Brachmann Wins Harry Sittler Memorial & $3,700 At Merrittville

Story By: JIM IRVINE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – Gaston Auto Sales presented the Harry Sittler Memorial August 27th for the Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modifieds and it was a memorable night for Chad Brachmann, The Sanborn NY racer won the 37 lap Harry Sittler Memorial and $3700.

Brent Begolo, Brad Sheehan, Jamie Gilbert and Tony Kelly also had good paydays after winning the S&W Service Centre Sportsman, Hoosier Stock, Wood Motor Company Mod Lite and Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder Features respectively.

Gord McIntosh rounded out the winners – taking home his third Novice Sportsman Feature.

“There were two good lanes out there tonight … the bottom was good for us,” said Chad Brachmann in Victory Lane for the 5th time of the season, “I stayed around the bottom and just ran my own race… thanks to the Sittler Family and all those that supported this race for Harry!”

Just after a lap 2 caution, Brachmann landed in second spot behind leader Gary Lindberg with Pete Bicknell on the move in the early going taking third with about 5 car lengths separating the three.

By lap 20, Brachmann had closed in on the leader and by lap 24 – Brachmann was within a car length of Lindberg. With lap cars just ahead, Brachmann made his move for the lead down the backstretch of lap 25.

Two laps later on lap 27, Brachmann was about 5 car lengths out front. !0 laps later on lap 37 Brachmann and his crew were celebrating his 5th win of the season.

Brachmann and Lindberg were followed by Bicknell, Mat Williamson and Ryan Susice.

“I was a little worried about lap traffic,” said Brent Begolo of Thorold after his third Sportsman Win earned him $2,000 and a great celebration of his grandfather Jeno Begolo’s Birthday, “I knew I had a nice lead so I took it easy. When that last caution came out … I knew I had to turn it up again.”

That last caution which came on lap 21 almost led to disaster for Begolo after a number of cars came together in Turn 4 just ahead of the leaders.

Prior to the caution, Begolo had opened almost a full straightaway lead on Rob Knapp by lap 15 – the same margin that the two leaders had on third place runner Chris Storm and the field.

Begolo had taken the lead on lap 4 from early leader Chris Bellamy who outraced fellow front row starter to the lead at the start of the 25 lap Event.

In the final 4 lap dash to the finish – Begolo maintained a 5 car length advantage over Knapp with Storm, James Friesen and Bellamy as the top 5.

“I could see on the scoreboard that all the fast cars were coming,” said Brad Sheehan of St. Catharines after his first Hoosier Stock Feature Win earned him $400, “I’ve been doing a lot of work on this car the last few weeks and here we are … thanks to all my family and friends for all you do.”

Cars three wide on the initial start resulted in a retry of the original start and when the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature went green – father and son Bill and Tanner Podwinski were battling for top spot.

Bill Podwinski took control of top spot the first time down the backstretch. The second time through – the new leader was Brad Sheehan.

Lap 4 would find Rob Murray in the runner up spot although some 10 car lengths behind but closing. The gap would disappear after caution on lap 8 with the two side by side on the restart.

Dave Bailey in third would soon close in with the three frontrunners quickly three wide for top spot. After a lap 11 caution, Sheehan would lose the lead to Murray with Sheehan back out front after a lap 14 incident again slowed the field.

With two laps to go Sheehan and Murray were side by side before

Sheehan would open up a ½ car length advantage. Sheehan would maintain that lead through to the checkered flag with Murray settling for second.

Bailey, Kyle Pelrine and Jim Lampman closed out the top 5.

“This car has run amazing all year,” said six time 2017 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Tony Kelly of Niagara Falls, “the engine however … it’s starting to make some noise – hopefully it will last at least another week.”

5 laps into the 15 lap Feature – a shuffling of the deck found Kelly in the runner up spot behind Austyn Werstroh who took over the lead from Trevor Want – the leader at the start.

Kelly would take over the lead at about the halfway point and by lap 10 was out front by some 5 car lengths. In the remaining 5 laps – Kelly would stretch his lead to almost a half straightaway over Werstroh, Cole Hardy, Alex Riley and Tom Neale.

“We’re here in Victory Lane by a wing and a prayer,” said Jamie Gilbert of Welland after driving the Josh Sliter 17 to the win in the 15 lap Modifed Lite Feature, “I just showed up and drove it.”

With Steven Beckett leading the field to the start – action back in the pack had cars going four wide for fourth spot. Chris Watson would be on the move early taking over second – some 5 car lengths behind Beckett by lap 5.

The next lap, Gilbert was in the runner up spot and closing in.

Lap 8 would see Gilbert pulling alongside Beckett before taking over top spot.

Gilbert would take home the win while Jeff May would make a late race charge to take second. Beckett, Brent Begolo and Chris Watson would close out the top 5.

Gaston Auto Sales Night – Saturday August 26, 2017

Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series Complete Results

Pinty’s Delicious Foods 358 Modified Harry Sittler Memorial (37 laps) Chad Brachmann, Gary Lindberg, Pete Bicknell, Mat Williamson, Ryan Susice, Scott Wood, Greg Panunte, Fred Carleton, Matt Farnham. Tommy Flannigan, Tim Jones..

S&W Service Centre Sportsman Feature (25 laps) Brent Begolo, Rob Knapp, Chris Storm, James Friesen, Chris Bellamy, Darrell Faraway, Matt Farnham, Chris Watters, Rob Goulding, Tom Richau, Dave DiPietro, Trevor Wright, Charlie Lynch, Terry Larmet Brandon Gruhl, Sean Dominey, Robbie Johnston, Dave Flannigan Jr..

Hoosier Stock Feature (20 laps) Brad Sheehan, Rob Murray, Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine, Jim Lampman, Donny Lampman, Andrew Reece, Derek Van Mill, Go Fast Teeple, Trevor DeBoer, Billy Bleich, James Marr, Tanner Podwinski, Robin Mortensen, Vince Fargnoli, Bill Podwinski.

Wood Motor Company Modified Lite Feature (15 laps) Jamie Gilbert, Jeffrey May, Steven Beckett, Brent Begolo, Chris Watson, Tyler Winger, RJ Pietz, Ryleigh Sliter, Craig Martin, Tucker Wood, Randy Giroux.

Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder Feature (15 laps) Tony Kelly, Austyn Werstroh, Cole Hardy, Alex Riley, Tom Neale, Jay Moulton, Vincent Pagnotta, Garnet Wilson, Trevor Want

Go Fast Teeple, Kevin Kocarik, Mike Giberson, Sam Iftody.

Novice Sportsman Feature (10 laps) Gord McIntosh, Gregg Rauscher, Ian Porter.