The Series Heads to Merrillville and Ransomville
Story By: MANDEE PAUCH / SUPER DIRTcar SERIES MEDIA Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
WEEDSPORT, NY- August 1, 2016- The Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds head to Merrittville Speedway on Monday, Aug. 1 and Ransomville Speedway on Tuesday, Aug. 2 for a huge doubleheader.
“For race fans and race teams alike … the doubleheader is a great chance to take in all the attractions that Southern Ontario and Western New York have to offer while enjoying the excitement at the tracks each night,” said (Merrittville Speedway GM) Erica Bicknell-Jones.
“Ransomville’s new owners – the Atwal Family – are thrilled to host such a time honored tradition and make it their own,” added (Ransomville Speedway GM) Tana Robinson. “Both tracks are so close … it’s always the thing to do every year and catch some of the best drivers in action each night.”
Merrittville Speedway
Last year it was Mat Williamson who won on his home turf at Merrittville Speedway for the Bob St. Amand Sr. Memorial 100-lapper.
Williamson weaved through heavy lapped traffic in pursuit of Matt Sheppard, took the lead from him on lap 56 and went on to win his first-ever Super DIRTcar Series win.
After taking over the second spot from Hearn at the halfway point, Williamson closed quickly on Sheppard, who was reaching the rear of the field. By lap 70, the track was slicking up, Hearn was running in second, Sheppard was coming under attack from Stewart Friesen and Mike Bowman (5th) was making a late rush on the top-side.
The yellow was out after a spin by Jimmy Phelps on lap 78, but Williamson was unfazed as he drove away to take the checkered.
The top five respectively were Williamson, Hearn, Sheppard, Friesen and Bowman.
Ransomville Speedway
Friesen was able to keep it in the family last year by winning the Alex Friesen Summer Nationals 100 at Ransomville Speedway.
Ryan Susice, who was running sixth, and Friesen in second, both pitted under the fifth yellow with 17 to go. Five laps later, Friesen was back in the top ten. When Billy Decker slowed with six laps left, Friesen was third on the restart. He shot past Ward on the outside and caught Fuller soon after.
Tim Fuller, the pole sitter, led the first 96 laps as heavy attrition from tire wear kept shuffling the field behind him.
Friesen reeled in Fuller with four laps to go and took home the victory.
Pat Ward, along with Fuller one of the few drivers who never pitted, finished third. Erick Rudolph (from 30th) was fourth, followed by Randy Chrysler.
Coming Up Next
After this week, the series then heads to Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport N.Y. on Tuesday, Aug. 9 for the Weedsport Hall of Fame 100.
For more information on the Super DIRTcar Series, visit www.superdirtcarseries.com
ABOUT THE TRACK:
Merrittville Speedway is a 3/8 mile banked clay oval. For more information and to learn how to purchase tickets, visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com
Ransomville Speedway is a ½ mile semi-banked clay oval. For more information and to learn how to purchase tickets, visit www.ransomvillespeedway.com
DRIVER INFO
The following Super DIRTcar Series drivers maintain websites:
Frank Cozze: frankcozze.com
Keith Flach: keithflachracing.com
Brett Hearn: bretthearn.com
Mike Mahaney: mikemahaneyracing.com
Max McLaughlin: maxmclaughlinracing.com
Jimmy Phelps: jimmyphelps.com
Erick Rudolph: erickrudolph.com
Matt Sheppard: matt-sheppard.com
For more driver information, visit: superdirtcarseries.com
SEASON WINNERS: Matt Sheppard – 5 (Williams Grove Speedway on June 22, Utica-Rome Speedway on Jul 3, Five Mile Point Speedway on July 12, Grandview Speedway on July 14, Autodrome Granby on July 27); Stewart Friesen – 3 (Cornwall Motorsports Park on June 26, Albany-Saratoga on July 6, Mohawk International raceway on July 7); Tim Fuller – 2 (Canandaigua Speedway on June 30, Eldora Speedway on July 19); Billy Decker – 1 (Fulton Speedway on April 30); Jimmy Phelps – 1 (Sharon Speedway on July 21); Frank Cozze – 1 (Autodrome Drummond on July 26)
LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Tune in to listen live for FREE to all the action at Merrittville and Ransomville on the DIRTVision.com Radio Network.
