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LINDBERG OUTLASTS THE FIELD FOR 50 LAP JERRY WINGER MEMORIAL FEATURE WIN

THOROLD, Ontario (June 15th, 2024) … As Merrittville Speedway celebrated five legacies that have been integral to the track’s 73 years of history with the pre-race Wall of Fame Induction and CAA Dedication to Racing Awards, five drivers added to their own legacies with wins. CAA Niagara and Auto FX Graphics & Signs night began with a ceremony honouring Bob St. Amand Jr, Andy Imbeault and Erik Tomas who were inducted to Wall of Fame, while Kim Ashton and Judy Gordon received the Dedication to Racing Awards on the front stretch in front of a packed grandstand. Gary Lindberg of Ridgeway, Ontario won the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial in the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds. St. Catharines native Cody McPherson kept his unbeaten streak alive in the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman’s by winning the 35 lap Al Willard Memorial. Two other St. Catharines drivers picked up their first career feature wins, Cohen Corbett in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites and Mason Anderson in the Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders. Doug “Flash” Gordon picked up the win in the NRVRS Vintage Cars feature.

Luke Carleton and Scott Wood started from the front row for the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial in the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds. Wood’s night came to an early close unfortunately when he slowed on the back stretch leading to a caution on lap 11. Kyle Richner brought out the yellow just eight laps later when he spun, setting up a restart with Freddie Carleton and Chad Brachmann at the front of the field. Carleton led most of the first half of the race. After a lap 23 restart, Gary Lindberg and Chad Brachmann dueled for the second spot, including some contact that resulted in Brachmann spinning in turns 3 and 4, which forced the yellow back out on lap 28. On the restart, Lindberg, carrying some cosmetic damage from the clash with Brachmann, made his move to get to the front. Lindberg was able to survive a restart on lap 35, while Carleton battled with Pete Bicknell for the second spot. Lindberg claimed his third win on the year, and second in major events after winning the Ivan Little Memorial two weeks ago. Carleton and Bicknell finished on the podium with James Friesen and Brad Rouse rounding out the top 5.

Cody McPherson has made a habit of winning races with a little extra meaning to him. The driver who entered the night unbeaten in the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman in 2024, was looking to the inaugural Al Willard Memorial 35 lap feature, an event celebrating the racing legacy of his grandfather. Last year, after his dad was inducted to the Wall of Fame, Cody went out and won the Sportsman feature in a throwback tribute wrap. While McPherson’s car was its usual red and black attack scheme on Saturday, it was unusual to see him start 14th after missing a spot in the redraw. After a string of early cautions, including one each for Curtis and James Friesen who suffered mechanical issues, McPherson took the lead on a lap nine restart. On lap 21, McPherson had a nearly 2 second advantage erased by a spin from Dan McKay. McPherson led on the restart, but Brett Senek maintained pressure as the two leaders entered lap traffic. Senek closed to within a car length and looked posed to make the winning move before lap traffic forced him out of his preferred lane, and McPherson increased the margin enough to hold him off as the laps wound down. McPherson picked up his fifth win on the year, with Senek second, Adam Leslie was third, Billy Bleich Jr. fourth and Taylor Vanderzanden, running a throwback scheme for his father, finished in fifth.

Cohen Corbett and Chris Watson lead the field to green in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites with Corbett out to an early lead. The previous week saw Ryan Anderson pick up his first career win, and Corbett, who has shown incredible growth in the last year and half, looked to do the same this week. However, it would not be an easy win for Corbett, as a caution with four laps to go, placed defending track champion Brent Begolo on his back bumper for the restart. Corbett timed it perfectly and managed a comfortable gap to see the checkered first for this first time in his career. Begolo came home second, with R.J. Pietz, Josh Sliter, and Leroy Buscumb rounding out the top five.

Stan Zanchin and Doug Gordon were the class of the NRVRS Vintage car field, starting on the front row together after winning each of their heat races. The drivers traded the lead multiple times, but Gordon had a little extra motivation to go out and win. His wife Judy had already received the CAA Dedication to Racing Award earlier in the evening, and Doug made it a family affair. He captured the checkered ahead of Zanchin. Bill Profota finished third, with Jipp Ortez fourth and Jens Mortensen in fifth.

