Thorold, Ontario – Archer Truck Service and Semenuk's Esso closed the month of May with a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event that featured the opening round of the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series with Leroy Buscumb taking home the 20 lap Event.

 

Mike Bowman and Josh Sliter both won their first features of the new season in the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modifieds and J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Divisions. Bowman's win is unofficial pending further technical inspections concerning his MSD Box. Repeat winners were James Michael Friesen who took home his 2nd win in the Rick's Delivery Sportsman Division while Jason Fontaine won his 4th Hoosier Stock Feature.

 

"We had to piece this car together," explained Leroy Buscumb of Port Colborne after winning the 20 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series Opener in a back-up Trevor Clark-owned Volkswagen, "we have some engine problems to sort out in my new car ... it's a dream to win at Merrittville – I can't wait to do it again with my other car!"

 

Jason Coutu beat Buscumb to the original green flag at the start with Jocelyn Wiley on the move in the early going. Wiley would take the lead out of Turn 4 to complete lap 4 but the next time down the backstretch it was Buscumb in control of top spot.

 

Last week's winner Rob Goulding slowed on lap 5 slowing the pace with Buscumb back out front on the restart. Coutu would regroup and take back second spot and by lap 8 would challenge the leader.

 

Buscumb and Coutu would drive away from the field by about a ¼ lap by the halfway point. From lap 15 to the checkered flag, Buscumb would pull away from Coutu with defending Triple Crown Mini-Series Champion Tyler Lafantaisie third. Kyle Rothwell and Evan Curtis would round out the top 5.

 

Round 2 of the 2014 Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Series is set for Saturday July 19th when Semenuk's Esso and Archer Truck Service return to host another full Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program.

 

"We changed just about everything," relayed Mike Bowman of St. Catharines in Victory Lane, :"I don't think there wasn't a tool we didn't use. This one's for my crew man Derek (Miller) – his father passed away this week."

 

Rookie Rick Bellamy was first to lead the 35 lap Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature before Bowman took control on lap 2. Caution would slow the field right away however after Bellamy lost control of his car.

 

Bowman was back out front on the restart and by lap 5 had pulled away to a ¼ lap lead. By lap 10 he stretched his advantage to a straightaway over the Top 5 of Todd Gordon, Fred Carleton, Billy Bleich and Pete Bicknell.

 

Little had changed by halfway except that Bicknell had taken over third spot. Before a lap 19 caution slowed the pace – Bowman was a half second faster than anyone else on the track. The return to racing was delayed right away but when action resumed, Bowman was back out front and by lap 25 was off to a lead of almost a straightaway once more.

 

The race to watch was the one for second with Gordon holding off Bicknell until the 22-time champion took the spot on lap 32.

Bowman, Bicknell and Gordon were followed by Mark D'Ilario and Tommy Flannigan.

 

Second year Driver Dylan Davidson was first to lead the 15 lap J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature but what was once a comfortable lead was a challenge for the 4th generation driver.

 

Davidson would face an early challenger led by Jeffrey May with Josh Sliter and Paul Klager joining in. May would become the new leader on lap 5 before Sliter took control – opening a 5 car lead by the halfway point.

 

Sliter's pace was slowed on lap 11 but on the restart – the Port Colborne defending Champion opened up a comfortable lead once again.

 

A lap 14 caution set up a once lap dash to the finish with Sliter welcoming his newest sponsor Niagara Falls Nissan with his first win.

 

Paul Klager made a late race charge to take second with May, Rob Misener and Rick Koabel rounding out the top 5.

 

"With the set up we had ... I didn't think the car would be that good," relayed third generation driver James Michael Friesen in Sportsman Victory Lane for the 2nd time of 2014, "I really didn't think we would win ... that race was Brent's!"

 

After the 25 lap Feature for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman put three cautions in the first two laps behind them, Brent Begolo took control of top spot from initial leader Joey Mastroianni.

 

By lap 10, Begolo, a third generation driver had opened up a lead of almost a straightaway.. By halfway, lap traffic had allowed runner-up Friesen to close the gap slightly but still had lots of ground to cover to catch the leader.

 

Unfortunately Begolo would get caught up with the lap car of Gord McIntosh and after slight contact Friesen became the new leader. Fortunately Begolo would only lose 1 position.

