Merrittville Speedway: August 23 2009 Report

From Jim Irvine // Merrittville Speedway Public Relations

Thorold, Ontario (August 23) The string of first time winners at Merrittville Speedway continued August 22nd with rookie Mike Bowman winning his first L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature. Brad Sheehan was another first time winner as well in the Hoosier Stock Division.

The Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series program presented by the Pen Centre featured the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders in their final Triple Crown Event of the Season and while Aaron Wiley won the 20 lap event – Matt Deschamps took home the Series Title.

Brad Rouse won the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature while Shawn Sliter won the Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Feature.

Ken Winnfield was first to lead the 35 lap L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature before Rob Pietz took control with caution slowing the field with one lap complete.

Wayne Conn – also running in the lead pack climbed Pietz’ right rear tire which sent his Andrew Sittler-owned 37S into a wheel stand in turn 4.

Pietz again set the pace on the restart until Mike Bowman became the new leader in turn 2 of lap 2. By lap 11 Bowman was into lap traffic – but the top three including Fred Carleton and Chris Steele weren’t slowed.

On a lap 13 restart Steele became the new leader with Bowman back out in front on lap 14. A multi-car incident on lap 16 eased a see saw battle between the two front-runners with Steele in control on the restart.

Steele quickly pulled away to a comfortable lead but into lap traffic once again – Bowman and Carleton began to close in.

A lap 29 caution would find Steele having to go high to avoid the stranded car – but in doing so – the former karter lost momentum and lost a couple positions unfortunately after not maintaining his speed.

Bowman was back out in front until one final caution on lap 32 set up a three lap dash to the finish.

Bowman ran to a 5 car length advantage at starter Doug Leonard’s double checkered flags with Fred Carleton second. Pete Bicknell and Larry Lampman made last race charges to take 3rd and 4th while Tim Jones was 5th.

“This new car worked awesome tonight,” revealed defending Sportsman Point Champion and 2009 Modified Rookie Mike Bowman in Victory Lane, “we struggled with it last week … we just couldn’t get a break and tonight we’re here.”

The 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature began with Pat Thompson and Andrew Iker on the front row with neither having control until Thompson eventually took control of  top spot.

With racing through the pack three and four wide and at times five wide – an early caution found Thompson back in control before Kevin Knapp took over the lead.

Knapp was soon challenged by Brad Sheehan with Sheehan the new leader out of turn 4 to complete lap 5.

Rob Murray and Ken Sargent soon took over second and third with Al Sleight and Knapp rounding out the top 5. The leaders soon jumped out to a 15 car lead on the pack.

Murray was reeling in his step son Sheehan with the two running identical lines.

Sheehan’s line though kept him out front to the checkered flag with Sargent and Sleight closing on the two front-runners at the finish. Billy Bleich made a late race charge to take fifth.

After a celebratory donut in the infield in turn 4 Sheehan informed, “I got out to the early lead which surprised me … I didn’t know how fast to go … I didn’t know where anyone was behind me – I took it smooth  and here I am.”

The start of the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Triple Crown 20 lap Finale saw an all Wiley front row after the husband and wife race team of Aaron and Jocelynne won their heats.

Jocelynne was first to lead before Aaron took over top spot along the backstretch.

Although Jocelynne stayed glued to her husband’s car – Rob Overholt eventually took over the runner-up spot. With the two racing for position – Aaron Wiley was able to open up a comfortable lead on the field.

By lap 8 Wiley was into lap traffic with Matt Deschamps now into the show spot.

With the leaders battling the slower cars sometimes 3 wide – Overholt soon was able to close in on the leader.

With two laps to go – the top three were within 4 car lengths of each other but through to the finish – Wiley managed to pull away slightly.

“I’ve won the Triple Crown a couple years in a row,” remarked a relieved Aaron Wiley in Victory Lane, adding, “ but this year … it’s been my nemesis … everything that could go wrong has gone wrong this year … until tonight.”

Wiley was followed by Overholt and Deschamps while Jocelynne settled for fourth. Garnet Wilson rounded out the top 5.

Brad Rouse found himself out front of the 25 lap Sportsman Feature after an early incident between leaders Richard Farraway and Robbie Rounce found both drivers pitside for the night.

Rouse set the pace on the restart but quickly Brandon Easey was in control. Easey, Rouse and BJ Willard as the top three began to pull away from the field. Soon Willard and Rouse were battling for the runner-up spot with Willard taking over the lead on lap 7.

A lap 13 caution found Willard in control once again with Rouse now challenging to take back top spot.

Rouse took control of the lead on lap 15 and as the laps wound down – the two were involved in quite a see saw battle with the pair eventually side by side.

Rouse clearly had an advantage as leader on lap 18 but in the closing laps Willard closed in back in.  The lead was back and forth and on the last lap Willard gave it one last try.

The margin of victory for Rouse at the finish was almost too close to call but the Lucas Oil Live Leaderboard had Rouse out front – by a mere 4 one hundredths of a second.

“I was driving like a rookie at times,” confessed Rouse in Victory Lane, “I didn’t hit the cushion right each time … it almost hurt me – the car was fast though … we’ve done a lot of work on this thing the last couple of weeks – we’ll just have to see where we are with it next week.”

Greg Panunte, Chad Chevalier and Jim Johnstone finished out the top 5.

Bob Bredin set the pace at the start of the Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Feature before the new leader was Kory Howe with the pace brought to a stop with one lap in the books after former champion Wally Billing gently rolled his car in turn 2.

Howe again set the pace on the restart before Shawn Sliter took control along the backstretch.

With Sliter opening up a good lead on the field in his nephew’s borrowed car – Paul Klager and Adam Leslie were both on their way to the front – with the two second and third before the half-way point.

Despite enjoying a good lead at the half-way point, Sliter would come up upon slower cars. By lap 14 increasing lap traffic allowed Klager to close in with two laps to go.

Sliter drove the unfamiliar car to a car length lead at the checkered flag with Klager and Leslie as the top 3. Jamie Gilbert and Kory Howe closed out the top 5.

While the field was getting the checkered flag, Adam Murphy came to a stop in turn 4 with flames pouring out from under his car after an oil line let go.

“I found my motor making a little noise,” revealed Shawn Sliter, “I might have bent a valve … this car is fast however … I’ll drive this car anytime … thanks to my brother Ray and Josh.”

Merrittville Speedway Inside Track Motorsport News Pit Notes: The flags were again at half mast in memory of Gene Austin who passed away August 19th. Austin was a former driver in the 50’s and 60’s and since the first Nostalgia Night in 1991 was a fixture at each one since.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Ball Hockey International presents Minor Sport Night – Saturday August 29th assisted by the Niagara Ice Dogs featuring the final round of the King of the Crates Sportsman Series powered by Niagara Motors in addition to regular events for all Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions – the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds, Hoosier Stocks, Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites and Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders.

Gates open at 5:30. Showtime is 7:00. For further info call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.