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GARY CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL AT MERRITTVILLE NEXT UP FOR SOS TOUR

By Tommy Goudge (June 21, 2018) – London, Ontario – The 23rd season of Southern Ontario Sprints racing continues this weekend when the tour heads to Merrittville Speedway for the annual Gary Cunningham Memorial presented by Avondale Food Stores.

The Gary Cunningham Memorial is held annually at Merrittville in honour of the renowned engine builder who passed away in 2010 at just 61 years of age. Gary's competitive spirit lives on in the hearts of many local racers including his son Travis, an accomplished Sprint Car and Modified racer. Along with the winged 360 Sprint Cars of the SOS tour, the 2018 Gary Cunningham Memorial will also feature Merrittville's 358 Modifieds, Hoosier Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and Enduro racing, plus $1 Hot Dog Night!

The Saturday, June 23 event at Merrittville is the first of two scheduled $1,200-to-win SOS races at the Don Spiece-owned facility in 2018, as the tour will be back on the Niagara Peninsula for Season Championship night on Saturday, September 8. Along with the regular program, both Merrittville races will include Dash For Cash races sponsored by Zanchin Truck & Trailer. The SOS tour has raced at Merrittville eight times since first visiting there in2001, with Rick Wilson topping the all-time SOS win list at the unique 1/3 mile D-shaped track. Ryan Susice scored the win at Merrittville during the tour's only stop there last season.

Following two washouts in May, the 2018 SOS season finally got the green flag last Saturday at Brighton Speedway. Dylan Westbrook started his quest to become the first driver in SOS history to win three consecutive championships on a winning note at Brighton. Westbrook stole the victory from 2015 SOS champion Mitch Brown with just two laps to go, while Cory Turner, Ryan Turner, and Chris Jones made up the remainder of the top five.

WHAT:
2018 Gary Cunningham Memorial - Southern Ontario Sprints 2018 Season Round #3

WHERE:
Merrittville Speedway
2371 Merrittville Highway
Thorold, Ontario
Phone: 905-892-8266
Website: www.MerrittvilleSpeedway.com
Twitter: @Merrittville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/merrittvillespeedway/

WHEN:
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Pit gates open @ 5:00pm
Grandstand gates open @ 5:30pm
Racing begins @ 7:00pm

2018 SEASON FEATURE WINNERS
Dylan Westbrook – 1 (Brighton Speedway – June 16)

About the Southern Ontario Sprints: Founded in 1996, the Southern Ontario Sprints series is a traveling winged 360 Sprint Car tour based in Ontario, Canada. 2018 marks the 23rd year of operation for the Southern Ontario Sprints tour. The 2018 schedule consists of 12 events at four different race tracks in Ontario; each SOS tour event pays a minimum of $1,200-to-win and $240-to-start. Visit www.SouthernOntarioSprints.ca for more information.

Website: www.SouthernOntarioSprints.ca
Twitter: @SOSsprints
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SouthernOntarioSprints
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/SOSsprints

The Southern Ontario Sprints would like to thank their 2018 partners, including Brighton Speedway, Merrittville Speedway, Ohsweken Speedway, South Buxton Raceway, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, www.ImageFactor.ca, and Kreitz Oval Track Parts.

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