Pinty’s To Get Championship Chase Cooking At Merrittville

Story By: JIM IRVINE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – Pinty’s Delicious Foods is in the business of eatertainment. Merrittville Speedway is in the business of entertainment. The two will meet Saturday April 29th to get the 2017 Championship Chase cooking. Pinty’s makes good food fun and will make good racing fun as well.

“We are looking forward to celebrating the start of Merrittville’s 66th season and the first for new owners Don and Lorraine,” said Anthony Spiteri, Vice President of Marketing, Pinty’s Delicious Foods, “Dirt Track Racing and Pinty’s are the perfect partners – our goal is to bring the two traditions together … sharing great chicken fingers and great racing with family and friends! ”

The 2017 Championship Chase Kick Off will see the Hoosier Stock and Central Fabricating and Welding 4 Cylinder Divisions joining the Wood Motor Company Modified Lites, S&W Servce Centre Sportsman and Pinty’s 358 Modifieds who already got their start in the Peters Excavating Spring Sizzler.
“When you look at the Canadian Sports Scene … whether it’s the Blue Jays … the CFL and NFL to Tennis, Curling and with NASCAR in Canada – Pinty’s is engaged and committed to all the major leagues,” said (Merrittville owner) Don Spiece, “that’s why it’s so exciting to welcome such a major player back as we look forward to celebrating our first season of grass roots short track racing.”

Pete Bicknell of St. Catharines won his 24th Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Championship in 2016 but could only rebound for an 11th place finish after an uncharacteristic spin April 22nd. Tim Jones made a late race move to overtake former champion Mat Williamson to take home his first win of 201 with another former champion Chad Brachmann also making a late race charge to take third.

In the S&W Service Centre Sportsman Division, Paul Gaboury of Welland picked up where he left off … backing up his final night win in 2016 with his first of the new season. Defending Champion Cody McPherson was 5th behind Gaboury, Brett Senek, Adam Leslie and Darrell Farraway.

Defending Champion Josh Sliter of Ridgeway won the rain delayed TUSA Canadian Championship Finale from 2016.

Hagersville’s Dave Bailey will return to defend his Hoosier Stock Points Title while Welland Driver Tyler Lafantaisie will not defend his first Central Fabricating and Welding 4 Cylinder Title.

“We’re thrilled to support the grass roots of the sport beyond NASCAR,” added Spiteri who will once again compete in the Eataly Foods Pro 4 Triple Truck Challenge Series by Tomaski Racing … in addition to being a shareholder at Pinty’s … I’m also a race fan and can’t wait for the new season to take to the track for Merrittville’s 66th!”

About a decade before Merrittville Speedway’s first ever race, (July 1st 1952), Pinty’s Poultry Ltd. opened in 1943 processing up to 60,000 chickens a week and in 1969 when the Buffalo style Chicken Wing hit Niagara – the Pintwala Family in a few short years were selling over 80,000 pounds of wings across the region weekly. Today – Pinty’s produces and provides a complete range of premium quality fresh and frozen chicken products to the retail and food service industry throughout Canada.

The Pinty’s Delicious Foods Championship Chase Kick Off launches at 7 PM with the Great Clips Grandstand Ticket Office opening at 5:30.

For further information on Merrittville Speedway’s 2017 Season visit http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com or call the Winter Office at 905-984-608 or via e mail at merrittvillemedia@gmail.com. Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville