7/17/2022
Merrittville Speedway
CODY MCPHERSON, MIKE BOWMAN, ROB MURRAY, JAY MOULTON, AND DUSTIN DUGA CONSTRUCT WINNING RUNS AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
THOROLD, ONTARIO (July 16th, 2022) … A slick racetrack at Merrittville Speedway was on display as Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing was presented by Peters Construction Group. Cody McPherson from St. Catharines, Ontario won the Right Choice Auto & Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman feature. The Action Sprint Tour Fueled by Pinty’s feature went to Mike Bowman of St. Catharines, On. Rob Murray scored the win in the St. Catharines Husky Duel on the Dirt home track event #2 in Hoosier Stock action. Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinder racing saw Jay Moulton of Niagara Falls, On. grab the win while Dustin Duga of Welland, On. won the V6 feature.
The Right Choice Auto & Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman headlined Peters Construction Group night. Mitch Dumont and Jason VanMil started out front with Dumont able to lead more than a few laps. Great racing was featured throughout the top 5 with several drivers mixing it up including Adam Leslie, Taylor Vanderzanden, Trevor Wright, and Jay Mallory. Cody McPherson was able to pass them all and move from 10th to 1st about halfway through the feature. McPherson never looked back and made five wins at Merrittville for the year. Adam Leslie finished second, with Dumont third, Wright fourth and Mallory rounding out the top 5.
Austin Roes and Mathieu Bardier led the Action Sprint Tour fueled by Pinty’s Field to green, with Bardier leading early. However, every time Bardier was able to build a lead, cautions would bring the field back to him. Eventually, it was Mike Bowman, a former 358 Modified track champion at Merrittville Speedway, who would take the lead from Bardier. Bowman surprised Bardier by making the pass on the outside with Bardier firmly committed to the bottom. Jacob Dykstra would also be able to get by Bardier for second after a later restart but ran out of time to catch Bowman. Bowman scored his first win in a Crate Sprint at Merrittville Speedway with Dykstra and Bardier also on the podium. Steven Beckett came home fourth with Allan Downey fifth.
The Hoosier Stocks contested the Insta Panels Duel on the Dirt St. Catharines Husky Home Track Event #2 Saturday night. Jeff Larmet and Zach Bleich started on the front row. The inside row proved to be formidable with Ryan Beagle and Pete Reid pushing through to battle for the lead. Rob Murray made his way to the front and pounced when Beagle left enough daylight on the inside to take the lead. Beagle would hang close with Murray but not close enough to take the lead and Murray was able to get back to Pleasentview Victory Lane. Beagle ended up second, with Dave Bailey third, Kyle Pelrine fourth and Zach Bleich fifth.
Jay Moulton accomplished something on Saturday night he failed to do the previous week; hold off Tyler Lafantaisie on a late restart. A wet and slick track for the Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinder feature event allowed the cream to rise to the top. Moulton quickly advanced from sixth starting spot to the lead. From there, it was about driving away before Lafantaisie would inevitably show up to challenge. The challenge came in the form of a single file restart late, where Moulton worried more about what was in front of him, than what was behind him which proved to be the winning mentality. Moulton held off Lafantaisie, with Trevor Deboer, Austyn Werstroh and John Lubeck coming third, fourth and fifth respectively.
The V6’s returned to open the night of racing action. A slick track proved tough for all drivers throughout the night except for Dustin Duga. He showed why he was last year’s V6 champion and won with ease over Cameron Lane, Joshua Dmytrow and Joe Cushman. The night was capped off with School Bus Racing where Landon D’Hollander piloted the Rona Doidge Building Centres bus to its second victory of the season.
Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing returns July 23rd as Merrittville Speedway celebrates its 71st Anniversary on Nostalgia Night. The night will begin with a Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony presented by CAA Niagara and Auto FX Graphics and Signs, which will Honour Bill Spiece and Brian Halliwell. The CAA Dedication to racing award will also be presented to honourees Phyllis Mallory and Robert “Mouse” Young. Fastek Inc. presents Bobcat of Hamilton weekly racing which will be capped off the 50 Lap Jerry Winger Memorial for the Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modifieds. Also in action are the Right Choice Auto & Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman, the Hoosier Stocks, Rona Doidge Modified Lites, and the Vintage Cars. Grandstands will open for Merrittville Speedway Alumni at 4:30pm. Pit gates will open at 5:00 pm, grandstands open at 5:30, and racing will begin at 7:00 pm.
Follow Merrittville on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and now Instagram (@merrittvillespeedway). For results, point standings, and more, check out the brand new www.merrittvillespeedway.com
RACE RESULTS –- July 16th, 2022
Right Choice Auto & Leisure Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (5), Adam Leslie, Mitch Dumont, Trevor Wright, Jay Mallory, Taylor Vanderzanden, Greg Panunte, James Friesen, Brent Begolo, Jordan Cosco, Jason VanMil, Rob Knapp, Justin Sharp, Nelson Mason, Billy Bleich Jr., Curtis Friesen, Noah Mamo, Jeff Panunte, Jason Farraway, Daniel McKay, Terry Smith, Chris Hawkins, Matteo Panunte, Nathan Peattie
Qualifying Heats: Jay Mallory, Jason VanMil, Rob Knapp
Action Sprint Tour fueled by Pinty’s – MIKE BOWMAN (1), Jacob Dykstra, Mathieu Bardier, Steven Beckett, Allan Downey, Austin Roes, Darren Dryden, Johnny Miller, Darrell Pelletier, Lance Erskine, Ashton VanEvery, Tyeller Powless, Brian Nanticoke, Jordan Hill, Joshua Hill, Seth Roy, Jonah Mutton, Brett Stratford, Ken Hamilton
Qualifying Heats: Mathieu Bardier, Mike Bowman, Seth Roy
Hoosier Stocks – ROB MURRAY (3), Ryan Beagle, Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine, Zach Bleich, Mark Fawcett, Donny Lampman, Jason Fontaine, Pete Reid, Jim Lampman, Gofast Teeple, Kyle Haynes, Dave Small, Chris Schneider, John Couture, Kacey Huffman, Andrew Massey, Jeff Larmet, Trevor Want, Mason Smith, Terry Larmet
Qualifying Heats: Jason Fontaine, Mark Fawcett, Pete Reid
Vansickle Pet Valu/Pv on the Lane 4 Cylinders – JAY MOULTON (2), Tyler Lafantaisie, Trevor DeBoer, Austyn Werstroh, John Lubeck, Clinton Barrick, Rob Goulding, Vincent Pagnotta, Dylan Llord, Richard Hadler, Sam Iftody, Mason Anderson, Dave Winniger, James McDonald, Ken Hair, Cierra Keus, Jordan Denobriga, Danny Wurster, Hana Rothwell, Randy Always, Rob Shaw
Qualifying Heats: Jay Moulton, Ken Hair, John Lubeck
V6’s – DUSTIN DUGA (3), Cameron Lane, Joshua Dmytrow, Joe Cushman, Nicholas Browning Storring, Chris Mussat, Tina Ronning
Qualifying Heats: Joshua Dmytrow
Article Credit: Jonathon Howe