7/23/2023
Merrittville Speedway
CAUTION FILLED NIGHT CAPPED OFF BY CARLETON TRIUMPH
THOROLD, ONTARIO (July 22nd, 2023) … After a week off due to weather, Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing returned to Merrittville Speedway Saturday Night for Fastek presentation of the Retro Race Memorabilia night. Luke Carleton of Port Colborne, Ontario captured the flag in the Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modified’s. Nelson Mason of Niagara Falls, Ontario won the feature race for the Right Choice Auto and Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman. Hagersville, Ontario’s Dave Bailey won in the Hoosier Stocks while Port Colborne, Ontario’s Josh Sliter won in the Rona Doidge Building Centres Modified Lites. Austyn Werstroh of Niagara On The Lake, Ontario opened the night in victory lane for the Vansickle PetValu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders.
The Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modified’s capped off a wild night of racing with a relatively tame feature event. Ken Winfield and Darrell Farraway led the field to green. The first yellow of the race came when Todd Gordon came to a stop. Luke Carleton jumped out to the early lead and looked strong on the restart on lap five. Pete Bicknell was trying to drive his way forward when he spun on lap 13 by himself trying to fight to get underneath Fred Carleton for fourth position. Meanwhile, Luke Carleton continued his strong run at the front of the field, holding off Scott Wood and then driving away following the restart. Carleton would secure the victory, which was very emotional as prior to the race the Modified field paid tribute to fallen first responder Gerry Saxton, who’s badge has been on the front of both Luke and Fred Carleton’s cars all season long at Merrittville. Many family, friends and fellow first responders were in attendance as Luke won his first Modified feature since 1993. Wood finished second, with Bicknell rallying to third, Chad Brachmann fourth and Fred Carleton finishing fifth.
Ryan Ferri started from pole for the Right Choice Auto and Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman. He appeared to have a winning car, leading early, and driving away from a hornet’s nest of traffic. Jordan Cosco spent the early part of the race chasing Ferri before Nelson Mason took over second after starting sixth. Mason would catch Ferri and make a daring pass for the lead while Ferri was attempting to lap Jordan Denobriga. On lap 21, Mason had an over three second lead erased by a caution when lap car Bill Gill was tagged by James Friesen. Mason controlled the restart to take his second win of the season at Merrittville. Cody McPherson finished second after a late charge on the restart with four laps to go. Ferri settled for third, with Taylor Vanderzanden and Friesen completing the top five.
Hoosier Stock action began with GoFast Teeple and Donny Lampman on the front row. Cautions were frequent and early as it took only two laps to see the first caution. Dave Bailey took away the lead from Rob Murray before a caution on the races ninth lap. On the restart, Rob Murray and Ryan Dinning came together as the field came through the restart zone to take the green on the front stretch. Into turns three and four, Murray took exception with Dinning, driving through him intentionally ending both his night, while Dinning would continue and finish tenth. Cautions waved with four laps to go and two laps to go, giving the field a single file chance at beating Bailey. However, Bailey would hold on to score his fourth win of the season and ending a relatively quiet stretch of races without a win at Merrittville. Kyle Pelrine, Jason Fontaine, Mark Fawcett, and Ron Loggie completed the top five finishers.
In Rona Doidge Modified Lite action, Brent Begolo was looking to make it six victories in a row. He started one position behind Josh Sliter and the two drivers took advantage of early cautions to work their forward through the top 10. While most of their battles lately have been settled with Begolo making a late race pass to steal a win, Begolo would come up short in his duel with Sliter this week. Sliter scored his third win of the season beating Begolo, Chris Watson, Ryan Anderson, and Sean Iftody.
Dave Winniger and Blair Rousselle lead a field of 28 to green in the Vansickle Pet Valu/PV On The Lane 4 Cylinders. Cautions were early and frequent throughout the race, adding to the pressure on Austyn Werstroh who took the lead early. The red flag was displayed after Mark Deagle had a roll over. Race Med and Track Officials promptly attended to the driver and assisted with getting him out safely under his own power. When the race resumed, Werstroh was tasked with holding off Kyle Rothwell, which he was able to do comfortably, to score his second win of the season. Rothwell came home second with Olivier Larocque, Clinton Barrick and Randy Always completing the top five.