 

A lap 24 caution gave Begolo one last chance at Friesen but at the checkered flag, Friesen was able to hold him off.

 

Brad Rouse, BJ Willard and Austin Wood rounded out the top 5.

 

Vince Fargnoli was first to lead the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature before Jim Lampman took control on lap 2. Lampman opened up a 10 car advantage until caution slowed the field in the early going after Fargnoli grazed the front stretch wall just ahead of the Insta-Insulation Lap Counter in Turn 1.

With Lampman back out front on the restart, Billy Bleich began to challenge the leader with the battle for third between Jason Fontaine, Chris Crawford and Kevin Knapp.

 

Quickly Bleich and Fontaine would attack Lampman with Bleich the new leader following a lap 7 restart until Fontaine took top spot on lap 8. By lap 10 Lampman was back in the runner up spot a couple car lengths behind.

 

By lap 15, Fontaine's lead was some 20 car lengths – a margin he would hold to the checkered flag. Fontaine and Lampman would be followed by Mark Fawcett, James Thompson and Bleich.

 

Unfortunately Thompson would be disqualified post race after not making minimum with Chris Crawford moving into 5th.

 

PIT NOTES

 

Paul Gaboury was the latest driver to be named Archer Truck Service Driver of the Week. Al Willard was the winner of the STIHL Trimmer in the Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Free Draw.

 

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

 

Baron Roofing and Siding will open the David Chevrolet King of the Crates Series for the Rick's Delivery Sportsman on Saturday June 7th in addition to a full Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program.

 

Grandstands open at 5:30 - Show Time is 7:00.

 

Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series Opener (20 laps) Leroy Buscumb, Jason Coutu, Tyler Lafantaisie, Kyle Rothwell, Evan Curtis, Mike Sadusek, Sam Ifody, Jeff Hill, Rob Goulding, Garnet Wilson, Greg Wilson, Chris Shepherd, Kurtis Wiley, Kyle Haynes, Jeremy Smith, Brandon Boychuk, Cam Collens, Kourtney Kocarik, Alex Riley, Mike Giberson, Jocelyn Wiley. 

 

Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature (35 laps) UNOFFICIAL Mike Bowman, Pete Bicknell, Todd Gordon, Mark D'Ilario, Tommy Flannigan, Ryan Susice, Chris Steele, Fred Carleton, Chad Brachmann, Chad Chevalier, Brandon Easey, Mat Williamson, Travis Cunningham, Travis Miller, Chris Bellamy, Rick Hoctor, Dennis Giancola, Robbie Krull, Scott Wood, Bill Bleich, Tim Jones, Tyler McPherson.

 

Rick's Delivery Sportsman Feature (25 laps) James Michael Friesen, Brent Begolo, Brad Rouse, BJ Willard, Austin Wood, Rob Knapp, Ryan Turner, Jordan Cosco, Paul Gaboury, Boyd MacTavish, Charlie Lynch, Robert Baker, Jason Farraway, Joey Mastroianni, Cody McPherson, Kyle Tomaski, Derick Hodge, Jim Harbison, Gord McIntosh, Adam Leslie, Justin Sharp, Gary Lindberg.

 

J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature (15 laps) Josh Sliter, Paul Klager, Jeff Chapman, Rob Misener, Rick Koabel, Dylan Davidson, Evan Leonard, Kristy Dulaj, Ray Sliter, Jr., Marty Demoel, RJ Pietz.

 

Hoosier Stock Feature (15 laps) Jason Fontaine, Jim Lampman, Mark Fawcett, Billy Bleich, Chris Crawford, Kevin Knapp, Rob Murray, Pete Reid, Billy Hogue, Kyle Pelrine, Vince Fargnoli. DQ - James Thompson, DNS - Paul Reichel.

 

Merrittville Speedway is located at 2371 Merrittville Highway in Thorold. For directions click on http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/directions.html or call 905-892-8266 or via e mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway's 63rd Consecutive Season in 2014 – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville).

 

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions with local heroes and up and coming new stars. Make your plans ... call your friends and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to home!

 

Your Local Dirt Track is where it's at!

 

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2014 63rd Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway's 5 Divisions was brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Bobcat of Hamilton, Rick's Delivery, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision in addition to many marketing partners Visit them at . http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.

 

Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem-solving additives.

 

Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.

 

Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer or maintenance center including Drummond Home Hardware. KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage.