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BRACHMANN BREAKS THROUGH, MCPHERSON DOUBLES DOWN AS MERRITTVILLE GOES TO THE DOGS

THOROLD, Ontario (May 25th, 2024) … Cloud’s parted perfectly to allow the sun to shine on Merrittville Speedway as fans with two and four legs took to the racetrack with the Niagara Ice Dogs and Vansickle Pet Valu and Lundy’s Lane Pet Valu presented the Dog Days of Summer. Sanborn, New York driver Chad Brachmann returned to victory lane in the Commercial Auto 358 Modifieds. The Baron Roofing/Semenuk’s Esso DIRTcar Sportsman saw Cody McPherson of St. Catharines double down, winning a make-up feature from last Saturday in addition to this week’s event. Hagersville native Dave Bailey won in the Hoosier Stocks and Thorold, Ontario’s Brent Begolo won in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites. The Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders contested their second home track event for the Insta Panels Duel on the Dirt which was won by Shawn Keus of Beamsville, Ontario.

Nelson Mason and Dylan Davidson started from the front row of the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature event, Davidson jumping out to an early lead. Davidson amassed a nearly 2 second advantage before it was erased when Gary Lindberg stopped on track with an apparent radiator leak. After the fluid was cleaned up and the field came back to green, a massive pile up ensued on lap 21. Pete Bicknell, Darrell Farraway, James Friesen, Ken Winfield, Scott Wood, and Fred Carleton all took damage in the incident. Some were able to continue, Carelton and Bicknell would be involved in another incident on lap 23, when Brandon Gruhl and Bicknell came together out of turn 4, resulting in a big hit for Bicknell into the front stretch wall. On the restart, Davidson would continue to duel with Mason for the top spot, while Chad Brachmann methodically worked his way into the fight after starting 10th. Brachmann slipped past Davidson for the top spot and went on to score his first win of the year, and first in many years at Merrittville for the former track champion. Brad Rouse finished second with Davidson third, Shayne Pierce fourth and Jay Mallory fifth.

After fog ended racing action May 18th at Merrittville before features could be run, the Baron Roofing/Semenuk’s Esso Sportsman had a double feature night Saturday night. Contested while the sun was still up in the middle of heat racing from other classes, Daniel McKay and Tyler Pulchalski brought the field to green. McKay led early but was forced to retire from the race with a mechanical issue. After a caution on lap 14, the cream began to rise to the top of the leaderboard, with Cody McPherson finding the front. He led much of the second half of the feature, while being pursued by Brett Senek. McPherson did enough and was able to hold off any advances from Senek to score the first of the night. Curtis Friesen was third, with Billy Bleich Jr. and Noah Mamo completing the top 5.

McPherson had a much tougher drive through the field in the second feature on Saturday after starting back in 15th. Pole Sitter Mitch Dumont was driving away from the field, building up an over 3 second advantage until lap 12 when Billy Bleich Jr. and Doug Walsh Jr. tangled. Dumont tried to drive off from the field the same way he did in the first half of the feature. However, McPherson took advantage of the restart to move forward and eventually drive past Dumont, building up his own advantage in the process. McPherson completed the double and has opened the season with 3 straight wins now at Merrittville. Dumont hung on for second while Brett Senek, Adam Leslie and Taylor Vanderzanden rounded out the top five.

A painful memory was brought back up for Mark Fawcett in the Hoosier Stock feature. The driver of the 32 lost a near tie last year to Ron Loggie in 2023. On Saturday night, Fawcett spent the opening portion of the 20-lap race, following defending track champion Dave Bailey up through the field. The two found themselves as the top two cars in the final five laps, ready to duel for the win. Much like last year, Fawcett made an incredible last lap move to get to the inside of Bailey, leading to a drag race to the line. The finish was so close, rules officials had to measure transponder placement to ensure electronic timing and scoring were correct. After measurements were taken, Bailey was confirmed as the winner by .011 over Fawcett. Kyle Pelrine, Jason Fontaine, and Rob Murray completed the top five finishers.

Chris Watson and Anthony Kelly lead a field of 21 Rona Doidge Modified Lites to green. At the races halfway point, R.J. Pietz took a wicked tumble when he lost a wheel, sending his car flipping violently. The driver would be okay, and leader Brent Begolo would continue to lead through multiple restarts. Josh Sliter pressured Begolo through to the checkered but couldn’t take the win away from last year’s division champion, and Begolo scored his first win of the year.

