Chad Brachmann Takes Victory Saturday Night At Merrittville
Story By: JIM IRVINE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – Tim Hortons Night at Merittville Speedway saw six drivers RRollUptoVictoryLane as the Holiday Doubleheader kicked off Saturday August 5th.
Chad Brachmann, James Friesen, Gord McIntosh and Rob Murray took home Feature Wins in the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds, S&W Service Centre Sportsman, Novice Sportsman and Hoosier Stock Divisions.
Special Events had Dylan Llord taking the second Eataly Foods Pro 4 Triple Truck Challenge Event while the Thunder of the Dirt Vintage Racing Series Features saw Mark Shadwell and Kurt Sherwood share visits to Victory Lane.
“I’m a little overwhelmed,” said Chad Brachmann of Sanborn NY after his 4th 358 Modified Win of 2017 and second straight, “ I’m really fortunate to have (car owner) Chris Bellamy and his guys behind me.”
Unlike last week when Brachmann took the lead the final time out of Turn 4, the point leader took control of top spot on lap 32 and cruised to his second straight and 4th of the season.
Mike Bowman took the field to the initial green flag in the debut of his new Bicknell Chassis and by lap 10 held a lead of about 3 seconds over Fred Carleton.
Five laps later, Carleton had narrowed the lead with Scott Wood also on the move. Carleton would catch Bowman pulling alongside only to be slowed for the first time on lap 18.
The return to green saw quite a battle unfold between Bowman and Carleton with the two swapping the lead several times. With everyone watching the race for top spot, Gary Lindberg quietly took over third.
By lap 25, Carleton found something to his liking and opened up a couple car length advantage on Bowman who was now being challenged by Brachmann.
Brachmann would take control of second on lap 30 before overtaking Carleton two laps later.
Brachmann was followed by Carleton, Bowman, Lindberg and Wood.
“I’m so glad to have this opportunity,” said James Friesen in Victory Lane for the second time of 2017 although the first in the Gord McIntosh #72, “Gord and his guys work so hard on this thing … it’s cool for both of us to win!”
After the initial start was called off, Luke Carleton was first to lead the 25 lap Feature. Action three and four wide through the pack was slowed the first time on lap 7 after Chris Storm slowed off the racing surface.
The restart was a drag race between Carleton and Friesen before Friesen found the advantage down the backstretch. Friesen would be slowed for caution on lap 9 with Justin Sharp the new leader on the restart.
Racing into turns 3 & 4 to complete lap 11, Friesen regained the lead and by lap 15 had a 5 car length lead.
The final 10 laps saw Friesen’s lead grow to almost a straightaway over Sharp, Rob Knapp, Jay Mallory and Brad Rouse.
Friesen’s win in the Gord McIntosh’s #72 wasn’t the first time the car was in Victory Lane as it went right from the Novice Sportsman Feature to the Sportsman.
Paul Cunningham was first to lead the 10 lap event with the battle for top spot quickly three wide.
When it all settled – McIntosh was the new leader on lap 2.
By halfway, McIntosh opened up almost a straightaway lead – a margin he would keep to the checkered flag.
“The car was tight in the heat … I left it alone – in the feature it came to me,” said Rob Murray in Hoosier Stock Victory Lane after thanking his crew for all their help, “Thank God for Steve … I was working in the shop and the car came off the stands on me … he was there to help get me out.”
After Brian Teeple set the pace at the start … things quickly went three wide for top spot with James Thompson taking the lead completing the first lap.
Thompson quickly opened up a comfortable lead but by lap 4 Murray was in the runner up spot from an 11th place start.
As quickly as Murray took over top spot on lap 6, caution would slow the pace on lap 7. Murray would again set the pace until another caution just past halfway erased his lead of some 10 car lengths.
Murray was back out front on the restart – ahead of Brad Sheehan and Dave Bailey who had made their way to the front.
Bailey would take second on lap 13 but even through increasing lap traffic in the closing laps – there was no catching Murray.
Murray, Bailey and Sheehan were followed by Thompson and Jim Lampman.
“It was a great race,” said Pro 4 Truck Feature Winner Dylan Llord of St. Catharines, “I know Terry (Ronning) knows the ins and outs here but I’ve watched a lot of races here growing up with friends like Tyler McPherson.”
Llord watched Ronning take the lead at the start of the 15 lap event but by lap 4 he was the new leader.
Caution on lap 8 would slow Llord after Mitch Dumont, Miss Merrittville Jaime Ayers and Kyle Tomaski came together in Turn 4.
