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LINDBERG SWEEPS DOUBLE FEATURES ON EXCLUSIVE IMPRINT NIGHT

THOROLD, Ontario (July 27th, 2024) … A beautiful night in late July set the backdrop to two performances that were nearly as smooth as Merrittville Speedway’s racing surface Saturday night. Ridgeway, Ontario’s Gary Lindberg swept Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified features, including the race that as a make-up from July 6th. In the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman, Cody McPherson of St. Catharines, ON made it 9 feature wins on the year at Canada’s Oldest Dirt Track. Hagersville, On native picked up the win in the Hoosier Stock feature and Brent Begolo of Thorold, ON took home the top spot in the Rona Doidge Building Centres Modified Lites. Race fans and crew members alike were also winners as Exclusive Imprint and the Jacket Cellar gave away t-shirts and added $100 bonuses randomly to one driver in each division.

The first Commercial Auto Electric 358 modified feature began with Dylan Davidson and Chad Brachmann on the front row. Cautions fell early and frequently affecting the race's flow in the opening laps. After a caution on lap six for Todd Gordon spinning, a stretch of green flag laps allowed Gary Lindberg to start working his way forward through the field. Using the high groove, Lindberg was able to wrestle the lead away from Dylan Davidson. A caution on lap 23 for Jacob Dykstra spinning and stopping set up a 12-lap dash to the checkered flag. Chad Brachmann was able to work his way up inside the top 3, but ultimately came up one position short and was second to Lindberg. Davidson would finish third with James Friesen fourth and Shayne Pierce fifth.

Martin Polhill and Scott Wood started on the front row for the second Commercial Auto Electric 358 modified feature. The race's first caution came out on lap eight when Darrell Farraway made contact with Chad Brachmann spinning the Three car around. Scott Wood led them back to green before another caution involving three cars came at lap 16. Shayne Pierce now controlled the restart but was run down under green by Gary Lindberg. The two battled side by side for several laps until a caution at lap 24 when Todd Gordon came to a stop under green. Another quick yellow on lap 25 set up a 10-lap dash to the finish, where Gary Lindberg would be untouchable in clean racetrack. He swept the night for the Modifieds making it three wins in a row in the division. Pierce would settle for second with Pete Bicknell third, Wood fourth and Justin Sharp finishing in the fifth spot.

The Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman began with Kyle Rothwell and Daniel McKay out front with Rothwell jumping out to an early advantage. Adam Leslie who started sixth was able to run down Rothwell and assumed control of the race before caution at lap seven. After the race returned to green, Cody McPherson began to run down Leslie for the top spot. Catching him was one thing, however passing proved to be an incredibly tough task for McPherson. Leslie and McPherson spent over 7 laps running side by side for the top spot in the race before McPherson was ultimately able to clear to the lead with two laps to go and pick up the win for the ninth time in 2024 at Merrittville. Leslie would settle for second while Rothwell finished a career best third, Noah Mamo and Jeff Panunte rounded out the top five.

Rob Murray and Chris Crowe led the field to green for the Hoosier stocks, with Kyle Pelrine who started fourth getting out to an early lead. On a restart at lap seven, Murray turned Pelrine in the first corner resulting in another restart. The drivers would tangle again later leading to cautions on lap 10 and lap 11. After the lap 11 incident, Murray retaliated under yellow and was disqualified, Pelrine would continue on to finish sixth. Meanwhile at the front of the field, it was Dave Bailey finding the top spot, leading all nine remaining green flag laps, and picking up the win, his third on the season. Mark Fawcett crossed the line in second but was ultimately disqualified for failing post-race tech, moving Pete Reid up to second. Zach Bleich, Jim Lampman and Chris Crowe completed the top five.

