Merrittville Speedway: Holiday Doubleheader this weekend

Thorold, Ontario - The first holiday doubleheader of 2009 is coming up quickly on Merrittville Speedway’s 58th Anniversary Schedule. When the gates open for the Seaway Mall Rankin Cancer Run Night – Saturday May 16th – the schedule that race fans and race teams saw for the first time at the Race Car Show at the Niagara Street Shopping Destination in Welland has changed due to delayed events from the 2nd Annual Spring Sizzler April 25th.

With the BRP Can Am Late Models in the spotlight in their only 2009 visit, the Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites will also be featured with their regularly scheduled event in addition to the delayed 25 lap Stars North Mod Lite Tour. Adding to the show will be three Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions – the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks and the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders.

The L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds will be preparing for their Monday Night Madness Event hosted by Zavitz Financial Strategies and Employee Benefits that has it’s schedule changed too. In addition to the start of the 2009 Lucas Oil Shoot Out by dirttrackdigest.com – the rain-delayed $ 4000.00 To WIN 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series Event  from April 25th will join the May 18th Card for Twin 50 lap Events.

The Saturday and Monday events will provide a full menu of great racing action.

“Race fans will sure get their racing fixes over the Holiday Weekend,” relates (Merrittville GM) Erica Bicknell, “with the original schedule … and what we have had to add … it will be quite a doubleheader with some must see events both nights!”

Merrittville Speedway made a return to the Seaway Mall in March leading up to the 2009 Season and one car on display that drew lots of attention was the BRP Can Am Late Model of former Merrittville Pro Stock star Rick Baker.

Baker is expected to be in the field when the 2009 BRP Can Am Late Model Series opens at Merrittville after a recent non-point event at the Black Rock Speedway that saw rookie Greg Galligan in Victory Lane when all is said and done - a new river that calls the Woodhull (NY) Speedway home.

Galligan almost did not go to Black Rock.

After the victory lane celebration Galligan shared, “Our new car is still under construction at Close (Racing Supply). When we learned it would not be ready we thought we would simply wait for the Woodhull opener (April 18th). Charles (McGregor) and his guys rolled the old 1* car out of the trailer earlier in the week and here we are. What a way to start. We have the entire team excited about the new season.”

The BRP Cam Am Late Models should provide some excitement at Merrittville Speedway May 16th as Galligan is one of some 13 other drivers that have registered for the Tour’s Absolute Powder Coating Rookie of the Year honours.

The Late Model special event will feature a star studded field of the region’s pilots from Black Rock, Genesee, Little Valley, McKean County, and Woodhull.

Complete BRP CanAm Series information at www.BRPCanAmSeries.com.

Another race car featured at the Seaway Mall promotion was the Seaway Mall-sponsored 8M Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Car of Joey Mastroianni. The Welland native embarking ion his first full season in recent years – will be looking for top finishes in each event.

The Seaway Mall - located at 800 Niagara Street features over 120 friendly stores and services and offers free wireless internet throughout the mall.

The Seaway Mall is open Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 9 PM, Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Sundays from 12 to 5 PM. Shoppers can also visit the Seaway Mall on line at www.seawaymall.com. 

When the gates open May 16th, representatives from the Rankin Cancer Run will be set up with information on the 4th Annual Event set for May 23rd. The Rankin Cancer Run is all for Niagara. Every single dollar raised by the Rankin Cancer Run helps local cancer patients  - get involved, have fun and make a difference right here in our community. The Rankin Cancer Run is a 1K 5K Walk /Run that starts from the Grantham Lions Park and will take you through the Port Weller area of St. Catharines including the picturesque canal pathway system. For further information or to make an online donation visit  www.rankincancerrun.com.

Many of Merrittville Speedway’s Officials and fans will participate in the event as well as drivers. Merrittville Speedway’s Seaway Mall Rankin Cancer Run Night begins when the gates open at 5:30. Showtime is 7:00. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit merrittvillespeedway.com.

From Jim Irvine, with files from  Gary Montgomery