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Hall Tops BRP CanAm Racers At Merrittville Speedway
Thorold, ONT - Randy Hall, defending BRP CanAm Late Model Series Champion, celebrated Queen Victoria Day by winning the Monday night holiday special at Merrittville Speedway. Hall, a many time track champion at New York State and Pennsylvania tracks with over 100 career wins in IMCA and E-Mod type cars had not previously won in any type race car in Canada.
Hall, started the 30 lap contest in sixth position. The Olean, NY driver moved to third on lap two after front row starter Jeremy Wonderling lost the handle on his Shaw Grand Prix and sent the field scrambling with a spin in turn four. Hall passed Steve Dixon on lap six to take over the runner up spot. For the next seven laps the folks in the packed grandstand witnessed a great side-by-side battle with Hall bottom feeding his Duggan and Duggan Contractors / Follman Rental Properties CRS Camry and Jon Rivers, defending race winner, running the ragged racer’s edge in his Darrell’s Automotive / Pro Speed Rocket Monte Carlo. Hall prevailed on lap 13 after Rivers could no longer hang on to the lead after his power steering failed.
“First ever win in Canada, first in this car [any place] this year, and second ever on the Series. This makes that long wait at the Peace Bridge worthwhile. The car worked great and this track was really racey. I wish we had clay and preparation like this at some of the other tracks we race on. I hope we put on a good show for the fans. We appreciate what the folks here at the Speedway and Bicknell Racing Products do for all the CanAm race teams,” shared Hall from Victory Circle as fireworks were going off in the distant background.
Steve Dixon, a second generation race car driver from Smethport, Pennsylvania, recorded his best ever BRP CanAm finish when he brought his Irons Farms / Fitzsimmons Construction CRS Monte Carlo home in the runner-up position. Second was good, but later during post race technical inspection Dixon revealed that he was having fuel pickup problems and thought that without that issue he may have been able to hold off or run down Hall. Dixon will have his problems fixed for 2007 Series event number three at Woodhull Raceway on Memorial Day.
Paul Grigsby again brought his Integrity Homes Shaw Grand Prix home third. Also for the second time in two 2007 BRP CanAm starts the East Concord, NY speedster earned the DART Machinery Hard Charger Award. Grigsby was relegated to 17th starting after getting caught up in a heat race crash.
“The car is great and our luck has been good in both A-Mains. I just need some luck qualifying and a good redraw and I will trade these DART Hard Charger Awards for a win! I have never won a Series event and that is something I really want for this new season,” shared Grigsby from his trailer where crew and friends were enjoying a post race feast prepared by Paul’s grandmother.
Brady Wonderling was the top finishing Series rookie when he recorded a strong fourth place finish in his Baldwin Forest Products / Wonderling Logging Shaw Grand Prix. It was great to see Brady’s dad, Mike Wonderling, helping both of his boys in the pits. Mike has recently spent some “down time” in the hospital.
Larry Knowles, winner of the Series opener at Black Rock, rounded out the top five in his Doug Gross Construction / C A T Rental Stores CRS Grand Prix.
Jon Rivers finished sixth. Series rookie Mike Williams not only qualified for his first Series event but drove a great race to finish seventh. Jim Johnson drove from 19th at the start to finish eighth in his Hot Rod Lincoln. Jeff Chesebro and Ed Carley rounded out the top ten finishers.
F/A Products – Clevite Engine Parts heat race winners were Randy Hall, Larry Knowles and Jon Rivers.
Both front row starters, Jon Rivers and Jeremy Wonderling, declined the $500 Close Racing Supply Front Row Challenge.
The $100 Performance Friction Brake of the Race Award winner was Matt Cobb. Cobb’s brake [break] was bad when he spun from sixth late in the race. His good brake [break] was that nobody hit him while parked on the bottom of turn four and that he was able to continue and finish 14th.
Brady Wonderling won both the Brad Penn Pole C a t and Absolute Powder Coating race rookie awards.
Donnie Smith “won” the Suzuki Motorcycles & ATVs Hard Luck award after his car suffered extensive damage when the rear suspension failed and tore out both the driveshaft and transmission!
The next Series event is Memorial Day Monday May 28th at Woodhull Raceway. Woodhull gates will open at 2:30 with racing at 4:30. Track information at www.WoodhullRaceway.com. Series information at www.BRPCanAmSeries.com
2007 BRP CanAm Series Event #2 Finish: RANDY HALL, Steve Dixon, Paul Grigsby, Brady Wonderling, Larry Knowles, Jon Rivers, Mike Williams, Jim Johnson, Jeff Chesebro, Ed Carley, Bob Buono, Tim Dunham, Rich Michael, Matt Cobb, Rick Beales, Rick Baker, Sparky Hills, Ron Baker, Jeremy Wonderling, TJ Newton, Keith Cameron, Neil Patterson, Donnie Smith
Marketing Partners for the 2007 BRP CanAm Series are: Bicknell Racing Products, Absolute Powder Coating, BC Designs & Public Relations, Bob Mullen’s Pro Speed, Brad Penn Racing Oil, Can & Bottle Return of Delevan, Clevite Engine Parts, Close Racing Supply, Cousins Designs, DART Machinery, DB Embroidery, DSE1 Race Engines, EastCoastSpeed.com, Ed Carley Motorsports, F/A Products, Hoosier Tire, Lias Tire – American Racer, National Parts Peddler, Performance Friction Brakes, Signs Plus of Kanona, Southeastern Transmissions, and Suzuki Motorcycles & ATVs
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