Bicknell, Fawcett, Gilbert and Rothwell also take home wins in caution-filled night

Thorold, Ontario – Backing up his June 25th win in the Tom Mallory Memorial Sportsman Shoot Out at Ohsweken Speedway, second generation driver Jay Mallory of St. Catharines won his first Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Feature Saturday July 4th.

Modern Corporation’s annual Big Rig Truck Show and Shine also had 4 other drivers shine – picking up wins in their respective Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions.

Pete Bicknell also of St. Catharines , Mark Fawcett (Canfield), Jamie Gilbert (Port Colborne) and Welland’s Kyle Rothwell each took checkered flags in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds, Hoosier Stock, Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lites and the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Divisions.

“It’s a whole new experience with the Crate Motor from when I last raced,” said Mallory in Sportsman Victory Lane, “we ran some races last year and this year have changed a few things … I think we have it figured out.”

Mallory took the lead from initial leader Austin Wood quickly after a lap 2 restart and drove away to a comfortable lead until a lap 10 caution slowed the field once more.

On lap 8 Brent Begolo and Rob Knapp made contact battling for third with Begolo slowing two laps later bringing out the yellow flag.

With Mallory on cruise control, Chad Chevalier eventually took over the runner up spot from Wood. Just before lap 15, Cody McPherson would challenge Wood for third spot until a lap 21 caution slowing the pace one last time.

Justin Sharp – hoping for a good finish to celebrate his grandfather Neil’s 80th Birthday was off the pace.

Mallory resumed top spot on the restart with Chad Chevalier settling for second with Paul Gaboury making a late race charge to take third from McPherson. Brad Rouse also made a late race move to edge Gary Lindberg for 5th.

The finish for the Sportsman Division is unofficial as post-race the Top 3 Cars in points – Lindberg, Rouse, Gaboury and Sharp (picked randomly) will have their engines dynoed Monday.

“I’ve had a bit of a dry spell,” said Pete Bicknell in Modified Victory Lane for the second time of 2015 after more than a year without a win, “hats off to my crew … they’ve been experimenting a lot but we have it figured out … and hats off to our Track Prep Team of Howard (Schram) and Bryant (Irvine) … they have put a lot of work into the track this year!”

After such an easy run to get to 9 different winners to start the season, Bicknell joined Boyd MacTavish as the second driver to win twice.

Bicknell, who started 8th at the start of the 35 lap event was in the runner up spot by lap 4 behind Wayne Conn who took over the lead early from initial leader Tommy Flannigan.

Another driver on the move in the early going was Mike Bowman who took control of top spot by lap 5.

Bowman was comfortably out front until lap 29 when he lost some speed after jumping the cushion allowing Bicknell to take over top spot.

Conn would slow off the pace on lap 30 slowing the field with contact between Bowman and Scott Wood on the restart delaying the return to action.

Bicknell resumed control of top spot ahead of Erick Rudolph in the Rob Clarke #19 until the race went red after a chain reaction incident at the start finish line of lap 32. Mark D’Ilario, Boyd MacTavish, Mat Williamson and Tim Jones involved.

Williamson and Jones received the most damage with Jones’ 15J ending up on it’s roof towards Turn 1, All the drivers were OK.

From the restart to the checkered flag, Bicknell was followed by Rudolph, Chad Brachmann who rallied from slowing on the lap 2 caution to take third. Bill Bleich and Flannigan closed out the top 5.

“We’ve done this three years in a row … winning Driver of the Week and a Feature in the same night,” pointed out Hoosier Stock Feature Winner Mark Fawcett, “I might have put some extra pressure on myself … but I’m the only one to do it.”

Most drivers do not want to be named the Archer Truck Services Driver of the Week as more often than not … it means a poor result that night.

Kyle Pelrine was first to lead the 20 lap Feature facing a challenge from Pete Reid right from the start. Jim Lampman was also a threat in the early stages with Reid landing in top spot by lap 2.

Eventually Fawcett – the defending champion would take control of the runner-up spot. Down the backstretch of lap 8 – Fawcett was the new leader.

By lap 15, Fawcett would hold about a car length lead on Reid until a caution on lap 18.

At the finish, Fawcett was followed by Reid, Rob Murray, Lampman and Kevin Knapp.

“It’s all a blur … this is the first time back in this car since I flipped it 3 or 4 weeks ago,” said Modified Lite Feature Winner Jamie Gilbert, “thanks to Ray Sliter Jr – he’s a staple of this team … we wouldn’t be here without him.”

Chris Watson was the initial leader before Gilbert rocketed into top spot – threading the needle between Watson and Ray Sliter Jr.

Just before half-way of the 20 lap Feature, Josh Sliter was in the runner up spot until a lap 10 caution.

Gilbert would resume the lead on the restart with Rob Misener taking second. Sliter would take the lead on lap 11 with Gilbert battling back one lap later.

Gilbert, Sliter and Misener were followed by Watson and RJ Pietz.

“This car wasn’t my best friend earlier in the year,” revealed 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Kyle Rothwell, “it’s sat but we have been working on it … I think we have it figured out.”

Rothwell – who was in his #114 with Twisted Metal Racing team-mate Tyler Lafantaisie in his regular #14 – did not take the lead until lap 9. With Gary Hodasun first to lead the 15 lap event – Sam Iftody was the new leader after an early caution.

Iftody would face one restart as leader as would Rothwell on lap 13.

At the finish, Rothwell was followed by Rob Goulding, Lafantaisie and Mike Sadusek with Iftody settling for 5th.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

The Welland and Fort Erie TIM-BR Marts and Blast Entertainment will present the L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame Night. A 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program will feature the Pinty’s Modifieds in the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial with Vintage Race Cars taking the place of the Hoosier Stocks.

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

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

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

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Mark Fawcett, Peter Reid, Rob Murray, Jim Lampman, Kevin Knapp, James Thompson, Billy Bleich Jr., Ken Sargent, Dave Bailey, Vince Fargnoli. Kyle Pelrine, Derek VanMill, Jason Fontaine, Chris Crawford, Marcel Michaud.

Rev’s Full Throttle Power Sports Modified Lite Feature (15 laps) Jamie Gilbert, Josh Sliter, Rob Misener, Chris Watson, RJ Pietz, Dylan Davidson, Marty deMoel, Jeffrey May, Steven Beckett, Mike Journeaux, Kellie Mason, Ray Sliter Jr.,

Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series Opener (15 laps) Kyle Rothwell, Tyler Lafantaisie, Rob Goulding, Mike Sadusek, Sam Iftody, Jason Coutu, Kyle Haynes, Alex Riley, Jeremy Smith, Kurtis Wiley, Leroy Buscumb, Mike Giberson, Jay Moulton, Gary Hodasun, Alex Pidgeon, Brian Teeple, Nourtney Kocarik, Kenny Hair.

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.