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LAMPMAN EARNS OPENING ROUND WIN IN LUCAS OIL 358 MODIFIED SHOOT OUT AT MERRITTVILLE –
For Release - Tuesday May 20, 2008 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Speedway Public Relations - 905-892-8266
Thorold, Ontario (May 20) The Victoria Day Weekend closed out with another chiller of a night but another thriller. It came in the opening round of the 2008 Lucas Oil Shoot Out presented by Dirt Track Digest.com and had those that braved the weather – on their feet Monday May 19th.
It wasn’t looking like it would be a good night for Larry Lampman nor his new car owner and new team-mate Dan Miller.
In Lampman’s heat, contact with Pete Cosco saw the two time champion black flagged. Contact with rookie Andrew Sittler sent Miller’s car careening into the front stretch wall with major damage in his heat and he would be unable to start the main. Lampman would have to start 26th but rebounded to win the 50 lap Main Event of the Zavitz Financial Strategies Holiday Special.
The last two seasons, Lampman has won Merrittville’s opening Night Features in dramatic fashion. In 2008 – that dramatic win came in the opening round of the Lucas Oil Shoot Out.
“I really felt bad for the crew,” revealed Lampman feeling a lot better about his night in Victory Lane, “we made some changes to the car during the week … we’re just trying to get everything to click with the new team … this definitely will help.”
Lampman – who wasn’t even planning to race this season up until a few months ago - quietly worked his way through the entire field – taking over 3rd spot on lap 40. Shortly after a lap 43 caution, Lampman took control of second spot – and eventually caught almost race long leader Scott Wood. Lampman, hugging the bottom groove had the lead briefly out of turn 2 the final go round but down the back-stretch it was Wood back out front. Exiting turn 4 for the final time, Lampman got a good run uncharacteristically off the bottom and at the start finish line – edged Wood by at most a half car length.
“When you start at the tail,” added Lampman, “you have to try everything you can to get to the front.”
Prior to Lampman’s lead of the final circuit – it had pretty much been all Scott Wood. Wood drew the pole starting spot and at the drop of Starter Doug Leonard’s green flag quickly jumped out front. Quick to challenge though was Todd Gordon. The two second generation drivers were soon in a side by side battle until Gordon took the lead along the back-stretch of lap 6. Gordon, Wood and third place runner Rick Richner pulled away from the field until a lap 10 caution slowed the pace.
Once again, Wood and Gordon were side by side until Gordon fell off the pace – a victim of engine woes. Wood set the pace through a couple restarts until Ken Cosgrove landed in the runner-up spot to mount a challenge. Cosgrove took control on lap 18 and soon gained a comfortable lead until sophomore driver Chris Steele slowed off the pace as well – dropping from a strong third place run.
Cosgrove out front with Wood now the challenger on the restart until Cosgrove got a little out of shape off the front-stretch apron. Wood quickly ran away to a healthy lead through increasing lap traffic – stretching the margin to almost a half lap around lap 30 until the lap 43 caution erased the lead.
Lampman and Wood were followed by Chad Brachmann who took third spot on lap 35, Rick Richner and Pete Bicknell.
Wood’s finishing spot is unofficial pending the ruling on his MSD Box which has been sent to the company for inspection purposes while Rick Richner was fined half his points and half his earnings for a carburetor infraction
Merrittville Speedway Results – Monday May 19, 2008
Zavitz Financial Strategies Monday Night Madness presented by ZFS Benefit Solutions
Lucas Oil 358 Modified Shoot Out – 50 Laps
Larry Lampman, Scott Wood, Chad Brachmann, Rick Richner, Pete Bicknell, Ken Cosgrove, Brian Stevens, Rob Krull, Boyd MacTavish, Tommy Flannigan, Travis Cunningham, Bill Bleich, Travis Braun, Fred Carleton, Derek Lemyre, Darren Peters, George Bosse, Andrew Sittler, Alan Sleight, Todd Kendrick, Tim Jones, Rick Hoctor, Chris Steele, Pete Cosco, Todd Gordon, Derek Wutzke. DNQ – Dan Miller.
Lucas Oil 358 Modified Shoot Out Heat Winners – First – Travis Braun, Second – Ken Cosgrove, Third - Fred Carleton.
Duel on the Dirt Home Track Event # 1 B Main Winner – Mark Fawcett
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