6/10/2024
Merrittville Speedway
LINDBERG LANDS INNAUGURAL LITTLE MEMORIAL CROWN
THOROLD, Ontario (June 1st, 2024) … As Merrittville Speedway remembered and honoured one of its greats in Ivan Little, race fans were treated to an all V8 show on Saturday Night. Ridgeway, Ontario’s Gary Lindberg won the Inaugural 61 lap Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature. Cody McPherson of St. Catharines, Ontario won the 40 lap Semenuks Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – Western Region series feature. The Hoosier Stock’s contested their second Duel on the Dirt Home Track Event #2 which was won by Mark Fawcett of Canfield, Ontario.
After winning the pole dash challenge, Gary Lindberg started out front for the Ivan Little Memorial 61 lap feature with Jay Mallory to his outside. Three cautions in the races first 15, each for single car spins, prevented any flow to the race early, however Ryan Susice in his first trip back to Merrittville since the birth of his son last season, was able to work up to second. Susice pressured Lindberg on the restarts but lacked the short run pace to stay with Lindberg. As Lindberg caught lapped traffic, Susice would reel him in, even briefly taking the lead of the race for a short time in traffic. On lap 54, Brandon Gruhl’s engine expired, setting up a short dash to the end, where Lindberg would be unmatched. He claimed the win and took home the $6100 purse for the top spot, while Chad Brachmann got by Susice for second. Erick Rudolph and James Friesen were fourth and fifth respectively.
Rookie Nigel Pendykowski and Mitch Dumont started on the front row as the DIRTcar Sportsman contested the second race of their Western Region schedule. On lap 11, the caution came out for the first time with Pendykowski out front. On the restart, James Friesen tracked down the top spot, taking it away from thew rookie with Cody McPherson, who won the tours first stop at Ransomville the previous night and has been unbeaten in the Sportsman at Merrittville in 2024 thus far, in his tracks. In lap traffic, McPherson was able to get by Friesen, who only a few laps later were involved in a caution when he tangled with Daniel McKay. McPherson would go untouched following the restart to continue his winning ways. Jay Mallory finished second, Adam Leslie third, Curtis Friesen fourth and Brett Senek rounded out the top 5.
It was a story of redemption for Mark Fawcett in the Hoosier Stocks Saturday night. After losing to Dave Bailey by .011 the week prior, Fawcett started fourth in the Insta Panels Duel on the Dirt Home Track event, wasting no time getting to the front. Fawcett grabbed the lead before a lap 3 caution when Jeff Larmet spun, and never looked back. While there were multiple restarts in the race’s final laps, Fawcett held off Rob Murray to get the win in the big money street stock feature. Bailey finished third, while Pete Reid and Jason Fontaine rounded out the top 5.
Next week, it’s full sleight of Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing series at Merrittville Speedway as Niagara Pen Centre presents Family Autograph night. Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, Semenuks Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman and Hoosier Stocks will all be back in action. The Rona Doidge Modified Lites, and Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders will also be on the bill. Pit Gates on Monday will open at 5pm, with grandstands opening at 5:30pm, and racing will get underway at 7pm. For more information, visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com and can follow the action on My Race Pass.
Follow Merrittville on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and now on Instagram (@merrittvillespeedway). For results, point standings, and more, check out www.merrittvillespeedway.com
RACE RESULTS –- June 1st, 2024.
Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – GARY LINDBERG (2), Chad Brachmann, Ryan Susice, Erick Rudolph, James Friesen, Brad Rouse, Darrell Farraway, Pete Bicknell, Justin Sharp, Scott Wood, Jay Mallory, Kyle Richner, Noah Walker, Fred Carleton, Nelson Mason, Dylan Davidson, Trevor Wright, Dave Flannigan Jr., Todd Gordon, Paul Gaboury, Derek VanMil, Bill Gill, Brandon Gruhl, Ken Winfield, Shayne Pierce, Brian Page, Luke Carleton, Martin Polhill
Qualifying Heats – Gary Lindberg, Pete Bicknell, Noah Walker
Timed Hot Laps – Gary Lindberg, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Erick Rudolph, Fred Carleton, Noah Walker, Brad Rouse, Ryan Susice, Nelson Mason, Chad Brachmann, James Friesen, Shayne Pierce, Justin Sharp, Trevor Wright, Darrell Farraway, Todd Gordon, Dave Flannigan Jr., Luke Carleton, Kyle Richner, Jay Mallory, Derek VanMil, Ken Winfield, Martin Polhill, Paul Gaboury, Brian Page, Dylan Davidson, Brandon Gruhl, Bill Gill
Semenuks Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (4), Jay Mallory, Adam Leslie, Curtis Friesen, Brett Senek, Mitch Dumont, Cameron Tuttle, Nigel Pendykowski, James Friesen, Taylor Vanderzanden, Billy Bleich Jr., Terry Smith, Matteo Panunte, Tyler Puchalski, Jeff Panunte, Jason VanMil, Jacob Chevalier, Noah Mamo, Kraig Handley, Nathan Peattie, Wayne Swinson, Dave Small, Graeme Toth, Jens Mortensen, Daniel McKay, Elijah Knutt, Dave DiPietro II, Nelson Mason, Doug Walsh Jr., Matt Sharpe
Qualifying Heats – Cody McPherson, Brett Senek, Cameron Tuttle
Timed Hot Laps – Dave DiPietro II, Brett Senek, Cameron Tuttle, Cody McPherson, Nigel Pendykowski, James Friesen, Terry Smith, Jeff Panunte, Mitch Dumont, Adam Leslie, Nelson Mason, Billy Bleich Jr., Curtis Friesen, Matteo Panunte, Noah Mamo, Jacob Chevalier, Kraig Handley, Jay Mallory, Tyler Puchalski, Jason VanMil, Wayne Swinson, Taylor Vanderzanden, Daniel McKay, Doug Walsh Jr. Nathan Peattie, Matt Sharpe, Dave Small, Graeme Toth, Jens Mortensen, Elijah Knutt
Hoosier Stocks – MARK FAWCETT (2), Rob Murray, Dave Bailey, Pete Reid, Jason Fontaine, Ryan Beagle, Ron Loggie, Kyle Haynes, Kyle Pelrine, Brock Gregory, Tyler French, Gofast Teeple, Zach Bleich, Ryan Dinning, Jim Lampman, Kevin Kocarik, John Couture, George Grosul, Garren Taylor, Chris Crowe, Kacey Huffman, Kyle Andress, Travis Whittal, Dustin Duga, Rob Disher, Rob General, Jeff Larmet, Murray Nicholls
Qualifying Heats – Rob Murray, Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine
Timed Hot Laps: Tyler French, Mark Fawcett, Kyle Pelrine, Rob Murray, Ryan Dinning, Travis Whittal, Gofast Teeple, George Grosul, John Couture, Kevin Kocarik, Jim Lampman, Pete Reid, Jason Fontaine, Dave Bailey, Ron Loggie, Kacey Huffman, Rob General, Brock Gregory, Kyle Haynes, Ryan Beagle, Zach Bleich, Jeff Larmet, Dustin Duga, Rob Disher, Kyle Andress, Garren Taylor, Chris Crowe, Murray Nicholls
Article Credit: Jonathon Howe
Submitted By: Jonathon Howe
