Lindberg’s Late Charge Leads To Back-To-Back Jerry Winger Memorial Wins At Merrittville

Story By: JONATHON HOWE / MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY – THOROLD, ONT – The always special Nostalgia Night at Merrittville Speedway was nothing short of spectacular as the track celebrated 74 years of history.

The evening began with a ceremony inducting Don McGinnis and Randy Hollingshead onto the CAA Wall of Fame with plaques designed by Auto FX Graphics and Signs, while Dana Curvin and Fran Bushardt were awarded the CAA Dedication to Racing Award in front of a packed house that included over 200 Merrittville Speedway alumni and their families.

Gary Lindberg of Ridgeway, ON won the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial in the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds. St. Catharines, ON native Cody McPherson kept his unbeaten streak alive in the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman’s by winning the 25 lap Bill Willard Sterling Silver Trophy. Dave Bailey of Hagersville, ON scored the win in the Hoosier Stocks. Rob Pietz of Welland, ON won the NRVRS Vintage cars and Jeremy Cooper racing out of Chippawa, ON won the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders.

The 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial for the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds began with Pete Bicknell and Brian Page up front. The field had several false starts with Brad Rouse spinning on the opening corner then, a multi car incident on the race’s second attempt at the initial start. Once the race did get going, Pete Bicknell took the top spot leading Mike Bowman through the opening laps. Bowman went to the top spot, completing the pass on Bicknell. As the leaders hit lap traffic, Bicknell reeled in Bowman, catching him at lap 20. He would make the pass a few laps later and hold that lead over a long green flag run. Gary Lindberg, meanwhile, who picked up damage after being caught up in the opening lap multi-car incident, drove his way back to the top five after 35 laps, with both he and James Friesen running down Bowman and Bicknell who continued to work through lap traffic. However, a caution on lap 37 for synchronized spins by Luke Carleton and Ken Winfield, set up at 13 lap dash to the finish. On the restart, Lindberg quickly moved past Bowman, but Bicknell put up a strong fight, refusing to give up the preferred bottom line around the track and the lead. With less than five laps to go, Bicknell slipped off the bottom out of turn two, opening the door just enough for Lindberg to get to the inside, eventually completing the pass, and the comeback from the first lap wreck to win back to back Jerry Winger Memorials. Bicknell was second, with Bowman third and Nelson Mason just crossing the line for fourth ahead of Shayne Pierce.

Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar sportsman action was frantic in its early stages as drivers battled for the win the Bill Willard Sr. Sterling Silvr 7 trophy as well as the Al Willard Hard Charger Award. Lap one saw Matt Sharpe go for a spin, followed by a multi-car incident on lap six when Kyle Rothwell, Elijah Knutt and Madyson Rouse tangled. Doug Walsh Jr. held the lead from pole through the first half of the race until Cody McPherson took the lead on lap 13 just prior to another caution coming out. McPherson, trying to win the race named for his great grandfather, would be untouchable after the restart. He kept his unbeaten streak at Merrittville Speedway alive, while also scoring the Hard Charger award, driving from 14th on his way to first. Jacob Chevalier earned his career best finish in his young Sportsman career finishing second, with Mitch Dumont, Brent Begolo and Ryan Barrett completing the top five finishers.

The full fender frenzy of the Hoosier Stocks lived up to the hype in their feature event. The action started when Dave Bailey had help from behind leading to further contact to Rob Murray and Gofast Teeple. Kyle Pelrine took the lead from Zach Bleich on the restart, before another caution flew on lap five when Mark Fawcett suffered a flat left rear leading to a spin. In the race’s second half, Bleich and Pelrine began exchanging blows battling for the top spot, bringing both Murray and Bailey back into the fight for the top spot. The four cars all took turns fighting for the bottom lane and the lead, with no love lost until Murray eventually was turned around with four laps to go. On the restart, Bailey got by Pelrine and muscled his wounded race car to his fourth win of the season at Merrittville. Pelrine was second, with Dustin Duga finishing third. Murray had a late rebound to fourth and Rob Disher finished fifth.

