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Gaboury and McKay Score First Wins on Hot Night At Merrittville

THOROLD, Ontario (July 12th, 2025) … A hot night weather wise led to hot action on track Saturday night as Merrittville Speedway saw two first time winners on 2Cool Automotive night. In Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified racing, it was Paul Gaboury of Welland, ON scoring his first win. In Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman action, Thorold, ON native Daniel McKay captured his first checkered flag. Josh Sliter of Port Colborne, ON won in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites. Hagersville, ON native Dave Bailey scored the victory in the Hoosier Stocks while Alex Riley of St. Catharines, ON returned to victory lane in the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders.

Matin Polhill and Paul Gaboury led the field to green in the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, with Gaboury jumping out to an early advantage. On lap five, heavy favourites started moving towards the front of the field including Gary Lindberg, who entered into the top five. On lap 10, Lindberg made contact with Martin Polhill, sending his car spinning, and Lindberg would be penalized and sent to the rear for contact. On the restart, it was Justin Sharp and Pete Bicknell trying to move their way into the top five. Gaboury continued to pace the field, taking advantage of a clean racetrack in front to build a comfortable lead while Jay Mallory and Darrell Farraway tried to keep pace. At the 20th lap of the race, two time feature winner Sharp got by Todd Gordon for fourth, then getting to third with 13 laps to go. Gordon’s night would end early on lap 24 when his car crept to a halt, bringing out a caution. Gaboury would be tasked with holding off Mallory after the race's final restart, which he was able to do to win his first career 358 Modified feature. Mallory was second, with Brad Rouse third. Lindberg rallied late to finish fourth and Sharp rounded out the top five.

The Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman feature played out eerily similar to the previous weeks race that saw Taylor Vanderzanden win his first ever feature. This time, it was Brad Overbeeke and Daniel McKay starting on the front row. McKay jumped out to the lead and dominated much of the race. At one point, his lead had reached over three seconds over Overbeeke. However, caution waved with just three laps to go when Billy Bleich Jr. spun Curtis Friesen while they raced for third position. That set up a restart where Cody McPherson, who had quietly driven into the top five, would have a shot to steal the win away from McKay. However, on the restart, Overbeeke proved to be challenged to get by for McPherson, who ran out of time to run down McKay. McKay claimed his first career Sportsman feature win over McPherson, Mitch Dumont, Overbeeke and Doug Walsh Jr.

In the Rona Doidge Modified Lites, it was heavy hitters getting themselves in trouble early when points leader Tyler Winger made a rare mistake on lap three, spinning in turn four and collecting R.J. Pietz, Chris Watson, and Sean Iftody, all would continue except Watson. Cohen Corbett, meanwhile, had control of the race from the drop of the green flag. Brent Begolo moved himself into second on lap eight, and Josh Sliter took third place by lap 10. With five to go, Corbett was under fire from Begolo and tried desperately to hold him off. As the two caught a lap car, Sliter took a run to the outside and passed both Begolo and leader Corbett with five laps to go. Sliter went on to win his fourth feature of the year ahead of Begolo and Corbett, while Winger rallied to fourth to minimize the damage in the points. Dillan Sliter finished in fifth.

The Hoosier Stocks continued to deliver phenomenal close quarters racing in their feature. Kyle Pelrine led early, until lap eight when Jason Fontaine was able to slip by. Pelrine then raced three wide for second with Mark Fawcett and Dave Bailey. Pelrine made slight incidental contact with Fontaine, which upset his car just enough to allow Bailey to clear both of them and get to the top spot. Back to back cautions on lap 12 and 13 interrupted green flag action, and Bailey led the final seven laps to win his seventh feature on the season at Merrittville Speedway.

