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BRP CanAm Tripleheader Weekend Wrap-Up St. Catharines, ONT…The first ever BRP CanAm Series tripleheader weekend produced both the best racing of the year and the most unfortunate incident of the year. Between the high point and low point 39 drivers competed in over 100 laps of great 360 dirt late model racing in front of very appreciative race fans. The weekend started Friday, September 9, at Merrittville Speedway when Bicknell Racing Products and Hoosier Tire of Canada presented the rain delayed A-Main originally scheduled for August 20 and a complete new show of qualifying races and a second A-Main Those races were contested on what was judged by all to best the best track conditions that the Series drivers had competed on anywhere all season long. After the post race Merrittville Speedway barbecue most of the Series racers headed back across the Peace Bridge and home to prepare for Saturday’s F/A Products – Clevite Engine Parts sponsored program at Genesee Speedway. Merrittville’s first A-Main produced the best racing of the year. Track conditions could not have been better. The drivers used the smooth and tacky clay to wheel their 600+ horsepower 2700 pound race cars around the half mile track at nearly 100 MPH to the delight of all in attendance. Jon Lichy capitalized on his Brad Penn Racing Oil pole starting position to lead the first lap. Jeff Chesebro, a Series rookie, overhauled Lichy and was recorded as the leader of lap two. Chesebro showed atop the lap counter until lap five when Darren Kish moved from sixth at the start to the top spot. Once Kish was in front many thought that he would record his fourth Series win of 2005. Kish has been the Series point leader all season following his victories in the first three Series events. Merrittville Speedway is Kish’s home track, but he only gets to race there twice this year since he follows the BRP CanAm Series in pursuit of the 2005 Championship. He lives about a 30km from the track and is a former Merrittville Speedway track champion and clearly had the attention and support of his legion of fans and countrymen. Kish had no idea what a show Bruce Miller was putting on behind him as the Wellsville, NY driver was charging from his ninth place starting position. With reckless abandon Miller was using the entire track and the “mini moats” surrounding the racing surface as he tricycled his GRT Monte Carlo from his mid-pack starting spot to second. Miller was recorded as the leader of lap 11. From lap 11 thru 30 there were officially [at the line] five lead changes between Miller and Kish. Unofficially there were about 30 position changes as these two warriors but on a show worthy of a Roman coliseum. It was without a doubt the best racing of the 2005 BRP CanAm Series and many believe the best show of many racing seasons. Miller won, but few cared either driver could have won and a dead-heat photo finish would have been fine. The second Merrittville A-Main was an excellent race with lots of great stories, but nothing could match the opening act. The players were much the same with new entries Jason Bridge, Dave Miller, Mike Wonderling, Jeremy Wonderling, and John Venuto added to the mix. Defending Series champion, Bob Dixon drew the Brad Penn Racing Oil pole starting position and hoped to use that for momentum to turn his 2005 racing luck around. Dixon’s results were his best of the year, eighth, but not the victory which he so disparately wanted. Dixon lost the top spot to Jeremy Wonderling on lap four. Wonderling lead until lap nine when Dave Miller went whistling by and into the lead for the first time since the Series opener at Little Valley Speedway in May. While the race unfolded many were watching Bruce Miller [Dave’s son] dance his shiny black racer from his 16th starting spot towards the front. His style was very much as it had been in the earlier main. He was again tricycling his race car and on at least one occasion came out of the mini moat back to the track with both front wheels off the ground. Bruce caught and passed his dad with five laps to go in a bonzi move as the pair raced down the back straight, but he went into turn three too hot and slide far out of the fast lanes. He collected, recovered, and again caught his dad, but was not able to take the top spot and headed back to Wellsville with a win and a runner-up finish for the box score [available at www.brpcanamsuperstockseries.com]. The final act of the wild weekend was