All in family in mod lite division
Racing runs in the Sliter family, especially in the mod lite division at Merrittville Speedway.
Take Saturday night for example.
Twelve cars competed in the feature at the Thorold track, fully a third of them driven by someone from either the Port Colborne or Ridgeway branches of the multigeneration racing family. There was Shawn Sliter racing against his daughter Ryleigh, and Ray Jr., Shawn’s brother, trying to cross the finish line ahead of his son, Josh.
In the end, youth was served in the battle for dinner table bragging rights, much to the chagrin of Marty deMoel. After leading the 15-lap main event for much of the way, the Welland driver was passed with one lap to go by Josh Sliter.
The come-from-behind victory was the Ridgeway racer’s second in a row at Merrittville and increased his lead in the race to defend his track championship to 40 over Rob Misener of Welland.
Shawn Sliter, from Port Colborne, finished fourth behind Chris Watson of Niagara Falls, while Steven Beckett of Fonthill rounded out the top five.
Ray Sliter Jr. and Ryleigh Sliter placed eighth and ninth, respectively.
This is 14-year-old Ryleigh’s rookie season in mod lites after spending nine years competing in karts on Merrittville’s inside track.
While she has shown steady improvement since the outset of the 2016 schedule — the top 10 finish was her third in a row — her father wishes she would speed up.
“She’s not going fast enough,” said Shawn, who usually spends Saturday nights on the SOS Series circuit racing 360 sprint cars.
Her adjustment to a morepowerful racing class isn’t causing problems for other drivers in the division, however. Since she is good at “holding her line on the track” while begin lapped, “at least she is not causing problems for other drivers,” her father said.
“No one is afraid to be out there with her.”
Lenie Sliter, Ryleigh’s mother and the 2007 pure stock champion at New Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, isn’t surprised by her daughter’s approach to racing in the higher class.
“The main thing is she doesn’t want to be a weapon,” the mother said. “She wants to be in control of everything.”
Ryleigh understands where her parents are coming from, and she appreciates she still has a way to go on the learning curve.
“I’m still getting used to it. These cars are a lot faster,” said Ryleigh, who is going into Grade 9 at Lakeshore Catholic High School.
She figures it will take about three years before she can beat her father in a race, but Shawn doesn’t think she’ll have to wait that long.
“I think it’s going to be before that. She’s improving every week, and has cut about a second off her lap time.”
Shawn is more nervous watching his daughter from the grandstand than he is racing alongside of her on the track.
“You don’t have the time to think about that when you’re out there,” he said. “That only happens once the caution flag comes out.”
A family theme also was evident in Saturday’s 358 modified, sportsman and Hoosier stock features.
Port Robinson’s Tim Jones held off his father-in-law, St. Catharines’ Pete Bicknell, for his second win of the year in 358 modified.
Three drivers from western New York rounded out the top five in the 35-lap race: Erick Rudolph, Ryan Susice, both of Ransomville; and Chad Brachmann, Sanborn.
In his victory lane remarks, Cody McPherson of St. Catharines thanked his family and his pit crew for getting the sportsman car ready to race while he slept in the trailer, his energy zapped fighting flu-like symptoms.
“When the day started, I didn’t think I would race tonight,” the current points leader said. “I basically slept the whole time in the trailer.”
Paul Gaboury, Welland; Jay Mallory and Brad Rouse, both from St. Catharines; and Brent Begolo, Thorold; also posted top-five finishes.
The main thing is she doesn’t want to be a weapon. She wants to be in control of everything.” Lenie Sliter
After dominating the 20-lap Hoosier stock feature, Mark Fawcett of Canfield, Ont., dedicated the win to a family friend who died recently and whose celebration of life he attended the night before in Temagami, Ont.
“It’s been a difficult time. I’m glad to get back into victory lane,” he said.
Fawcett’s first victory in two months increased his lead over Hagersville’s Dave Bailey from one point to 14 in the tight race for the track championship.
Since blowing an engine, Bailey has been competing with a new motor that he got from Fawcett, who was happy to help a fellow driver in need.
“I want to race against guys on the track, not in the shop,” the twotime defending Merrittville track champion said.
Also finishing in the Hoosier stock top five were Kyle Pelrine, Smithville; Chris Crawford, Welland; and Pete Reid, Stevensville.
Chris Watters of Springville, Ont., near Alymer; and Joey Herremans, Alisa Craig, Ont., near London; each took a checkered flag in the doubleheader in novice sportsman.
Wrapping up Saturday night’s program was the third — and final — qualifier for a 100-lap enduro that will close out Merrittville’s 65th season on Sunday, Sept. 11. A total of 49 cars took part in the cautionand crash-filled 25-lap battle of the beaters.
Jason Coutu of St. Catharines, a regular in the speedway’s mini stocks division, paced the pack for the second straight qualifier. He finished ahead of Nick Masi, the Round 1 winner; and Rob Goulding of Port Colborne, the reigning 4-cylinder champion at both Niagara tracks.
Coutu, Masi and Goulding will make up the top three when the season-ending enduro goes to the green next month.
The seventh annual Bob St. Amand Sr. Memorial was scheduled to highlight a special holiday program Monday night Merrittville. Results were not available at press time, but a summary is posted online atwww. welland tribune. ca.
Action in the sportsman, Hoosier stock and mini stocks joined the 100-lap, $6,000-to-win battle of the big blocks in last night’s racing lineup.
Saturday racing resumes this weekend with 358 modified, sportsman, mini stocks and 4-cylinder trucks rounding out a program that will feature Round 2 in this year’s Duel of the Dirt series for Hoosier stocks.
Grandstands open at 5:30 p.m. and racing gets underway with qualifying heats at 7 p.m.
Notes: Hot laps were cancelled for the fourth straight week in an effort to preserve water ... Before qualifying heats, Pete Reid, Hoosier stock; and Tyler Winger, mod lites; were honoured as drivers of the week.