The Rona Doidge Modified Lites began with Chance Kotar and Ryan Anderson starting up front. Greg Zack got out to an early lead before a caution at lap five for Tyler Colbert spinning in turn 4. Colbert would spin again on lap seven, and on lap eight multiple cars ping-ponged together in turn 2 on the restart bringing Tyler Winger to a halt on the back stretch. One lap later, Winger’s bad luck continued when Anthony Kelly spun in front of him on the restart resulting in hard hits for both drivers. On lap 14, Brent Begolo took the lead of the race, however a caution on lap 18 for Tyler Colbert hitting the outside wall off turn 4 set up a two-lap dash to the checkered. Begolo was able to hold off Greg Zack and the late charge from Josh Sliter to pick up yet another win in his quest to defend the Mod Lite championship. Josh Sliter came home second with Ryan Anderson third, Greg Zack finished fourth, and RJ Pietz finished in the fifth spot.

Next week, it's a doubleheader weekend at Merrittville Speedway, as Niagara Employment Help Centre presents Bobcat of Hamilton weekly racing on Saturday August 3rd. On Monday August 5th, Baron Roofing presents the 3rd annual Canadian Grand Nationals where one lucky fan will win $1000 and one child will win 1000 pieces of candy. Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Rona Doidge Mod Lites and van sickle pet value/ PV on the Lane 4 cylinders will all be in attendance. Pit Gates will open at 5pm, with grandstands opening at 5:30pm, and racing will get underway at 7pm. For more information, visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com and can follow the action on My Race Pass.

Follow Merrittville on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and now on Instagram (@merrittvillespeedway). For results, point standings, and more, check out www.merrittvillespeedway.com

RACE RESULTS –- July 27th, 2024.

Commercial Auto Electric 358 – GARY LINDBERG (6), Shayne Pierce, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Justin Sharp, Fred Carleton, Brad Rouse, James Friesen, Jay Mallory, Chad Brachmann, Darrell Farraway, Dylan Davidson, Trevor Wright, Luke Carleton, Nelson Mason, Paul Gaboury, Todd Gordon, Derek VanMil, Brian Page, Kyle Richner, Ken Winfield, Bill Gill, Jacob Dykstra, Martin Polhill, Tommy Flannigan

Commercial Auto Electric 358 (July 6th) – GARY LINDBERG (5), Chad Brachmann, Dylan Davidson, James Friesen, Shayne Pierce, Pete Bicknell, Justin Sharp, Brad Rouse, Luke Carleton, Scott Wood, Paul Gaboury, Martin Polhill, Todd Gordon, Nelson Mason, Darrell Farraway, Jay Mallory, Trevor Wright, Kyle Richner, Ken Winfield, Jacob Dykstra, Derek VanMil, Brian Page, Fred Carleton, Tommy Flannigan, Bill Gill, Billy Bleich Jr.

Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman - CODY MCPHERSON (9), Adam Leslie Kyle Rothwell, Noah Mamo, Jeff Panunte, Matt Sharpe, Taylor Vanderzanden, Jacob Chevalier, Tyler Puchalski, Mitch Dumont, Nigel Pendykoski, Matteo Panunte, Curtis Friesen, Dylan Kirkland, Billy Bleich Jr., Daniel McKay, Wayne Swinson, Graeme Toth, Nathan Peattie, Tyler Lafantaise, Doug Walsh Jr., Matthew Jessome, Elijah Knutt

Heat Winners – Daniel McKay, Jeff Panunte, Cody McPherson

Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY (3), Pete Reid, Zach Bleich, Jim Lampman, Chris Crowe, Kyle Pelrine, Dustin Duga, Kyle Haynes, Kevin Kocarik, Jason Fontaine, Gofast Teeple, Rob Disher, (DQ) Mark Fawcett, (DQ) Rob Murray

Heat Winners – Dave Bailey, Rob Murray

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – BRENT BEGOLO (3), Josh Sliter, Ryan Anderson, Greg Zack, R.J. Pietz, Leroy Buscumb, Sean Iftody, Jamie Gilbert, Chris Watson, Evan Leonard, Chance Kotar, Cole Hardy, Dave Cornish, Ryleigh Sliter, Roger Pardis, Tyler Colbert, Ashton Anderson, Anthony Kelly, Tyler Winger, Cohen Corbett, (DNS) Dan Kviring

Heat Winners – Tyler Winger, Evan Leonard, Chance Kotar

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