Williamson, Chevalier, Murray, Sliter, & Kelly Jr, Scores Merrittville Triumphs

Story By: STEVE PETTY / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – Defending S&W Service Centre 358 Modified track champion Mat Williamson scored his sixth feature win of the season as the Seaway Mall presented the racing program at Merrittville Speedway on Saturday night.

Chad Chevalier from Port Colborne, Ontario won round two of the David Chevrolet King of the Crates for the David Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman. Rob Murray from St. Catharines, Ontario scored his fourth Hoosier Stock win of the season. Josh Sliter from Ridgeway, Ontario scored his fourth Doidge Building Centres Mod Lites feature of the season. Anthony Kelly Jr from Niagara Falls, Ontario scored his second Central Fabricating 4 Cylinder feature win of the season.

Rob Knapp and Shayne Pierce were on the front row for the S&W Service Centre Modifieds with Knapp showing the way as Tim Jones and Todd Gordon battled for third on the opening circuit. Pierce and Jones would pull away as a multi-car battle mid-pack took place with Bowman, Williamson, Bicknell, Lindberg, and Susice. Jones would look underneath Pierce for the lead on several occasions during the races’ early stages but Pierce would keep the lead. Mat Williamson would enter the top five before the halfway mark and would close in on Bicknell for third. The leaders would hit lap traffic on lap 22, just as Williamson passed Bicknell for third. Williamson would work by Jones to move into second on lap 26 and would close in on Pierce for the lead. Williamson would take the lead on lap 29 after passing Pierce on the back straightaway. Williamson would go on to score the win, his sixth of the season.

Chad Chevalier and Jay Mallory were on the front row in the 30-lap feature for the David Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman with Chevalier taking the lead with Brad Rouse looking for the lead. Rouse would take the lead away from Chevalier on lap two and started to take off on the field. Rouse would encounter lap traffic by the race’s 1/3rd mark as Chevalier started to pull away from Jay Mallory with Justin Sharp and James Michael Friesen racing inside the top five. The caution would come out as Friesen, and Sharp got together with Noah Mamo with six laps remaining. On the restart, Rouse and Chevalier would pull away with Chevalier taking the lead with three laps remaining and would go on to score the win.

Kyle Pelrine and Bryce Richardson shared the front row for the Hoosier Stock feature with Pelrine showing the way. Jason Fontaine looked underneath Pelrine for the lead with Pelrine being able to keep the lead. Rob Murray would take second away on lap two. As Pelrine and Murray battled for the lead, Fontaine, Brad Sheehan, and Dave Bailey battled for third place. Murray would be able to take the lead away from Pelrine on lap five. Murray would go on to score the feature win.

Cheeseburger Iftody and Chris Perry were on the front row for the Doidge Building Centres Mod Lites with Iftody showing the way. Brent Begolo worked his way underneath Iftody to take the lead on lap three. Rob Misener and Chris Perry came together on the back straightaway to bring out the races first caution on lap six. On the restart, Begolo would be able to take control of the field as Iftody, Josh Sliter, Jeffery May, and Tyler Winger battled for second place. Iftody’s run would come to an end on lap 10 as his throttle stuck exiting turns one and two. On the restart, Josh Sliter would take the lead away from Begolo. Sliter would go on to score his fourth feature win of the season.

Trevor Want and Anthony Kelly brought the Central Fabricating 4 Cylinders to the green flag for their 15-lap feature with Anthony Kelly showing the way. Kyle Haynes, Jay Moulton, Tony Kelly, and Tyler Lafantaisie had a four-car battle for second throughout the entire feature distance as race leader Kelly started to pull away. Moulton would take second away at the halfway mark as Lafantaisie moved into third place. John Lubeck would spin exiting turn four to bring out the caution, erasing a three second lead over the rest of the field. The final three laps would see Kelly Jr start to pull away as Moulton and Lafantaisie battled for second. Anthony Kelly would go on to score his second win of the season.

Joe Bleich outlasted 24 other competitors to score his second Tim Hortons Enduro Qualifier accelerated by JC Auto of the season.

NEWS AND NOTES: All minors that wore their team uniforms were admitted free for the racing action.

Racing action continues Saturday, July 27 as Ideal Supply and Schneider Electric presents the Action Sprint Tour presented by RaceRivalz.com plus 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Mod Lites, V6’s and the finale of the TMR Racing Triple Crown Challenge for the 4 Cylinders. Pit gates will open at 5pm and grandstands will open at 5:30pm. Fans will have the opportunity to take Fan Tram Rides during intermission on the Bellinger Electric Inc. BEI Lightning Series Fan Tram.

Follow Merrittville Speedway on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and online at www.merrittvillespeedway.com

RACE RESULTS – SEAWAY MALL NIGHT

S&W Service Centre 358 Modifieds: MAT WILLIAMSON, Shayne Pierce, Tim Jones, Gary Lindberg, Pete Bicknell, Mike Bowman, Ryan Susice, Fred Carleton, Todd Gordon, Scott Wood, Tom Neale, Rick Richner, Dalton Slack, Brandon Gruhl, Bill Podwinski, Rob Knapp, Tyler Willard, Tanner Podwinski

Qualifying Winners: Tim Jones, Todd Gordon, Mike Bowman

David Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman: CHAD CHEVALIER, Brad Rouse, Jay Mallory, Brent Begolo, Dave DiPietro, Dylan Davidson, Paul Gaboury, Darrell Farraway, Jordan Cosco, Ryan Ferri, James Michael Friesen, Robbie Johnston, Trevor Wright, Greg Panunte, Justin Sharp, Adam Leslie, Vince Fargnoli, Tom Richau, Derek VanMil, Nathan Peattie, Noah Mamo, Jason VanMil, Taylor Vanderzanden

Qualifying Winners: Chad Chevalier, James Michael Friesen, Dave DiPietro

Hoosier Stocks: ROB MURRAY, Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine, Jason Fontaine, Brad Sheehan, Billy Bleich Jr, Bryce Richardson, Rob Disher, Zack Bleich, Robin Mortensen (DNS)

Qualifying Winners: Bryce Richardson, Dave Bailey

Doidge Building Centres Mod Lites: JOSH SLITER, Jeffery May, Brent Begolo, Tyler Winger, RJ Pietz, Chris Watson, Rob Misener, Randy Giroux, Chris Perry, Ryleigh Sliter, Craig Martin, Dave Cornish, Cheeseburger Iftody

Qualifying Winners: Josh Sliter, Brent Begolo

Central Fabricating 4 Cylinders: ANTHONY KELLY, Tyler Lafantaisie, Jay Moulton, Tony Kelly, Kyle Haynes, Cole Hardy, Garnet Wilson, Dan McKay, Vincent Pagnotta, Mike Giberson, John Lubeck, Trevor Want, Austyn Werstroh

Qualifying Winners: Jay Moulton, Tyler Lafantaisie