3rd Annual Stevens Memorial Set For Victoria Day At Merrittville
Story By: JIM IRVINE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – With the first Holiday Doubleheader of the 2017 Season opening with Pen Centre Night Saturday Night – Monday May 22nd’s Zavitz Financial Strategies and Employee Benefits Extravaganza will feature the 3rd Annual Brian Stevens Memorial for the Pinty’s 358 Modifieds. The 66 lap Main Event will pay the winner $2,666.66.
“It’s a great way to celebrate the first Holiday Weekend,” relates Merrittville Owner Don Spiece, “the 358s will be joined by the RUSH Late Models, our Central Fabricating 4 Cylinders and the first round of the Eataly Foods Triple Truck Challenge by Tomaski Racing … there’s definitely something for everyone! ”
Merrittville’s Victoria Day Event is a long-standing tradition on the schedule each season. In the first two Brian Stevens Memorials however there has only been one winner – third generation racer Erick Rudolph of Ransomville NY.
For the third straight year as well the Sweeney Tour Event has joined the Victoria Day celebration. In 2015, Max Blair won the inaugural event, which was the first ever Crate Late Model race held at the speedway. Last year, John Waters was victorious; and in fact, Waters has now won four of the last five Sweeney Tour events held in Canada!
Many of the weekly Humberstone RUSH racers will make the short trip to Merrittville to compete with competitors from South Buxton and Brighton Speedways also expected to pay a visit.
Waters from Whitesville NY won the 2016 championship, the first of his career in RUSH.
In addition to the Central Fabricating 4 Cylinders – the Eataly Foods Triple Truck Challenge Series by Tomaski Racing will open.
As part of last season’s Brian Stevens Memorial, Danny Wurster – a former crew man for Stevens took home the 4 Cylinder Truck Series opener in his tribute Orange #444 Truck.
In 2017, Wurster will look for a repeat performance in his #44 Orange colored Truck as a follow up to the win one year ago.
Brian Stevens had a natural talent – winning more than 150 Features and track championships in Big Block (1982) and what is now the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Division back in 1992 at Merrittville Speedway.
“Before he got behind the wheel of a race car,” remembers (Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee Chairman) Rick Kavanagh, the son of former Merrittville co-owner Ken Kavanagh, “Brian and I would watch the races from the grandstand in the 60’s and he even helped us by working at jobs such as selling popcorn … we would always try to finish early though so we could watch some of the racing”
While recent L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame Inductee Harry Sittler was driving a Modified owned by Ray – Brian would jump at the chance to get behind the wheel of Harry’s Late Model in 1974. At 22 years of age in 1975 – Brian would have his own 14s Late Model and began his racing career that season.
After his marriage to his wife Teresa his rookie season, 1976 was a milestone year as shortly after the birth of their first daughter Amanda – he would win his first career feature. Amanda would soon have a younger sister when Melissa was born.
As the 70’s became the 80’s , Brian would move up into the Modified Division and quickly would back up his first Merrittville Championship with the same honors at Humberstone Speedway in 1982. A second title at the Port Colborne facility would come in 1987.
Brian Stevens spent over 40 years at his dad Ray’s side as they raced across Canada and the US. With Brian’s 2010 Induction into the FOAR SCORE Hall of Fame – the two became one of only 4 father and son teams that have been inducted in addition to sharing the same honours on our own L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame.
In recent years, former Stevens Crew Member Ray Samuel created a Flyin Brian Page on Face Book where you can relive his career. Check it out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/flyinbrian/
The special event is a presentation of Zavitz Financial Strategies – a truly independent financial planning organization that thrives on developing new and better ways to help their clients … right here in the heart of Niagara!
For more than 20 years, the team at Zavitz Financial Strategies has been meeting the insurance and investment needs of individuals, families and companies. Their experts will help you to bring the pieces of financial planning together.
ZFS Employee Benefit Solutions has expertise in the design and management of group insurance plans. Tap into their experience and insight into team dynamics to solve your toughest benefit problems. Call Paul Scott at 905-714-4134 to get the results you want.
ZFS Benefit Solutions prides itself in delivering knowledge and solutions to all of your employee benefit needs. With a ‘no pressure’ review of their services – you will be on your way to greater corporate success.
Grandstands open at 5:30 … Showtime is set for 7:00 PM.
