SLITER TAKES FIRST TWO MERRITTVILLE WINS – AUBE AND GABOURY
ALSO FIRST TIME WINNERS IN K&K INSURANCE NIGHT
For Immediate Release From Jim Irvine
Merrittville Speedway Public Relations
905-892-8266 (Office), jimirvine@cogeco.net or www.twitter.com/merrittville
Thorold, Ontario (June 20) – As race time neared – a dull rainy day eventually became bright and sunny – insuring a great night of Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action on K&K Insurance Night at Merrittville Speedway June 26th.
Superstition was on one driver’s side too. A full moon ... starting Lucky 13th in the second feature and the team’s mascot Palmer all led to Josh Sliter not only winning his first career feature win at the Thorold DIRTcar sanctioned facility – but also taking his second in the same night in the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites.
Kevin Aube also won his first Hoosier Stock Feature as did Paul Gaboury in the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Divisions respectively.
After starting the night being honoured as the Driver of the Week – Rob Goulding would later win his second Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature of the season while Pete Bicknell would win his second straight main event in the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Division.
“This is just awesome,” remarked Josh Sliter after his first win, “Paul’s been beating on us all season ... I really wanted to get the first one.”
After being rained delayed on June 12th the 25 lap Modified Lite Championship Tour finally took saw the green flag with Paul Klager in control before Josh Sliter became the new leader on the backstretch. Sliter, Klager and rookie Randy Hollingshead as the top three eventually drove away from the pack with the two front-runners quickly breaking away from Hollingshead.
With Sliter running high and Klager challenging on the low side – the two would catch lap traffic running side by side through the slower cars. Klager would take control of top spot and strangely the two would switch grooves as lap traffic intensified.
With 5 laps to go, Sliter would regain top spot after Klager got loose after brief contact with the slower cars. As quickly as the lead changed – the race was slowed by its first caution. Sliter would resume control on the restart and at the checkered flag – pulled away to a lead of some 10 car lengths over Klager. Hollingshead – a former Bomber and Pro Stock competitor who returned to the sport this season took third while rookie Derek Moore and Sliter’s dad Ray Jr. Rounded out the top 5.
In Victory Lane, Sliter picked number 14 as the number of cars to be inverted for the second and regularly scheduled 20 lap event.
Kory Howe took control at the start of the second Modified Lite feature with a red flag right away stopping the event after contact between Rick Brubacher and Kellie Mason sent her car careening hard into the turn 4 wall. Mason was OK but her car was done for the night.
Howe set the pace on the restart before Klager took control by lap 4. Klager ran away to a huge lead with the Sliters – father and son battling for the runner-up spot. Eventually Josh pulled away from his dad – Ray Jr. Caution on lap 9 found Klager with the younger Sliter challenging. Just before a lap 14 caution Josh had the advantage and top spot with the earlier winner in control once again on the restart. At the finish – Sliter would run away to a lead of some 10 car lengths in getting Starter Doug Leonard’s double checkered flag salute with Klager enjoying a similar margin over rookie Derek Moore who left the night with two top 5 finishes. Ray Sliter Jr. would take 4th with Chris Steele charging back through the field to close out the top 5.
“I’ve won before ... at Edelweiss,” added Sliter, “but to get my first here let alone my second ... with the calibre of drivers we have ... this is awesome.”
Ironically, a Sliter has won both Modified Lite Features on a Double Feature Night in the past. Josh’s uncle and former champion Shawn accomplished the feat in 2008.
“Top 3s are good for points,” reflected Klager, “maybe I should have been a little more aggressive ... Josh’s time has been coming – congrats to him”
Nick Calaguiro took the lead at the start of the Hoosier Stock Feature but as Lap 1 went up on the joesaver.com lap counter – Jason Fontaine was the new leader. Immediately a couple cars came together in turn 4 causing a yellow flag before two laps were in the books.
Fontaine set the pace on the restart with third generation driver Brent Begolo now into second spot. Quite exciting racing through the pack with cars three wide mid pack allowed Fontaine to open up a 5 car lead by lap 5. By this time Billy Bleich was now into 2nd with 3 rows of cars two wide behind Begolo. Bleich quickly began to pressure Fontaine and when everything got sorted out behind the leaders – rookie Kevin Aube was into third spot.
Cautions back to back on laps 13 and 14 had Fontaine in the lead once again on each restart with Ken Sargent now challenging Aube. Aube was intent on taking over top spot with Fontaine, Aube and Sargent three wide for top spot. Along the back-stretch of lap 19 - Aube was the new leader. Coming out turn 4 the final time – Sargent gave it one last try but at the start finish line it was Aube by a bumper.
“I’ve been itchin’ to get here,” remarked a somewhat emotional Aube in Victory Lane, “I’m so lucky to be here after my accident ... there’s so many good guys ... I got a little nervous seeing Ken – I almost lost it in turn 4 but here I am.”
“Fabulous race ... hats off to Kevin,” added Ken Sargent, “I followed Kevin all the way to the front ... this has to be the race of the night.”
Billy Bleich settled for third with early leader Jason Fontaine and Al Sleight as the top 5.
After the original start was called off for the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman 25 lap Feature – Paul Gaboury was the first to lead with Rick Bellante applied pressure right away on the second generation driver. A Jesse Penner flat tire and chunks of the shredded tire on the track slowed the field on lap 7.
Gaboury again set the pace on the restart with Nick Cupolo making run around outside to land in 3rd spot. Gaboury and Bellante drove away to a 5 car lead with Cupolo now challenged by BJ Willard. Willard eventually got the spot but quickly joining the battle would be Cody McPherson – making it three wide. Cody eventually took over the show spot while up front Gaboury would drive away from Bellante. A Lap 23 caution however would set up a two lap dash to the finish.
Gaboury would enjoy a couple car length lead over Rick Bellante at the finish.
“I saw Rick (on the Lucas Oil Live Leaderboard) all race,” informed Paul Gaboury, “I could have used a little more gear but I just kept my line all race.”
At the line, BJ Willard would edge out his cousin Cody McPherson for third with Greg Panunte making a late race charge as well to finish in 5th.
Kyle Pelrine set the pace at the start of the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature before Tony Kelly took control. Before the first lap was complete however the third lead change found Jason Coutu in top spot. Jocelyn Wiley was also in the hunt with Rob Goulding joining the battle before an early caution slowed the field.
Team-mates Sam Rodgers and Austin Wood were both off the pace with Rob Goulding on control on the restart. Goulding was joined by Aaron Wiley and Rocco Conte with the three front-runners pulling away to a good lead. With 5 laps to go – Wiley was trying everything to overtake the leader. Even through lap traffic – Goulding was able to hold an edge and at the finish – ran to his second win of the season by a car length over Wiley with Conte third.
“I thought the top was a little greasy for me,” informed Goulding, “i just stayed on the bottom ... and lucked out ... I tried to come up with a different game plan but you just have to stay with what you planned.”
“This is a blast,” commented Aaron Wiley, “this is what makes it fun ... running each other clean.”
Rob Overholt finished 4th with Jocelyn Wiley holding on to 5th.
Ken Winnfield led the field to the start of the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature before rookie second generation driver Steven Schumacher in control at the completion of lap 1. Back in the pack cars were almost 4 wide with Shawn Sliter and Boyd MacTavish settling into the top 3. By lap 6 MacTavish was the new runner-up with rookie Chad Chevalier now in third. Chevalier however would slow along the front stretch of lap 11 slowing the pace. MacTavish became the new leader on the restart with the runner-up battle three wide as Sliter, Rob Pietz and Schumacher all wanted the spot.
MacTavish set the pace on the restart with Pietz second and Pete Bicknell taking third spot around lap 20. With MacTavish off to a huge lead – it was quite a race between Pietz and Bicknell. Bicknell would overtake Pietz on lap 23 and through increasing lap traffic would reel in the leader. Bicknell would take over top spot on lap 30 and cruised to a couple car length lead at the finish.
“The track has been a little rough after we worked it a few weeks ago,” gleamed Pete Bicknell in Victory Lane, “but tonight it came in real good – Howard ... Bryant and Sarge got it smooth as glass and real racy.”
“Real happy with third,” beamed Rob Pietz,”finally this car is really showing itself ... amazing race track too.”
Unfortunately a tough break with the flat tire last week got tougher for MacTavish as in post race inspection he was disqualified for a cylinder head infraction.
Tim Jones got by Mat Williamson late in the race to take 4th over Mat Williamson.
For complete results from K&K Insurance Night at the Races visit http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php?track_id=8430
http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php Inside Track Motorsport News Pit Notes
Several of Merrittville Speedway’s Tuesday Night Lucas Oil Weekly Karting Series Drivers had their karts on display including the Beckett Brothers – Stephen and Gregory, second generation drivers – Kourtney and Kameron Kocarik and Brandon Ruch.
Australian Driver Luke Oldfield attempted to qualify a Matt Sheppard owned BRP Experimental Chassis.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Boltworks presents a Summer Blast Off quite a Canada Day Celebration featuring the Piller’s Dollar Hot Dog Night with the second round of the Grantham Lions Ironman 25 Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College and a HUGE Fireworks Display - Saturday July 3rd. A Kid’s Bicycle Giveaway will also take place courtesy of Boltworks’ sponsored drivers Kory Howe and Ross Trout.
When the gates open at 5:30 – come hungry! Show time is 7:00!
For further information on the 59th Season – race fans and race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book and Twitter.
Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions featuring local heroes and up and coming new stars and special events including the inaugural Bob St. Amand Memorial proudly presented by L, St, Amand Enterprises Monday August 2nd. The 100 lap Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series Event will be joined by another round of the Duel on the Dirt Big 6 Series and the Modified Lites Championship Tour.
A Kids Bike Giveaway will also take place in addition to the famous pre-race Pasta Dinner hosted by Club Castropignano.
For Pasta Dinner Ticket Information – call the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266
Crazy Offer!
Race fans – check your 2010 Ticket Stubs for a Crazy Offer from Little Caesars Pizza – located at 572 Niagara Street in Welland. With the purchase of a HOT-N-READY Pizza and Crazy Bread – receive a Free Crazy Bread!
Sounds Good!
Enjoy all the play by play from the Merrittville Announce Team of Clint Geoffrey, Mikey Kruchka and Fran Buschardt and special guests all season long on our new state of the art Yorkville NX Series Loudspeakers. Race fans and teams can also tune into 89.9 FM to listen to live feeds from our FM Transmitter.
Your Local Dirt Track is where it's at!! Merrittville Speedway "The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara"
Make your plans … call your friends and maybe even get a carpool together and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to home!
Your Local Dirt Track is where it’s at!!! Merrittville Speedway ‘The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara.”
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS
The 2010 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – L. St. Amand Enterprises, Original Pizza Logs, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision in addition to contingency sponsors Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Hoosier Tire, Lucas Oil Products, Inside Track Motorsport News, Intercomp, ISC Racer’s Tape, Jaz Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Motorsports Safety Systems, Outerwears, Port City Racing, R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Racing Optics, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Schoenfeld Headers, Ultra Shield Race Products, Wrisco Industries and XRP, Inc.
Lucas Oil Products is one the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives.
Through innovative product research and development along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.
Look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage