Gary Lindberg Outlasts Modified Monday Madness At Merrittville Speedway On Victoria Day

Story By: JONATHON HOWE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – The Audi Niagara Victoria Day Extravaganza from Merrittville Speedway was filled with Fireworks on and off the track.

Gary Lindberg of Ridgeway, ON won the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified 40 lap feature.

The Vanderlaan Building Products Northeast Late Model Alliance feature was won by Brian McDonald of Cornwall, ON. Dave Bailey of Hagersville, ON won the Hoosier Stock feature which paid $1740, and Alex Riley of St. Catharines won a photo finish in the All-Star Concrete 4 Cylinders.

After an Outlaw Redraw at intermission, Jay Mallory and Luke Carleton led the field to green for an extended feature for the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature. The first caution fell on lap with Luke Carleton out front after Todd Gordon went for a solo spin. On the restart, Darrell Farraway was able to take over the top spot, leading until the halfway mark of the 40-lap feature when his engine expired. This handed the lead the Nelson Mason who had set a quick time in his group and won his heat earlier in the night. Fours laps later, Fred Carleton and Brad Rouse tangled off turn four, leading to another caution. On the restart at lap 25, Scott Wood spun while inside the top ten, collecting Gordon, Rob Knapp, Fred Carleton and Bill Gill. Gary Lindberg was able to get the lead from Mason, with Mike Bowman slipping by as well to claim second. Two laps into the run, Pete Bicknell would contact Dave Flannigan Jr. Both would have to restart from the back after running in the top five, while Lindberg continued to pace the field. With just two laps to go, Flannigan turned Bicknell in retaliation for the earlier contact, setting up a two-lap dash to the finish. Lindberg held off Bowman, with Shayne Pierce, Brad Rouse and Nelson Mason completing the top five finishers.

Brady Wonderling and Brian McDonald started up front in the Vanderlaan Building Products Northeast Late Model Alliance visit at Merrittville. The two drivers were nearly inseparable all night, with Wonderling leading most of the 30-lap feature. The race was marred with no starts and cautions for mostly spins, with Wonderling pushing his luck multiple times while acting as control car for restarts. A caution at lap 23 saw David Pangrazio, who won a heat race earlier in the night tangle with Zack Carley. Wonderling’s attempts at gamesmanship on restarts finally crossed the lawn and he was moved back a row for a late restart, where McDonald took control of the race lead with perennial front runner Charlie Sandercock now the main challenger. Wonderling was able to get by Sandercock in the race’s final five laps but was unable to capitalize on a restart with two to go to take the win back. McDonald hung on for the win ahead of both Wonderling and Sandercock as the feature came to a merciful end.

In a special Monday event that paid $1740 to win, Dave Bailey had luck on his side when he drew the outside pole, alongside Mark Fawcett. On lap two, a caution came out for a three-car crash involving Gofast Teeple, John Overholt, and Dave Small. On lap 8, Mike Klazinga brought out the yellow when he hit the wall off turn four. Bailey continued to lead, while Ryan Beagle, making his first Merrittville start of the year, charged up to the fourth position on an extended green flag run. The run would come to an end when Nick Cameron punted Rob Disher. Beagle would get to third but fall short of challenging Bailey or second place runner Fawcett. Bailey’s win completed the double header weekend sweep of the Hoosier Stocks.

Cameron Olm and Shawn Wilton led the field to green in All Star Concrete Four Cylinder action. The field would not make it through the first corner cleanly as third place runner Steven Boverhof spun, collecting Sierra Robison, Brendan Lefrancois and Alex Riley, who was able to continue. Mason Anderson fought his way forward, taking a lead before another multicar incident at lap 7 put the field under yellow once again. One lap later, second and third place runners Savannah Fontaine and Dave Wininger got hooked together for another yellow. By lap nine, Alex Riley had rallied back to third place. With seven laps to go, Anderson lined up once again in control of the race with Riley now to his outside. The two dueled at the front of the field, With Riley refusing to let Anderson open any gap. As the white flag waived, Riley bobbled in turns one and two and Anderson cleared ahead. However, Riley wasn’t done and took one more run to the bottom in turns three and four. The two-drag raced to the line with Riley winning by .001 seconds ahead of Anderson in an all timer at Merrittville for the Mini Stocks.

May 24th marks the Big Bike Giveaway presented by Auto FX Graphics and Signs where every child through the gate will have the opportunity to go home with a brand-new bike. Donations of new bicycles are still being accepted and those who wished to donate are encouraged to contact Lorraine Spiece at 905-892-8266. The Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, Baron Roofing/Semenuk’s Esso DIRTcar Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Rona Doidge Mod-Lites, and All-Star Concrete 4 Cylinders will all be in action as part of Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing. Pit Gates will open at 4pm, with grandstands opening at 5:30pm, and action will get underway at 7pm.

RACE RESULTS –- May 19th, 2025

Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – GARY LINDBERG, Mike Bowman, Shayne Pierce, Brad Rouse, Nelson Mason, Scott Wood, Justin Sharp, Pete Bicknell, Paul Gaboury, Ken Winfield, Rob Knapp, (DNF) Dave Flannigan Jr., (DNF) James Friesen, (DNF) Fred Carleton, (DNF) Luke Carleton, (DNF) Todd Gordon, (DNF) Bill Gill, (DNF) Darrell Farraway, (DNF) Jay Mallory, (DNF) Dylan Davidson, (DNF) Martin Polhill, (DNF) Brian Page

Heat Winners – Gary Lindberg, Nelson Mason, Pete Bicknell

Vanderlaan Building Products Northeast Late Model Alliance – BRIAN MCDONALD, Brady Wonderling, Charlie Sandercock, Brandon Mowat, Jonah Mutton, Steve Baldwin, Nathan Rinaldi, Brandt Graham, David Pangrazio, Austin King, John McIntyre, Kyle Sopaz, Greg Belyea, Anthony Rinaldi, Luke Proulx, (DNF) Stan Zanchin, (DNF) Zack Carley, (DNF) Josh Black, (DNF) Josh Overdulve

Heat Winners – Brady Wonderling, David Pangrazio, Brian McDonald

Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY (3), Mark Fawcett, Ryan Beagle, Rob Murray, Kyle Pelrine, Tyler French, Jason Fontaine, Brock Gregory, Carter Rhodes, Ryan Dinning, Spencer Smolders, Zack Bleich, Dustin Duga, Jeff Larmet, Rob General, Rob Disher, John Overholt, (DNF) Nick Cameron, (DNF) Chris Crowe, (DNF) Gofast Teeple, (DNF) Mike Klazinga, (DNF) Dave Small

Heat Winners – Mark Fawcett, Rob Murray, Dave Bailey

Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders – ALEX RILEY (2), Mason Anderson, Ken Hair, Hana Rothwell, Cierra Keus, Tony Kelly, Randy Always, Joshua Dmytrow, Savannah Fontaine, Cameron Olm, Clinton Barrick, Dave Wininger, Nathan Joyner, Nick Bowman, John Trivieri, Steven Boverhof, Richard Hadler, Braden Keus, Grayden Lyons, (DNF) Rob Goulding, (DNF) Austyn Werstroh, (DNF) Jeremy Cooper, (DNF) Shawn Wilton, (DNF) Ray Cerenzia, (DNF) Sierra Robison, (DNF) Olivier Larocque, (DNF) Brendan Lefrancois, (DNF) James Marshall

B Feature (Top 4 Transfer) – JOSHUA DMYTROW, Nathan Joyner, Braden Keus, Grayden Lyons, Joe Stevenson, Connor Chambers, Aaron Paquet, Jesse Duguay, Nick Leroux

Heat Winners – Mason Anderson, Dave Wininger, Alex Riley, Ray Cerenzia