Thorold, Ontario – Right from 1952 and leading up to Merrittville Speedway’s 65th Anniversary Season there have been many stories of second and third generations coming into the sport. Rarely has one been about a father and daughter however.

2016 will see yet another Kart Racer move to Saturday Nights as Port Colborne’s Ryleigh Sliter will join her cousin’s race team and the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Division.

“I am so excited to get this season going,” said Ryleigh’s dad Shawn who will race with her in his Mod Lite when not racing his 360 Sprint Car with the Southern Ontario Sprints, “it’s going to be special times racing with her for sure.”

Although Ryleigh includes her dad and her cousin (multi-time Modified Lite Champion Josh Sliter)

as role models – she also looks up to her mother Lenie maybe more than the others.

“The year she won the Pure Stock Championship at Humberstone was 2007,” remembers Ryleigh, “her car number was #6 and that was my first year Kart Racing and I was #6 too!”

Sliter – who will start Grade 9 this September at Lakeshore Catholic High School in her home town hopes to start her Saturday Night career with the #6 already campaigned by her new team-mate Rob Misener. Her car is the former Mark Brighton car he last raced in 2000.

“Last year when we were in need of an engine – (former Champion) Dave Russell had one available but the car came with it,” said Ryleigh’s cousin Josh Sliter, “the car is perfect for her to start in – she’s been around Karts and Cars since she was born … I’m really excited for her … surely once she gets some seat time she’ll be right up at the front of the pack.”

“When she started Kart Racing 9 years ago in the Novice Division,” said her mom Lenie, “she was a natural and she had success right away … as for 2016 – I think it’s time for her to make the move.”

The new season seems to be the time for a few of her Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Karters as she will join Trevor Wright and Austyn Werstroh although in different divisions. Towards the end of last season we saw Team JSR add the former Wally Billing Mod Lite to the fleet of cars but Shawn will race with his daughter with the former Rick Brubacher 67. It was midway through last season that talk began about her move away from Tuesday Nights.

“Wally’s car will see an occasional race in 2016 with a variety of drivers,” informs Sliter, Commercial Supervisor with Modern Landfill, “Ryleigh will race that car full time in 2017.”

A joke around the Modified Lite Pit Area will be that JSR Drivers could run their own heat as Ryleigh will join her family – her dad, uncle and cousin in addition to new team-mates RJ Pietz, Jamie Gilbert and Rob Misener. Her uncle Ray Jr. who was honored with the Pete Cosco Memorial Award last November as Car Owner of the Year.

Racing for Ryleigh is in her blood as her grandfather Ray Sliter Sr. also enjoyed a brief career in his own Mod Lite. Today it’s what the Sliters do … enjoying some quality time together … immediate family … aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins.

Ryleigh began her Kart Racing Career at the age of 5 after taking over the wheel of her brother Dillan’s Kart. Also a Karting graduate – Dillan went on to race 2 ½ seasons in the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Division as well as a full season in a Mod Lite.

Ryleigh has had her new ride moving but her first time on the track with it will be during the Pete Bicknell Driving School this April.

“All my friends think it’s cool that I race,” added Ryleigh, “I can’t thank them enough for their support – Mom, Dad, Gramma and Grampa too!”

Supporting Ryleigh right from the start of her Kart Racing has been the Welland Midas and the Niagara Street Auto Repair facility will help take her to the Modified Lite Division. Her Mod Lite will also feature some of the Team JSR sponsors which include Niagara Falls Nissan, Tender Cuts Port Colborne, Thurston Machine, Pro Fabrication, Jawzy.ca, Crutchfield Performance and Leader Racecars.

In the summer time when not racing or getting the cars ready – the Sliters take to the road on their Harley Davidsons or at a local cruise night showing off their 1972 Chevrolet C10 Pick Up. In the winter it’s kinda much the same - readying the cars for the next season while taking to the trails on their snowmobiles.

When not playing with her fast toys – Ryleigh spends quite a bit of time playing with those of others while babysitting. “She’s been a big help with her nephew Bently,” added his grandmother Lenie.

Following her dad into the sport – it doesn’t stop this season as eventually she would like to race 360 Sprint Cars herself. With her entire High School Career ahead of her – she already has a goal of becoming a Special Education Teacher.

Growing up, Ryleigh was labelled with the nick name Twigs as her arms and legs were always the size of little twigs. Set to race into her first full season of Saturday Nights however – she is sure to grow into the sport much like she did during her first Kart Season.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 65th Consecutive Season in 2016 – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville

Merrittville Speedway’s Winter Office Hours are Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 5:00 and on Fridays from 9:00 to 4:30. To reach by phone call 905-685-7223 or via e mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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, Yager Bros Trucking, Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports, Hoosier Tire Canada and Van Raine Construction 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 Kala’s Home Hardware. KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage.