Shayne Pierce Races Like A Rockstar At Merrittville Speedway; Wins 358-Modified Feature

Story By: JONATHON HOWE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – After a week off due to rain, racing returned to Merrittville Speedway for 97.7 HTZ FM Night at the races.

Shayne Pierce of St. Catharines, On. won in the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature.

Fellow St. Catharines, On. native Cody McPherson won in the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman event. Josh Sliter of Port Colborne, On. scored back-to-back wins in the Rona Doidge Mod Lites. The Hoosier Stocks went to Dave Bailey of Hagersville, On. and Alex Riley of St. Catharines, On. won the Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders feature.

Luke Carleton and Dylan Davidson started from the front row of the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature, with Davidson getting out to an early lead. The yellow flag was out early as Martin Polhill spun on lap three. Davidson would control the restart, as well as the restart following Todd Gordon’s spin on lap five. Davidson led the race away from Nelson Mason who began to close in until a caution for a slowing Luke Carleton on lap 14. On the restart, Mason would be able to take the lead before another quick caution on lap 15 when Jacob Dykstra spun and collected Dave Winfield. The field finally began to get into a green flag rhythm, with Mason opening a small margin. Meanwhile, Shayne Pierce was able to work his way forward and began to track down Mason. The driver showed plenty of confidence in his race car, making impressive moves in and out of traffic and eventually would take the lead. Mason fell back into the clutches of Gary Lindberg who took the second spot away late but ran out of time to track down Pierce who went on to win and make it three winners in as many races for the Modifieds. Lindberg, Mason, James Friesen and Davidson completed the top five.

The Semenuk’s Esso/ Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman began with Kyle Rothwell and Boyd MacTavish up front. The race failed to get going with two cautions before the field could complete their first lap. On the third attempt, Kyle Rothwell led early, but Boyd MacTavish took the lead away after five laps. He remained upfront, while Cody McPherson worked his way forward to second before caution came out again on lap 14. MacTavish held the lead on the restart for another five laps until he washed up the racetrack under pressure from McPherson, allowing McPherson to get the lead. McPherson held off the field on two late restarts within the last five laps to pick up his second win on the season.

In Rona Doidge Mod Lite action, Chris Watson and Nick Sarantakos started upfront with Watson leading until a caution on lap four. On the restart, it was Tyler Winger making bold moves to grab second spot after a two for one pass in turns three and four. Winger would take the lead and continue to lead after a restart on lap 11 when Anthony Kelly spun. The battle was on for second between Brent Begolo, Cohen Corbett and Josh Sliter as they all fought to be the one to challenge Winger for the win. Evan Leonard ended up spinning twice to bring out cautions on laps 14 and 17. Winger would survive one restart but not both as Josh Sliter slipped by on lap 19 to steal the win away late and make it two wins in a row on the year.

In the Hoosier Stocks, it was all Dave Bailey after the defending division champion started on the outside of the front row. He jumped out to an early and comfortable lead. Rob Murray was able to take second from pole sitter Dustin Duga on lap eight. With no cautions, Bailey amassed an almost full straight away advantage before races end, winning the feature handedly. Murray was second, with Mark Fawcett, Zack Bleich and Jason Fontaine completing the top five.

Jay Moulton and Cierra Keus lead the field to green in the Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders, with Keus taking the top spot on lap one. On lap seven, a multi car crash on the back stretch sent both Sierra Robison and Rob Goulding flipping with both drivers able to climb from their cars uninjured. Defending track champ Alex Riley took the top spot-on lap eight after the restart before a strange set of events led to a yellow on lap 13. While Austyn Werstroh came to a stop on the back stretch, simultaneously Clinton Barrick’s right rear came off out of turn four while John Lubeck hit debris and his car erupts in flames that quickly went out. Riley would survive the Green White Checkered finish to pick up his first win on the season.

The Victoria Day Long weekend marks a double header weekend at Merrittville Speedway. On May 17th, Rankin Construction Inc and Niagara’s Rankin Cancer Run present Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing including Rescheduled Duel on the Dirt Home Track Events for the Hoosier Stocks ad Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders. On Monday May 19th, 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 10th, 2025

Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – SHAYNE PIERCE, Gary Lindberg, Nelson Mason, James Friesen, Dylan Davidson, Scott Wood, Darell Farraway, Pete Bicknell, Mike Bowman, Brad Rouse, Jay Mallory, Justin Sharp, Martin Polhill, Todd Gordon, Brian Page, Paul Gaboury, Derek VanMil, (DNF) Fred Carleton, (DNF) Luke Carleton, (DNF) Ken Winfield, (DNF) Jacob Dykstra, (DNF) Bill Gill

Heat Winners – Shayne Pierce, Dylan Davidson, Nelson Mason

Semenuk’s ESSO/ Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (2), Boyd MacTavish, Brett Senek, Kyle Rothwell, Matteo Panunte, Taylor Vanderzanden, Nigel Pendykoski, Matt Sharpe, Jacob Chevalier, Noah Mamo, Mitch Dumont, Tyler Puchalski, Jeff Panunte, Daniel McKay, Tyler Lafantaise, Doug Walsh Jr., Brad Overbeeke, Madyson Rouse, Elijah Knutt, (DNF) Billy Bleich Jr., (DNF) Trevor Pitt, (DNF) Matthew Jessome, (DNF) Curtis Friesen

Heat Winners – Taylor Vanderzanden, Tyler Puchalski, Cody McPherson

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – JOSH SLITER (2), Tyler Winger, R.J. Pietz, Brent Begolo, Cohen Corbett, Roger Pardis, Sean Iftody, Chris Watson, Leroy Buscumb, Anthony Kelly, Roger Olschewske Jr., Ryleigh Sliter, Dave Cornish, Dillan Sliter, Cole Hardy, Anthony Scott, Evan Leonard, Greg Zack, Bella General, (DNF) Rob Misener, (DNF) Nick Sarantakos, (DNS) Dan Kviring

Heat Winners – Tyler Winger, Sean Iftody, Rob Misener

Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY, Rob Murray, Mark Fawcett, Zack Bleich, Jason Fontaine, Kyle Pelrine, Evan Curtis, Dustin Duga, Gofast Teeple, Nathan MacWhirter, (DNF) Jeff Bean, (DNS) John Overholt

Heat Winners – Dave Bailey, Mark Fawcett

Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders – ALEX RILEY, Cierra Keus, Randy Always, Mason Anderson, Ken Hair, Olivier Larocque, Jeremy Cooper, Brendan Lafrancois, Hana Rothwell, Savannah Fontaine, Ray Cerenzia, Shawn Wilton, John Trivieri, Jay Moulton, Steven Boverhof, Grayden Lyons, Joshua Dmytrow, Richard Hadler, John Lubeck, Clinton Barrick, Austyn Werstroh, (DNF) Dave Wininger, (DNF) Rob Goulding, (DNF) Sierra Robison

Heat Winners – Jay Moulton, Cierra Keus, Sierra Robison