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Dixon Wins BRP CanAm War at Merrittville
Thorold, ONT…Steve Dixon lead only one lap, in fact he lead only about 500 feet of one lap, but they it was the all important 500 feet to the checkered flag.
Dixon, 27, waged an all out war with Jim Johnson to earn first Canadian BRP CanAm Series victory. His only other Series win was at Woodhull Raceway earlier this year.
The Smethport, PA racer inherited the second spot on lap 22 when Chief Neil Patterson’s great ride ended with drive line failure. Johnson was very consistently running one lane off the bottom of the super fast track. Dixon used the shorter extreme bottom of the track. The two ran side by side for eight laps. A couple of sprint car style slide jobs out of turn four gained the attention of the thrilled crowd. Johnson was able to overcome everything Dixon could throw at him until the 500 foot run out of turn four to the finish line.
“That was really fun,” said Dixon as he dismounted for the Victory Lane celebration. “We raced like that and never touched. Unbelievable, it just doesn’t get any better than that. I love this place. Winning is great, but when you do it side by side with a guy like Johnson it is just unbelievable. We always race well here, but our prior best was fifth [actually fifth twice in 2005 – his rookie year]. This track is incredible. Thanks to Bicknells and their team for all they do for the BRP CanAm Series and this race track.”
Johnson wasn’t happy to finish second. He had won at Humberstone earlier this year and was hoping for a second “over the border” win. Johnson inherited the top spot on lap six when Jeff Chesebro, the Series point leader, withdrew with front suspension failure. That was the good news. The bad news was that Randy Hall, the defending Series Champion, was charging from his eighth starting spot and went to work on Johnson for a very entertaining battle for laps nine thru fifteen. Hall may have lead lap ten, but without transponders or a recheck of the video only the scorers know.
Hall spun exiting turn four on lap 15. Johnson was able to avoid contact, but Matt Cobb and Larry Knowles were collected. Hall went to the pits for repairs and returned only to withdraw on lap 18 with front end damage from the incident. Cobb was out for the night. Knowles was able to continue and made a great charge from the back to end up sixth at finish.
Mike Williams, a Series rookie, finished third. The Native American from the Tuscarora Nation turned in another strong and steady drive all race long. In fact, on lap 12 while Johnson and Hall were waging their war. Williams made a bonsai move on the extreme outside and almost passed both of them.
A photo finish for fourth was won by Bob Buono, another Series rookie. Buono and Paul Grigsby crossed the finish line side by side. The scorers had it correct, car 64 [Buono] and car 24 [Grigsby]. The call was challenged. A replay of the track’s finish line video proved the scorers to be correct. “I was there. I do not need and damn video to prove it,” shared Buono with anyone within range.
Grigsby made a great charge to contest for a top five after he was collected in somebody else’s mess on lap five and restarted at the rear.
F/A Products – Clevite Engine Parts Heat race winners were Larry Knowles and Jeff Chesebro.
The DART Machinery Hard Charger $100 award winner was Mike Williams who finished 3rd from 12th at the start.
The Performance Friction Brake Break of the Race $100 award went to Neil Patterson for his bad break with a DNF after running second.
The next BRP CanAm Series event is Friday August 24th at Ransomville Speedway.
National Parts Peddler A-Main Finish (30 laps): STEVE DIXON, Jim Johnson, Mike Williams, Bob Buono, Paul Grigsby, Larry Knowles, Bob Babbitt, Ron Baker, Jason Tingue, Keith Cameron, Todd Wellman, Bob Bartlett, Neil Patterson, Randy Hall, Matt Cobb, Rick Baker, Jeff Chesebro, Rick Beales
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