Thorold, Ontario – Archer Truck Services Night featured Kart Racers of today in their annual exhibition and two former karters put on their own exhibition.

Ransomville NY third generation driver and former Kart Racer Erick Rudolph took home the 35 lap Feature for the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds. Returning to Victory Lane in the Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Division after winning three straight to start the season – former karter Brad Rouse of St. Catharines.

Making his first trip of 2016 was Hagersville’s Dave Bailey who won the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature. Two drivers both won their second events of the season – Kyle Rothwell of Welland in the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinders and Josh Sliter of Ridgeway in te Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Division.

“We’ve got a field full of great competitors here … we got some breaks along the way coming through traffic,” said Rudolph now a two time winner who won the first two Brian Stevens Memorials, “the yellows closed the field together which helped.”

Wayne Conn set the pace at the start before Mike Bowman took over top spot. Bowman regained the lead on an early restart with Tyler McPherson and Ryan Susice quickly racing into the top 3.

With Bowman in top spot, Conn battling back to challenge McPherson for second which allowed Bowman to pull away from the field.

By lap 10 Bowman would lead McPherson, Susice, Rudolph and Chris Steele.

A collision between Chad Brachmann and Fred Carleton in Turn 4 of lap 15 would slow the pace with Bowman out front ahead of a three wide battle between McPherson, Susice and Rudolph. Just before a lap 16 caution Rudolph charged into the runner up spot.

Bowman set the pace on the restart before a chain reaction incident slowed the field on lap 17.

Rudolph was the new leader on the restart with the battle for second three wide between Bowman, Pete Bicknell and Susice.

After a lap 20 restart, Rudolph set the pace with Bicknell’s challenge slowed by caution on lap 23.

Rudolph resumed control on the restart and through to the finish opened up a lead of some 2 seconds over Bicknell, Mike Bowman,

Ryan Susice and Mark D’Ilario.

Rudolph’s night began with being named the Archer Truck Services Driver of the Week.

“He was quick on the top but one the one restart he chose the bottom … we touched a few times but it was good racing,” said Brad Rouse after passing Brent Begolo late in the Sportsman Feature.

Chris Bellamy set the pace at the start of the 25 lap Feature for the Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Division leading the field until just before lap 10 when former Kart Racer Justin Sharp took control of top spot.

As quickly as Sharp became the new leader his strong run quickly came to an end with heavy smoke pouring out the back of his car out of Turn 2.

Bellamy resumed top spot on the restart before Brent Begolo took control on lap 12. On the way in Begolo was wearing a Retro Race T Shirt and all this season has raced a Retro Race Car design – a look that his dad Jim Begolo had back in the day.

Begolo set the pace for some 10 laps before losing top spot to Brad Rouse on lap 22.

Through to the finish Rouse and Begolo were followed by another former Kart Racer Cody McPherson with Paul Gaboury and Rob Knapp closing out the top 5.

“The track was awesome,” said Dave Bailey after winning his first Hoosier Stock Feature, “after last week – it’s great to come back this week with a win … thanks to Hoosier Tire Canada and Ron McKay for the help and advice on the tires.”

Steve Shaw was first to lead the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature with Dave Bailey quickly challenging Kyle Pelrine for second. Bailey would land in second and out of Turn 4 to complete lap 4 was the new leader.

Pete Reid would soon overtake Shaw for position and just before halfway Mark Fawcett, Billy Bleich and Chris Crawford had settled into the Top 5.

Through lap traffic, Bailey was able to maintain a comfortable lead with the race for second the one to watch between Reid and

Fawcett. Fawcett would take over the runner up spot but there was no stopping Bailey from visiting Victory Lane for the second straight night after a Friday Night win at the Ohsweken Speedway.

Bailey and Fawcett were followed by former karters Reid and Bleich with Chris Crawford in 5th.

“I haven’t raced with the same set up for two weeks,” said Kyle Rothwell in 4 Cylinder Victory Lane for the second time of the season, “I’ve been trying to get more speed … I think I’ve found it now.”

Clinton Nicholls was first to lead the 15 lap Feature for the Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinders immediately pulling away to a 5 car lead on the field. Just as Nicholls drove away, Jason Coutu led the charge closing in on the leader.

By lap 5 – the new leader was Coutu who was slowed on lap 6 in the event’s first caution. Coutu resumed the lead on the restart with Kyle Rothwell and Tony Kelly racing into the top 3. Lap 7 would have the field slowed once again for a multicar incident that unfortunately included former Karters Kourtney Kocarik, Kyle Miller and Mike Neale among others.

The restart would see Rothwell and Coutu drag race each other to the green flag until Rothwell – a Cassell Manufacturing Senior Fun Karter Tuesday Nights - found the advantage down the backstretch.

By lap 10 – the Volkswagens of Rothwell, Kelly, Tyler Lafantaisie and Coutu were leading Sam Iftody’s Mustang with the order the same at the checkered flag at lap 15.

“The car was real good tonight,” said Josh Sliter after winning his second Modified Lite Feature of 2016, “I’ve been playing with the gearing – I’m really surprised it’s working!”

The start of the 15 lap Event for the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lites had former Kart Racer turned Kart Official Chris Watson as the initial leader – out racing fellow front row starter Marty deMoel to the green flag.

Coming from a 6th starting spot, Josh Sliter was quickly in the runner up spot and by lap 3 was the new leader.

The caution free event had Sliter cruise to the win ahead of Watson and Rob Misener. Former Kart Racer Steven Beckett and RJ Pietz closed out the top 5.

With every lap … I’m learning so much … what does this and what does that on the car,” said Rookie Chris Watters in Novice Sportsman Victory Lane.

Three wide on the start forced officials to call off the original start of the 10 lap Feature for the Novice Sportsman with John Babion in control on the start. Trevor Wright – still a Tuesday Night Kart Racer quickly took over top spot.

The closing laps saw Tom Richau close in on the leader. Unfortunate contact between Wright and Richau just before the start finish line had two collected and into the front stretch wall.

Chris Watters would take home his third win of the season.

PIT NOTES

Merrittville Speedway would like to thank all the Race Fans and Race Team Members that dug out their Retro Race T Shirts – it was great to see them all again in the unofficial countdown to July 16th’s 65th Anniversary Reunion Night hosted by the Welland and Fort Erie Timber Marts.

A huge thank you as well to all of our Tuesday Night Lucas Oil Weekly Karting Series Racers that joined us for the annual Kart Night. Next event is Tuesday June 14th. Racing starts at 7 PM and the Grandstand Admission is FREE.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

The Ontario Truck Driving School will host a night in support of the Canadian National Autism Foundation Saturday June 18th.

Race Fans will have the chance to meet their favorite drivers on the front stretch at intermission in the first Autograph Night of 2016.

The Featured Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event will be a TUSA Modified Lite Series Event for the Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports sponsored Division.

Grandstands will open at 5:30 with Show Time at 7:00 PM.

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. 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.

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

Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature (35 laps) Erick Rudolph, Pete Bicknell, Mike Bowman, Ryan Susice, Mark D’Ilario, Gary Lindberg, Chris Steele, Tim Jones, Tyler McPherson, Chad Brachmann, Phil Vigneri III, Todd Gordon Scott Wood, James Friesen, Wayne Conn, Tommy Flannigan, Fred Carleton.

Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Feature (25 laps) Brad Rouse, Brent Begolo, Cody McPherson, Paul Gaboury, Ron Knapp, Joey Mastroianni, Darrell Farraway, Chris Watters, Chris Bellamy, Jim Harbison, Tom Richau, Paul Williamson, Trevor Wright, John Babion, Jay Mallory, Jesse Penner, Justin Sharp, Joey Herremans.

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Dave Bailey, Mark Fawcett, Pete Reid, Billy Bleich, Chris Crawford, Kyle Pelrine, Jim Lampman, Steve Shaw, Jack Myers, Dave Small, Mason Smith, Chris Schneider, Nick Dennis, Mike Miller, Robin Mortenson, Tony Shintani.

Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature (15 laps) Kyle Rothwell, Tony Kelly, Tyler Lafantaisie, Jason Coutu, Sam Iftody, Clinton Nicholls, Jay Moulton, Jeff Hill, Alex Riley, Vincent Pagnotta, Garnet Wilson, Jeremy Smith Olivier Larocque, Mike Giberson, Kyle Miller, Trevor Want, Cole Hardy, Austyn Werstroh, Kourtney Kocarik, Brian Teeple, Gregg Lounsbury, Gary Hodason, Tom Neale, Mike Sadusek.

Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Feature (20 laps) Josh Sliter, Chris Watson, Rob Misener, Steven Beckett, RJ Pietz, Shawn Sliter, Marty deMoel, Tyler Winger, Dillan Sliter, Ray Sliter Jr., Craig Martin, Ryleigh Sliter.

Yager Bros Trucking Novice Sportsman Feature (10 laps) Chris Watters, John Babion, Joey Herremans, Trevor Wright, Tom Richau, Sean Dominey.

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, St. Catharines Discount Auto Parts and RCM Racing Equipment.