The trio have enjoyed a long history together

Thorold, Ontario – The Raceline Radio Network, Canada’s National Radio Motorsport Authority, is delighted to announce the renewal of their marketing and advertising partnership with Merrittville Speedway, to mark the occasion of the Thorold facility’s 65th anniversary season.

Raceline Radio is heard in Merrittville’s immediate market serving their loyal fan base, on News Talk 610, CKTB St. Catharines, Sunday night at 9, and Saturday afternoon at 4 PM.

“65 consecutive years of operation makes Merrittville Speedway easily the oldest and longest operating dirt track in Canada. In fact I just might have been the first announcer to tag the track with that distinction. It’s a monumental and historic accomplishment in this sport. I’m very proud of my personal and professional history with Merrittville. It goes back to the days of announcing there during the era where my wife Janice’s family co-owned the facility in the 70’s and 80’s, through to our current partnership with Raceline Radio on News Talk 610 CKTB. 65 years of unbroken operation is a motorsport story of national stature. We love to tell that story to fans across Niagara and across the country, especially as the facility enters their 65th season,” stated Niagara-based Raceline Radio Network anchor Erik Tomas.

2016 marks Raceline’s 24th broadcast season.

“Our congratulations to Erik and Raceline as they near the quarter century mark bringing race fans all the news of our sport,” wished (Merrittville Speedway GM) Erica Bicknell-Jones, “there definitely have been some stories to share leading up to and including our 65th and I’m looking forward to talking with Erik on April 24th’s show!”.”

“Followers of sports in Niagara have to be familiar with the name Rex Stimers,” said (Merrttville Speedway Reunion Committee Chairman Rick Kavanagh, “while working as a Sports Broadcaster at CKTB in 1956 he took Murray Stricker up on an offer to take a ride in his 1937 Ford Coupe racer that was on it’s way to back to back championships. Stricker gave Rex a 5 lap ride of his life and while he immediately left the race track … he continued to support the sport on air although from the comfort of the CKTB Studio.”

Some 40 years later … how many remember Raceline’s TV Broadcasts on TSN?

What is now the Bob St. Amand Memorial 100 was broadcast coast to coast with the help of Plazek Auto Recyclers and others - allowing Canadians back then a chance to experience the excitement of dirt track racing.

In 2016. News Talk 610 CKTB St. Catharines is one of 16 Raceline Radio Network affiliates across Canada, covering auto racing locally, regionally, nationally and internationally year-round boasting 19 airings per week.

Raceline Radio is broadcast from the studios of AM 900 CHML Hamilton Ontario, and linked to Sportsnet 590 The FAN Toronto Ontario, is distributed and marketed by Rogers Communications.

Erik Tomas caught the racing bug when his father took him to the races when he was 7 years old and the sport has followed him everywhere since. A fact that has such a familiar ring to it as there are so many stories of second, third and fourth generation family involvement throughout the grandstands and the pit area at the Thorold DIRTcar sanctioned d-shaped oval.

Erik and his wife Janice’s daughter Katelyn up until recently was an integral part of Merrittville Speedway's Scoring Team – another story of 3 generations of family involvement.

"I have such a long-standing personal connection to this facility, so I always make sure their marketing not only gets maximum traction in Niagara, but across Canada on Raceline as well! With the move back to News Talk 610 CKTB, and a live airing at 8 o'clock on Sunday nights, the date-specific spots especially designed for a very unique advertising approach, keeps fans updated week-to-week what's happening at Merrittville! It's beyond perfect," Tomas added.

"It just seems like yesterday that Raceline began and now Erik and his staff have been grass roots and world events ... and everything in between," said Bicknell-Jones, " race fans can be up to speed right away Sunday Nights and get revved up in the afternoons ahead of another Saturday Night at the races."

About The Raceline Radio Network: Canada’s first national motorsport radio show has been recognized as Canada’s national radio motorsport authority for the past 24 years. The award-winning program covers all forms of auto racing, featuring local, regional, national and international racing series including NASCAR, Formula One and IndyCar, with special emphasis on road rallying and Canadian drivers through timely interviews with the sports’ biggest stars and newsmakers. Raceline Radio is anchored and produced by Canadian broadcast veteran Erik Tomas and is networked across Canada through 16 major market affiliates, and is aired 19 times weekly, year round. The Raceline Radio Network is flag-shipped across Canada from AM 900 CHML Radio

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

To reach Merrittville Speedway call 905-892-8266 beginning or via e mail – ebicknell@cogeco,net. Merrittville Speedway is located at 2371 Merrittville Highway in Thorold Ontario. Merrittville Speedway’s Office is open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and is located in the Grandstand Area on the ground floor of the Lucas Oil Tower.

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2016 65th 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.

Lucas Oil Products, Inc., is the world leader in the production high performance oils, fuel treatments and problem solving additives with the largest variety of shelf products of any oil company in North America. Lucas Oil’s premium formulas are marketed worldwide and retail at more than 40,000 auto parts stores across the continent and at virtually every truck stop across Canada.

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