Cody McPherson Claims Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series Stop At Merrittville
Story By: STEVE PETTY / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – St. Catharines, Ontario’s Cody McPherson celebrated in victory lane as Cotton Inc. presented the second stop of the Western Region for the Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series at Merrittville Speedway on Saturday night.
Dylan Westbrook from Oakland, Ontario won the A-Main for the Southern Ontario Sprints with Caistor Centre, Ontario’s Ryan Turner claiming the 2019 Series championship. Dave Bailey from Hagersville, Ontario won the $500 to win event for the Hoosier Stocks. Jeffery May from Mt. Hope, Ontario won the main event for the Doidge Building Centres Mod Lites.
Dan Ferguson and Cody McPherson brought the David Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman to the green flag for race number two of the Western Region for the Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series with Ferguson showing the way over Cody McPherson with Justin Sharp, Chad Chevalier and Greg Panunte racing inside the top five. McPherson would take the lead on lap four with Sharp also moving up into the runner up spot. Ryan Ferri spun in turn two to bring out the races first caution on lap 10. On the restart, McPherson would continue to show the way with Sharp, Panunte, James Michael Friesen, and Chad Chevalier racing in the top five. Sharp would take the lead from McPherson on lap 17 with McPherson batting back for the top spot. McPherson would regain the lead midway through the event and would go on to score the victory. Brad Rouse would finish in second with James Michael Friesen rounding out the podium. Race number three of the “Honeymoon Tour” will take place on Sunday, September 8 at Humberstone Speedway.
Aaron Turkey and Shawn Sliter led the Southern Ontario Sprints into their 2019 finale with Turkey showing the way. Adam West would take the lead on lap two with Shawn Sliter and Dylan Westbrook moving into the top three. Sliter would take the lead away on lap three with Westbrook moving into second. Westbrook would close in on Sliter and would take the lead away on lap 10 after negotiating lap traffic. Once out front, Westbrook would pull away from the field and would go on to score his third Series win of the season.
Dave Bailey would take off from his pole position to take the lead early in the Hoosier Stocks feature. Jason Fontaine would run in second with Bailey well in command of the field. Matt Wilson spun, in turn, two on lap 14 to bring out the first caution. On the restart, Steve Shaw would take the lead away from Bailey as Rob Murray and Fontaine raced for third. Bailey would regain the lead from Shaw coming for two to go. Bailey would go on to score the win, his fourth of the season.
Jeffery May would take advantage of his front-row starting spot to take the lead at the drop of the green for the Doidge Building Centres Mod Lites. Dave Cornish spun in turn two to bring out the races first caution with five laps to go. On the restart, Josh Sliter would move into second and would go after race leader Jeffery May. May would hold off Sliter by .016 to score the feature win.
NEWS AND NOTES: 82 cars signed in pitside for the racing action. The speedway would like to welcome the groups associated with the Merrittville Speedway Gives Back Program.
Sunday, September 8, Tim Hortons presents the $5,000 to win, 100 lap Enduro accelerated by JC Auto plus Monster Trucks, V6 race, Side By Side, Figure 8, Backwards Race, a $1000 to win Demolition Derby and for the third season, a School Bus Race! Pit gates on Sunday will open at 9 am with front gates opening at 11:00 am and showtime is at 1 pm.
Follow Merrittville Speedway on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and online at www.merrittvillespeedway.com
RACE RESULTS – COTTON INC. NIGHT
Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series: CODY MCPHERSON, Brad Rouse, James Michael Friesen, Justin Sharp, Chad Chevalier, Dylan Davidson, Jordan Cosco, Ryan Ferri, Tyler Puchalski, Adam Leslie, Robbie Johnston, Trevor Wright, Rob Sauder, Dave Flannigan Jr, Vince Fargnoli, Brandon Gruhl, Chris Storm, Derek VanMil, Nathan Peattie, Greg Panunte, Dan Ferguson, Dave DiPietro, Jay Mallory
Qualifying Winners: Dylan Davidson, Chad Chevalier, Greg Panunte
Southern Ontario Sprints: DYLAN WESTBROOK, Cory Turner, Ryan Turner, Shawn Sliter, Mitch Brown, Jim Huppunen, Aaron Turkey, Jake Brown, Travis Cunningham, Holly Porter, Adam West, Tom Huppunen, Jamie Turner, Jacob Dykstra, Kyle Phillips, Brad Knab, Kevin Pauls, Frank Baranowski, Al Gilletta Jr, Mike Ferrell, Dillon Sliter, Jim Porter, Josh Hansen, Steve Lyons, Hannah Ferrell
Qualifying Winners: Kyle Phillips, Jacob Dykstra, Dylan Westbrook, Jamie Turner
Consolation Race: Jim Huppunen
2019 Series Champion: Ryan Turner
Hoosier Stocks: DAVE BAILEY, Steve Shaw, Rob Murray, Ryan Beagle, Jason Fontaine, Billy Bleich Jr, Brad Sheehan, Donny Lampman, Adam Plazek, Evan Curtis, Jim Lampman, Dave Small, Jeff Larmet, Kevin Kocarik, Ian Blanchard, Zack Bleich, Matt Wilson, Go Fast Teeple, Kevin D’Amore, Clinton Nicholls, Chris Hale
Qualifying Winners: Dave Bailey, Chris Hale, Brad Sheehan
Doidge Building Centres Mod Lites: JEFFERY MAY, Josh Sliter, Brent Begolo, Tyler Winger, Cheeseburger Iftody, RJ Pietz, Rob Misener, Chris Perry, Chris Watson, Ryleigh Sliter, Dave Cornish, Randy Giroux
Qualifying Winners: Josh Sliter, Jeffery May