8/4/2024
Merrittville Speedway
PUCHALSKI TAKES SILVER, ROUSE AND PELRINE PICK UP FIRST WINS ON THE YEAR
THOROLD, Ontario (August 3rd, 2024) … As the calendar rolled over to the August long weekend, Niagara Employment Help Centre presented the first of two shows for the weekend at Merrittville Speedway including the Bill Willard Sr. Sterling Silver event for the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman. Tyler Puchalski of Port Colborne, ON picked up the win in this special 25 lap Sportsman feature. Brad Rouse of Fort Erie, ON scored his first victory of the season in the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds. In the Hoosier Stocks, Smithville, ON native Kyle Pelrine picked up his first win of the year. Defending champion of the Rona Doidge Modified Lites Brent Begolo of Thorold, ON claimed his fourth victory of the season. Niagara Falls, ON resident Ken hare one the Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinder feature.
Nathan Peattie and Daniel McKay lead the field to green for the Bill Willard Sr. Sterling Silver event for the DIRTcar Sportsman. Matteo Panunte picked up the lead early and controlled much of the first half after a restart on lap four. Tyler Puchalski, who started in sixth, made his way up to second place before a caution fell at the race's halfway point. Shortly after the restart, Panunte appeared to have a mechanical problem which caused him to bring his car to a stop safely in the infield handing the lead to Puchalski. In search of his second win, Puchalski pulled out in front of the field by a sizable margin. However, with 4 laps to go, Adam Leslie spun around after some help from Nigel Pendykoski, setting a single-file restart. Noah Mamo and Cody McPherson lined up behind Puchalski, but neither could mount a challenge for the lead. Puchalski made it two wins on the year after beating McPherson to the line, with Mamo, Jacob Chevalier and Taylor Vanderzanden completing the top.
The Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds began with Brian Page on pole alongside Derek VanMil, with Page leading the opening portion of laps. On lap 10, Ken Winfield looped the car around in turn four. On the restart, Brad Rouse took the lead while Page would find himself spun around after battling hard with Nelson Mason for second. As Rouse led the race and closed on the back of the field, Gary Lindberg closed on him in traffic. Lindberg took the fight to Rouse with 10 laps to go, however Brad would negotiate lap traffic perfectly, finding the clean racetrack he needed to get away and secure his first win of the season. Lindberg settled for second with Mason third, Todd Gordon fourth and Fred Carelton in fifth.
In Hoosier Stock action, the race's lone caution came on lap one when Jason Fontaine spun after a mechanical failure caused him to leak fluid on the track. On the restart, pole sitter Rob Disher got out to an early lead, with Chris Crowe fighting hard to keep pace with his fellow front row starter. Kyle Pelrine took the lead of the race at the halfway mark on lap 10 and never looked back. He got his first win of the season over Mark Fawcett and Dave Bailey, who battled each other for several laps, leaving themselves no time to reel in Pelrine late. Donny Lampman came home fourth and Zach Bleich was fifth.
Ryleigh Sliter started from pole in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites and continued to lead after a caution on lap four when multiple drives tangled with minimal damage. Cohen Corbett took the lead from Sliter on lap five, looking to chase down his second win on the year. Two laps later, it was Brent Begolo who started 15th, taking the lead from Corbett. Meanwhile, championship rival Josh Sliter was trying to stay with Begolo but could not get Corbett until there were six laps to go, and ultimately ran out of time to close up Begolo’s margin out front. Begolo picked up his fourth win of the season with Josh Sliter second, Corbett third, Ryleigh Sliter coming home fourth and Evan Leonard finishing in fifth.
The Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders got off to a wild start when Shawn Keus rolled over after spinning across the field on the front stretch. On lap two, Tina Ronning went around, shuffling the deck for another restart. Pole sitter Sierra Robison held her own for several laps before being caught by Ken Hair. Hair would be chased to the line by the driver ahead of him in the championship, Alex Riley, who started in 23rd before driving his way to second. Ultimately, Hair would hang on and close the gap slightly in the track title fight with his third win on the season. Hana Rothwell, Austyn Werstroh and Mason Anderson rounded out the top five finishers.
On Monday night, the doubleheader weekend at Merrittville Speedway, concludes as Baron Roofing presents the 3rd annual Canadian Grand Nationals where one lucky fan will win $1000 and one child will win 1000 pieces of candy. Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Rona Doidge Mod Lites and Vansickle Pet Valu/ PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders will all be in attendance. Pit Gates 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 –- August 3rd, 2024.
Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – TYLER PUCHALSKI (2), Cody McPherson, Noah Mamo, Jacob Chevalier, Taylor Vanderzanden, Billy Bleich Jr., Daniel McKay, Matt Sharpe, Kyle Rothwell, Doug Walsh Jr., Terry Smith, Nigel Pendykoski, Matthew Jessome, Elijah Knutt, Nathan Peattie, Adam Leslie, Mitch Dumont, Curtis Friesen, Matteo Panunte, (DNS) Tyler Lafantaise
Heat Winners – Matt Sharpe, Matteo Panunte, Cody McPherson
Commercial Auto Electric 358 – BRAD ROUSE, Gary Lindberg, Nelson Mason, Todd Gordon, Fred Carleton, Scott Wood, James Friesen, Jay Mallory, Justin Sharp, Dylan Davidson, Pete Bicknell, Dave Flannigan Jr., Martin Polhill, Shayne Pierce, Luke Carleton, Paul Gaboury, Kyle Richner, Ken Winfield, Darrell Farraway, Bill Gill, Brian Page, Derek VanMil
Heat Winners – Fred Carleton, Darrell Farraway, Nelson Mason
Hoosier Stocks – KYLE PELRINE, Mark Fawcett, Dave Bailey, Donny Lampman, Zach Bleich, Kyle Haynes, Pete Reid, Dustin Duga, Jim Lampman, Mitch Petta, Rob Disher, Chris Crowe, Gofast Teeple, Jason Fontaine,
Heat Winners – Kyle Pelrine, Zach Bleich
Rona Doidge Modified Lites – BRENT BEGOLO (4), Josh Sliter, Cohen Corbett, Ryleigh Sliter, Evan Leonard, Ashton Anderson, Jamie Gilbert, Ryan Anderson, Tyler Winger, Leroy Buscumb, Sean Iftody, Anthony Kelly, Chance Kotar, Dave Cornish, R.J. Pietz, Cole Hardy, Roger Pardis, Tyler Colbert, Nick Sarantakos, Chris Watson
Heat Winners – Ashton Anderson, Josh Sliter, Sean Iftody
Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane – KEN HAIR (3), Alex Riley, Hana Rothwell, Austyn Werstroh, Mason Anderson, Sierra Robison, Olivier Larocque, Dave Wininger, Clinton Barrick, Ray Cerenzia, Sam Iftody, Mark Deagle, Brendan Lefrancois, Cierra Keus, John Lubeck, Matt Christie, Connor Chambers, Richard Hadler, Jacob Mcintyre, Randy Always, John Trivieri, Tina Ronning, Shawn Keus, (DNS) Kaillie Akins, (DNS) Pat Burse
Heat Winners – Clinton Barrick, Hana Rothwell, Randy Alway
Article Credit: Jonathon Howe
Submitted By: Jonathon Howe
