Jon Rivers Rushes to Merrittville BRP CanAm Win

Thorold, ONT…Jon Rivers of Basom, NY lead every lap of event #2 of the 2006 BRP CanAm Series at Merrittville Speedway on Monday May 22nd. Rivers in his new Bob Mullen Pro Speed built Rocket GTO lead every lap, but few watching would have wagered a big bet that he would win the high speed contest. Rivers was cool and consistent with a steady line for all 30 laps on the scary fast perfect Merrittville clay.

Behind Rivers it was a very different story.

Bruce Miller, a 2005 Merrittville BRP CanAm Series winner, started his Strate Welding Supply – Charlie’s Pizza & Chicken GRT Grand Prix third on the 26 car grid and immediately went on a charge that thrilled the very large but cool holiday crowd at the Bicknell & Williamson family owned racing facility. Miller’s on and off the track wheel standing and tricycling charge was unbelievably entertaining, but wasn’t enough to allow the young Wellsville, NY racer a repeat victory at his favorite race track. Miller rode his bright yellow #80 home just a car length behind the race winner to record runner-up honors.

Dave Miller, also a 2005 Merrittville BRP CanAm Series winner, made his first start of the 2006 season in a very pretty GRT Grand Prix #40. There was no Cinderella story for this Miller either. After winning F/A Products – Clevite Engine Parts heat #2 Miller earned the right to draw second. He drew nine behind some very fast company. Dave exercised patience in his charge towards the front. The father half of the Miller father – son team was third at the half way point. Third, but still in a crowd of very fast company that included red-hot Dave DuBois, Brian Kotarski, TJ Shaw, Jason Tingue, and Rich Michael. After a red flag period on lap 25 Dave Miller had less company, but could not make the inside lanes work to get by his son. Dave Miller’s four race Merrittville record now includes one win, two runner-ups, and last night’s third.

Randy Hall, the 2006 Series rookie, continues to impress everyone. After his third place finish in the Series opener at Black Rock Speedway last month Hall wheeled his Duggan & Duggan General Contractors CRS Monte Carlo home fourth. Hall’s run started from the sixteenth position and included a restart from the rear after involvement in a four car tangle on lap seven. Unofficially Hall passed more cars than anyone else, but the end result has the Olean, NY racer looking for his first Series victory on Friday June 23 at Ransomville Speedway.

TJ Shaw of Portville, NY overcame his Black Rock DNQ with a very strong fifth place finish. However, the Shaw story of the night was the incredible display of driving talent he displayed in winning his qualifying heat race. The left ball joint broke on Shaw’s Koester Water Systems – Mastel Ford GRT Taurus early in the 10 lap contest; however, rather than surrender his top spot he simply put his hot rod up on three wheels and tricycled to Victory Circle. “Hell, I was leading, the car was very fast, and the track had so much bite I simply said to myself hang-on and let’s go,” related Shaw after his hair-raising ride.

Close behind the top five were Paul Grigsby, Todd Rice, Jason Tingue, Tim Rockwell, and Tim Schram all in hot pursuit and looking for more laps.

Grigsby had dodged several incidents in his progress from 13th at the start to ride his Beck Development – Barden Homes Shaw Monte Carlo #24 home in sixth.

Rice was on a mission to overcome his Black Rock misfortune and resulting DNF. His mission was very much in doubt after heat race problems sent the tough little Eldred, PA spark plug to one of the ED Carley Motorsports B-Mains. Rice had to race his way into the A and he just made it by finishing second to Jon Lichy. Rice earned the Suzuki Motorcycle & ATV Hard Charger award with his moves from 24th to 7th.

Jason Tingue and Tim Rockwell were both DNQs at Black Rock. Both drivers recovered nicely to make the Merrittville A and earn eighth and ninth place finishes respectively.

Timid Tim Schram was the top finishing member of the Scio Speed Society last night. Schram rounded out the top ten, from 17th, in his Warehouse America – Palmatier Trucking GRT Monte Carlo.

The race included five brief caution and one extended red flag pauses.

The first caution, on lap two, was for a spinning Darren Kish. Kish the defending Series champion was mired deep in the pack [position 23] for the start and was caught up in a chain reaction deal that resulted in a self imposed spin to avoid contact. Kish then went on a tear and was in the top ten before a flat tire sent the Pt. Colborne racer to the pits for quick tire change. Kish rebounded to finish a disappointing 17th in front of a very partisan hometown crowd.

The red was displayed on lap 25 for a high speed six car crash that dashed the hopes of six great young drivers. Involved were Dave DuBois, Jeff Chesebro, Brian Kotarski, Ron Hurd, Rich Michael, and Mikey Wonderling. Hurd was a lap down, but the others were racing for top ten finishing positions. In was simply a “racing incident” with no one to blame. As you might expect not everyone saw it that way, but the video replay proved confirmed the cause as simply not enough race track for a six wide exit of turn four. Michaels’ car appeared to be destroyed, but it was later winched into the trailer on four wheels all headed almost straight. The most expensive damage might have been to Mikey Wonderling’s #99Jr. The carburetor and distributor were sheared off the top of the Campbell built SBC and the radiator looked like a wadded up piece of aluminum foil. Chesebro, Kotarski, and Hurd were able to continue albeit from the rear with only five laps remaining. There were no driver injuries.

The 38 entries were reduced to a 26 car A-main starting field by four F/A Products – Clevite Engine Parts heat races and two Ed Carley Motorsports B-Mains. Heat race winners were TJ Shaw, Dave Miller, Jeff Chesebro, and Dan Dunham. B-Mains were on by Jeremy Wonderling and Jon Lichy.

This event served as round one of the four round $3000 LEAF Racewear Border Battle Contest which will resume at the next Series event on Friday June 23rd at Ransomville Speedway.

Finish: JON RIVERS, Bruce Miller, Dave Miller, Randy Hall, TJ Shaw, Paul Grigsby, Todd Rice, Jason Tingue, Tim Rockwell, Tim Schram, Steve Dixon, Larry Knowles, Tim Dunham, Junior Peters, Tim Barnard, Brian Kotarski, Darren Kish, Jeff Chesebro, Rick Baker, Ron Hurd, Jeremy Wonderling, Dave DuBois, Rich Michael, Mikey Wonderling, Jon Lichy, Steve Fields DNQ: Bob Babbitt, Ron Baker, Scott Beherns, Matt Cobb, Bob Henry, Junior Green, Jack Harrington, Jim Johnson, Dick Karlnoski, Don Newton, Neil Patterson, and Jessica Pierce

Marketing Partners for the 2006 BRP CanAm Series include: Bicknell Racing Products, Bob Mullen’s Pro Speed, Brad Penn Racing Oil, Can & Bottle Return of Delevan, Clevite Engine Parts, Cool Edge Web Designs, Cousin’s Designs, DANA Corporation, DB Embroidery, DIRT MotorSports, DSE1 Race Engines, Ed Carley Motorsports, F/A Products, Hoosier Tire of Canada, LEAF Racewear, Lias Tire – American Racer, Mohawk Speed Shop, Signs Plus of Kanona, Southeastern Transmissions, Suzuki Motorcycle & ATV Dealers of NY & PA, the Young Family, and the host tracks.

The 2006 BRP CanAm Series will visit Black Rock Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Genesee Speedway, McKean County Raceway, Merrittville Speedway, Ransomville Speedway, and Woodhull Raceway for 12 point events in 2006. The 2006 Series will conclude at Black Rock on Saturday October 7 with a $10,000 non-point affair.

For complete BRP CanAm Series news and information see www.brpcanamseries.com.