Thorold, Ontario – Meridian Credit Union presented a 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event at Merrittville Speedway August 29th with Brad Rouse of St. Catharines winning the 25 lap Sterling Silvr Trophy for the Rick’s Delivery Sportsman Division.

Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action also saw Mike Bowman, (St. Catharines) Mark Fawcett, (Canfield), Jamie Gilbert (Welland) and Port Colborne’s Rob Goulding visit Victory Lane in the Pinty;s Delicious Foods Modified , Hoosier Stock, Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite and Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Divisions. With internet radar showing a chance of rain – all Victory Lane Ceremonies were held at the conclusion of the racing.

The Sterling Silvr Trophy was established in 1990 by then Sportsman Racer Ken Walsh after Bill Willard Senior passed away as a memorial to the local racing pioneer.

“When I first got involved in racing,” remembered Walsh in a pre-race interview with Merrittville co-announcer Dana Curvin, “the Willard Family especially Bill Senior were a huge help. I wanted to come up with something to honor his memory and to help give the drivers in the Sportsman Division some recognition.”

The interview took place beside the recently restored 77Jr Coupe once actually raced by his grandson Bill Willard Junior. The Vintage Racer would pace the field with another of Bill’s grandkids at the wheel – Tammy Willard.

Jordan Cosco and Justin Sharp led the field to the green flag with the race slowed right away. With no laps on the Lucas Oil Live Leaderboard, the return to action saw Sharp and Cosco battling for top spot until Sharp took control.

Caution would slow the pace on lap 6 with Sharp – the 2013 Race Winner back out front once again.

Sharp would lead lap 7 earning a $49 Bonus from Ken and Fran Walsh until Brad Rouse taking control on lap 9. Once Rouse settled into top spot, one driver on the move was Cody McPherson who closed in on Sharp for second.

Into lap traffic, Rouse was holding almost a straightaway advantage until lap 19 when defending Sterling Silvr 7 winner James Friesen slowed down the front stretch.

Rouse resumed control of top spot on the restart with McPherson running around the high groove into second on lap 21.

McPherson - who won the race on what would have been his great-grandfathers birthday in 2011 made a late race challenge on Rouse but at the checkered flag came to within .022 seconds of the leader.

“I heard him (Cody) on the outside … I just tried to keep my line around the bottom,” said Brad Rouse in Victory Lane for the 4th time of the season, “I clipped the guardrail so he was able to get a run. It’s an important win to take the race for Grandpa Willard – he was a big help to me … right from when I got my start in kart racing.”

“I really wanted to win great grandpa Willard’s race tonight,” posted McPherson on Face Book post-race, “I gave it everything she had but came up a couple inches short.”

Rouse and McPherson were followed by Gary Lindberg, Sharp and Chad Chevalier.

“We’ve been literally working on my shocks for tonight since Friday at noon,” revealed Mike Bowman after winning his third Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature, “thanks to everyone that helped get us here.”

Mark D’Ilario and Bill Bleich led the starting field to green in the 35 lap Modified Feature but it wasn’t until one lap was complete that D’Ilario had control. On lap 3 it was Bleich who took over top spot.

Caution on lap 8 slowed the race after Chad Brachmann and Tyler McPherson made contact coming out of Turn 4. Brachmann only lost a little momentum but McPherson was facing the wrong way.

D’Ilario got a got jump on the restart until Bleich raced back into the lead ahead of a three wide battle for third between Brachmann, Mike Bowman and Tommy Flannigan. Contact back in the pack between Pete Bicknell and Mat Williamson slowed the field on lap 13.

The restart had Flannigan challenging for the lead with Bleich holding his own with Bowman joining the battle. Bowman would take second spot at halfway until caution slowed the pace on lap 19. Bleich set the pace on the restart once again until Bowman took top spot on lap 20.

With 5 laps to go, Bowman had pulled away to close to a straightaway lead on Flannigan.

At the finish, Bowman was followed by Tommy Flannigan, Erick Rudolph, Chad Brachmann and Billy Dunn.

“It’s been a good season,” said Mark Fawcett after his 7th Hoosier Stock Feature Win of 2015, “we did our homework over the winter and it’s paid off – thanks to all my sponsors and crew for all they do.”

Kyle Pelrine set the pace at the start of the 20 lap Feature with Jim Lampman quickly taking over top spot. Lampman would drive away to a couple car length lead over Billy Bleich in the runner up spot.

Bleich would pull alongside the leader with Mark Fawcett joining the race for top spot. Going three wide, Kevin Knapp and Dave Bailey would round out the top 5. Lap 10 would find Mark Fawcett as the new leader.

Lap 15 would have the field slowed for the first time after contact between Billy Bleich and Dave Bailey left Bleich sitting the wrong way.

Fawcett would resume control on the restart ahead of Lampman with the race for third having Knapp holding off a number of cars. A second caution set up a two lap dash to the finish.

Fawcett set the pace on the restart. With Dale Gyokery holding down third the race to close out the top 5 was the one to watch.

Fawcett, Lampman and Gyokery were followed by Billy Bleich and Kevin Knapp.

“I made a change between my heat and the feature tonight,” revealed Jamie Gilbert in Victory Lane for the second time of the season in the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Division, “and it sure paid off.”

Dean Pronovost was first to lead the 20 lap Feature which was slowed right away. Pronovost in the Honeywell Safety #14 led the field back to green on a lap 1 restart until Steven Beckett took over top spot. A caution quickly slowed the early going after Kellie Mason slowed down the front stretch.

Beckett took control on the restart with veterans Jamie Gilbert and Rob Misener challenging the rookie driver. Gilbert quickly became the new leader Just before halfway Shawn Sliter would land in third spot just ahead of a caution after Dylan Davidson and Josh Sliter came together in Turn 2.

Gilbert would resume control on the return to racing with Sliter taking over the runner up spot but considerably back to the leader.

With two laps to go Sliter closed to within a couple car lengths of Gilbert but that’s as close as he would come.

Gilbert and Shawn Sliter were followed by Misener, Jeff May and Chris Watson.

“I had a wild ride in the heat,” informed Rob Goulding in Victory Lane for the second time of 2015 as well, “I broke a motor mount after hitting the wall – the engine was just racheted in place … thanks to everyone that helped get me fixed up.”

Jeremy Smith was first to lead before Jay Moulton took control the first time down the back stretch. Moulton would set the pace until lap 6 when Rob Goulding took control of top spot.

Goulding would pull away from the pack and a battle throughout the top 5. By lap 10, Kyle Haynes took over the runner up spot. The battle for third was the one to watch between Jeff Hill and Jason Coutu.

In the closing laps, Haynes would close in on Goulding but at the checkered flag fell about a car length short. Goulding and Haynes were followed by Tyler Lafantaisie, Jason Langaro and Moulton after both Hill and Coutu were disqualified post race.

PIT NOTES

Dylan Davidson began his night as the latest driver to earn Archer Truck Service Driver of the Week honors. The 4th generation driver led 13 laps of the 15 lap Feature as part of Pen Centre Night August 22nd.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Merrittville Speedway’s final Point Event of 2015 Saturday September 5th will feature a 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event with the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds featured in the 50 lap John Spencer Memorial presented by Semenuck’s Esso.

Race fans can also look forward to meeting their favorite drivers as it’s Autograph Night.

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 – ebicknell@cogeco,net. 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

26th Sterling Silvr Trophy for the RICK’S DELIVERY DIRTcar SPORTSMAN – (25 laps) Brad Rouse, Cody McPherson, Gary Lindberg, Justin Sharp, Chad Chevalier, Paul Gaboury, Brent Begolo, Jay Mallory, Jordan Cosco, Jason Moore, Rob Knapp, Austin Wood, Joey Mastroianni, Paul Williamson, Gord McIntosh, Chris Storm, Tom Richau, John Babion, James Friesen, Derick Hodge, Jesse Penner, Gord Moreau, Paul Cunningham.

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

HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE (20 laps) Mark Fawcett, Jim Lampman, Dale Gyokery, Billy Bleich, Kevin Knapp, Jack Myers, Trevor DeBoer, Chris Schneider, Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine, Ed McLean, Mason Smith, Chris Crawford, Robin Mortensen,

Rev’s Full Throttle Power Sports MODIFIED LITE FEATURE (15 laps) Jamie Gilbert, Shawn Sliter, Rob Misener, Jeffrey May, Chris Watson, Josh Sliter, Steven Beckett, Dylan Davidson, RJ Pietz, Dean Pronovost, Ray Sliter Jr., Kellie Mason, Marty deMoel.

Van Raine Construction 4 CYLINDER (15 laps) Rob Goulding, Kyle Haynes, Tyler Lafantaisie, Jason Langaro, Jay Moulton, Jeremy Smith, Sam Iftody, Brian Cosgrove, Mike Giberson, Gary Hodasun, Alex Riley, Kourtney Kocarik, Brian Teeple, Mike Sadusek, Vincent Pagnotta. DQ – Jason Coutu (Weight), Jeff Hill (Cam shaft).

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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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.