The NRVRS Vintage cars made their first trip to Merrittville Speedway on Nostalgia Night. Bill Profata and Jens Mortensen lead the field to green. Profata looked strong early, leading the first few laps. However, he was run down and quickly passed by Rob Pietz. Both drivers won their respective heats in convincing fashion early in the night. However, only Pietz was able to make that speed translate come feature time as Profata dropped back through the field. Pietz took the win over Ryan Ferri and Jipp Ortiz.

Jeremy Cooper started from pole in the All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders feature and led every lap of the feature. Cautions were sparse with a first lap incident involving Cierra Keus losing power in front of the field and getting spun to the right by Austyn Werstroh, avoiding collecting more cars from the on rushing pack. Coming to the white flag, Joe Stevenson spun, setting up a one lap dash, single file restart to settle it. Even with Mason Anderson and Ken Hair in hot pursuit, neither could get close enough to try a move to steal Cooper’s perfect race. Alex Riley finished fourth and Josh Dmytrow completed the top five finishers.

Next week, Merrittville Speedway honours a legendary engine builder as the Southern Ontario Sprints return for the Gary Cunningham Memorial. They will be joined by the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds, Hoosier Stocks. Rona Doidge Modified Lites, and All Star Concrete 4 Cylinders. Pit Gates will open at 5pm, with grandstands opening at 5:30pm, and racing will get underway at 7pm.

RACE RESULTS –- June 14th, 2025.

Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds – GARY LINDBERG (2), Pete Bicknell, Mike Bowman, Nelson Mason, Shayne Pierce, Brad Rouse, James Friesen, Justin Sharp, Scott Wood, Darrell Farraway, Fred Carleton, Dylan Davidson, Paul Gaboury, Jay Mallory, Derek VanMil, Ken Winfield, (DNF) Luke Carleton, (DNF) Dave Flannigan Jr., (DNF) Bill Gill, (DNF) Brian Page, (DNF) Martin Polhill, (DNF) Todd Gordon, (DNF) Brandon Gruhl

Qualifying Heats – Dylan Davidson, Pete Bicknell, Darrell Farraway

Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (6), Jacob Chevalier, Mitch Dumont, Brent Begolo, Ryan Barrett, Matt Sharpe, Doug Walsh Jr., Jeff Panunte, Noah Mamo, Kyle Rothwell, Matteo Panunte, Billy Bleich Jr., Daniel McKay, Brad Overbeeke, Taylor Vanderzanden, Tyler Lafantaise, Madyson Rouse, (DNF) Nigel Pendykoski, (DNF) Curtis Friesen, (DNF) Tyler Puchalski, (DNF) Elijah Knutt, (DNF) Matthew Jessome

Qualifying Heats – Doug Walsh Jr., Jeff Panunte, Tyler Puchalski

Hoosier Stocks – DAVE BAILEY (4), Kyle Pelrine, Dustin Duga, Rob Murray, Rob Disher, Chris Crowe, Zack Bleich, Kevin Kocarik, John Overholt, Mark Fawcett, George Grosul, Gofast Teeple, (DNS) Nathan MacWhirter, (DQ) Jason Fontaine

Qualifying Heats – Rob Murray, Mark Fawcett

NRVRS Vintage Cars – ROB PIETZ, Ryan Ferri, Jipp Ortiz, Stan Zanchin, Alan Wood, Bill Profata, Tim Natalino, Jens Mortensen, Bill Montreuil, Jeff Larmet, Mike Jacobs, Chad Brown

Qualifying Heats – Bill Profata, Rob Pietz

Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders – JEREMY COOPER, Mason Anderson, Ken Hair, Alex Riley, Joshua Dmytrow, Dave Wininger, Hana Rothwell, Randy Always, Sierra Robison, Ray Cerenzia, Olivier Larocque, John Lubeck, John Trivieri, Cameron Olm, Grayden Lyons, Austyn Werstroh, Savannah Fontaine, James Marshall, Richard Hadler, Joe Stevenson, Steven Boverhof, Aaron Paquet, Clinton Barrick, (DNF) Connor Chambers, (DNF) Brendan Lefrancois, (DNF) Braden Keus, (DNF) Cierra Keus, (DNS) Jay Moulton

Qualifying Heats – Sierra Robison, Alex Riley, Josh Dmytrow