Ken Schrader, James Michael Friesen, Steve Shaw, Kevin Conley & Josh Hansen Score Victoria Day Wins At Merrittville

Story By: STEVEN PETTY / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – Fenton, Missouri’s Ken Schrader picked up the win in the inaugural visit by the UMP Modifieds as Zavitz Financial Strategies and ZFS Benefit Solutions presented the Victoria Day program at the Merrittville Speedway Monday night.

Josh Hansen from Welland, Ontario picked up the win in the Action Sprint Tour event. Third generation driver James Michael Friesen from St. Catharines, Ontario won the main event for the David Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman. “The Merlin Magician” Steve Shaw from Merlin, Ontario won the feature event for the Hoosier Stocks. Thorold, Ontario’s Kevin Conley picked up his second Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6 feature win of the season.

Ken Schrader used the outside to power to the lead on the opening lap in the main event for the UMP Modifieds with Dennis Lunger Jr running in second. With Schrader and Lunger battling for the lead, Jonah Mutton was holding off Brian Speelman and Kraig Handley for third place. Handley would move into third place after a lap 11 restart and would go after Lunger and Schrader. Schrader would hold off Lunger to score the feature win.

The sophomore season of the Action Sprint Tour kicked off with Jesse McDonald showing the way from the drop of the green flag in their 20-lap feature event. Josh Hansen raced in third with Brad Herron and Ryan Hunsinger raced inside the top five. The leaders would hit lap traffic on lap seven, just as Josh Hansen took second away from Dykstra. Hansen would take the lead away from McDonald in lap traffic on lap nine. Dave McKnight Jr flipped in turn two to bring the red flag out on lap 12. Hansen would continue to show the way off the restart. Adrian Stahle slowed in turn two to bring out the caution on lap 14. On the restart, Hansen and McDonald pulled away from Dykstra. McDonald closed to the rear tailpipe of Hansen for the lead and the top two battled for the win. Hansen would hold off McDonald to score the win. McDonald, Dykstra, Brad Herron, and Ryan Hunsinger completed the top five.

Brad Rouse and Jay Mallory were on the front row for the 25-lap feature for the David Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman with Rouse showing the way. As Rouse opened his lead, Mallory and Greg Panunte battled for second place. After a pair of mid-race restarts, Rouse would regain control of the field as James Friesen would battle Mallory for second and Dylan Davidson moved into fourth after passing Paul Gaboury. James Michael Friesen would catch Brad Rouse and the two would battle for the lead. Friesen would take the lead with two laps to go. Friesen would go on to score the win.

Jason Fontaine and Dave Bailey brought the Hoosier Stocks to the green flag with Fontaine taking the lead as Rob Murray and Steve Shaw battled with Bailey for second. Off an early race restart, Fontaine continued to show the way as Steve Shaw raced in second with Bailey and Murray racing inside the top four. Shaw would take the lead away from Fontaine on lap 11 and started to pull away from the field. Brad Sheehan and Fontaine battled for second late in the event as Shaw would go on to score the win.

Kevin Conley and John Couture brought the Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6 to the green flag for their feature event with Conley showing the way. Conley and Couture pulled away from the rest of the field to battle for the win themselves. Couture would take the lead with three laps remaining, but Conley would regain the lead to score the win. Couture would finish in second.

Billy Tripp picked up the win in the School Bus race.

Saturday night racing returns on May 25 as CAA Niagara presents the first race of the King of the Crates for the Sportsman plus Modifieds, Mod Lites, 4 Cylinders, and V6’s. Pit gates will open at 5 pm with grandstands opening at 5:30 pm and racing beginning at 7:00 pm.

RACE RESULTS – ZAVITZ FINANCIAL STRATEGIES & ZFS BENEFIT SOLUTIONS

UMP Modifieds: KEN SCHRADER, Dennis Lunger Jr, Kraig Handley, Jonah Mutton, Andrew Henessey, Adam Whaley, Brian Speelman, Curtis King, James Beaulieu, Jim Fletcher, Jim Dale Jr, Joe Brosseau, Shawn Gregory, Denis Deserrano, Nathan Rinaldi, Brandt Graham, Derrick Greig

Qualifying Winners: Brian Speelman, Dennis Lunger Jr

Action Sprint Tour: JOSH HANSEN, Jesse McDonald, Jacob Dykstra, Brad Herron, Ryan Hunsinger, Rob Neely, Jordan Hill, Paul Klager, Lucas Smith, Bailey Heard, Blaine Barrow, Steven Beckett, Liam Martin, Jerry Hill, Aaron Turkey, DJ Christie, Al Gilletta, Lofton Schuts, John Verney, Johnny Miller, Darren Dryden, Trevor Young Did Not Finish; Adrian Stahle, Dave McKnight Jr, Failed to Qualify: Terry Baker, Noelle Teal, Spencer Davis, Brian Nanticoke, AJ Lewis

Qualifying Winners: Josh Hansen, Brad Herron, Rob Neely

B-Main: Liam Martin

David Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman: JAMES MICHAEL FRIESEN, Brad Rouse, Brent Begolo, Dylan Davidson, Jay Mallory, Paul Gaboury, Ryan Ferri, Jordan Cosco, Justin Sharp, Matt Sharpe, Trevor Wright, Tom Richau, Tyler Puchalski, Robbie Johnston, Brandon Gruhl, Derek VanMil, Dave Flannigan Jr, Noah Mamo, Vince Fargnoli, Nathan Peattie, Adam Leslie, Dave DiPietro, Chris Storm, Greg Panunte, Chad Chevalier

Qualifying Winners: Brad Rouse, Jay Mallory, Greg Panunte

Hoosier Stocks: STEVE SHAW, Brad Sheehan, Jason Fontaine, Rob Murray, Rob Disher, Billy Bleich Jr, Go Fast Teeple, Bryce Richardson, Zach Bleich, Robin Mortensen, Dave Bailey, Dan McKay

Qualifying Winners: Jason Fontaine, Dave Bailey

Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6’s: KEVIN CONLEY, John Couture, Jason Irvine, Mitch Irvine, Kyle Irving, Colton Lane

Did Not Start: Tina Ronning, JJ MacDonald, Dave Hahl

Qualifying Winner: Kevin Conley