Final jewel in Triple Crown going to the green
Merrittiville Mini stocks division completes three-race series; sprint cars visiting Humberstone
Heavy equipment operator Kyle Haynes also knows how to skillfully move machinery that’s much lighter — but far faster.
Since the beginning of the season at Merrittville Speedway, the 24-year-old driver and a race car in mini stocks class has been two most important ingredients of a winning recipe that’s capable of a front-runner finish in the competitive division at the Thorold track.
The hotshot from Caledon, Ont., near Brampton, can sweep this season’s Triple Crown Series with a victory this weekend. A win in Saturday night’s feature would also lift Haynes back into top spot for the point standings for the track title.
He currently trails Robert Goulding of Port Colborne 666658 in the chase for the overall championship at Merrittville. Kyle Rothwell of Welland is third, with 640 points; followed by Tyler Lafantaisie, also of Welland, 611; and Jason Coutu of St. Catharines, 530.
However, Haynes, with 204 points; is comfortably in the driver’s seat in the Triple Crown Series. He leads a top five that includes Goulding, 178 points; Mike Sadusek of Niagara Falls, 177; Sam Iftody of Fenwick, 159; and Kyle Rothwell of Welland, 143.
The series finale in the track’s 4-cylinder division is among the highlights of a racing program that is being presented by Niagara Employment Help Centre.
Also featured is a popular race that relies entirely on footpower, not horsepower, and represents what can happen when cardboard boxes are combined with a child’s imagination. The eighth annual Box Car Races will showcase the colourful creations made by young race fans, many of them members of the Honeywell Safety Kids Club.
Box car races give children the chance to race along the frontstretch of the D-shaped track with very little cost and without too much work. All that’s needed for a “car” is box with a hole for the driver, and it’s off to the races.
“Every year the kids are more and more creative,” said Erica Bicknell-Jones, Merrittville’s general manager. “We’ll have three age groups and one entry will be picked as best of show.”
For the participants on the track, as well as for fans in the stands, box car racing simulates the action of a fender-to-fender, full-throttle thriller, right down a mandatory pit stop. Children, wearing their cars, run to a point on the track where an adult crew member, usually a parent, quickly takes off one of the child’s shoes, puts it back on, to complete box car racing’s version of a tire change.
“This is a great chance for the parent and child to work together,” said Mike Barnett, Kids Club director. “They can build their box together, and then work together in the race.
“We saw some great teamwork and strategy last year for sure.”
Children wishing to enter a box car can find the rules and regulations at merrittvillespeed- way.com/box-car-rules.html.
The eight- point difference between first in second in the mini stocks division is the closest of Merrittville’s five racing classes. Chad Brachmann of Sanborn, N.Y., thanks in large part to a victory last week, has regained the lead over Pete Bicknell of St. Catharines in the speedway’s premier division, 358 modifieds.
Brachmann has a 809- 790 lead over Bicknell, a 23- time track champion, while Mat Williamson of St. Catharines, last year’s overall leader and winner of Monday night’s 100-lap Bob St. Amand Memorial, is third with 768 points so far this year.
Mark D’Ilario of Smithville and Billy Dunn of Watertown, N.Y., round out the top five in the modified class with 734 and 731 points, respectively.
Josh Sliter of Ridgeway, with 626 points; Rob Misener of Welland, 596; Jeffrey May of Mount Hope, Ont., the defending champion, 506; Jamie Gilbert of Welland, 494; and R. J. Pietz of Port Colborne, 484; make up the top five in openwheel lites.
Top five in sportsman are Gary Lindberg, Ridgeway, 810 points; Chad Chevalier, Port Colborne, 734; Brad Rouse, St. Catharines, 719; Cody McPherson, St. Catharines, defending champion, 711; and Paul Gaboury, Welland, 700.
Defending champion Mark Fawcett of Canfield, Ont., is leading the way in Hoosier stocks. He has 758 points, while Dave Bailey of Hagersville, with 684; Kevin Knapp, Port Robinson, 660; Jim Lampman, Caistor Centre, 654; and Billy Bleich Jr., 620; are also in the top five.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with racing starting at 7 p.m.
SPRINT CARS WING IT
Sprint car action highlights racing at New Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne.
In addition to the second visit of the season by the Southern Ontario Sprints, Sunday night’s program will feature a full card: late models, sportsman, street stock, mini stocks and 4-cylinder trucks.
Nine- time feature winner Dennis Lunger Jr., Albion, Pa.; leads Rob Pietz, Gasline, 1,018980; in late models; Lindberg is up 616-564 on Rouse in sportsman, Jason Fontaine, Port Colborne; has a 610-580 lead over Bleich in street stocks, and Goulding leads Brandon Iudiciani in the mini stocks points race, 622-574.
Humberstone’s truck division also is paced by a ninerace winner. Mike Toovey of St. Catharines has collected 640 points, 34 more than Danny Wurster of Niagara Falls.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and racing begins two hours later.