By: Jim Irvine/Merrittville Speedway
July 25 2016
Watson, Iftody, Sharp And Steele Win First Features Of 2016
Thorold, Ontario – Hingston Metal Fabricators hosted Double Features for all 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions with some familiar faces visiting Victory Lane and some new ones as Chris Watson of Niagara Falls won his first career Feature in the regularly scheduled Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Division Event. Rain delayed from July 9th, Sam Iftody of Fenwick was the first winner of the 10 Feature Night – winning his first career Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder Feature.
Justin Sharp of St. Catharines won the 30 lap David Chevrolet King of the Crates Series Event for the Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Division. Chris Steele, also of St. Catharines won his first feature for his new car owner Randy Slack of Caledonia in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Division.
Steele’s win came in the rain-delayed 35 lap Feature from July 9th’s D&L Small Engines Night while in the regularly scheduled event – Gary Lindberg of Ridgeway took home his second of his rookie season in the premier division.
Josh Sliter also of Ridgeway won his 4th Feature of the season in the Modified Lite Division while Stevensville’s Pete Reid made it 4 straight wins in the Hoosier Stock Division.
Rounding out the winners were Rob Knapp of Niagara Falls who won his second Sportsman Feature of the season while Kyle Rothwell of Welland took home his third win of 2016 in the 4 Cylinder Division.
“Every time by the score clock … I could see that Josh (Sliter) was behind me,” said former Kart Racer Chris Watson after his first Modified Lite Win, “I had to remind myself to stick to the bottom – no one is getting by me tonight.”
Watson who still attends Tuesday Night Kart Racing although as an official was first to lead but without a lap complete an early caution resulted in a complete restart. Watson again tried to take the field back to green but a second caution slowed the field once again.
The third try had Watson out front once again and by lap 3 was being pressured by Derek Wagner – a challenge that was slowed by caution.
Watson again set the pace with Wagner and Josh Sliter as the top 3. Just as the leaders came into lap traffic both Wagner and Shawn Sliter dropped from Top 5 positions.
Watson again the pace on the restart in the event which was shortened to 15 laps due to the numerous cautions.
Watson and Sliter were followed by Steven Beckett, Rob Misener and Marty deMoel.
“She’s my crew chief – I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without her,” said first time 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Sam Iftody of Tammy Cross.
Former Karter Kyle Miller was first to lead the 15 lap rain-delayed event and right from the drop of the green there was plenty of two and three wide racing through the field. Early on Miller was being challenged by another former Tuesday Night racer Kourtney Kocarik and Iftody. Shortly after Iftody became the new leader – the pace would be slowed.
Iftody would resume control of top spot on the restart with yet another former kart racer – Vincent Pagnotta taking over the runner up spot. By the time the leaders raced into lap traffic in the closing stages – the top 3 would be separated by similar margins.
At the finish, Iftody and Pagnotta were followed by Jason Coutu, Jeremy Smith and Kyle Rothwell
“The car was good all night … we had a shot at winning both events … but not quite,” said Justin Sharp after the regular scheduled feature as each division’s Victory Lane ceremonies were held together.
Brent Begolo was first to lead the rain delayed 30 lap David Chevrolet King of the Crates Series Event # 2 and right away faced a challenge from Joey Mastroianni. An early caution would slow the field with Begolo back out front after the restart.
Now in the runner up spot was Chad Chevalier with Brad Rouse third.
Begolo would soon lead the field into slower cars and as it got heavier – Chevalier would close in on the leader. About halfway through Chevalier would take over top spot until disaster would strike after getting hooked with Tom Richau causing both drivers to spin out.
Begolo would regain the lead on the restart with Rouse and Justin Sharp now as the top 3. Caution would slow the pace about lap 24 after several drivers were in need of assistance. One of those was Brad Rouse who would retire to the pits.
Begolo would lead the field back to green but the next lap – Sharp was the new leader. One final caution would test Sharp but at the finish it was Sharp and Begolo followed by Cody McPherson, Charlie Lynch and Jay Mallory.
“Randy and Bob (Slack) both put their heart and soul into this car,” said first time 2016 358 Modified Winner Chris Steele after winning the rain delayed feature,”I can’t thank them enough … I’m thrilled to put it in Victory Lane for them.”
Phil Vigneri was first to lead but was quickly challenging for top spot was Todd Gordon. Vigneri kept the advantage until a lap 3 caution slowed the field for the first time.
Vigneri resumed control of top spot on the restart until lap 4 when Todd Gordon became the new leader out of Turn 4. Vigneri would battle back but Gordon would soon open up a lead of a couple car lengths. Chris Steele now in second would take over the runner up spot with Mike Bowman following into third by lap 12.
Down the backstretch of lap 14, Steele would become the new leader. By halfway Steele would drive away from the field by almost a straightaway – a gap that Mike Bowman would narrow considerably by lap 21.
From the 10 to go mark and beyond, Steele would reopen a comfortable lead on Bowman who was being pressured by Ryan Susice by lap 30.
Chris Steele would run to his first Checkered Flag of the season with Ryan Susice who earlier in the night was named the latest Archer Truck Services Driver of the Week overtaking Mike Bowman in the final lap with Gary Lindberg and Tyler McPherson rounding out the top 5.
Scott Wood crossed the start finish line first to start the second feature before Mark D’Ilario took control the first time down the backstretch. Fred Carleton would take over second spot eventually landing in top spot by lap 5.
Down the front stretch of lap 6, D’Ilario was back out front and by lap 10 the margin between the top 3 of D’Ilario, Carleton and Phil Vigneri was about 20 car lengths until caution slowed the pace on lap 13.
Carleton was the new leader on the restart with D’Ilario keeping pace and resuming the lead on lap 15. By the halfway point D’Ilario opened up a 10 car lead on Carleton with Gary Lindberg and Pete Bicknell closing in on Carleton,
With 10 to go Gary Lindberg was on the move taking over second spot. Within a few laps Lindberg was the new leader
Caution on lap 33 would set up a two lap dash to the checkered flag with the return to action delayed by a false start. Lindberg resumed top spot on the restart with Erick Rudolph making a late race charge to take the runner up spot. D’Ilario would settle for third with Bicknell and Carleton as the top 5.
The rain delayed Feature for the Modified Lites had former karter Tyler Winger in control at the drop of the green flag until an early caution slowed the rookie’s pace. Winger regained control of top spot on the restart but down the back stretch – the new leader was Josh Sliter.
Just before a second caution, Winger would be challenged by veterans Paul Klager and Derek Wagner allowing Sliter to drive off to a comfortable lead.
At the finish Sliter was followed by Klager and Wagner with a great 4th place finish for Winger. Rob Misener finished 5th.
At the start of the rain delayed Hoosier Stock Feature it was Jim Lampman in control but not until the first time into Turn 1. Back in the pack the action was two and three wide until a red flag on lap 2 after Robin Mortensen made heavy contact with the Turn 4 wall. The driver was able to drive away from the scene.
With Lampman back out front, Pete Reid was soon in the runner up spot and challenging the leader.
By lap 5, Lampman and Reid pulled away from the field with Chris Crawford and Dave Bailey making strong runs to catch up to the two. Reid would take over top spot on lap 13. A lap 15 caution would find Reid out front once again.
At the finish Reid was followed by Dave Bailey who made a late race charge to take the runner up spot from Lampman. Crawford and Mark Fawcett would round out the Top 5.
Bill Bleich Jr outraced fellow front row starter Jack Myers to the green flag until a caution slowed the field on lap 2. Bleich again set the pace on the restart. Pete Reid who started 10th raced into third by lap 5 behind then runner up Jim Lampman and the leader Bleich.
By lap 8, Reid was in the runner up spot.
Between Turn 1 and 2 of lap 10 Reid took over top spot until his run was slowed on lap 11 for caution.
Reid resumed the lead with Lampman quickly taking over the runner up spot. Caution on lap 15 had Reid back out front once racing resumed. On the move just before a lap 17 caution was Chris Crawford who took second from Lampman.
Reid jumped out front once again and in the 3 lap dash to the checkered flag drove away from the battle for second between Crawford and Lampman. Billy Bleich and Mark Fawcett would close out the Top 5.
The regularly scheduled 25 lap Feature for the Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Division had Rob Knapp in control of top spot - leading the field into Turn 1 the first time. Caution would slow the field on lap 3 with Knapp in control once again on the restart.
By a lap 11 caution, Knapp’s lead of almost a straightaway on the field went away.
Knapp was in control once again on the restart with Jay Mallory ahead of a battle for third between Justin Sharp and Brent Begolo.
By lap 15, Knapp’s lead was almost a ¼ lap over Mallory and Sharp. In lap traffic the final 5 laps, Knapp wasn’t slowed maintaining his lead over Jay Mallory. Begolo battling back to take third. Brad Rouse made a late race charge to take 4th spot in the Chris Storm back up 174 with Sharp 5th.
Three wide at the start of the second 15 lap Feature for the 4 Cylinders saw Jay Moulton land in top spot until a caution slowed the pace on lap 1. Moulton would be put back two spots for jumping the original start
Kyle Miller was the new leader on the restart until Moulton regained top down the backstretch of lap 2 with the pace slowed once again the next lap. Moulton would set the pace on the restart with Tyler Lafantaisie quickly taking over the runner up spot.
Lafantaisie and Kyle Rothwell would close in on Moulton and by lap 7, Lafantaisie was the new leader. Twisted Metal Racing team-mates Lafantaisie and Rothwell ran side by side for a number of laps with Rothwell having a slight edge to start lap 10.
Caution would slow the field with Rothwell was back out front on the restart with the return to racing delayed quickly for cautions on two occasions.
Rothwell resumed control of top spot on the restart and through to the finish. Tyler Lafantaisie, Jay Moulton, Tony Kelly and Kyle Miller were the Top 5.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Merrittville Speedway’s Annual Civic Holiday Doubleheader kicks off Saturday July 30th with Tim Hortons hosting the 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Modified Lites and the final Ballhockey.com Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College.
Grandstand open at 5:30 and Show Time is 7:00.
Monday August 1st, L. St. Amand Enterprises and St. Amand Auto and Truck Repair present the 7th Annual Bob St. Amand Senior Memorial featuring the 100 lap Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series Main Event.
Joining the special Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event are the Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks and 4 Cylinders.
The Grandstands and Pit Gates will open at 4:00 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
Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder # 1 (15 laps) Sam Iftody, Vincent Pagnotta, Jason Coutu, Jeremy Smith, Kyle Rothwell, Kourtney Kocarik, Cole Hardy, Garnet Wilson, Tyler Lafantaisie, Tony Kelly, Kyle Miller, Mike Sadusek, Jay Moulton, Alex Riley, Trevor Want, Clinton Nicholls, Brian Teeple, Austyn Werstroh, Gary Hodasun, Gregg Lounsbury, Mike Giberson.
Van Raine Construction 4 Cylinder # 1 (15 laps) Kyle Rothwell, Tyler Lafantaisie, Jay Moulton, Tony Kelly, Kyle Miller, Vincent Pagnotta, Sam Iftody, Tom Neale, Cole Hardy, Brian Teeple, David Silverthorne Jr., Jeremy Smith, Garnet Wilson, Alex Riley, Gary Hodasun, Kourtney Kocarik, Austyn Werstroh, Trevor Want, Jason Coutu, Chris Laskey, Mike Sadusek, Clinton Nicholls, Gregg Lounsbury.
Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Feature # 1 (20 laps) Josh Sliter, Paul Klager, Derek Wagner, Tyler Winger, Rob Misener, Chris Watson, RJ Pietz, Marty deMoel, Steven Beckett, Ray Sliter Jr., Ryleigh Sliter, Jeffrey May, Evan Leonard, Craig Martin.
Rev’s Full Throttle Powersports Modified Lite Feature # 2 (15 laps) Chris Watson, Josh Sliter, Steven Beckett, Rob Misener, Marty deMoel, Tyler Winger, RJ Pietz, Ray Sliter Jr., Ryleigh Sliter, Evan Leonard, Derek Wagner, Paul Klager, Jeffrey May, Shawn Sliter.
Hoosier Stock Feature # 1 (20 laps) Pete Reid, Dave Bailey, Jim Lampman, Chris Crawford, Mark Fawcett, Kyle Pelrine, Jack Myers, C hris Schneider, Tanner Podwinski, Billy Bleich Jr., Steve Shaw, James Marr, Robin Mortensen.
Hoosier Stock Feature # 2 (20 laps) Pete Reid, Jim Lampman, Chris Crawford, Billy Bleich, Mark Fawcett, Dave Bailey, Jason Fontaine, Kyle Pelrine, Jack Myers, Steve Shaw, Chris Schneider, Nick Dennis, Tanner Podwinski, James Marr, Brad Sheehan, Dave Small, Robin Mortensen.
Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman David Chevrolet King of the Crates Series # 2 (30 laps) Justin Sharp, Brent Begolo, Cody McPherson, Charlie Lynch, Jay Mallory, Paul Gaboury, Darrell Farraway, Joey Mastroianni, Rob Knapp, Mark Chiddy, Chris Watters, Tom Richau, Joey Herremans, Sean Dominey, Jesse Penner, John Babion, Brad Rouse, Chris B ellamy, Chad Chevalier, Luke Carleton, Dylan Davidson, Dave DiPietro.
Yager Bros Trucking Sportsman Feature (25 laps) Rob Knapp, Jay Malloy, Brent Begolo, Brad Rouse, Justin Sharp, Chad Chevalier, Paul Gaboury, Cody McPherson, Darrell Farraway, Joey Mastroianni, Luke Carleton, Tom Richau, Chris Watters, Chris Storm, Joey Herremans, Dave DiPetro, John Babion, Derek VanMil, Sean Dominey, Chris Bellamy, Mark Chiddy, Charlie Lynch, Jesse Penner.
Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature # 1 (35 laps) Chris Steele, Ryan Susice, Mike Bowman, Gary Lindberg, Tyler McPherson, Wayne Conn, Chad Brachmann, Mark D’Ilario, Pete Bicknell, Todd Gordon, Phil Vigneri, Tim Jones, Tommy Flannigan, Scott Wood, Fred Carleton.
Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature # 1 (35 laps) Gary Lindberg, Erick Rudolph, Mark D’Ilario, Pete Bicknell, Fred Carleton, Chris Steele, Chad Brachmann, Ryan Susice, Wayne Conn, Tommy Flannigan, Mike Bowman, Tim Jones, Todd Gordon, Shayne Pierce, Brian Paige, Phil Vigneri, Bill Bleich, Scott Wood, Tyler McPherson.
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.