Chrs Steele grabbed the first race in the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning TUSA Modified Lite Championship Weekend Friday night at Merrittville Speedway.

Fawcett, Coutu and Pennachio also beat the storm

Thorold, Ontario – St. Catharines' driver Chris Steele won the first event of the two day J&S Heating and Air Conditioning TUSA Modified Lite Canadian National Championship Weekend Friday September 5th.

In other Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Action, Mark Fawcett of Canfield, took home the victory in the 25 lap Hoosier Stock Feature while Jason Coutu of St. Catharines won the final feature of the season for the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders..

With the Mike Knapp Ford Pro 4 Trucks making their only 2014 appearance,
Sam Pennachio of Niagara Falls won the 15 lap Feature.

Steele – the driver of the S&W Service Centre Cosco Racing owned Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified was in the Dean Pronovost #14 took control of top spot along the backstretch of lap 14 from initial leader Jeff Teeters of West Middlesex, PA.

Steele would be slowed right away on lap 15 and before racing resumed – a multi-car incident back in the pack forced officials to stop the race to clear cars away from the Turn 4 scene.

While this was happening – the wind was picking up ahead of a storm and to ensure safety for everyone ahead of torrential rain and lightning – the race was called official.

Teeters took control at the start and held off early challenges from last year's opening night winner Derek Wagner. Wagner almost met with disaster In the early stages almost making contact with the front stretch wall but only lost one spot.

By lap 12 Steele was able to get by Wagner for 2nd and quickly closed in on Teeters.

Steele and Teeters were followed by Jimmy May, Derek Wagner and Levi Spinneweber.

J&S Heating and Air Conditioning TUSA Modified Lite Canadian National Qualifying Heats powered by Rev's Full Throttle Powersports Winners Jim Bogett, Jimmy May, Mark Marcucci and Jeff Teeters while Jesse Hudson won the Consolation.

Fresh off his first Hoosier Stock Championship, Mark Fawcett was first to lead the 25 lap Hoosier Stock Feature with Jason Fontaine and Peter Reid settling into the top 3 and pulling away slightly from the field.

To the halfway point as Fawcett was coming up on slower cars and opening up a lead ahead of the race for second between Fontaine and Reid. Around lap 18, Reid would get the run he needed and took over the runner-up spot.

Fawcett would maintain a comfortable lead by the checkered flag ahead of Reid, Fontaine, Kevin Knapp and Billy Hogue.

Hooosier Stoc k Qualifying Heat Winners – Mark Fawcett and Jason Fontaine.

Jason Coutu was first to lead the 15 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature with Evan Curtis the new leader out of Turn 4 the first time. Coutu would quickly battle back to regain top spot however.

By lap 5, Coutu would open up a 5 car lead on newly crowned Point Champion Leroy Buscumb before the first caution slowed the pace on lap 6.

Coutu would lead the VWs to the green flag with Rob Goulding in third behind the two frontrunners. Down the backstretch of Lap 8 Buscumb would mount a challenge and took control briefly before Coutu once again regained the lead.

Lap 11 would see Buscumb retire to the pits with some smoke pouring out of his car with Coutu off to a ¼ lap lead by the checkered flag.

Coutu would be followed by Curtis, Goulding, Mike Sadusek and Sam Iftody.

Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Qualifying Heat Winner - Jason Coutu

7 time 2014 Humberstone Speedway Feature Winner Sam Pennachio of Niagara Falls made an impressive run to win the 15 lap Feature for the Mike Knapp Ford Pro 4 Trucks by about a half lap margin.

Pennachio took the lead from initial leader Terry Ronning the first time through Turn 2.

Eventually the race long battle for the runner-up spot behind Andy Imbeault and Colton Ledingham may have allowed Pennachio to drive away from the field.

Pennachio was followed by Imbeault, Ledingham, Adam Nicholls and Jeff Aube.

Mike Knapp Ford Pro 4 Truck Qualifying Heat Winner - Terry Ronning

Drivers that had registered for the BallHockey.com Enduro Heats accelerated by Niagara College will have their events joining the schedule Sunday September 7th.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

The J&S Heating and Air Conditioning TUSA Canadian National Modified Lite Championship Weekend continues Saturday September 6th with Night 2 featuring the 25 lap Modified Lite Finale ... a 50 lap Super DIRTcar Series Event for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman and a 50 lap $1,000 to Win Duel on the Dirt Big 6 Series Event for the Hoosier Stocks.

Gates Open at 5:30 PM. Show Time is at 7:00.

For further information on either event - call the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.For directions to Merrittville Speedway click on www.merrittvillespeedway.com/track_map

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway's 63rd Consecutive Season in 2014 – 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)

J&S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING TUSA CANADIAN MODIFIED LITE CHAMPIONSHIP POWERED BY REV'S FULL THROTTLE POWERSPORTS EVENT NIGHT 1 (15 laps) Chris Steele, Jeff Teeters, Jimmy May, Derek Wagner, Levi Spinnewebber, Josh May, Jamie Gilbert, Paul Klager, Jeffrey May, Justin Williams, Joe Garafalo, Rick Demo, Rod Jones, Josh Sliter, Mark Marcucci, Doug Williams, Jim Bogett, Jason Darocha, Lowell Zehr, Matthew Robinson, Chris Watson, Rob Misener, Jesse Hudson, Evan Leonard. DNQ - Kenny Meadows, Jeff Sykes, Gary Jeffries, Dylan Davidson, Matt Hay, David Brown, RJ Pietz. .

HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE (25 laps) Mark Fawcett, Peter Reid, Jason Fontaine, Kevin Knapp, Billy Hogue, Chris Crawford, Kyle Pelrine, Mike Green, Jason McCroy, Marcel Michaud, Dave Small, Shawn Gregory, Robert Disher.

TURN 4 COLLISION 4 CYLINDER FEATURE (15 laps) Jason Coutu, Evan Curtis, Rob Goulding, Mike Sadusek, Sam Iftody, Kyle Haynes, Jeremy Smith, Gabriel Attallah, Leroy Buscumb, Chris Shepherd.

PRO 4 TRUCK FEATURE (15 laps) Sam Pennachio, Andy Imbeault, Colton Ledingham, Adam Nicholls, Jeff Aube, Taylor Vanderzanden, Terry Ronning, Danny Wurster, Craig Vlasic, Mike Toovey..

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions with local heroes and up and coming new stars. Make your plans ... call your friends and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to home!

Your Local Dirt Track is where it's at!

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2013 62nd Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway's 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Bobcat of Hamilton, Rick's Delivery, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision 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 is one the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives. Through innovative product research and development along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.

Look for Lucas Oil Products at your favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including B&C Truck Centre, Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage