Brad Rouse - Alex Bruce Photo
Thorold, ONT — September 6, 2008 – By John Steckley, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Series Correspondent
Brad Rouse headed a Merrittville Speedway Tour-de-Force on Saturday night as the invading sportsman contingent was fed a strong dose of home cooking.
Rouse, who finished fourth in the recently concluded Merrittville point race, led the division with four wins. No other driver visited Victory Lane more than twice in 2008.
On Saturday, the St. Catharines pilot put his track experience to good use. Rouse grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag from his front row starting spot and led all fifty circuits.
Asked to explain his dominating performance, a nonchalant Rouse explained, “We made a lot of changes earlier tonight. I guess they all worked out for us.”
Rouse’s win triggered a Merrittville onslaught as local teams swept the top 13 spots. Mark D’Ilario, Greg Panunte, Tyler McPherson and Mike Bowman rounded out the top five.
Brandon Easey, Chad Chevalier, James Michael Friesen, Jim Johnstone and Mark Chiddy completed the top-10. Finishing 14th in car number 14, Fulton, NY’s Jeremy Pitcher was the top invader.
Chris Raabe and Dan Wiesner entered the event deadlocked at the top of the series leader board. It was a forgettable evening for the top pair.
Both drivers were forced to qualify through the consolation race and then struggled in the feature. Wiesner finished 15th, five spots ahead of his rival, as their championship chances took a hit.
SPORTSMAN SHORTS: Saturday night was supposed to be the second day of Merrittville Speedway’s season ending three day Rose Webber Memorial Weekend. Friday’s action was rained out. Saturday’s outlook wasn’t too promising until the rain ended around noon, leaving a thoroughly saturated track and pit area….Rose was the wife of former dwarf competitor Lee Webber and the weekend is centered around the Open Wheel Lites and Classics.
The third and final scheduled round of the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series swing through the Niagara Frontier arrives tomorrow at Humberstone (Ont.) Speedway with another big 50-lap main event scheduled in the track’s Fall Tour finale on Sunday, September 7.
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Race #8 – Merrittville Speedway, September 6, 2008 ‘J&S Heating and Air Conditioning 50’ Event Summary
FIN CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN
1 18r Brad Rouse/St.Catharines,ONT($1,000)
2 08 Mark D’Ilario/Smithville,ONT
3 99p Greg Panunte/Port Colborne,ONT
4 777 Tyler McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT
5 71 Mike Bowman/St.Catharines,ONT
6 06 Brandon Easey/St.Catharines,ONT
7 12 Chad Chevalier/Port Colborne,ONT
8 52 James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT
9 21jj Jim Johnstone/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
10 54 Mark Chiddy/Boston,NY
11 6 Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT
12 20k Tom Huppenen/Fenwick,ONT
13 99c Nick Cupolo/Thorold,ONT
14 14 Jeremy Pitcher/Fulton,NY
15 66 Dan Wiesner/Geneva,NY
16 85 John Pietrowicz/Phoenix,NY
17 19w Justin Wright/Piffard,NY
18 8s Justin Sharp/St.Catharines,ONT
19 140 Mark Dixon/Durham,ONT
20 01 Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
21 2k Rob Knapp/St.Catharines,ONT
22 38 Ryan Susice/Ransomville,NY
23 62 Rick Bellante/St.Catharines,ONT
24 95 Joe Middlemiss/Chippawa,ONT
25 5s Kevin Sharpe/Port Colborne,ONT
26 22r Ron MacAuley/Welland,ONT
27 11r Robbie Rounce/Caledonia,ONT
28 67g Eric Giguere/Waterloo,NY
29 53 Darrell Farraway/Hamilton,ONT
30 43t Jay Doerr/London,ONT
DNQ 26h Luke Carleton/Port Colborne,ONT
DNQ 51x Cody McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADER: Rouse (1-50).
CAUTIONS: 8 (lap 1, lap 1, lap 2, lap 17, lap 27, lap 40, lap 44, lap 48)
QUALIFYING
Heat Races (8 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)
#1: T. McPherson, B. Rouse, B, Easey, R. Rounce, M. Dixon, R. Bellante, C. McPherson, K. Sharpe.
#2: M. Bowman, E. Giguere, J. M. Friesen, G. Panunte, J. Wright, C. Raabe, N.
Cupolo, D. Farraway.
#3: J. Sharp, M. D’Ilario, R. Susice, M. Chiddy, R. Knapp, C. Chevalier, J. Pietrowicz, D. Wiesner
#4: J. Doerr, M. Williamson, J. Johnstone, J. Pitcher, T. Huppenen, L. Carleton, J. Middlemiss, R. MacAuley.
Consolation Round (8 laps, top 6 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: R. Bellante, C. Chevalier, C. Raabe, N. Cupolo, J. Middlemiss, J. Pietrowicz, K. Sharpe, D. Wiesner, D. Farraway, R. MacAuley, C. McPherson, L. Carleton (DQ).
Guarantees: K. Sharpe, D. Wiesner, D. Farraway, R. MacAuley.
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Point Standings (Through Sept. 6, 2008)
Rank No Driver Total Series Bonus Diff Wins T-5 T-10 Sts
1 66 Dan Wiesner 791 511 280 0 1 4 4 8
2 01 Chris Raabe 783 483 300 -8 1 4 5 7
3 777 Tyler McPherson 751 473 278 -40 0 2 5 8
4 71 Mike Bowman 742 458 284 -49 0 2 4 8
5 14 Jeremy Pitcher 733 449 284 -58 0 1 4 8
6 99p Greg Panunte 730 450 280 -61 0 1 4 8
7 85 John Pietrowicz 716 434 282 -75 0 2 3 8
8 08 Mark D’Ilario 707 459 248 -84 1 3 3 8
9 6 Mat Williamson 695 439 256 -96 0 2 3 8
10 19w Justin Wright 678 404 274 -113 0 1 1 8
11 67g Eric Giguere 669 399 270 -122 0 2 2 8
12 52 James Friesen 563 271 292 -228 0 1 2 4
13 2L Loren Lincoln 558 316 242 -233 0 2 3 6
14 2x Rob Knapp 555 297 258 -236 0 0 1 7
15 12 Chad Chevalier 554 290 264 -237 0 0 2 6
16 10 Tim Currier 549 281 268 -242 0 0 0 7
17 20x Kevin Ridley 513 235 278 -278 0 0 2 5
18 17k Sammy Reakes IV 508 228 280 -283 0 1 2 5
19 2K Chris Hile 475 225 250 -316 1 1 1 4
20 21JJ Jimmy Johnstone 471 231 240 -320 0 0 2 4
21 140 Mark Dixon 471 291 180 -320 0 0 1 7
22 17T Todd Town 460 216 244 -331 1 2 3 4
23 4 Daryl Hilkert 458 204 254 -333 0 0 0 5
24 29g Steve Gray 443 159 284 -348 0 0 1 4
25 24 Brandon Sweet 442 150 292 -349 0 0 1 2
26 38w Luke Whitteker® 439 187 252 -352 0 0 1 4
27 8s Justin Sharp 420 146 274 -371 0 0 0 3
28 33 Mike Ruggiero 417 125 292 -374 1 1 1 2
29 M1 Dave Marcuccilli® 417 145 272 -374 0 0 0 4
30 06 Brandon Easey 414 144 270 -377 0 0 2 2
31 0 Jipp Ortiz 410 140 270 -381 0 1 1 2
32 vs1 Jim Spano 406 150 256 -385 0 1 1 3
33 70 Brady Fultz 405 109 296 -386 0 0 1 2
34 25g Nick Guererri 402 122 280 -389 0 0 1 3
35 18R Brad Rouse 390 100 290 -401 1 1 1 1
36 06 Jordan Bennett 388 120 268 -403 0 0 0 3
37 17 Marcus Dinkins 384 132 252 -407 0 0 1 2
38 18h Todd Henderson 383 83 300 -408 0 0 0 2
39 5 Don Spatorico 374 90 284 -417 0 1 1 1
40 17d Tom Juhl 370 98 272 -421 0 0 1 1
41 26h Luke Carleton 366 122 244 -425 0 0 0 3
42 74 Matt Billings® 354 84 270 -437 0 0 0 1
43 3k A.J. Kingsley 352 90 262 -439 0 0 0 2
44 12x Dan Sellen 343 83 260 -448 0 0 1 2
45 p38 Rob Pratt 342 60 282 -449 0 0 0 1
46 3a Fran Hilton 336 86 250 -455 0 0 0 2
47 11 Mike Mandigo 334 50 284 -457 0 0 0 1
48 96 Cole Dingwall 334 50 284 -457 0 0 0 1
49 38 Ryan Susice 332 72 260 -459 0 0 0 1
50 38p Jason Parkhurst® 328 72 256 -463 0 1 1 2
51 9R Tyler Rand 328 76 252 -463 0 0 0 1
52 32 Randy Gaudet 326 46 280 -465 0 0 0 1
53 83 Dylan Evoy® 324 60 264 -467 0 0 0 1
54 99c Nick Cupolo 310 56 254 -481 0 0 0 1
55 83x Tim Sears Jr.® 306 64 242 -485 0 0 0 1
56 92 Adam Turner 303 61 242 -488 0 0 0 1
57 15x Shane Pecore 302 58 244 -489 0 0 0 1
58 55 Matt Hulsizer 296 50 246 -495 0 0 0 1
59 62 Rick Bellante 291 101 190 -500 0 0 0 2
60 57s Beith Scheinder 289 63 226 -502 0 0 0 1
Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRTcar Racing NorthEast. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver’s pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials, which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version available to fans will allow RACEceiver users to hear what information series officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver, visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866-301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at various events.
Tracks Know The Score: In DIRTcar Racing’s ongoing effort to assist every member track affiliate with presenting the best possible race programs, World Racing Group has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRTcar NorthEast. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and WRG is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all sanctioned events.
UPCOMING EVENT
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series race chasers have little time to recooperate from their stop at the Thorold, Ontario oval as the very next night they contend in another 50-lapper at Humberstone Speedway on Sunday, September 7. Valuable points towards the overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Championship are awarded at both sites along with a pair of guaranteed starting positions for the Super DIRT Week ‘Town Mechanical 30’ Sportsman Modified main event in October.
2008 Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Schedule
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK LOCATION/WINNER
Sat-Apr 5 50 Black Rock Speedway Larry Wight
Mon-May 26 30 Rolling Wheels Raceway Dan Wiesner
Thr-Jul 3 20 Rolling Wheels Raceway Mark D’Ilario
Thr-Jul 3 20 Rolling Wheels Raceway Todd Town
Fri-Jul 4 30 Brewerton Speedway Chris Hile
Thr-Jul 10 30 Brockville Ont. Speedway Chris Raabe
Mon-Sep 1 30 Rolling Wheels Raceway Mike Ruggiero
Sat-Sep 6 50 Merrittville Speedway Brad Rouse
Sun-Sep 7 50 Humberstone Speedway Pt.Colborne,ONT
Fri-Sep 12 50 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Sat-Sep 13 30 Genesee Speedway Batavia,NY
Sat-Sep 20 45 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Sep 27 30 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Fri-Oct 3 30 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Wed-Oct 8 30 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Fri-Oct 10 30 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Oct 11 30 New York State Fairgrounds Syracuse,NY
Fri-Oct 17 40 Thunder Mountain Speedway Center Lisle,NY
Sat-Oct 18 50 Orange Co. Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts and Hoosier Racing Tire. Rite Aid Corporation is a promotional partner and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Dig Safely New York, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.
