James Friesen Runs Wild With 358-Modified Win At Merrittville Speedway

Story By: JONATHON HOWE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – As Rankin Construction Inc took to Merrittville Speedway to promote next Saturday’s Rankin Cancer Run, it was our drivers delivering impressive runs of their own before the Merrittville faithful.

James Friesen of Niagara On The Lake, ON scored the win in the Commercial Auto Electric 358. St. Catharines, ON native Cody McPherson kept his win streak alive in the Semenuk’s ESSO/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman.

American invader Joe Isabell brought his car north of the border to claim the win in the Rona Doidge Modified Lite. The APC Auto Part Centres Duel on the Dirt Home Track Events were rescheduled to tonight for both Hoosier Stocks and All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders, with each race being won by Dave Bailey of Hagersville, ON and Mason Anderson of St. Catharines respectively.

Luke Carleton and Jay Mallory lead the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified field to green with Mallory jumping out to an early lead. The race was delayed by caution on lap six when Rob Knapp spun out of corner four and wedged his car onto the inside guard rail. The caution flag would fall again on lap nine, setting up a restart where Luke Carleton would take over the top spot, which he held for most of the race. After back-to-back cautions on lap 25 and 26, it was James Friesen who had methodically moved his way forward from seventh starting position, taking the lead on the restart from Carleton. Carleton struggled once the race resumed with Pete Bicknell and Darrell Farraway slipping by. Mike Bowman would fight his way up to third in the closing laps, but no one could touch Friesen who scored his first victory of the season. Bicknell, Bowman, Carleton and Shayne Pierce completed the top five.

The Semenuk’s Esso/ Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman was marred by continuous cautions as the field struggled to complete long stretches of green flag laps. After two no starts, Tyler Puchalski was able to get out in front early. After cautions on lap two and lap four, Billy Bleich Jr. took the top spot and would lead through two more restarts in short succession. On lap 10, Cody McPherson found his way to the front, after dodging incidents while working his way forward from 15th starting spot. After another caution on lap 14, the field made it nearly ten laps before a mechanical failure for Boyd McTavish who was running comfortably in the top 10 at the time set up a three-lap single file dash. McPherson scored his third straight win to start the season ahead of Nigel Pendykoski, who rallied after being in a caution early in the race. Bleich Jr. was third, Taylor Vanderzanden, and Noah Mamo were fourth and fifth respectively.

Greg Zack started from the pole in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites, but it would be a close competitor and friend of his from stateside, Joe Isabell who would steal the show. After starting 15th, Isabell carved his way through the field, reaching the top five after just seven laps. On lap 12, R.J. Pietz went for a slow roll after hitting the moat on the front stretch and bicycling the car across the front stretch. He would be okay but his strong night came to an end after crashing while running second. On lap 14, Isabell took the lead from Rob Misener, who was then passed by Josh Sliter before a lap 16 caution. Sliter gave Isabell a run for his money but could not complete a pass before the checkered flag flew.

After the original date was rained out, the Hoosier contested their rescheduled APC Auto Parts Centres Duel on the Dirt Home Track Event #1. Outside polesitter Zach Bleich led early, leading the first seven laps. Dave Bailey, who was seeking his second straight win, took over the top spot from Bleich and never looked back. Mark Fawcett and Kyle Pelrine dueled over second for multiple laps, after working past Bleich. Fawcett would eventually triumph but ran out of time to mount a charge at Bailey. Rob Murray and Jason Fontaine would also get by Bleich to secure finishes inside the top five.

Steven Boverhof and Sierra Robison started upfront with Robison, who won her third heat race of the season, getting out to an early lead. Robison would continue to lead until Josh Dmytrow took the top spot following a lap nine restart. On lap 12, Dmytrow surrendered the lead to Mason Anderson, but a caution on lap 13 set up a two-lap dash to finish the event. Anderson would hang on to win after Hana Rothwell, Alex Riley and Ken Hair all got by Dmytrow on the restart.

The Victoria Day Long weekend double header at Merrittville Speedway concludes Monday May 19th, when Niagara Audi presents the Victoria Day Extravaganza with Fireworks featuring a 40 lap Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified with an Outlaw redraw, Northeast Late Model Alliance, $1740 to win Hoosier Stock feature and the Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders. Pit Gates will open at 5pm, with grandstands opening at 5:30pm, and action will get underway at 7pm.

RACE RESULTS –- May 17th, 2025

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

Heat Winners – Jay Mallory, Brad Rouse, Scott Wood

Semenuk’s ESSO/ Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (3), Nigel Pendykoski, Billy Bleich Jr., Taylor Vanderzanden, Noah Mamo, Matt Sharpe, Jacob Chevalier, Tyler Puchalski, Kyle Rothwell, Elijah Knutt, Madyson Rouse, Trevor Pitt, Brad Overbeeke, Jeff Panunte, Boyd MacTavish, (DNF) Matteo Panunte, (DNF) Doug Walsh Jr., (DNF) Matthew Jessome, (DNF) Daniel McKay, (DNF) Mitch Dumont

Heat Winners – Matt Sharpe, Doug Walsh Jr., Tyler Puchalski,

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – JOE ISABELL, Josh Sliter, Tyler Winger, Rob Misener, Evan Leonard, Sean Iftody, Brent Begolo, Leroy Buscumb, Greg Zack, Chris Watson. Ryleigh Sliter, Roger Olschewske Jr., Dan Kviring, Nick Sarantakos, Jeffery Bernier-Lacombe, Dave Cornish, Bella General, Roger Pardis, Dillan Sliter, Cole Hardy, (DNF) Anthony Kelly, (DNF) Cohen Corbett, (DNF) R.J. Pietz

Heat Winners – Joe Isabell, Rob Misener, Chris Watson

Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY (2), Mark Fawcett, Kyle Pelrine, Rob Murray, Jason Fontaine, Zack Bleich, George Grosul, Gofast Teeple, Dustin Duga, John Overholt, (DNF) Spencer Maytum

Heat Winners – Dave Bailey, Mark Fawcett

Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders – MASON ANDERSON, Hana Rothwell, Alex Riley, Ken Hair, Joshua Dmytrow, Randy Always, Sierra Robison, Clinton Barrick, Rob Goulding, Ray Cerenzia, Jeremy Cooper, Dave Wininger, Austyn Werstroh, Cierra Keus, Olivier Larocque, Steven Boverhof, Nick Bowman, Richard Hadler, Savannah Fontaine, Jay Moulton, Braden Keus, Connor Chambers, Joe Stevenson, Brendan Lefrancois, (DNF) John Trivieri, (DNF) James Marshall

Heat Winners – Brendan Lefrancois, John Trivieri, Sierra Robison

B Main – JEREMY COOPER, Olivier Larocque, Richard Hadler, Braden Keus, Cierra Keus, Connor Chambers, James Marshall, Joe Stevenson, Shawn Wilton, Jack Reid, Jacob McIntyre, (DNS) Cameron Olm