Gary Lindberg takes third feature win

Thorold, Ontario – CAA Niagara Night began with the CAA Tow Trucks taking a Victory Lap in memory of long-time CAA Employee and Merrittville Safety Crew Member Dan ‘Moose’ Sider.

The 2014 recipient of the Gordie Wilson Dedication to Racing Award passed away during the off season from cancer.

Also running Victory Laps for the first time in 2015 were Boyd MacTavish of Ransomville NY, Jim Lampman of Caistor Centre and Danny Wurster of Niagara Falls in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds, Hoosier Stocks and in the first visit of the season in the Mike Knapp Ford Pro 4 Trucks.

Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action also had Ridgeway’s Gary Lindberg take home his 3rd Feature of the year in the Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Division while Niagara Falls’ Mike Sadusek appeared to have won his 2nd Feature in the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Division but was disqualified in post-race inspection.

“I’ve been doing my homework,” said Boyd MacTavish after winning his first 35 lap Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature of the season, “I didn’t want to see another caution. I could see on the lap counter who was behind me and if they were as fast as me … I knew they would be coming.”

MacTavish took control of top spot just after a lap 6 race restart from early leader Wayne Conn. Quickly there were two races to watch as the 35 lap Main Event neared the halfway point. – The race for third between initial leader Fred Carleton and Watertown NY’s Billy

Dunn and for fifth having Scott Wood holding off Chad Brachmann and Tim Jones.

Carleton would close in on then runner-up Conn racing to lap 25 which allowed MacTavish to open up a comfortable lead. Brachmann would make a late race move taking over second on lap 28. About a straightaway ahead of the field, MacTavish would come up on slower cars with 5 laps to go but wasn’t slowed.

At the start, Carleton had the lead at the drop of the green before fellow front row starter Conn took over top spot prior to lap 2.

MacTavish and Chad Brachmann were followed by Carleton, Dunn and Scott Wood.

“Thanks to my crew for this one,” said now 3 time Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Feature Winner Gary Lindberg, “the car would go anywhere – we always race to win … if you do – the points will come.”

Lindberg took control of top spot on lap 8 after a restart from initial leader Justin Sharp after Jordan Cosco was deemed to have jumped the original start. A battle for second between Joey Mastroianni and Austin Wood allowed Sharp to drive away from the field.

By lap 6, Wood was being challenged by Lindberg the current point leader until caution slowed the pace on lap 7 after James Michael Friesen slowed after losing a right front tire between Turns 1 and 2.

Jay Mallory would quickly get by Sharp to take second until contact between Rob Knapp and Brad Rouse slowed the field on lap 11.

After an early start by Lindberg, the second generation driver resumed control with Chad Chevalier taking over the runner up spot. Caution would slow the race on lap 17 after Knapp and Rouse came together between Turns 3 and 4.

Lindberg jumped back out front on the restart with Chevalier coming to a couple car lengths in the closing laps.

Lindberg would hold off Chevalier by a car length with Mallory, Sharp and Wood as the top 5.

“This was a really good track tonight,” said first time 2015 Hoosier Stock Feature Winner Jim Lampman, “I raced for years with (Starter) Steve Devos … it was great that he was the first one I saw in Victory Lane.”

The start of the 20 lap Feature saw Jason Fontaine as the initial leader until Lampman edged ahead the first time out of Turn 4. The two side by side up to lap 5 with Lampman holding a slight advantage. Lap 6 had Peter Reid closing in on the leaders but the challenger would be put back two spots for jumping the original start.

Caution free through to lap 20 - Lampman drove away to a comfortable margin of victory. Eventually Dave Bailey would overtake Fontaine for second just before the 5 to go signal. Bailey was almost a full straightaway behind the leader.

Lampman and Bailey were followed by Fontaine Reid and Dale Gyokery.

“I’m pretty excited to be here,” said Danny Wurster after winning the 15 lap Feature for the Mike Knapp Pro 4 Trucks, “this one is for Ray and Brian Stevens … I miss them so much – they were both great guys!”

It was fitting that just 5 days after Monday May 18th’s Brian Stevens Memorial that there was a ‘44’ in Victory. Wurster – a long-time crew member for the Stevens Racing Team has carried the 44 on his race trucks since getting behind the wheel himself several years ago.

Wurster made his moves in the final 5 laps of the 15 lap event challenging Craig Vlasic for top spot. The two ran side by side for a few laps with Wurster holding the edge. Adam Nicholls who was the initial leader before losing top spot to Hilary Haegens made a late race charge to regain the runner-up spot.

The Trucks put on quite a display of racing with several 3 wide battles just before Vlasic took the lead on lap 4 and then again before caution around the halfway point.

Wurster and Nicholls were followed by Mike Toovey, Craig Vlasic and Andy Imbeault.

