*Alex Bruce Photo Attachment
Thorold, ONT – September 6, 2008 – By John Steckley, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Series Correspondent
Brad Rouse headed a Merrittville Speedway Tour-de-Force on Saturday night as the invading sportsman contingent was fed a strong dose of home cooking. Rouse, who finished fourth in the recently concluded Merrittville point race, led the division with four wins. No other driver visited Victory Lane more than twice in 2008.
On Saturday, the St. Catharines pilot put his track experience to good use. Rouse grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag from his front row starting spot and led all fifty circuits.
Asked to explain his dominating performance, a nonchalant Rouse explained, “We made a lot of changes earlier tonight. I guess they all worked out for us.”
Rouse’s win triggered a Merrittville onslaught as local teams swept the top 13 spots. Mark D’Ilario, Greg Panunte, Tyler McPherson and Mike Bowman rounded out the top five.
Brandon Easey, Chad Chevalier, James Michael Friesen, Jim Johnstone and Mark Chiddy completed the top-10. Finishing 14th in car number 14, Fulton, NY’s Jeremy Pitcher was the top invader.
Chris Raabe and Dan Wiesner entered the event deadlocked at the top of the series leader board. It was a forgettable evening for the top pair.
Both drivers were forced to qualify through the consolation race and then struggled in the feature. Wiesner finished 15th, five spots ahead of his rival, as their championship chances took a hit.
SPORTSMAN SHORTS: Saturday night was supposed to be the second day of Merrittville Speedway’s season ending three day Rose Webber Memorial Weekend. Friday’s action was rained out. Saturday’s outlook wasn’t too promising until the rain ended around noon, leaving a thoroughly saturated track and pit area....Rose was the wife of former dwarf competitor Lee Webber and the weekend is centered around the Open Wheel Lites and Classics.
The third and final scheduled round of the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series swing through the Niagara Frontier arrives tomorrow at Humberstone (Ont.) Speedway with another big 50-lap main event scheduled in the track’s Fall Tour finale on Sunday, September 7.
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Race #8 – Merrittville Speedway, September 6, 2008 ‘J&S Heating and Air Conditioning 50’ Event Summary
FIN CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN
1 18r Brad Rouse/St.Catharines,ONT($1,000)
2 08 Mark D'Ilario/Smithville,ONT
3 99p Greg Panunte/Port Colborne,ONT
4 777 Tyler McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT
5 71 Mike Bowman/St.Catharines,ONT
6 06 Brandon Easey/St.Catharines,ONT
7 12 Chad Chevalier/Port Colborne,ONT
8 52 James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT
9 21jj Jim Johnstone/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
10 54 Mark Chiddy/Boston,NY
11 6 Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT
12 20k Tom Huppenen/Fenwick,ONT
13 99c Nick Cupolo/Thorold,ONT
14 14 Jeremy Pitcher/Fulton,NY
15 66 Dan Wiesner/Geneva,NY
16 85 John Pietrowicz/Phoenix,NY
17 19w Justin Wright/Piffard,NY
18 8s Justin Sharp/St.Catharines,ONT
19 140 Mark Dixon/Durham,ONT
20 01 Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
21 2k Rob Knapp/St.Catharines,ONT
22 38 Ryan Susice/Ransomville,NY
23 62 Rick Bellante/St.Catharines,ONT
24 95 Joe Middlemiss/Chippawa,ONT
25 5s Kevin Sharpe/Port Colborne,ONT
26 22r Ron MacAuley/Welland,ONT
27 11r Robbie Rounce/Caledonia,ONT
28 67g Eric Giguere/Waterloo,NY
29 53 Darrell Farraway/Hamilton,ONT
30 43t Jay Doerr/London,ONT
DNQ 26h Luke Carleton/Port Colborne,ONT
DNQ 51x Cody McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADER: Rouse (1-50).
CAUTIONS: 8 (lap 1, lap 1, lap 2, lap 17, lap 27, lap 40, lap 44, lap 48)
QUALIFYING
Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)
#1: T. McPherson, B. Rouse, B, Easey, R. Rounce, M. Dixon, R. Bellante, C. McPherson, K. Sharpe.
#2: M. Bowman, E. Giguere, J. M. Friesen, G. Panunte, J. Wright, C. Raabe, N. Cupolo, D. Farraway.
#3: J. Sharp, M. D’Ilario, R. Susice, M. Chiddy, R. Knapp, C. Chevalier, J. Pietrowicz, D. Wiesner
#4: J. Doerr, M. Williamson, J. Johnstone, J. Pitcher, T. Huppenen, L. Carleton, J. Middlemiss, R. MacAuley.
Consolation Round (8 laps, top 6 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: R. Bellante, C. Chevalier, C. Raabe, N. Cupolo, J. Middlemiss, J. Pietrowicz, K. Sharpe, D. Wiesner, D. Farraway, R. MacAuley, C. McPherson, L. Carleton (DQ).
Guarantees: K. Sharpe, D. Wiesner, D. Farraway, R. MacAuley.
<<Brad Rouse_Spt_Winner_MER_9-6_WEB.jpg>>
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