Points kings reign on dirt tracks

Defending and former champions set the pace in feature races

Defending and former track champions took bows in Victory Lane at dirt tracks in Niagara on the weekend.

Checkered flags in all five regular features Saturday night at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold went to drivers who have won at least one points championship at the Thorold track.

One night later, at New Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, points kings reigned in two of four main events contested as part of the All-Canadian Championships.

Stop-and-go traffic in the late going didn’t prevent Gary Lindberg from setting the pace in the 358 Modified feature at Merrittville. The Ridgeway driver, a multiple-time Sportsman champion, raced to his third win of the season in Thorold’s premier division.

Thorold’s Brent Begolo, the reigning points king in both the Sportsman and Mod Lite racing classes, had a good news-bad news night as Merrittville opened the civic holiday weekend with two programs.

Begolo overtook co-pole sitter Jordan Cosco with four laps remaining in the Sportsman feature for his first checkered flag of the season. However, the thirdgeneration driver placed 12th behind Jeffery May of Hamilton in the 20-lap Mod Lite event after setting the pace in a qualifying heat.

It was May’s first win of 2019 at Merrittville and the one-time track champion’s second in a row racing on dirt in Niagara. He led the field across the finish line on July 27, when the class was featured at New Humberstone Speedway.

Beamsville’s Kyle Pelrine, the 2013 Mini Stock points champion, rounded out a trio of first-time winners at Merrittville by withstanding challenges from Billy Bleich Jr. and defending champion Rob Murray in the 20-lap

Hoosier Stock feature.

John Couture’s fifth win of the year in V6 was almost a flag-to-flag victory. The reigning track champion from Niagara Falls moved into the lead at the end of the opening lap and led all 11 laps after that.

Andy Imbeault, 73, of Port Colborne pulled away from Hamilton’s Mark Shadwell at the start of the Vintage Car feature on his way to his second straight Thunder of the Dirt Vintage Car Series race.

Joining him in Victory Lane at the Port Colborne track were Brad Rouse of St. Catharines, the Sportsman winner; and Chad Homan of Macedon, N.Y., near Rochester, Late Model.

Rouse topped the points standings in Humberstone’s top division in 2011 and 2016, and Homan is seeking his third Late Model championship in a row.

Anthony Kelly of Niagara Falls led his dad Tony across the finish line in Mini Stock, and Justin Ramsay from Belleville, Ont., won the Thunder Stock feature.

Sunday night’s top five and heat winners from New Humberstone Speedway

Sportsman, 40 laps: 1. Brad Rouse, 2. Adam Leslie, 3. James Michael Friesen, 4. Jordan Cosco, 5. Greg Panunte. B Main: Matt Sharpe. Dash for cash: Panunte.

Late Model, 30 laps: 1. Chad Homan, 2. David Pangrazio, 3. Sam Pennacchio, 4. Rob Pietz, 5. Adam Ferri.

Thunder Stock, 30 laps: 1. Justin Ramsey, 2. Billy Bleich Jr., 3. Wade Purchase, 4. Dave Bailey, 5. Donny Lampman. B Main: Rob Murray.

Mini Stock, 30 laps: 1. Anthony Kelly, 2. Tony Kelly, 3. Olivier Larocque, 4. Frank Perry, 5. Trevor Want.

B Mains: Cole Hardy, Evan Curtis.

Vintage Cars, 15 laps: 1. Mark Shadwell, 2. Kevin Lawes, 3. Tim Natalino, 4. Steve Longo, 5. Conrad Baker. Heat winners: Andy Imbeault, Natalino.

Top five and heat winners from Saturday night’s program at Merrittville Speedway

358 Modified, 35 laps: 1. Gary Lindberg, 2. Mat Williamson, 3. Ryan Susice, 4. Pete Bicknell, 5. Mike Bowman. Heat winners: Rob Knapp, Rick Richner.

Sportsman, 25 laps: 1. Brent Begolo, 2. Rouse, 3. Cosco, 4. Friesen, 5. Dave DiPietro. Heat winners: Cosco, Jay Mallory, Ryan Ferri.

Hoosier Stock, 20 laps: 1. Kyle Pelrine, 2. Billy Bleich, Jr., 3. Murray, 4. Ramsey, 5. Jason Fontaine. Heat winners: Bryce Richardson, Fontaine.

Mod Lite, 20 laps: 1. Jeffery May, 2. Tyler Winger, 3. Josh Sliter, 4. Chris Watson, 5. Randy Giroux. Heat winners: Winger, Begolo.

V6, 12 laps: 1. John Couture, 2. Kevin Conley, 3. Rob Shaw, 4. Josh Dymtrow, 5. Tina Ronning. Heat winner: Rob Shaw.

Track talk: A $1,000-to-win Insta Panels Duel on the dirt combined race for 4-cylinders highlights a special civic holiday program last night at Merrittville.