The first-time winner mojo also carried over to the Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders. Last week’s breakthrough winner Hana Rothwell had unfortunately had a sharp turn of luck when her car rolled on the back stretch after an incident involving Ray Cerenzia and Josh Dmytrow. She would be alright, and the race would resume with Matt Christie out front. Mason Anderson drove his way up to the front, finding the lead before another caution on lap seven. Anderson would survive another restart with six laps to go in the 15-lap feature, holding off defending track champion Alex Riley and Austyn Werstroh to score his first career win. Randy Alway and Olivier Larocque finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Next week, Merrittville Speedway honours a legendary engine builder as the Southern Ontario Sprints return for the Gary Cunningham Memorial. They will be joined by the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, Hoosier Stocks. Rona Doidge Modified Lites, and Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders. There will also be Toonie Hot Dogs in the concessions and our first School Bus Race of the year. 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 –- June 15th, 2024.

Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – GARY LINDBERG (3), Fred Carleton, Pete Bicknell, James Friesen, Brad Rouse, Justin Sharp, Jay Mallory, Chad Brachmann, Martin Polhill, Todd Gordon, Luke Carleton, Shayne Pierce, Glenn Styres, Dylan Davidson. Derek VanMil, Ken Winfield. Bill Gill, Brian Page, Dave Flannigan Jr., Paul Gaboury, Kyle Richner, Noah Walker, Scott Wood, Nelson Mason

Qualifying Heats – Chad Brachmann, Brad Rouse, Scott Wood

Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (5), Brett Senek, Adam Leslie, Billy Bleich Jr., Taylor Vanderzanden. Mitch Dumont. Tyler Puchalski, Noah Mamo, Matt Sharpe. Terry Smith, Matteo Panunte, Wayne Swinson. Nigel Pendykoski, Jason VanMil. Graeme Toth, Daniel McKay, Nathan Peattie, Jacob Chevalier, Zach Bleich, Tyler Lafantaise, Elijah Knutt. Doug Walsh Jr., Jeff Panunte, Curtis Friesen, James Friesen, Kyle Rothwell

Qualifying Heats – Billy Bleich Jr., Wayne Swinson, Taylor Vanderzanden

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – COHEN CORBETT, Brent Begolo, R.J. Pietz, Josh Sliter, Leroy Buscumb, Tyler Winger, Ryan Anderson, Dave Cornish, Anthony Kelly, Chris Watson, Cole Hardy, Ryleigh Sliter, Greg Zack, Tyler Colbert. Ashton Anderson, Roger Pardis, Chance Kotar, Joe Isabell, Sean Iftody, Shawn Sliter

Qualifying Heats – Brent Begolo, Cohen Corbett, Shawn Sliter

NRVRS Vintage Cars – DOUG GORDON, Stan Zanchin, Bill Profota, Jipp Ortez, Jens Mortensen, Dave Small, Steve Longo, Mark Shadwell, Andy Imbeault, Ron Wiltsie, Dean Montreuil, Tim Natalino, Mike Jacobs, Alan Wood, Jordan Denobriga, Bill Montreuil, Chad Brown

Qualifying Heats – Stan Zanchin, Doug Gordon

Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders – MASON ANDERSON, Alex Riley, Austyn Werstroh, Randy Always, Olivier Larocque, Ken Hair, Cierra Keus, John Lubeck, Clinton Barrick, Ray Cerenzia, Matt Christie, Mark Deagle Sam Iftody, Braden Keus, Kaillie Akins, Rogan Monaghan, Richard Hadler, Tina Ronning, Nick Bowman, John Trivieri, Connor Chambers. Jonas Kazakevicius, Justin Towers, Blair Rousselle, Sierra Robison, Brendan Lefrancois, Hana Rothwell, Joshua Dmytrow, Corey Lawton, Dave Wininger

Qualifying Heats - John Lubeck, Randy Alway, Hana Rothwell

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