7/3/2019
Race of Champions
JAMES MICHAEL FRIESEN (HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY) AND DYLAN DAVIDSON (MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY) BECOME IMPRESSIVE FIRST TIME RACE OF CHAMPIONS DIRT 602 SPORTS
James Michael Friesen of Saint Catharines, Ontario and Dylan Davidson of Saint Catharines, Ontario scored victories on respective nights to open the Race of Champions Dirt 602 Sportsman Modified presented Product 9 Series season as well as celebrate the Canada Day Holiday.
On Sunday night at Humberstone Speedway, Friesen started second and quickly took the lead from Emily Puchalski of Port Colborne, Ontario, who started on the pole. Friesen held off Adam Leslie of Saint Catharines, Ontario, (2nd) and Cody McPherson of Saint Catharines, Ontario (3rd) to garner his second career Race of Champions victory.
“This car and team seem to run good at Humberstone,” stated Friesen in victory lane. “We had to race hard to keep Adam (Leslie) and Cody (McPherson) back behind us, but it all worked out. It just all worked out for us and it feels great to be back in victory lane.”
Greg Panunte of Saint Catharines, Ontario finished 4th and defending series champion, Brad Rouse of Saint Catharines, Ontario finished 5th.
Leslie, Friesen and Rouse won the qualifying races. Rouse posted the fastest time in Green-White-Checker timed hot laps.
On Monday, the Series headed to Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Ontario and 18-year old Dylan Davidson of Saint Catharines, Ontario, shocked the crowd with a drive from the 11th place starting position, to take the lead after a late race battle with McPherson and go on to his first feature victory in the division.
“This is an awesome night for myself and my family,” stated Davidson in victory lane. “We had a great car and it was so wild to pass all of those guys. They are some of the best in the division. The car was very good and it just kept getting better. This is exciting and I’m hoping the first of many. I need to thank my family for all of their support and dedication to what I am doing. This is a great night.”
McPherson finished 2nd. Rouse came home 3rd. Brent Begolo of Saint Catharines, Ontario, who won last season at Ohsweken finished 4th and Panunte rounded out the top-five.
Chad Chevalier of Port Colborne, Ontario, Rouse and Panunte won the qualifying races. Panunte turned the fastest time during the Green-White-Checker timed hot lap sessions.
The Series returns to action on Tuesday, July 23rd as part of the Summer Nationals at Ohsweken Speedway which will be telecast live on MAVTV Canada.
The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, US Army, Upstate Automotive Group, Waddell Communications, Pilat Graphic Design, Wilwood Engineering, Wilbert’s U Pull-It, TDH Refrigeration, Sherwood Racing Wheels, PavedTrackDigest.com and Speed51.com. The 69th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2019 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
For more information, contact;
Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
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Humberstone Speedway Merrittville Speedway
Canada Day 40 Canada Day Fireworks 40
Feature Finish – Feature Finish -
Position, Driver, Car Number, Starting Position Position, Driver, Car Number, Starting Position
1.) James Michael Friesen 72 2 1.) Dylan Davidson 73 11
2.) Adam Leslie 15 4 2.) Cody McPherson 66 3
3.) Cody McPherson 66 3 3.) Brad Rouse 18r 8
4.) Greg Panunte 99p 7 4.) Brent Begolo 16 6
5.) Brad Rouse 18r 5 5.) Greg Panunte 99p 2
6.) Chad Chevalier 12 12 6.) Jordan Cosco 17c 9
7.) Jordon Cosco 17c 13 7.) Jay Mallory 20 14
8.) Dylan Davidson 73 9 8.) Robbie Johnston 33j 7
9.) Dave DiPietro III 68 18 9.) Chad Chevalier 12 5
10.) Jay Mallory 20 6 10.) James Michael Friesen 72 4
11.) Matt Sharp 5s 10 11.) Dave DiPietro 68 10
12.) Andrew Smith 1 17 12.) Tom Richau 9r 18
13.) Lee Mallory 44 14 13.) Adam Leslie 15 1
14.) Rob Sauder 93 11 14.) David Flanigan 74x 16
15.) Justin Sharp 8s 15 15.) Ryan Ferri 6 13
16.) Tyler Puchalski 21p 16 16.) Derick VanMil 2Cool 20
17.) Emily Puchalski 12p 1 17.) Trevor Wright 09 15
18.) Tom Richau 9r 8 18.) Matt Sharp 5s 19
19,) Noah Mamo 3n 21
20.) Nathan Peattie 23n 22
21.) Paul Gaboury 9 12
22.) Rob Sauder 93 17
Qualifying Race Winners; Adam Leslie; Brad Rouse; Qualifying Race Winners: Chad Chevalier; Brad Rouse;
James Michael Friesen Greg Panunte
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