GET SOCIAL: Follow the Super DIRTcar Series on Twitter at twitter.com/SuperDIRTcar and like it on Facebook atfacebook.com/DIRTcar/. Check out the latest videos on YouTube at youtube.com/user/DIRTcarRacing. The official hashtag is #BigBlock.
2 016 STAT ATTACK
There have been 13 Super DIRTcar Series features this season.
Winners (6 Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – MATT SHEPPARD, Waterloo, N.Y. – 5
2. – STEWART FRIESEN, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. – 3
3. – TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 2
4. – BILLY DECKER, Watertown, N.Y. – 1
– JIMMY PHELPS, Baldwinsville, N.Y.- 1
– FRANK COZZE, Wind Gap, P.A. – 1
Pole Positions (12 Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Poles
1. – TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 2
2. – MAX MCLAUGHLIN, Mooresville, N.C. – 1
– GARY TOMKINS, Clifton Springs, N.Y. – 1
– DANNY JOHNSON, Phelps, N.Y. – 1
– VIC COFFEY, Caledonia, N.Y. – 1
– BILLY DUNN, Watertown, N.Y. – 1
– BRETT HEARN, Sussex, N.J. – 1
– MATT SHEPPARD, Waterloo, N.Y. – 1
– DAVE BLANEY, Hartford, O.H. – 1
– RYAN WATT, Boyertown, P.A. – 1
– BILLY DECKER, Waterloo, N.Y. – 1
– PETER BRITTEN, Brisbane, Australia – 1
Time Trial leaders (9 Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Quick Times
1. – LARRY WIGHT, Phoenix, N.Y. – 3
2. – MATT SHEPPARD, Waterloo, N.Y. – 2
– BILLY DECKER, Waterloo, N.Y. – 2
4. – BRETT HEARN, Sussex, N.J. – 1
– TOM SEARS, JR., Clay, N.Y. – 1
– MARC JOHNSON, Guilderland, N.Y. – 1
– RONNIE JOHNSON, Malta, N.Y. – 1
– MIKE MAHANEY, King Ferry, N.Y. – 1
– JIMMY PHELPS, Baldwinsville, N.Y. – 1
Podium Finishes (15 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Finishes in the Top-Three
1. – MATT SHEPPARD, Waterloo, N.Y. – 8
2. – TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 6
– STEWART FRIESEN, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. – 6
4. – BILLY DECKER, Waterloo, N.Y. – 4
5. – JIMMY PHELPS, Baldwinsville, N.Y.- 3
6. – DANNY JOHNSON, Phelps, N.Y. – 2
– DAVE BLANEY, Hartford, Ohio – 2
– FRANK COZZE, Wind Gap, P.A. – 2
9. – DANNY VARIN, Sharon Springs, N.Y. -1
– BILLY DUNN, Watertown, N.Y. – 1
– PETER BRITTEN, Brisbane, Australia – 1
– JIMMY HORTON, Nashanic, N.J. – 1
– RYAN WATT, Boyertown, P.A. – 1
– LARRY WIGHT, Phoenix, N.Y. – 1
– MIKE MAHANEY, King Ferry, N.Y. – 1
Heat Race Winners (26 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Win
1. – MATT SHEPPARD, Waterlook, N.Y. – 8
2. – PETER BRITTEN, Brisbane, Australia – 6
3. – BRETT HEARN, Sussex, N.J. – 4
– STEWART FRIESEN, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. – 4
– JIMMY PHELPS, Baldwinsville, N.Y. – 4
6. – LARRY WIGHT, Phoenix, N.Y. – 3
– DANNY JOHNSON, Phelps, N.Y. – 3
– TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 3
9. – BILLY DECKER, Waterloo, N.Y. – 2
– MIKE MAHANEY, King Ferry, N.Y. – 2
– REX KING JR, Bristolville, O.H.- 2
– LARRY WIGHT, Phoenix, N.Y. – 2
– STEVE BERNIER, – 2, Granby, Q.C. – 1
14. – FRANK COZZE, Wind Gap, Pa. – 1
– TOM SEARS JR., Clay, N.Y. – 1
– MAX MCLAUGHLIN, Mooresville, N.C. – 1
– CHRIS RAABE, Napanee, Ont. -1
– PAT WARD, Genoa, N.Y. -1
– ROB BELLINGER, Cicero, N.Y.- 1
– MARC JOHNSON, Guilderland, N.Y. – 1
– RONNIE JOHNSON, Malta, N.Y. – 1
– VIC COFFEY, Caledonia, N.Y. – 1
– MATT DELORENZO, Cropseyville, N.Y. – 1
– MIKE MAHANEY, King Ferry, N.Y. – 1
– DAVE BLANEY, Hartford, O.H. – 1
– CAREY TERRENCE, Hogansburg, N.Y. – 1
Last Chance Showdown Winners (22 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – ROB BELLINGER, Cicero, N.Y. – 1
– JUSTIN HAERS, Phelps, N.Y.- 1
– DUANE HOWARD, Oley, Pa. – 1
– BRIAN MCDONALD, Cornwall, Ont. – 1
– PAT WARD, Genoa, N.Y – 1
– CHRIS HILE, Syracuse, N.Y. – 1
– ALAN JOHNSON, Middlesex, N.Y. -1
– VIC COFFEY, Caledonia, N.Y. – 1
– BRETT HEARN, Vernon, N.J. -1
– JESSEY MUELLER, Chestertown, N.Y. – 1
– TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 1
– MIKE MAHANEY, King Ferry, N.Y. – 1
– PETER BRITTEN, Brisbane, Australia – 1
– BILLY DECKER, Waterloo, N.Y. – 1
– MAT WILLIAMSON, St, Catharine’s, Ont. – 1
– CHAD BRACHMANN, North Tonawanda, N.Y. – 1
– LARRY WIGHT, Phoenix, N.Y. – 1
– PETER BRITTEN, Brisbane, Australia – 1
– STEVE BERNARD, Abbotsford, Q.C. – 1
– MARIO CLAIR, Drummondville, Q.C. – 1
– MATT SHEPPARD, Waterlook, N.Y. – 1
– DAVID HEBERT, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q.C. – 1
2016 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2016)
1. Saturday, April 30 / Fulton Speedway / Fulton, N.Y. / Billy Decker (1)
2. Wednesday, June 22 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Matt Sheppard (1)
3. Sunday, June 26 / Cornwall Speedway / Ontario, Canada / Stewart Friesen (1)
4. Thursday, Jun 30 / Canandaigua Speedway / Canandaigua, NY / Tim Fuller (1)
5. Sunday, July 3 / Utica-Rome Speedway / Vernon, N.Y. / Matt Sheppard (2)
6. Wednesday, July 6 / Albany-Saratoga Speedway / Malta, N.Y. / Stewart Friesen (2)
7. Thursday, July 7 / Mohawk International Speedway / Akwesasne, N.Y. / Stewart Friesen (3)
8. Tuesday, July 12 / Five Mile Point Speedway / Kirkwood, N.Y. / Matt Sheppard (3)
9. Thursday, July 14 / Grandview Speedway / Bechtelsville, P.A. / Matt Sheppard (4)
10. Tuesday, July 19 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, O.H. / Tim Fuller (2)
11. Thursday, July 21 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, O.H. / Jimmy Phelps (1)
12. Tuesday, July 26 / Autodrome Drummond / Drummondville, Q.C. / Frank Cozze (1)
13. Wednesday, July 27 / Autodrome Granby / Granby, Q.C. / Matt Sheppard (5)
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts and NAPA Auto Parts; in addition to contingency sponsors, including: ASI Race Wear, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Fox Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust Systems, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mike’s Racing Heads, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD, Pole Position Raceway, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Beyea Headers, Racing Electronics and TNT Rescue.