Llord would regain the lead on the restart with Ronning in close pursuit.
In the closing laps Llord would stretch his lead through to the finish ahead of Ronning, Steven Vanderzanden, Danny Wurster and Nathan Monahan.
“It was a lot of fun racing the invaders,” said Mark Shadwell of Hamilton who also won the Nostalgia Night Vintage Race Car Feature last month, “I raced a lot here over the years … so I guess experience pays off.”
Jim Kirkwood – originally from Perth Australia now calling Reno PA home was first to lead the first Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Racing Series Feature before Chris Ketch took control on lap 4.
Caution would slow the pace with Les Myers quickly taking over top spot. Shadwell would take over second spot on lap 10 and by lap 11 was the new leader.
At the finish, Shadwell was followed by Brian Comeau, Mayers, Bill Wilard and Ketch.
“This reminds me of racing my 358 20 years ago,” said Curt Sherwood of Sanborn NY who won the second Thunder of the Dirt Vintage Racing Series Feature, “thanks for the opportunity – I haven’t been in a race car for 10 years.”
Luke McKinnon of Brockville led the field to green – slowed for caution on lap 5. McKinnon resumed control on the restart until Sherwood became the new leader in Turn 3.
Some contact amongst the leaders saw Brian Billings as the new leader with Sherwood back in control on lap 9.
In the closing laps, Sherwood and Billings drove away from the field to about a straightaway lead at the finish.
McKinnon, Tim Natalino and Ryan Comeau closed out the top 5.
UPCOMING at Merrittville Speedway
Merrittville will return to action closing out the Civic Holiday Weekend on Monday August 7th as L. St. Amand Enterprises and St. Amand Auto and Truck Repair will present the 8th Annual Bob St. Amand Memorial 100 lap Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series Main Event in addition to Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks and 4 Cylinders.
Saturday August 12th Niagara Employment Help Centre presents a Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series Event featuring the Bill Willard Sr Sterling Silvr Sportsman and a Hoosier Stock Duel on the Dirt Home Track Event.
Kids will also take to the track with the annual Box Car Races.
For further information on Merrittville Speedway’s 2017 Season visit http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com or call the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266 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
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2017 66th Anniversary Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series for
Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions was brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Pinty’s Delicious Foods, S&W Service Centre, Hoosier Tire Canada, Wood Motor Company and Central Fabricating in addition to many marketing partners Visit them at http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htmand visit them when you require their products and/or services.
Celebrating 15 years of serving the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara Regions, Bobcat of Hamilton is a leading provider of compact equipment for a wide variety of markets – striving to empower customers to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
To learn more about more about the Bobcat of Hamilton Advantage click on www.bobcatofhamilton.com.
Bobcat of Hamilton … One Tough Animal!
Tim Hortons Night – Saturday August 5, 2017
Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series Complete Results
Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Feature Chad Brachmann, Fred Carleton, Mike Bowman, Gary Lindberg, Scott Wood, Tommy Flannigan, Pete Bicknell, Mat Williamson, Tim Jones, Ryan Susice, Todd Gordon, Greg Panunte, Jim Zimmerman, Tyler McPherson.
S&W Service Centre Sportsman Feature (25 laps) James Friesen, Justin Sharp, Rob Knapp, Jay Mallory, Brad Rouse, Brent Begolo, Luke Carleton, Cody McPherson, Trevor Wright, Charlie Lynch, Chris Belamy, Chris Watters, Dave DiPietro, Rob Goulding, Joey Herremans, Robbie Johnstone, Sean Dominey, AJ Custodi, Terry Larmet Chris Storm, Dave Flannigan Jr., Tom Richau.
Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Rob Murray, Dave Bailey, Brad Sheeha, James Thompson, Jim Lampman, Trevor DeBoer, Kyle Pelrine, Vince Fargnoli, Logan Shwedyk, Donny Lampman, Tanner Podwinski, Go Fast Teeple, Bill Pdwinski, Derek Van Mill, Robin Mortensen, Greg Wilson Steve Shaw.
Eataly Foods Pro 4 Triple Truck Challenge #2 by Tomaski Racing (15 laps) Dylan Llord, Terry Ronning, Steven Vanderzanden, Danny Wurster, Nathan Monahan, Kevin Conley, Scott Bellamy, Kyle Tomaski, Jaimie Ayers, Mitch Dumont.
Novice Sportsman Feature (10 laps) Gord McIntosh, Gregg Rauscher, Paul Cunningham, Steve Sonnenberg, Dave Mamo, Ian Madsen.