Jeffrey Larmet was first to lead the 15 lap Feature for the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinders before contact between a number of cars the first time into Turn 3 found Sam Iftody as the new leader. Iftody would quickly be challenged by Rob Goulding who took over top spot on lap 5.

Mike Sadusek would now mount a challenge pushing the leader down the front-stretch of lap 8. On a lap 9 restart - Goulding resumed control on the until Sadusek edged ahead across the start finish line.

Kyle Rothwell would join the fray at one point finding the three VWs three wide until a lap 12 incident left point leader Kyle Haynes stranded in Turn 2. Sadusek jumped out to a lead of a few car lengths holding the margin through to his second checkered flag of the season.

Sadusek was followed by Kyle Rothwell, Rob Goulding, Tyler Lafantaisie and Tony Kelly.

PIT NOTES

“What an awesome turn out,” said Tuesday Night Race Director Jeff Riley, “thanks to everyone that joined us and to our staff for helping out as well.”

18 Karters representing each of the Performance Manufacturing Divisions – Vansickle Pet Valu Novice 1, Tim Phillips Garage KC Auto Parts Novice 2, RCM Racing Equipment Junior 1, Ed MacPherson Construction Junior 2, Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted, Cassell Manufacturing Senior Fun and the Wilder Racing Engines Senior Animal Divisions.

Hana Rothwell, Madelyn Goulding, John Matthews, Ashley Moore, Mike Speck, Aiden Speck, Dalton Slack, Donny Lampman, Owen Kaiser, Cohen Corbett, Logan Iliffe, Brittany Kelly, Anthony Kelly, Davis Grocott, Jaedon Lawson, Nathan Boisvert, Randy Giroux and Carter Long were among the karters on display and on the track. Former karters turned Saturday Night Racers Joey Mastroianni, Chris Watson and Alex Riley are among the team of Officials.

The 22nd Season of Tuesday Night Kart Racing continues May 26th. Race Time is 7 PM and Grandstand Admission is FREE.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

The month of May concludes Saturday May 30th when Archer Truck Services hosts a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event featuring the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Division in their first Triple Crown Event of 2015.

At intermission – a Kid’s Poster Contest will take place so younger race fans are invited to make posters of their favorite drivers.

The Grandstand Gates open at 5:30 for both events. Showtime is 7:00.

To reach Merrittville Speedway call 905-892-8266 or via e mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Merrittville Speedway is located at 2371 Merrittville Highway in Thorold Ontario.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 64th Consecutive Season in 2015 – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Become a fan of Merrittville Speedway on Face Book at www.facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Merrittville

Pinty’s Delicious Foods DIRTcar 358 MODIFIED FEATURE (35 laps) Boyd MacTavish, Chad Brachmann, Fred Carleton, Billy Dunn, Scott Wood, Pete Bicknell, Mark D’Ilario, Tim Jones, Tommy Flannigan, Wayne Conn, Chris Steele, Mat Williamson, Mike Bowman, Todd Gordon, Bill Bleich, Travis Miller, Tyler McPherson, Dennis Giancola, Chris Bellamy.

Rick’s Delivery DIRTcar Sportsman Feature – (25 laps) Gary Lindberg, Chad Chevalier, Jay Mallory, Justin Sharp, Austin Wood, Jason Moore, Paul Gaboury, Cody McPherson, Brent Begolo, Ryan Ferri, Joey Mastroianni, BJ Willard, Robert Baker, Chris Storm, Derick Hodge, Gord McIntosh, Paul Williamson, Jordan Cosco, Gord Moreau, Brad Rouse, Rob Knapp, James Friesen..

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Jim Lampman, Dave Bailey, Jason Fontaine, Pete Reid, Dale Gyokery, Kevin Knapp, Billy Bleich, Mark Fawcett, Kyle Pelrine, David Bitner, Chris Crawford, Derek VanMil

Mike Knapp Ford Pro 4 Truck Feature (15 laps) Danny Wurster, Adam Nicholls, Mike Toovey, Craig Vlasic, Andy Imbeault, Terry Ronning, Hilary Haegens, Dylan Llord.

Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature (15 laps) Mike Sadusek, (disqualified for cam shaft infraction), Kyle Rothwell, Rob Goulding, Tyler Lafantaisie, Tony Kelly, Jason Coutu, Alex Riley, Jeremy Smith, Mike Giberson, Kourtney Kocarik, Go Fast Teeple, Gary Hodason, Jay Moulton, Eric Larmet, Cilinton Nicholls, Sam Iftody, Kyle Haynes, Jeffrey Larmet.

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2015 64th Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Rick’s Delivery, Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports, Hoosier Tire Canada and Van Raine Construction and Contingency Partners http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/contingency.html in addition to many marketing partners. Visit them at http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.

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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.

Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favourite automotive retailer or maintenance center including KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage.