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GORDON MAKES IT 10 FEATURE WINNERS IN ‘25

THOROLD, Ontario (July 26th, 2025) … With threatening skies around the track, Merrittville Speedway race fans were treated to frantic racing action throughout Exclusive Imprint and Jacket Cellar night. Todd Gordon of St. Catharines, ON became Merrittville Speedway’s 10th feature winner in Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified’s in 2025. Fellow St. Catharines, ON native Curtis Friesen scored his first win since 2023 in the Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman. Josh Sliter of Port Colborne, ON returned to victory lane for a fifth time in the Rona Doidge Mod Lites. Smithville, ON’s Kyle Pelrine broke through for his first win of 2025 in the Hoosier Stocks. Dave Wininger of St. Catharines, ON got his first career feature win in the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders.

The Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature got off to a rocky start with 3 multi car wrecks in the races opening two laps. When the dust settled, Todd Gordon who started fourth, found himself at the front of the field and by lap 10, was building a margin on second place Dave Flannigan Jr. by lap 20, Gordon led by seven tenths of a second, after Flannigan Jr. had closed to within three tenths of Gordon. In the closing laps, Nelson Mason was able to take away the third spot from Tommy Flannigan, but ran out of time to factor into the battle for the win. Gordon ultimately prevailed ahead of Dave Flannigan Jr., becoming the 10th different driver to win a feature at Merrittville Speedway in the 358 Modified division.

In Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman, an early red flag led to a lengthy delay in the action. The incident occurred when Madyson Rouse got loose while running inside the top five on lap two, spinning across the field and collecting eight cars. With the field still packed up from the initial start of the race, there was nowhere for drivers to go and many helplessly piled in including Jacob Chevalier, Nigel Pendykoski, and Cody McPherson. When the race went green again, Curtis Friesen was the leader. Another yellow flag at lap six involved Tyler Lafantaise, Cameron Olm and Rouse. On the restart, Billy Bleich Jr. was all over Friesen for the lead, looking for a way by. At lap 10, Bleich slightly overcooked turn four, and Friesen jumped out to a 1.2 second advantage that continued to grow until the checkered flag flew above the Gibby’s Electronics 68 ride for Friesen. Friesen won by over four seconds ahead of Bleich Jr., while Tyler Puchalski barely held off Matteo and Jeff Panunte for the third spot.

A chaotic Rona Doidge Modified Lite feature began with Dave Cornish and Nick Sarantakos out front, with Cornish leading the first two laps before Ryleigh Sliter took the top spot. At Lap five, the race's first caution came out when Evan Leonard spun, and Shawn Sliter took the lead from Ryleigh Sliter at lap six. Five laps later, it was Josh Sliter taking the lead before a caution at lap 12 when Bella General spun. On the restart, Leonard found himself around once again. One lap later, another spin, this time from Lance Waldeck, put the field under yellow once again. The following lap saw the race's biggest incident of the night, when Ryleigh Sliter came together with another car on the front stretch that collected Rob Misener and Brent Begolo. Josh Sliter continued to lead under green conditions and even survived one last late restart green white checkered run to win his fifth feature of the season and close in on Tyler Winger, who finished third, for the track championship.

Polesitter Jeff Bean jumped out to the lead of the Hoosier Stock feature but was quickly passed by Kyle Pelrine after one lap. A multi car incident brought out the yellow on lap seven when Chris Crowe tried to block a run to the inside out of corner two by Mark Fawcett. Crowe ran Fawcett low on the back stretch and then they came together on entry of turn three, resulting in multiple cars getting damage. Dave Bailey jumped up to second spot on the lap eight restart. However, he could not advance any further and Kyle Pelrine held on to win his first of the season.

Clinton Barrick and Dean Wininger lead the field to green in the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders, with Wininger getting the lead early. Cierra Keus brought out a caution early when she stopped in turn two with a flat tire. At the opposite end of the track, John Lubeck, Jeremy Cooper and Sierra Robison tangled just before the yellow flag came out. After the restart, it was Wininger out front, leading Barrick, who was eventually passed by Ray Cerenzia for second. Josh Dmytrow picked up the third spot just before the race's halfway mark. Wininger would hold off Cerenzia and pick up his first career win in the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders.

Next week, it’s a double header weekend. All Canadian Tribute Weekend kicks off with Niagara Employment Help Centres presenting Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Saturday Night. For fans of two wheel action, Flat Track Canada brings dirt Motorcycle racing to Merrittville Speedway on Sunday night. The second night of stock car racing sees Baron Roofing present the 4th Annual Canadian Grand Nationals on Monday August 4th. The Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds will contest a 50 lap feature and one lucky fan will win $1000. 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 26th, 2025.

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

Qualifying Heats – Pete Bicknell, Todd Gordon, Tommy Flannigan

Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – CURTIS FRIESEN, Billy Bleich Jr., Tyler Puchalski, Matteo Panunte, Jeff Panunte, Taylor Vanderzanden, Brad Overbeeke, Noah Mamo, Mitch Dumont, Ryan Barrett, Jacob Chevalier, Matthew Jessome, Daniel McKay, Tyler Lafantaise, Madyson Rouse, Cameron Olm, John Babion, (DNF) Nigel Pendykoski, (DNF) Cody McPherson, (DNF) Austin Seburn, (DNF) Matt Sharpe, (DNF) Elijah Knutt, (DNS) Kyle Rothwell

Qualifying Heats - Jacob Chevalier, Tyler Puchalski, Matteo Panunte

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – JOSH SLITER (5), Tyler Winger, Shawn Sliter, R.J. Pietz, Sean Iftody, Cohen Corbett, Leroy Buscumb, Dillan Sliter, Anthony Kelly, Dave Cornish, Rob Misener, Nick Sarantakos, Dan Kviring, Cole Hardy, Chance Kotar, Roger Pardis, Bella General, Lance Waldeck, Ryleigh Sliter, Brent Begolo, (DNF) Evan Leonard, (DNF) Chris Watson

Qualifying Heats – Tyler Winger, Evan Leonard, Shawn Sliter

Hoosier Stocks – KYLE PELRINE, Dave Bailey, Rob Murray, Dustin Duga, Gofast Teeple, Zack Bleich, Mark Fawcett, Chris Crowe, John Overholt, Jeff Bean, Kevin Kocarik, Nathan MacWhirter, (DNF) Jason Fontaine, (DNS) Rob Disher

Qualifying Heats – Kyle Pelrine, Chris Crowe

All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders – DAVE WININGER, Ray Cerenzia, Hana Rothwell, Mason Anderson, Joshua Dmytrow, Ken Hair, Alex Riley, Rob Goulding, Clinton Barrick, Randy Alway, John Trivieri, Jonathan Macwhirter, Steven Boverhof, Braden Keus, Jeremy Cooper, Sam Iftody, James Marshall, Sierra Robison, Jesse Duguay, Connor Chambers, Savannah Fontaine, Olivier Larocque, Richard Hadler, Brendan Lefrancois, (DNF) Steve Robison, (DNF) Cierra Keus, (DNF) Austyn Werstroh, (DQ) John Lubeck

Qualifying Heats - Sierra Robison, Clinton Barrick, Hana Rothwell

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