played out at the Genesee Speedway on the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia, NY. This track brings generally produces the toughest races of the Series. Saturday’s show was no exception. The 40 lap main was marred by six caution periods and one red flag incident. $20,000 race cars were battered and beaten as kids might play with toys. Several were good, lucky, and patient. They were rewarded with good finishes, the resulting good pay envelope, and few repairs necessary. Several others have poor finishes, a poor pay day, and expensive repairs necessary. Only 14 of the 26 starters were standing when the checkered flag flew. The best of the good, lucky, and patient was race winner Tim Schram. Bob Dixon drew the Brad Penn Racing Oil pole starting spot for the second time in two events, but never led a lap as Schram blasted to the lead from his number two starting position as the 26 car field raced to complete the first lap. Schram lost the top spot to AJ Young, the third place starter, as the pair raced under Johnny Veach’s flag stand to complete lap six. Before that lap was completed a four car melee involving Bob Babbitt, Bob Dixon, Dave DuBois, and Darren Kish caused a caution. All returned in the lead lap other than Dixon who spent 18 laps making repairs to his car before returning. Young and Schram ran an excellent race with little interference as four more caution periods eliminated some of their competition and provided a clear race track. At the half way mark Jon Rivers had moved past Schram into second from his 27th starting position. The Batavia crowd was thrilled as there home town favorite was in position to repeat his August BRP CanAm victory. For the next 16 laps Rivers held Young in his sights just inches behind. As this pair cautiously raced the slick track Darren Kish was coming from the rear as a hot knife through butter. Kish was 11th on lap 22, 7th on lap 23, 6th on lap 24, 4th on lap 27. He took the third spot from Schram on lap 29 and the race was on! Young, Rivers, and now Kish all using the bottom of the track. As this trio raced out of turn four to complete lap 36 the race turned ugly. Rivers leaned on the inside of Young’s car a little and then Kish leaned on the inside of Rivers’ car a little and there was not enough real estate for three cars. Young was forced into the wall and out of the race with a race car that may not be repairable. Rivers was able to continue, but from the rear rather than first, second or third. Kish was disqualified for rough riding. It was really a matter of not being patient rather than rough riding. However, if race drivers were all patient we probably would not have races at all. Young was not injured, but his race season may be over. Schram went on to win his first ever BRP CanAm race. In fact, the top five Schram, Larry Knowles, Tim Kauffman, Neil Patterson, and John Venuto all earned there best ever Series finishes. Notes:
Next on the schedule: Friday September 16 at Ransomville Speedway and Saturday September 17 at Woodhull Raceway. Darren Kish is the defending Ransomville winner and Ed Carley the defending Woodhull winner. Carley is looking for a Super Stock ride. Bicknell Racing Products – Hoosier Tire of Canada A-Main #1 @ Merrittville Speedway 30 laps: BRUCE MILLER, Darren Kish, Jeff Chesebro, Todd Rice, Steve Dixon, Jason Tingue, AJ Young, Todd Hanson, Bob Dixon, Jim Johnson, Jon Rivers, Jr Peters, Jon Lichy, Ron Hurd, Neil Patterson, Bob Babbitt, Steve Fields, Larry Knowles, Paul Grigsby, Rick Baker, Ron Baker, DNS-Tim Schram, Luke Carleton, Jay Deming, Butch Talbot, Matt Cobb, Dean Layfield Bicknell Racing Products – Hoosier Tire of Canada A-Main #2 @ Merrittville Speedway 30 laps: DAVE MILLER, Bruce Miller, Jeremy Wonderling, Darren Kish, Steve Dixon, Mike Wonderling, Todd Rice, Bob Dixon, John Venuto, Jon Rivers, Jeff Chesebro, Larry Knowles, Neil Patterson, Jason Tingue, Jr Peters, Rick Baker, Todd Hanson, Jason Bridge, AJ Young, Jim Johnson, DNS-Bob Babbitt, Paul Grigsby, Steve Fields, Jon Lichy, Ron Baker, Ron Hurd F/A Products – Clevite Engine Parts A-Main @ Genesee Speedway 40 laps: TIM SCHRAM, Larry Knowles, Tim Kauffman, Neil Patterson, John Venuto, Jeremy Wonderling, Jon Lichy, Jon Rivers, Richard Hale, Steve Dixon, Jr Peters, Rick Baker, Tim Barnard, AJ Young, Dave DuBois, Pete Waldron, Brian Kotarsky, Jason Tingue, Paul Grigsby, Bob Dixon, Bob Babbitt, Ron Moravero, Jason Bridge, Clayton Downs, Dave Miller, DQ-Darren Kish, DNS-Stubby Pangrazio, Ron Baker |