Merrittville Speedway: 17th Trevor Wilkens Memorial at Merrittville Speedway in just 3 days - will Phelps score a hat trick?

THOROLD, Ontario (July 31) – It’s been a tradition at Merrittville Speedway since 1972 – make it yours in 2009 and follow the Big Block Super DIRTcar Series to the Thorold d-shaped oval for the 17th annual Trevor Wilkens Memorial 100 presented by Hingston Metal Fabricators and Toolneeds – Monday August 3rd in just 3 days!

The last time the Big Block Super DIRTcar Series was in action in mid July at the Cayuga County Fairgrounds in Weedsport NY in the inaugural All Star 100 Weekend.

Capturing his first career Super DIRTcar Series victory just 24 earlier at the storied 3/8-miler in the ‘All-Star 50’ preliminary event, Ryan Phelps proved it was no fluke by overtaking pole-sitter Matt Sheppard past the halfway point then holding off a late-race rally by Tim Fuller to post a dramatic win in front of a capacity crowd on this landmark occasion.

“This is great, just unbelievable,” remarked Phelps, 25, as he struggled to find the words to describe easily the biggest triumph of his budding career steering the Big Red Towing no. 99 Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell entry in DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s premier tour for Big-Blocks in the nation. “I’m really speechless.”

“Didn’t even think I’d ever win a series race let alone two in one weekend, and then one for 20-grand plus back-to-back. I just can’t thank everybody that helped out enough. We’ve really come a long way the last couple years,” beamed Phelps, an 11th grade history teacher at Newark (NY) High School.

Will he score a hat trick on the 3rd or will his cousin Jimmy Phelps defend his Wilkens win from last season?

“Last year was only our third race at Merrittville but we’ve always been pretty fast there,” remarked Phelps, who lasted only one lap in the 2006 edition after suffering a broken rear-end, then finished sixth the following summer. “I kinda grew up at Brewerton which is tight like Merrittville, so I feel like I’m a little better there than at some of the other tracks on tour.”

Will defending Merrittville Champion Chad Brachmann pull off a Ron Smoker-esque strategy and beat the Big Blocks with his Mighty Taco # 3 and break into the win column for the first time of the season?

Current Point leader Larry Lampman has won two big events so far in 2009 – the 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series Event and the recent Jerry Winger Memorial.

Will he score a third August 3rd for car owners Dan and Veronica Miller in his Hingston Metal Fabricators #22?

All these questions and many others will be answered this Monday August 3rd! 

Commemorating the 17th running of Merrittville Speedway’s biggest event - the days leading up to the event honors the memory of the up and coming driver of the Pete Cosco Haulage 17c 358 Modified – Trevor Wilkens - who passed away far too young from cancer in the summer of 1993.

From the first event in 1972 through to this year’s edition – a who’s who of DIRTcar Modified Racing converge annually on the Canadian showplace to take on Merrittville’s own talented field in the Civic Holiday Classic.

Almost gaining as much in tradition as the race itself is the pre-race Pasta Dinner served up by Merrittville’s Annual Banquet Hosts – Club Castropignano. For race fans and race teams alike – it’s the best deal in DIRTcar Dining.

Feast on fresh pasta and meatballs, garden salad, dinner roll and a can of Pepsi for $10 in advance.

“It just adds to much to the event,” relates (Merrittville GM) Erica Bicknell, “Thorold has a rich Italian Heritage and we’re proud to showcase the Club with an awesome dinner … race fans and race teams alike should come to the event hungry … I know I do … no one goes away hungry.”

Get your tickets at the track … via e mail – ebicknell@cogeco.net or from the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266.

Race Fans and teams alike should get their Pasta Tickets in advance as on Race Day – Tickets are $12.

Merrittville Speedway’s Trevor Wilkens Memorial 100 lap Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series Event Monday August 3rd – it’s unparalleled … unrivalled and unsurpassed and it’s a must see event.

The heart-pounding, high-powered, pedal-mashing entertainment includes a 25 lap Duel on the Dirt Home Track Event as Merrittville’s full fendered Hoosier Stocks continue the drive for five against the Brighton Speedway Pro Stocks and a 25 lap Stars North Mod Lite Tour Event for the Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites.

Gates open Monday August 3rd and the Club Castropignano Pasta Dinner begins at 4 PM and runs until 6.

Adult Grandstand Tickets are $25, Students and Seniors - $20, Juniors from 8 to 12 are $10 and Children under 8 are free.

Merrittville Speedway is located in Thorold Ontario Canada – just a short drive from the International Bridges. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.

From Tom Skibinski / DIRTcar