Brad Rouse Become Seventh Mod Winner In Seven Mod Features At Merrittville

Story By: JONATHON HOWE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – Family Autograph Night presented by The Pen Centre is a night at Merrittville Speedway made for the fans, and drivers rewarded them on a beautiful night in Niagara. Brad Rouse of Fort Erie, ON won the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature.

The Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman feature was won by Cody McPherson of St. Catharines. Ridgeway, ON native Tyler Winger won in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites. Jason Fontaine of Port Colborne, ON won in the Hoosier Stocks and Ken Hair of Niagara Falls, ON scored the win in the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders.

The Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modified feature began with Dylan Davidson and Ken Winfield on the front row and an early caution as Gary Lindberg spun in turns three and four before the field completed a lap. Davidson would lead early and look strong out front. Brad Rouse was able to work his way to the stop, running consistently and patiently up from sixth starting spot to challenge Davidson. Davidson continued to slide back after Rouse got by for the lead before eventually spinning on lap 21 to bring out the yellow. Rouse led on the restart, minding a comfortable margin ahead of Jay Mallory, Luke Carleton and Pete Bicknell. Rouse would have to survive a final restart after Fred Carleton spun, collecting Paul Gaboury and Todd Gordon. Rouse once again built a comfortable margin thanks to a hard-fought battle for second between Bicknell who eventually bested Luke Carleton for the second spot. Rouse’s win made for seven different winners in seven races in the Modified division.

Doug Walsh Jr. and Brad Overbeeke led the Semenuk’s Esso/ Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman feature to green. Walsh would enjoy several laps out front early in the race before a series of cautions on lap seven of the race interrupted the race’s rhythm. Billy Bleich Jr. took the lead from Walsh following the restart on lap eight. Cody McPherson, who remains unbeaten in the Sportsman at Merrittville this season, moved his way to fourth after the restart, before the caution flag flew again on lap 13. After the restart, McPherson took the lead using the high lane, driving around Bleich and never looking back to remain unbeaten and win for the fifth time. Bleich would settle for second with Matteo Panunte, Mitch Dumont and Jacob Chevalier rounding out the top five.

Dave Cornish took the lead of the Rona Doidge Modified Lite Feature after inheriting a front row spot when Bella General elected to drop to the tail of the field. Cohen Corbett made some daring moves early to get to second before eventually passing Cornish for the top spot. Following a caution for a spin by Evan Leonard on Lap 11, Tyler Winger made the pass for the lead and the eventual win. Brent Begolo fought his way to second but couldn’t close up enough to pressure Winger, who took his second checkered flag of the season after winning the season opener.

Zach Bleich and Jason Fontaine started on the front row of the Hoosier Stock feature, with Fontaine going to the top spot-on lap one. For the second straight week, the Hoosier stocks ran caution free. While Fontaine didn’t feel much pressure for the top spot, the second spot saw a great battle between Rob Murray and Kyle Pelrine with Pelrine prevailing. Fourth position was also a hotly contested battle between championship hopefuls Dave Bailey and Mark Fawcett, with Bailey besting Fawcett.

Nick Bowman took the lead early in the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders from his front row starting spot. However, Bowman would go for a wild ride down the front stretch after nearly being turned by Jeremy Cooper off turn four, dropping back but keeping the car in one piece. After a trio of cautions on lap 10, Ken Hair was able to pass his teammate Cooper, with Rob Goulding also pressuring Hair for the win. A caution on lap 14 set up a Green-White-Checkered finish, which Hair was able to hold Goulding on to claim his second straight victory at Merrittville and third of the season.

Next Saturday, the always special Nostalgia Night at Merrittville will be presented by CAA and the Merrittville Reunion Committee. The evening will begin with a Ceremony to induct names to our CAA Wall of Fame, along with a presentation of the Dedication to Racing Award Recipients. The Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds will contest the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial, while Baron Roofing/Semenuk’s Esso DIRTcar Sportsman race for the Bill Willard Sr. Sterling Silver award. Joining them on the card will be the Hoosier Stocks, All-Star Concrete 4 Cylinders and the NRVRS Vintage Cars 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 –- June 7th, 2025

Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – BRAD ROUSE, Pete Bicknell, Luke Carleton, Gary Lindberg, Justin Sharp, Jay Mallory, Nelson Mason, Darrell Farraway, Scott Wood, Dave Flannigan Jr., Brian Page, Fred Carleton, Dylan Davidson, Paul Gaboury, Todd Gordon, Bill Gill, Ken Winfield, (DNF) Derek VanMil, (DNF) James Friesen, (DNF) Shayne Pierce

Heat Winners – Scott Wood, Brad Rouse, Jay Mallory,

Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman– CODY MCPHERSON (5), Billy Bleich Jr., Matteo Panunte, Mitch Dumont, Jacob Chevalier, Nigel Pendykoski, Jeff Panunte, Noah Mamo, Matt Sharpe, Taylor Vanderzanden, Ryan Barrett, Daniel McKay, Elijah Knutt, Trevor Pitt, Madyson Rouse, (DNF) Doug Walsh Jr., (DNF) Tyler Puchalski, (DNF) Brad Overbeeke, (DNF) Matthew Jessome, (DNS) Kyle Rothwell

Heat Winners – Doug Walsh Jr., Nigel Pendykoski, Brad Overbeeke

Rona Doidge Modified Lites – Tyler Winger (2), Brent Begolo, Cohen Corbett, Shawn Sliter, Leroy Buscumb, Sean Iftody, Rob Misener, R.J. Pietz, Dillan Sliter, Chris Watson, Anthony Kelly, Evan Leonard, Dan Kviring, Ryan Anderson, Ryleigh Sliter, Dave Cornish, Cole Hardy, Bella General, (DNF) Ashton Anderson

Heat Winners – Evan Leonard, Cohen Corbett, Tyler Winger

Hoosier Stocks – JASON FONTAINE (3), Kyle Pelrine, Rob Murray, Dave Bailey, Mark Fawcett, Zach Bleich, George Grosul, Gofast Teeple, John Overholt, Kevin Kocarik, Jeff Larmet, Chris Crowe, Spencer Maytum, Nathan MacWhirter, (DNF) Dustin Duga,

Heat Winners – Rob Murray, Jason Fontaine

Allstar Concrete 4 Cylinders – KEN HAIR (3), Rob Goulding, Austyn Werstroh, Hana Rothwell, Alex Riley, Ray Cerenzia, Dave Wininger, Sierra Robison, Joshua Dmytrow, Jonathan Devries, Nick Bowman, Steven Boverhof, Joe Stevenson, James Marshall, Cameron Olm, John Trivieri, Richard Hadler, Savannah Fontaine, Jack Reid, Cierra Keus, Jeremy Cooper, Connor Chambers, (DNF) Randy Alway, (DNF) Jonathan Macwhirter, (DNF) Olivier Larocque, (DNF) Mason Anderson, (DNF) Braden Keus, (DNS) Sam Iftody, (DNS) Nick Leroux

Heat Winners – Austyn Werstroh, Ken Hair, Dave Wininger