedway area companies.
The two race event has to be the most lucrative event for grass roots racers in Ontario and all of Canada. If a driver was to win each 50 lap $1000 to win event – with the bonus money the winners share would reach over $3,000.
“The corporate support for this event has just been phenomenal and it keeps getting bigger,” relates Merrittville co-owner Nancy Bicknell, adding “ last year some of Hoosier Stock Drivers went to Brighton and did well and Mark and I have been working on this challenge since then.”
Merrittville Speedway’s Duel in the Dirt portion September 10th is part of a 3 day Season Finale that features Friday Night and Sunday Afternoon action. The Rose Webber Memorial presented by J&S Heating attracts top Mod Lite and Dwarf Car teams from across Canada and the US for Friday and Saturday’s events while a 100 lap Enduro and Demo Derby close out the weekend Sunday – a presentation of Konzelmann Estates Winery.
Free Camping is available for the entire weekend.
Merrittville Speedway is located just south of St. Catharines in Thorold Ontario. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvi l lespeedway.com.
Brighton Speedway event info - call 613-475-1102 or visit www.brightonspeedway.com
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