For Release - Sunday May 18, 2008 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Speedway Public Relations
THOROLD, ON (May 18) Meridian Credit Union Rankin Cancer Run Night fans may have been chilled by the unseasonably cool May Night at Merrittville Speedway but they had to be thrilled by the racing action Saturday May 17th.
Defending Champions Chad Chevalier (Original Pizza Logs Sportsman) and Rob Murray (Hoosier Stock) both earned their first 2008 Feature Wins. Both drivers were the third different winners in each division to date as well.
Shawn Sliter and Ron Cosco were also first time winners in the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite and Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Divisions – both were the second different winner for their respective classes also.
The 5th new winner was Steve Dixon who came home the winner of the Season Opener for the BRP Can Am Late Model Tour. Chevalier, who won 2 features last season en route to his first title – only led 2 laps of the 25 lap Sportsmen Feature for his initial visit to Victory Lane in 2008.
At the drop of the green, outside pole sitter Graham MacKay outduelled pole sitter Jim Johnstone to take top spot in the early going. MacKay would set the pace until Johnstone reclaimed top spot on lap 9.
At the halfway point Johnstone opened up a lead of some 5 car lengths before a lap 16 caution slowed the field. Twice more Johnston's patience would be tested but on each restart he was able to pull away. Joe Middlemiss and Chevalier broke away from the pack in the later stages with Chevalier over-taking Middlemiss before a final caution on lap 22.
With starter Doug Leonard's White Flag waving signaling the final lap, Chevalier had the slightest of leads over Johnstone and in the final time around the d-shaped oval was able to stretch it to a car length.
Johnstone settled for second with a hard charging Mark D'Ilario taking third. Middlemiss wound up 4th with Mark Chiddy rounding out the top 5.
Similar to the Sportsmen Main, the outside pole-sitter grabbed the lead at the start of the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature.
Kirk Wilson beat Rich Champigny to the green flag with Rob Murray over top spot around the half-way point. Murray had control until two former Kart racers turned Stock Car drivers surged to the front.
Shayne Pierce stole top spot on laps 18 and 19 with Murray taking it back after the leaders came together. At the checkers, Cody McPherson also got by Pierce for who has to settle for second. Barry Blanchard and Dolph McCready closed out the top 5.
Rick Brubacher had to wait almost a month to use his pole starting spot earned back on April 19th's Time Trial Session – and it was the St. Clements' native who was out front at the start of the 20 lap Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Feature.
Adam Leslie was also locked in to the front row but was only able to hold that spot for one lap. Shawn Sliter took control of the runner up spot on lap 2 and by lap 6 also overtook Brubacher.
Sliter immediately ran away to a huge lead and after an early caution resumed control before the event was red flagged on lap 14 after former champion Wally Billing – flipped his car in turn 3.
There was no stopping Sliter as when racing resumed he again set the pace until a lap 18 caution slowed the pace.
Sliter was unchallenged in the two lap dash to the finish for his first win of the season – an early wedding anniversary present for his wife Lenie. The couple's 11th Wedding Anniversary is Sunday.
Brubacher and Leslie settled for second and third with Jamie Gilbert and Adam Murphy 4th and 5th.
The Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder 15 lap Feature saw Ed McLean in control at the start before an early caution saw defending champion Abel Castelein stranded for the second time of the young season in turn 4.
On the restart Ron Cosco took control of top spot until a red flag for AJ Castelein who came to a stop in turn 4 similar to his dad earlier.
Cosco again set the pace but not without strong challenges from Trevor Goulding. Goulding appeared to be better through the turns but Cosco pulled away down the straight-aways.
Goulding made one last challenge on the final lap – pulling alongside the leader on the backstretch. Out of turn 4 the two leaders came up on a lap car forcing Goulding to the apron and losing momentum.
Garnet Wilson was third while early leader McLean settled for 4th. Rob Goulding was 5th.
In post race technical inspection, Cosco's car was found to have illegal offset wheels and was fined half of his points and purse winnings.
Tim Schram was first to lead the 30 lap BRP Can Am Late Model Main Event with two cautions slowing the field in the early going. On the move however was Pete Bicknell in the Paul Grigsby-owned #24.
From a 7th starting spot, Bicknell was soon in the runner-up spot after 2008 Rookie Kyle Inman had made an impressive first outing.
Coming out of turn 4 to complete lap 9, Bicknell ducked inside in an attempt to take the lead and while Schram was trying to hold him off – Steve Dixon stormed into the lead around the pair at the start-finish line.
A number of cautions slowed Dixon who ran the extreme high side of the track to comfortable leads on Bicknell in green flag runs.
"It was real fast … and lots of fun," said Dixon, "I'd planned at the start to run the bottom … I made some passes high and found how good it was and stayed there."
Bicknell ran a number of laps around the bottom but soon joined Dixon running the high groove.
"I really wasn't thinking I'd be up front," revealed Bicknell, "the Grigsbys gave me such a good piece … I wasn't quite comfortable with the throttle … an adjustment may have made it better … all in all a good night."
Late in the race it was looking like a real good night for the Grigsbys until car owner Paul Grigsby made heavy contact with the front-stretch wall after contact with another car on lap 24.
Dixon and Bicknell were followed by Jon Rivers, Schram and Mikey Wonderling.
Merrittville Speedway Results – Saturday May 17, 2008
Meridian Credit Union Rankin Cancer Run Night
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature – 25 laps
Chad Chevalier, Jim Johnstone, Mark D'Ilario, Joe Middlemiss, Mark Chiddy, Tyler McPherson, Justin Sharp, Darren Zumpe, Mike Bowman, Brad Rouse, Mat Williamson, Luke Carleton, Darrell Farraway, Graham Mackay, Don Spiece, Mark Dixon, Robbie Rounce, James Friesen, Brandon Easey, BJ Willard, Rick Bellante, Rob Knapp, Ken Winnfield, Kevin Sharpe. DNQ – Ron MacAuley, Norm Mark, Tony Cowal, Dave Flannigan, Gary Klutt.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Heat Winners – First – Jim Johnstone, Second – Mark Chiddy, Third – Robbie Rounce.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman B Main Winner – Tyler McPherson.
Hoosier Stock Feature – 15 laps
Rob Murray, Cody McPherson, Shayne Pierce, Barry Blanchard, Dolph McCready, Rick Beales, Kevin Knapp, Billy Hogue, Dave Small, Jason Fontaine, Ron Kingsbury, Vince Fargnoli, Rob Disher, Russ Davidson, Mark Fawcett, Billy Bleich, Rich Champigny, Ron Loggie, Driver Car #2, Kevin Kocarik, Kirk Wilson, Michael Bosse, Mike Dooley, Brent Begolo. DNQ – Adam Gracey, Jack Myers, Driver Car # 2S, Driver Car # 29.
Hoosier Stock Heat Winners – First – Vince Fargnoli, Second – Kevin Knapp, Third – Kirk Wilson.
Hoosier Stock B Main Winner – Billy Hogue
Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Feature – 25 laps
Shawn Sliter, Rick Brubacher, Adam Leslie, Jamie Gilbert, Adam Murphy, Josh Sliter, Kory Howe, Scott Billing, Kellie Mason, Jason Corless, Derek Bredin, Greg Mills, Dale Leonard, Wayne Robins, Wally Billing, Bob Bredin, Scott Phillips.
5 Star Racing Products Lucky Dog Winner – Josh Sliter
Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Heat Winners – First Shawn Sliter, Second – Scott Billing.
Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature – 15 laps
Ron Cosco, Trevor Goulding, Garnet Wilson, Ed McLean, Rob Overholt, Evan Curtis, Tony Kelly, Abel Castelein, Bob Gill, Rocco Conte, David Lopes, Mike Giberson, Roger Gilbert, Chris Laskey, Jocelynne Wiley, Rick Grundy, Damian Gore, Matt Deschamps, Terry Larmet, A.J. Castelein, Mike Peterson. DNS – Rob Overholt.
Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Heat Winners – First – Trevor Goulding, Second – Ed McLean.
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