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Bowman Wins Mod Feature in Spectacular Style at Merrittville

By Dave Sully

(Thorold, Ontario) In a race that literally defied superlatives, Mike Bowman edged Pete Bicknell, in the 50 lap modified John Spencer Memorial at Merrittville Speedway on Saturday, September 4^th. The race was highlighted by a heart-stopping duel that saw four lead changes in the final two laps, the last one coming in the final turn. It was the second race in a row that Bowman made a pass in the final turn to win, the previous being last Sunday night at Humberstone.

Bowman worked his way up from tenth to take the top spot on lap 12 after hounding leader Rob Pietz for several laps. He immediately drove out to a commanding lead. While this was going on, Bicknell, who only needed to take the green to win an unprecedented twentieth Merrittville modified crown, was dropping back from his fourth place starting spot, and was apparently out of contention.

With Bowman seemingly unstoppable, Bicknell began to get dialed in and started to move forward. Two cautions on lap 28 saw him back to fourth for the restart, from where he showed his muscle by moving into second on lap 29. With Bowman running the top and Bicknell churning around the bottom, Bicknell began to chip away at the advantage as Bowman entered lapped traffic.

A caution on lap 39 put them one/two in scoring, but with a lapped car in between them for the restart. Bowman drew away at the drop of the green while Bicknell maneuvered past the lapped car. Then the two engaged in a high/low duel, with Bicknell getting perceptibly closer as the laps wore down, catching him on lap 48. Bicknell made a move under Bowman in turn two on lap 49 to take the lead, only to see Bowman return the favor to regain the top spot.

Bicknell repeated the move three more times, the final one being on the last lap, when he took the lead in turn three, only to have Bowman dive under him as they roared down the front chute the final time. At the line it was Bowman by a scant car length, as the crowd, which had been holding its collective breaths, finally got to exhale. Chris Steele finished third, followed by Tim Jones and Chad Chevalier, who started 16^th, to round out the top five.

Bowman explained the frenetic final laps, saying, “I’ve raced him a lot for the win here. The more I race with someone the more I learn their tendencies, and I knew he’d be taking a slide job after that last restart. I took the slide job line myself, even though there was no one in front of me. I hope that messed him up a little bit.”

Of the dramatic crossovers, where he regained the lead four times, he added, “The one coming out of two, I knew I was going to get him. Coming to the checker (the final turn), I knew I had him for sure. On crossover moves I can judge the speed of his car and place my car accordingly to get the run off. That’s how it’s done.”

Bicknell, who drives the No. 42, and now has 42 total championships among the 20 Merrrittville crowns, echoed Bowman’s sentiments, declaring, “I was short picking up that middle and I knew he was so good on the top I had to find something different that he didn’t have. I just started picking up that middle. The problem was I couldn’t clear him fast enough, and I would spin the tires a lot coming out. It slowed me down. He knew enough to cross and get back by me. It was a cat and mouse chase there. There was nothing I could do. I was a sitting duck. (On the final lap) I knew that going into turn three I needed to block him because that was all that mattered, and I knew I was loose driving in, so I knew I was in trouble. I thought he might not get the run, but the next thing I knew there he goes.”

Of the overall race, he added, “We both gave each other a lot of room, and that was nice. To be able to switch back and forth like that, without even touching, was amazing.”

On winning the Merrittville championship for the twentieth time, he declared, “We tried it for the last few years. It’s been tough. That’s nice to get. It’s a record that I don’t think anybody will ever break. The guys worked hard all year, keeping everything maintained.”

The 25 lap Sportsman race saw Greg Panunte and Brandon Easey tied going into the final race. Panunte, from Pt. Colborne, started seventh, while Easey went off 15^th. Panunte claimed the title when he took the lead on lap 12 and never looked back, while Easey soldiered up to finish third.

Bill Bleich, from Port Robinson, won the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature, taking the lead on lap 12 and then holding off a blistering challenge from Ken Sargent to win by an eyelash. Sargent, from Smithville, who started nineteenth, claimed the crown.

The Open Wheel champion was decided the week before, but Josh Sliter, from Ridgeway, put an exclamation point on his first title by holding off arch rival Paul Klager to win the final point race as well, coming from 12^th to do it. Klager came from 16^th to challenge.

Finally, Rob Goulding, from Pt. Colborne, won the 15 lap Mini Stock Feature, while Rocco Conte, from Welland, took the title after a tight point race with Aaron Wiley.

Notes: Veteran modified driver Brian Stevens announced that this would be his final weekend of racing. His 36 year career produced close to 200 wins and five track titles between Merrittville and Humberstone. Stevens, who has retired several times, but never said he wouldn’t race again, says he’s done for good, declaring, “This is it for me. I hurt too much and can’t afford it. Racing has been great fun. I’ve met a lot of great people. It’s a great sport, but it’s my time.” ……………….With threatening weather, along with windy and chilly conditions, the track was able to stage five features, plus heats in less than three hours, in a model of efficiency for both the track officials and the drivers.”

358 Modified

Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Race Points
1	10	71	Mike Bowman	St. Catharines, On	60.00
2	4	42	Pete Bicknell	St. Catharines, On	56.00
3	8	17C	Chris Steele	Fenwick , On	52.00
4	5	15J	Tim Jones	Sanborn , NY	50.00
5	16	12	Chad Chevalier	Port Colborne, On	48.00
6	7	3	Chad Brachmann	Sanborn , NY	46.00
7	20	44	Brian Stevens	St. Catharines, On	44.00
8	9	6	Mat Williamson	St. Catharines, On	42.00
9	13	26	Rick Richner	Niagara Falls, NY	40.00
10	14	28	Todd Gordon	St. Catharines, On	38.00
11	17	96	Fred Carleton	Niagara On, On	36.00
12	12	38	Scott Wood	Thorold , On	34.00
13	11	72	Tommy Flannigan	St. Catharines, On	32.00
14	15	37	Boyd Mactavish	Ransomville , NY	30.00
15	6	108	Bill Bleich	Port Robinson, On	28.00
16	22	82	Kenny Winfield	Ridgeway , On	27.00
17	18	13	Dennis Giancola	St. Catharines, On	26.00
18	1	76	Travis Braun	St. Catharines, On	25.00
19	3	69	Rob Pietz	Port Colborne, On	24.00
20	2	71S	Shawn Sliter	Port Colborne, On	23.00
21	23	56S	Steven Schumacher	North Tonawanda, NY	22.00
22	19	17X	Pete Cosco	St. Catharines, On	21.00
23	21	8S	Justin Sharp	St. Catharines, On	20.00
Heat winners were Bleich, Flannigan, and Williamson.

Sportsman

Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Race Points
1	7	99P	Greg Panunte	Port Colborne, On	60.00
2	3	77JR	Bj Willard	St. Catharines, On	56.00
3	15	06	Brandon Easey	St. Catharines, On	52.00
4	9	21JJ	Jim Johnstone	Niagara On, On	50.00
5	2	M1	Rob Murray	St. Catharines, On	48.00
6	8	38	Ryan Susice	Ransomville , NY	46.00
7	11	MR18	Brad Rouse	St. Catharines, On	44.00
8	5	9	Paul Gaboury	Welland , On	42.00
9	4	53X	Jamie Gilbert	Welland , On	40.00
10	17	7	Cody Mcpherson	St. Catharines, On	38.00
11	10	2K	Rob Knapp	Niagara Falls, On	36.00
12	14	99C	Nick Cupolo	Thorold , On	34.00
13	6	15	Adam Leslie	Port Colborne, On	32.00
14	13	95	Len Dignard	Sherkson , On	30.00
15	1	00	Jesse Penner	Niagara Falls, On	28.00
16	24	88	Gary Lindberg	Ridgeway , On	27.00
17	23	111	Robbie Rounce	Caledonia , On	26.00
18	16	25	Tony Cowell	Woodstock , On	25.00
19	12	68P	Paul Jorgensen	Binbrook , On	24.00
20	19	69X	James Mercer	Grimsby , On	23.00
21	20	14	Paul Williamson	Brampton , On	22.00
22	22	5H	Ray Hockridge	Niagara Falls, On	21.00
23	18	53	Richard Farraway	Hamilton , On	20.00
24	21	26H	Luke Carleton	Port Colborne, On	20.00
Heat winners were Susice and Willard.

