HOUR RAIN DELAY WORTH THE WAIT FOR DESCHAMPS, GILBERT, SARGENT, CUPOLO AND LAMPMAN IN MODERN CORPORATION NIGHT AT MERRITTVILLE – MODERN, TREMBLAY AND STAFF BONUSES ABOUND

For Release - Sunday July 12, 2009 From Jim Irvine

Merrittville Speedway Public Relations

905-892-8266

Thorold, Ontario (July 11) Late afternoon and early evening showers had Merrittville Speedway’s packer trucks working overtime but when racing began about an hour late – Modern Corporation Night at the Thorold facility provided race fans with quite an exciting night of racing action.

Matt Deschamps and Nick Cupolo both won their first features of the season in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders and Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Divisions respectively.

Making their third trips to Victory Lane were Ken Sargent and Larry Lampman in the Hoosier Stocks and L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Divisions.

Jamie Gilbert earned his 4th win of 2009 with Modern Employees cheering him on and greeting him in Victory Lane.

Each Winner shared in $440 in Gas Cards donated by Modern Corporation for each winner while several other Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Drivers shared in $1,650 in bonuses donated by race fan Don Tremblay.

Terry Larmet and Rick Grundy were side by side at the drop of the green of the 15 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder before Larmet took control in turn 1.

Carey Gore was on the move in the early going – eventually taking over the lead. A virtual traffic jam at the front of the pack saw Charlie Lynch the new leader just as caution slowed the field after point leader Rob Goulding came to a stop in Turn 2 with a flat right front tire.

Lynch set the pace on the restart with Aaron Wiley and Matt Deschamps challenging. Soon Deschamps would try Lynch on for top spot with Wiley rejoining the fray – the trio running three wide for about a lap – similar to last week’s incredible Hoosier Stock four wide feat.

Eventually Deschamps would become the new leader – now battling Wiley in a see saw battle before Deschamps took control for good on lap 10.

At the finish it was Deschamps home first by a 5 car lead over Aaron Wiley with Charlie Lynch settling for third – the three sharing in $150 of Don Tremblay’s cash. Kyle Pelrine and Carey Gore closed out the top 5.

Being the first feature of the night, Deschamps was appreciative of the efforts of many, “the track was awesome … thanks to the track … they did an awesome job bringing the track back.”

Deschamps was also quick to thank some of his competitors … Rob Goulding … Rob Overholt and Rocco Conte, “they are some of the best out there … and they’re always willing to help out.”

Contact between early Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Drivers Rick Bellante and Len Dignard took Bellante out of top spot the first time into turns 1 and 2. With the two now relegated to the rear of the field, ----- Schumacher was first to lead before Nick Cupolo took control.

By lap 5, Cupolo had pulled away to a comfortable lead over Tyler McPherson.

Soon McPherson would face a challenge from former champion Chad Chevalier.

With the event going caution-free after the incident at the start, Cupolo cruised out front and went on to the win with McPherson holding off Chevalier to round out the top three the drivers sharing in $500 of the Don Tremblay donated bonuses.

Brad Rouse probably came the farthest in taking fourth as after suffering engine woes in his qualifying heat – went back to his race shop in Fort Erie to retrieve his back-up car.

Brandon Easey was fifth.

In quite a Sportsmanly gesture, Robbie Rounce had offered Rouse his car should it not make it back in time to start the 25 lap Event. Rouse’s trailer arrived just in time to start the event.

Race fan and race team supporter Brian Staff posted another bonus just before race time – to the last car on the track that took the checkered flag. Len Dignard took home an extra $100.

What worked for Cupolo in his heat – worked for him in the feature, “I just kind of held back on the start … I didn’t know what was going to happen …I went to the same line as I did in my heat and ran consistent laps.”

The 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature saw Kevin Kocarik out front before Ken Sargent took control – just before caution slowed the field on lap 2.

Sargent resumed control of top spot on the restart and by lap 5 – had pulled away to a comfortable lead.

Barry Blanchard soon took over the second spot – being challenged for it by Al Sleight and Rob Murray. Just before a lap 10 caution, Sleight would take over the runner-up spot.

With Sargent out front on the restart – Sleight was hanging with him until Murray joined the battle. Just past the half-way point Murray would take control of 2nd – hugging the low groove with Sargent staying to the high side.

At the finish – it was Sargent in Victory Lane for the third time of the season – by a mere 3 feet over Murray.

Al Sleight settled for third with the three sharing in $150 in bonuses donated by Don Tremblay. Brad Sheehan made a late race charge to take fourth. Barry Blanchard settled for fifth.

“I knew Rob was behind me,” revealed Sargent, “he’s a strong runner … I just held my line … and stayed consistent.”

The start of the 35 lap L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature was quite a see saw battle before the field settled in.

Second generation driver Todd Gordon the set pace at the drop of guest starter Barry Davidson’s green flag only to loose it to Rob Pietz after a lap 1 incident stalled the event.

Gordon battled back – only to loose it now to Tom Flannigan. Gordon resumed his hold on top spot before another caution on lap 10 again slowed the field. Rick Richner briefly had the lead before Gordon once again fought back.

The three early leaders – Gordon, Richner and Flannigan pulled away from the pack slightly with Gordon enjoying a 5 car advantage by lap 25.

One driver on the move in the latter stages was point leader Larry Lampman – who broke into the top three by lap 27. Eventually the Port Colborne native took over second spot and exiting turn 2 to complete lap 29 - became the new leader.

With Lampman out front, slight contact between Gordon and Flannigan left Gordon slightly off the pace.

In Victory Lane for the third time of the season, Lampman was quick to thank Don Tremblay and Modern, adding, “The extra money sure comes in handy … this is the best car I’ve ever driven … I have to be lucky though – there’s lots of fast cars … it’s hard to win these days … thanks to my crew – the guys out work everyone.”

Lampman was followed by Rick Richner, Pete Bicknell who again split $500 of Don Tremblay’s cold hard cash with Tommy Flannigan and Mike Bowman rounding out the top 5.

Former Champion Wally Billing set the initial pace at the start of the 20 lap Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Feature before Bob Bredin took control.

Jason Corless would take over top spot on lap 3 before caution would slow the Bolton driver on lap 6. With Corless out front once again – the new leader into turn 2 of lap 8 would be Jamie Gilbert.

With Gilbert out front comfortably – all eyes moved to the battle for the runner-up spot between Adam Leslie and Shawn Sliter.

Leslie would get the spot just prior to the two to go signal but as the field was getting the white flag – Sliter regained second with Leslie settling for third. The three split $150 as well from cash donated by Don Tremblay.

Jason Corless held on for fourth spot while Jordan Curran was fifth.

“I couldn’t have picked a better night to win,” prided Gilbert in the Winner’s Circle for the 4th time of the year, “it was a real good run … it came up as a tacky track … just how I like it.”

Merrittville Speedway would like to thank all the participants that entered the Truck Show ‘n Shine including Modern Corporation, Dave Speck Trucking, Ontario Truck Driving School, J.E. Culp Transport, Kallimanis Brothers, MJ Jones, St. John’s Ambulance and others.