Clinton Barrick and Savannah Fontaine made up the front row for the start of the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinder feature. Barrick led early from the pole, while Alex Riley found open road on the extreme outside of the freshly prepped racetrack and drove into the top five. However, the field would be red flagged on lap seven when Dave Wininger’s car caught fire under the hood. On the restart, Riley was able to get by Barrick for the top spot. Contact led to a large piece of debris coming off Barrick’s car as he tried unsuccessfully to stay in second behind Riley, resulting in a caution before the field could take the checkered flag. On the single file, Green White Checkered restart, Riley was able to drive off and secure another win on his quest to defend his track championship. Riley beat Mason Anderson, Josh Dmytrow, Hana Rothwell and Cierra Keus to grab his third win of the season.

Next week, Fastek Inc presents the action from Merrittville Speedway, including a small car demo derby at the end of the night. All five Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series will be in action including the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman, Rona Doidge Modified Lites, Hoosier Stocks and All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders. Pit Gates will open at 5pm, with grandstands opening at 5:30pm, and racing will get underway at 7pm. For more information, visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com and can follow the action on My Race Pass.
Follow Merrittville on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and now on Instagram (@merrittvillespeedway). For results, point standings, and more, check out www.merrittvillespeedway.com

RACE RESULTS –- July 12th, 2025.

Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – PAUL GABOURY, Jay Mallory, Brad Rouse, Gary Lindberg, Justin Sharp, Nelson Mason, Pete Bicknell, James Friesen, Darrell Farraway, Scott Wood, Fred Carleton, Dave Flannigan Jr., Shayne Pierce, Tommy Flannigan, Ken Winfield, Todd Gordon, Derek VanMil, (DNF) Luke Carleton, (DNF) Martin Polhill, (DNF) Bill Gill, (DNF) Brian Page

Qualifying Heats – Paul Gaboury, Darrell Farraway, Jay Mallory

Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – DANIEL MCKAY, Cody McPherson, Mitch Dumont, Brad Overbeeke, Doug Walsh Jr., Matteo Panunte, Taylor Vanderzanden, Jacob Chevalier, Noah Mamo, Ryan Barrett, Madyson Rouse, Nigel Pendykoski, Matt Sharpe, Tyler Puchalski, Jeff Panunte, Matthew Jessome, Austin Seburn, Curtis Friesen, (DNF) Billy Bleich Jr., (DNF) John Babion

Qualifying Heats – Curtis Friesen, Doug Walsh Jr., Matteo Panunte

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – Josh Sliter (4), Brent Begolo, Cohen Corbett, Tyler Winger, Dillan Sliter, Rob Misener, R.J. Pietz, Anthony Kelly, Sean Iftody, Ryleigh Sliter, Cole Hardy, Nick Sarantakos, Dave Cornish, Shawn Sliter, Bella General, (DNF) Leroy Buscumb, (DNF) Chris Watson, (DNF) Chance Kotar

Qualifying Heats – Dillan Sliter, Cohen Corbett, Shawn Sliter

Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY (7), Jason Fontaine, Zack Bleich, Chris Crowe, Kyle Pelrine, Jeff Bean, Gofast Teeple, John Overholt, Kevin Kocarik, Rob Murray, Mark Fawcett, (DNF) Dustin Duga, (DNF) Nathan MacWhirter

Qualifying Heats – Mark Fawcett, Jason Fontaine

All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders – ALEX RILEY (3), Mason Anderson, Joshua Dmytrow, Hana Rothwell, Cierra Keus, Clinton Barrick, John Lubeck, Ken Hair, Jeremy Cooper, Olivier Larocque, Sierra Robison, Randy Always, Austyn Werstroh, Ray Cerenzia, Brendan Lefrancois, Shawn Keus, John Trivieri, Steven Boverhof, Sam Iftody, Richard Hadler, Jay Moulton, Nick Bowman, Joe Stevenson, Jesse Duguay, (DNF) Dave Wininger, (DNF) Connor Chambers, (DNF) Nick Leroux, (DNF) Savannah Fontaine

Qualifying Heats - Hana Rothwell, John Lubeck, Clinton Barrick

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