Sprint Car racing at Merrittville postponed

Mother Nature continues to give dirt track racing in Niagara a cold shoulder.

A very cold shoulder. Colder-than-seasonal temperatures have forced Merrittville Speedway to cancel an event for the second Saturday in a row.

Last week, it was the annual test-and-tune and practice laps; this week, the Patriot Sprint Tour Spring Sizzler sponsored by Semenuk’s Esso.

“The overnight lows from the last few days, and those predicted for the next couple days are keeping the grounds frozen,” race director Tom Beales said in a posting on the Thorold track’s website.

“We’re expecting the grounds to thaw Saturday as the temperatures begin to rise and that will make both the parking lot and pit areas unusable.”

Monday, July 2, is being pencilled in as the makeup date, when the program will be run, weather permitting, as the Monday Madness BBQ Sizzler.

“It’s unfortunate to have to cancel this Saturday’s event, but we really don’t have any other options,” Don Spiece, the owner of the Thorold track , said. “Ed and Peter Semenuk have put so much effort into making the Sizzler into a special night for race fans and (race) teams alike.”

Plans for the July 2 program will be announced as soon as “everything comes together.”

“But you can be assured that it will be an event that should be on everyone’s racing calendar,” Spiece said.

The track is hoping the testand-tune – essentially, spring training and pre-season rolled into one – can be held this Monday starting at 5 p.m.

It was originally postponed until last Wednesday, but that makeup date was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Merrittville’s 67th season opener Saturday, April 28, will feature racing in five returning divisions – Modified 358, Sportsman, Mod Lites, Hoosier Stock, Mini Stock - as well as in 6-cylinders, the newest class.

Pits for Saturday programs open at 5 p.m., grandstands at

5:30 p.m., with racing getting underway at 7 p.m.

One event that did go on as scheduled was a driving school held two weeks ago. After spending the morning in a classroom session, where they also learned about chassis setup, drivers took to the track for practice laps.

Current Modified 358 track champion Chad Brachmann and

Mat Williamson, a former winner of the track’s premier racing class, were instructors at the driving school. They communicated with the drivers in the ontrack portion of the school using one-way radios.

Randy Williamson of Bicknell Racing Products, a former coowner of the track, led the seminar on race car setup.

Bernd.Franke@niagaradailies.com

905-225-1624 | @TribSportsDesk