MacTavish first to repeat in 358 Modifieds

Thorold, Ontario – The Ontario Truck Driving School hosted a night in support of the Canadian National Autism Foundation which saw Ridgeway’s Josh Sliter take home the 20 lap TUSA West Series Event for the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Division.

Ransomville NY’s Boyd MacTavish became the first repeat winner of the 2015 Season in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds.

Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action also had two defending champions visit Victory Lane – St. Catharines’ Cody McPherson and Leroy Buscumb of Port Colborne in the Rick’s Delivery Sportsman and Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Divisions.

Defending Hoosier Stock Champion Mark Fawcett of Canfield made his third trip of the season to Victory Lane.

“On that last caution I knew I had to cool my tires down to have a shot,” revealed Josh Sliter in Victory Lane after the 20 lap TUSA West Series Event, “going into three … I was still in the infield … I made my move and it stuck.”

When the original start was called off after Dylan Davidson fired too early, the leader at the drop of the green was defending champion Jeffrey May. On the move early was Paul Klager who would quickly take over top spot.

With 5 to go, Klager was on cruise control until a lap 16 caution unleash a side by side battle with Josh Sliter until a lap 19 caution set up a one lap dash to the finish.

Sliter just edged ahead at the start finish line with Klager settling for the runner up spot. Jamie Gilbert, Rob Misener and Davidson closed out the Top 5.

“I knew the high side was faster tonight and that everyone would be up there,” said Boyd MacTavish – the first 358 Modified Driver of 9 previous 2015 Winners to visit Victory Lane a second time, “I just kept digging and digging on the bottom.”

Front row starters and second generation drivers Wayne Conn and Travis Miller led the field to the green flag at the start of the 35 lap event with Miller pulling away to the initial lead. Still in control, Miller was looking to maintain his comfortable lead into lap traffic but instead was looking at the first caution on lap 14.

Miller chose the outside groove on the restart with Bill Bleich quickly taking over top spot. By lap 17 Boyd MacTavish was in the runner up spot until on lap 19 after Tommy Flannigan and Mike Bowman came together out of Turn 4.

Bleich’s restart was slowed after several cars came together in Turn 1 with the Port Robinson driver trying to hold off MacTavish. Miller would battle back to challenge MacTavish with the two side by side with 10 laps to go.

Inside 5 laps to go Miller and Mac Tavish would close in on Bleich with MacTavish making a late move from third to first pay off

MacTavish and Bleich were followed by Miller who did all he could attempting to become the 10th different winner of the season. Mat Williamson and Mark D’Ilario rounded out the Top 5.

“It’s nice to get the monkey off my back,” said defending Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Champion Cody McPherson after winning his first of the season, “we’ve been really bad so far … we went back to basics and I really felt like myself tonight.”

McPherson sat in top spot down the home stretch of the 25 lap event and at the finish line was .132 of a second ahead of James Friesen.

Joey Mastroianni set the pace on the start with Justin Sharp the new leader by lap 2. Just as quickly as Sharp took the lead, James Friesen landed in the runner up spot and became the third to lead by lap

At about the halfway point Friesen was coming up on slower cars as caution would slow the field.

Friesen was back out front on the restart with an incident mid pack the first time into Turn 1 delaying the return to action. Friesen drove away to a comfortable lead ahead of quite a battle through the top 5 with Cody McPherson taking control of second before caution on lap 17.

Friesen was able to lead the field through only one more lap until another yellow after a couple of cars came together between Turns 1 and 2.

Friesen held off Rob Knapp on the restart but exiting Turn 4 to complete lap 19 Knapp drove into top spot. Friesen regained the lead with McPherson regaining second on lap 20.

McPherson and Friesen were followed by Paul Gaboury, Gary Lindberg and Sharp.

“On the last lap when Mike passed me … I was thinking game over,” said first time 2015 Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Leroy Buscumb, “I was happy with second but regrouped – when he slipped up I was right there.”

Jeremy Smith and Alex Pidgeon were side by side at the start of the 15 lap Feature until the first time into Turn 3 when Smith edged ahead. Just ahead of the first caution on lap 3, Mike Sadusek took control of top spot.

Sadusek set the pace on the restart with battles through the field two and three wide until the yellow slowed the pace once again on lap 6. Sadusek resumed control with defending champion Leroy Buscumb now in second with the field slowed before a lap was complete after second generation driver Kourtney Kocarik slowed.

Sadusek was back out front when action resumed with Buscumb challenging. Buscumb would became the new leader out of Turn 2.

Caution on lap 11 saw Buscumb in control but through the final laps the two traded spots a number of times including the final lap with Buscumb crossing the finish line first

At the finish Buscumb and Sadusek were followed by Tyler Lafantaisie, Rob Goulding and Kyle Haynes.

Unfortunately Sadusek’s efforts were for not as he failed post race technical inspection.

“A good friend of ours passed away today … so this one’s for you Jim and to my Dad as well for Father’s Day!,” said an emotional three time Hoosier Stock Feature Winner Mark Fawcett.

Fawcett was on a mission from his 11th starting spot in the 18 car field – landing in the runner-up spot just before halfway of the 20 lap event before taking the lead.

The start had front row starters Chris Crawford and Jim Lampman slowed right away by caution before Lampman took control. Kevin Knapp quickly took second and with the two front runners separated by comfortable margins – action back in the pack wasn’t causing a caution.

Through to the finish, Fawcett and Lampman would be followed by Knapp, Pete Reid and Rob Murray.

PIT NOTES Race Fans looking for more Autograph Night excitement will surely want to visit the St. Catharines Husky Cruise Night Monday June 22nd when it’s also Race Car Night.

For further information visit https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152843813432382&set=a.10150158899662382.293515.646802381&type=1&theater

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY Merrittville Speedway will host an early Canada Day Celebration Saturday June 27th when Cotton Inc. hosts the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints.

Joining the Sprint Cars are the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds, the Hoosier Stocks and the second Ballhockey.com Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College.

Also on the card – FIREWORKS and the famous $1 Piller’s Hot Dogs in the Grandstands all night long.

The Grandstand Gates open at 4 PM. 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

Rev’s Full Throttle Power Sports Modified Lite Feature (20 laps) Josh Sliter, Paul Klager, Jamie Gilbert, Rob Misener, Dylan Davidson, Jeffrey May, RJ Pietz, Chris Watson, Marty deMoel, Steven Beckett, Ray Silter Jr., Kellie Mason, Mike Journeaux.

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

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

Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature (15 laps) Le roy Buscumb, Mike Sadusek, Tyler Lafantaisie, Rob Goulding, Kyle Haynes, Kyle Rothwell, Alex Pidgeon, Sam Iftody, Jeremy Smith, Alex Riley, Jeffrey Larmet, Kurtis Wiley, Jay Moulton, Eric Larmet, Brian Teeple, Kourtney Kocarik, Gary Hodason,

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Mark Fawcett, Peter Reid, Kevin Knapp, Billy Bleich, Dave Bailey, Dave Bitner, Dale Gyokery, Billy Bleich, Brad Sheehan, Chris Crawford, Kyle Pelrine, Chase Hess, Derek VanMill, Chris Schneider, Steve Robison, Jason Fontaine, Chris VanMill.

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.

Lucas Oil Products is one of 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.

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.