In the extended 25 lap Duel on the Dirt Home Track Event for the Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders, Shawn Keus would simply not be denied. He drove up through the top 10 after starting 13th. On a restart just passed the halfway point, Keus was penalized after jumping the start putting him back two positions when the caution fell with eight laps to go. From third, Keus worked past both Randy Alway and Joshua Dmytrow to take the lead, and his first win at Merrittville Speedway. Dmytrow was second, Always third, Hana Rothwell with her second straight top five in fourth and Clinton Barrick came home fifth.

Next week, an extra special night of racing takes place at Merrittville Speedway as the track hosts the inaugural Ivan Little Memorial. Over $61,000 will be up for grabs with the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds paying $6100 to win. The Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Rooking DIRTcar Sportsman and Hoosier Stocks will also be in action. 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 –- May 25th, 2024.

Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – CHAD BRACHMANN, Brad Rouse, Dylan Davidson, Shayne Pierce, Jay Mallory, Todd Gordon, Noah Walker, Nelson Mason, Martin Polhill, Justin Sharp, Trevor Wright, Fred Carleton, Kyle Richner, James Friesen, Dave Flannigan Jr., Brandon Gruhl, Gary Lindberg, Derek VanMil, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Darrell Farraway, Ken Winfield, Bill Gill, Luke Carelton

Qualifying Heats – Shayne Pierce, Dylan Davidson, Martin Polhill

Baron Roofing/Semenuk’s Esso DIRTcar Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (3), Mitch Dumont, Brett Senek, Adam Leslie, Taylor Vanderzanden, Tyler Pulchalski, Matteo Panunte, Curtis Friesen, Matt Sharpe, Terry Smith, Noah Mamo, Wayne Swinson, Daniel McKay, Billy Bleich Jr., Jeff Panunte, Kyle Rothwell, Elijah Knutt, Nigel Pendykowski, Tyler Lafantaise, Doug Walsh Jr., Jason VanMil, Nathan Peattie

Qualifying Heats – Terry Smith, Matt Sharpe, Mitch Dumont

Baron Roofing/Semenuk’s Esso DIRTcar Sportsman May 18th – CODY MCPHERSON (2), Brett Senek, Curtis Friesen, Billy Bleich Jr., Noah Mamo, Adam Leslie, Taylor Vanderzanden, Terry Smith, Mitch Dumont, Tyler Pulchalski, Jeff Panunte, Nigel Pendykowski, Doug Walsh Jr., Jason VanMil, Matteo Panunte, Nathan Peattie, Elijah Knutt, Kyle Rothwell, Daniel McKay, Wayne Swinson, Matt Sharpe

Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY, Mark Fawcett, Kyle Pelrine, Jason Fontaine, Rob Murray, Kyle Haynes, Jim Lampman, Pete Reid, Jeff Larmet, Rob Disher, George Grosul, Chris Crowe, Zach Bleich, Gofast Teeple, Rob General

Qualifying Heats – Rob Murray, Jason Fontaine

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – BRENT BEGOLO, Josh Sliter, Tyler Winger, Jamie Gilbert, Joe Isabell, Rob Misener, Ryan Anderson, Leroy Buscumb, Dave Cornish, Chris Watson, Roger Pardis, Cole Hardy, Anthony Scott, Anthony Kelly, Craig Martin, Ryleigh Sliter, Tyler Colbert, Ashton Anderson, Chance Kotar, Cohen Corbett, R.J. Pietz

Qualifying Heats – R.J. Pietz, Brent Begolo, Ryan Anderson

Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders – SHAWN KEUS, Joshua Dmytrow, Randy Alway, Hana Rothwell, Clinton Barrick, Mason Anderson, Alex Riley, Olivier Larocque, Ken Hair, Rob Goulding, John Lubeck, Richard Hadler, Sam Iftody, Braden Keus, Justin Towers, John Trivieri,Tina Ronning, Nick Bowman, Austyn Werstroh, Sierra Robison, Jay Moulton, Kallie Akins, Ray Cerenzia, Matt Christie, Jeremy Cooper, Joe Stevenson

B Feature 1: JEREMY COOPER, Austyn Werstroh, Nick Bowman, Sierra Robison, Justin Towers, Tina Ronning, Simon Denhollander, John Trivieri, Roger Winfield, Connor Chambers, Joe Stevenson, Blair Roussell

Qualifying Heats – John Lubeck, Randy Alway, Joshua Dmytrow

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