This weekend’s racing action is far from over as Merrittville Speedway hosts Rona Doidge Building Centres Wreck Fest Jr. featuring the 72 lap enduro accelerated by 97.7 HTZ FM., Pit Gates open at 9:00 am while grandstands open at 11:30 am. Racing begins at 1:00 pm. Next Weekend, Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing returns when Exclusive Imprint & The Jacket Cellar presents Christmas in July. Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modified’s, Right Choice Auto & Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Rona Doidge Building Centres Modified Lites and Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders will all be in action. Pit gates will open at 5:00 pm, grandstands open at 5:30, and racing will begin at 7:00 pm.
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RACE RESULTS –- July 23rd, 2023
Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modifieds – LUKE CARLETON, Scott Wood, Pete Bicknell, Chad Brachmann, Fred Carleton, Brad Rouse, Shayne Pierce, Noah Walker, Darrell Farraway, Boyd MacTavish, Todd Gordon, Ken Winfield, Derek VanMil, Dave Flannigan Jr.
Qualifying Heats – Scott Wood, Boyd MacTavish
Right Choice Auto & Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman – NELSON MASON (2), Cody McPherson, Ryan Ferri, Taylor Vanderzanden, James Friesen, Jordan Cosco, Chad Chevalier, Justin Sharp, Jay Mallory, Rob Pietz, Rob Knapp, Billy Bleich Jr., Curtis Friesen, Terry Smith, Matteo Panunte, Tyler Puchalski, Paul Gaboury, Graeme Toth, Daniel McKay, Matt Sharpe, Mitch Dumont, Jordan Denobriga, Bill Gill, Noah Mamo, (DNS) Nathan Peattie
Qualifying Heats – Ryan Ferri, Rob Pietz, Taylor Vanderzanden
Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY (4), Kyle Pelrine, Jason Fontaine, Mark Fawcett, Ron Loggie, Ken Sargent, Kyle Haynes, Donny Lampman, Jim Lampman, Ryan Dinning, Jeff Larmet, Jeff Bean, John Overholt, Zach Bleich, George Grosul, Mitch Petta, Rick Book, Terry Larmet, John Couture, Jordan Hill, Pete Reid, Gofast Teeple, (DNS) Jesse Duguay, (DQ) Rob Murray
Qualifying Heats: Pete Reid, Ken Sargent, Jason Fontaine
Rona Doidge Building Centres Modified Lites – JOSH SLITER (3), Brent Begolo, Chris Watson, Ryan Anderson, Sean Iftody, R.J. Pietz, Tyler Winger, Rob Misener, Dave Cornish, Anthony Kelly, Ashton Anderson, Ryleigh Sliter, Francis Laliberte, Josee Fortier, Mike Bradley, Cohen Corbett, Leroy Buscumb, Dan Kviring, Chance Kotar, Roger Pardis
Qualifying Heats – Brent Begolo, Tyler Winger, Rob Misener,
Vansickle Pet Valu/PV On the Lane 4 Cylinders – AUSTYN WERSTROH (2), Kyle Rothwell, Olivier Larocque, Clinton Barrick, Randy Always, John Lubeck, Ken Hair, Sam Iftody, Vincent Pagnotta, Richard Hadler, Blair Rousselle, Cierra Keus, Steven Ellis, Jacob McIntyre, Roger Winfield, James Marshall, Tina Ronning, Alex Riley, Cole Hardy, Nick Bowman, Douwe Degroot, Mark Deagle, Dave Winniger, Jay Moulton, Hana Rothwell, Mason Anderson, Scott Brown, James McDonald
Qualifying Heats – Kyle Rothwell, Randy Always, Austyn Werstroh
Article Credit: Jonathon Howe
Submitted By: Jonathon Howe
