Rain washes away rainbow’s promise
Only mini stock feature able to outrace the weather at Merrittville Speedway on Saturday
Not every rainbow is an exclamation point emphasizing the end to wet weather and the return of sunshine.
Some, such as one that teased racing fans Saturday night at Merrittville Speedway, turn out to be commas. They signify a brief break, not a full stop.
After action got back on track following a 40-minute delay to the start of a five-division program, the speedway appeared well on its way to outracing the rain. Hot laps, followed by multiple qualifying heats in all classes, went off without a hitch, as did Round 1 of the Triple Crown Series.
The Hoosier stocks, with the pace truck in the lead, were one circuit away from starting their 20-lap feature when the promise of that rainbow turned out to be a broken one.
A light, but steady, rain prompted track officials to order drivers back to the pit area to sit tight. Showers didn’t last all that long, but radar forecasting more rain in the area finally prompted the speedway to cancel feature races in the Hoosier stock, mod lite, sportsman and 358 modified classes.
It was the second rainout in as many weeks at the dirt track. Last weekend, the entire program was cancelled early in the day due to ground conditions.
Tony Kelly, who had victory lane all to himself on Saturday night, said the going on the banked, clay racing surface was good while it lasted.
“The track was absolutely perfect. It was super tacky, it was nice,” the Niagara Falls driver said after setting the pace in the 20-lap main event in the mini stock class.
Kelly, a qualifying heat winner along with Dan McKay of Thorold and former track champion Leroy Buscumb of Port Colborne, took over the lead three laps into the feature and never lost the front-runner position the rest of the way. He lost a lead of nearly a straightaway on the Lap 15 caution but that did little to slow Kelly, who beat Thorold’s Alex Riley by 2.486 seconds for the win.
He is off to the best start of his racing career. Kelly also dominated the 4-cylinder class two weeks ago in the first points race of the season at Merrittville.
“I’ve never had two in a row. Ever,” said Kelly, who also races regularly Sunday nights at New Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne. “The is car is handling great, absolutely perfect.”
Port Colborne’s Olivier Larocque, Welland’s Tyler Lafantaisie, the defending track champion; and and Rob Sauder, also from Port Colborne, rounded out the top five in the feature Saturday night.
Round 2 in the three-race mini stocks series is set for Saturday, June 10, weather permitting, with the finale taking place Saturday, July 29.
Kyle Rothwell of Welland edged Twisted Metal Racing teammate Lafantaisie by three points to take the Triple Crown Series title last season.
Greg Panunte, Port Colborne; Todd Gordon, St. Catharines; and Mike Bowman, St. Catharines; won qualifying heats in 358 modifieds, while Trevor DeBoer, Hagersville; Billy Bleich Jr., Port Robinson; and reigning track champion Dave Bailey, Hagersville; were heat winners in Hoosier stock.
Pace-setters in the mod lite qualifiers were Rob Misener, Welland; and Tyler Winger, Fort Erie.
Notes: Drivers who lost an opportunity for seat time can begin making up for it at a practice session Wednesday night … Intermission promoted the speedway’s karting program.