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For Release - Saturday March 8, 2008 - From Jim Irvine - With files from J. Wally Nesbit - Inside Track Motorsport News - Merrittville Speedway Public Relations - 905-685-7223 – Winter Office
Thorold, Ontario (March 8) – When the Alltel DIRTcar Winter Nationals concluded at Volusia Speedway Park, race fans had a very short wait until the Florida action resumed with a trip across the Sunshine State to the East Bay Raceway Park for the TUSA Bilstein Mr. Dirt Winternationals.
While many northerners watched both events unfold on web sites including that of RCM Racing Equipment and Dirt Track Digest, there were many that experienced them live – either from the grandstands or from the cockpit of their race car.
With Merrittville Speedway’s Baron Roofing Spring Sizzler 100 7 weeks away – several Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Drivers have already got a start to their 2008 Racing Seasons.
For most of them – it was a start that they would like to have back.
“Last season,” remembers 2007 Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Champion Paul Klager, “I could’ve got mixed up in a 5 car pile-up and would’ve been able to drive away without a scratch after everyone else got towed … on the trip home last week … I was just waiting for the hauler to get in an accident as well!”
What can you say about the new father’s break-out 2007 year … 11 Merrittville wins and throw in another mid-season triumph at the Rolling Wheels Raceway in his first ever trip to the Elbridge NY track.
What can you say about his year to date?
Klager and Shawn Sliter had both qualified for the TUSA Hoosier All Star Challenge to open the event and while trying to avoid a spinning car that Klager’s new Pro Race Car would make heavy contact with the wall.
So heavy - that the KRT Motorsports Crew and more than likely the entire New York Dwarf Car contingent that made the trip worked throughout the next day fixing the car – the entire front clip was replaced from the firewall forward.
Their heroic efforts paid off – only in that the Thursday Night was rained out – allowing some rest before the next event.
Sliter ran his brand new Modern Corporation Leader Chassis #71 to 7th in the Invitational – a car that was picked up race ready on the way down at the Crutchfield Racing Products Shop in Georgia .
As the season nears, we will learn more about Sliter’s 2008 plans as he prepares to back up his 2007 Pete’s Automotive Driver of the Year Award while learning the sport of Karting with his son Dillan as the count down continues.
On to Friday Night, Klager’s Ripley’s RCM Racing Equipment #1 was fast after the Thursday thrash.
So fast that after a 12th place start in his heat – he had raced up to 5th and a qualifying spot when disaster struck once more when the throttle cable broke.
So it was on to the consi where the Beamsville Driver would start 22nd - only to become involved in a multi-car wreck. Klager could not drive away from this one as the suspension was damaged and again he was done for the night.
With the area weather reports indicating an 80% chance of rain for Saturday – Klager decided to pack up and start on the 22 hour tow back home.
Finally he would come out ahead as indeed the finale did get rained out – he’d won a head start home.
“What can you say,” added Klager, “all of us that went were looking to get in some racing and have some fun … last year was maybe too good to us … we just have to look forward to our season here – I can’t thank everyone enough that helped us with the car.”
With so much rain and breakdowns affecting Klager, Sliter, Andy Tallman, Rick Brubacher, Mark Brighton, Wally Billing, Jamie Gilbert and Adam Leslie – fellow competitor Adam Murphy surely had one of the best times.
On the sand at St. Pete’s Beach – Adam and his fiancée Lisa got married.
Murphy had towed down Leslie’s car and another one from his growing 5 Star Racing Products Business for Mikey Hay on the way to the ceremony. Hay is a name many fans will recognize from when top Mod Lite and Classic Drivers converge at Merrittville for the J&S Heating Weekend that features the annual Rose Webber International Classic.
“He’s going to run one of our cars this year,” revealed the newlywed Murphy since returning, “it’s a unique deal … he’s taking our 5 Star ideas and combining them with his own to form Evolution.”
Adam and Lisa’s focus now turns to their First Annual Five Star Racing Products Open House and Swap Meet set for Saturday April 12th at their 11 Seapark Drive location in St. Catharines Ontario .
For further information or to reserve a spot call 905-688-9005 or visit www.fivestarracingproducts.ca.
While the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Merrittville Season doesn’t begin until May 3rd – one division that will get a start in just 7 weeks – Saturday April 26th is the full fendered Hoosier Stocks with a 25 lap Street Stock Open.
In the March 2008 issue of Inside Track Motorsport News – J. Wally Nesbitt informs readers that Brighton Speedway’s ‘Skirt in the Dirt’ – Caley Weese – has competed during the off season in the CSRA Snow Cross Circuit.
Whether she attends the Open or not – she is probably planning to improve upon her 9th place finish in last year’s Duel on the Dirt Series that will for the 4th year see the Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks look to break the stranglehold that Merrittville’s Hoosier Stocks have had on the Series that celebrates the finest Street Stock drivers in Ontario.
At her home track, the 21 year old St. Lawrence College Student runs both the Comp 4 and Pro Stock Divisions and with the CSRA this winter runs two divisions as well in her #777 Lucas Oil/10 Star Weese Insurance Sled.
“I think I am the only person doing double duty in both sports. Unfortunately, the two are so different, what I learned racing on dirt doesn’t transfer to snow.”
With the weather as it has been this off season, race fans and teams from Southern and Eastern Ontario not to mention Western New York have got to be wondering if winter will ever go away. Will she be able to draw upon her experience on the snow this summer?
Your local Dirt Track is where it’s at and it’s at Merrittville Speedway in just 49 Days – Saturday April 26th.
The star studded 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series Stars are set to challenge our home town heroes in the Spring Sizzler 100 Super DIRTcar Series presented by Baron Roofing.
April’s Event also includes a 40 lap event for the Sportsman and a 25 lap Street Stock Open Event.
Who will make the drive to Thorold April 26th - looking for some on track experience prior to the many special events planned for the 358’s, Sportsmen and Hoosier Stocks this season?
With plenty of free camping – it puts Merrittville Speedway on the map as a must see event and it’s just the start of 2008 – you won’t want to miss a single event all season!
To learn more call 905-685-7223 until April 1st or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.
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