Hoosier Stocks

Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Race Points
1	7	108	Billy Bleich Jr	Port Robinson, On	60.00
2	17	25	Ken Sargent	Smithville , On	56.00
3	11	4K	Kevin Knapp	Thorold , On	52.00
4	4	90	Vince Fargnoli	Niagara Falls, On	50.00
5	8	31	Barry Blanchard	Welland , On	48.00
6	16	05	Pete Reid	Stevensville , On	46.00
7	6	710	Mike Dooley	St. Catharines, On	44.00
8	15	97	Ron Loggie	Cooks Mills, On	42.00
9	19	10	Mike Calaguiro	Niagara Falls, On	40.00
10	21	14	James Thompson	St. Catharines, On	38.00
11	10	3	Kevin Aube	St. Catharines, On	36.00
12	2	08JR	Shawn Wilson	Port Robinson, On	34.00
13	12	16	Brent Begolo	Thorold , On	32.00
14	5	33	Larry Czinege Jr.	Ridgeway , On	30.00
15	3	K51	Ed Mcnamara	Sherkston , On	28.00
16	13	9	Tyler Anderson	St. Catharines, On	27.00
17	18	88	Shayne Pierce	Welland , On	26.00
18	20	52	Rick Grundy	Niagara Falls, On	25.00
19	14	27	Dolf Mccready	St. Catharines, On	24.00
20	1	34	Ron Macaulay	St. Catharines, On	23.00
21	9	21	Paul Wichert	Allanburg , On	22.00
22	22	108X	Michael Bosse	St. Catharines, On	0.00
23	23	85J	Smoke Johnson	-	0.00
Heat winners Knapp, Begolo, and Fargnoli.

Open Wheel Lites

Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Race Points
1	12	17	Josh Sliter	Ridgeway , On	60.00
2	16	1	Paul Klager	Beamsville , On	56.00
3	7	77	Randy Hollingshead	Stoney Creek, On	52.00
4	11	2EZ	Blair Young	Niagara Falls, On	50.00
5	9	91	Derek Moore	Welland , On	48.00
6	6	27	Ray Sliter Jr	Ridgeway , On	46.00
7	4	14	Kellie Mason	St. Catharines, On	44.00
8	14	76	Dan Kviring	Brantford , On	42.00
9	3	37	Wally Billing	Elmira , On	40.00
10	18	67	Rick Brubacher	St. Clements, On	38.00
11	2	117	Derek Bredin	Niagara Falls, On	36.00
12	8	88	Dave Russell	Boston , NY	34.00
13	17	4	Greg Mills	Niagara Falls, On	32.00
14	21	80W	Mike Westwood	Mlton , On	30.00
15	1	116	Bob Bredin	Niagara Falls, On	28.00
16	5	87	Ryan Grady	Beamsville , On	27.00
17	10	33	Kory Howe	St. Catharines, On	26.00
18	13	19	Jason Corless	Bolton , On	25.00
19	15	28	Adam Murphy	Niagara Falls, On	24.00
20	19	82	Mark Brighton	Ariss , On	23.00
21	20	31	Scott Billing	Waterloo , On	22.00
Heat winners were Murphy and Wally Billing.

4 Cylinders

Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Race Points
1	11	16	Robert Goulding	Port Colborne, On	60.00
2	15	34C	Rocco Conte	Welland , On	56.00
3	12	7W	Aaron Wiley	Wellandport , On	52.00
4	4	8	Terry Larmet	St. Catharines, On	50.00
5	9	38	Austin Wood	Thorold , On	48.00
6	3	17	Chris Laskey	Welland , On	46.00
7	10	71	Garnet Wilson	Canfield , On	44.00
8	6	07	Jocelyn Wiley	Wellandport , On	42.00
9	2	24	Tony Kelly	Niagara Falls, On	40.00
10	5	33	Greg Wilson	Canfield , On	38.00
11	14	34	Fred Conte	Welland , On	36.00
12	8	48	Rob Overholt	Fort Erie, On	34.00
13	7	47X	Kyle Pelrine	Beamsville , On	32.00
14	17	11	Mike Giberson	Caledonia , On	30.00
15	16	99	Sam Rodgers	Thorold , On	28.00
16	1	88	Brandon Boychuck	Welland , On	27.00
17	13	84	Dan Sider Jr	St. Catharines, On	26.00
18	19	55	Tony Braster	Welland , On	25.00
19	18	4	Jason Coutu	St. Catharines, On	24.00
Heat winners were Aaron Wiley and Laskey.