THOROLD, Ontario – Austin Wood earned his first 358 modified victory during Saturday’s John Spencer Memorial feature at Merrittville Speedway as the track crowned a new round of champions.
The 50-lap John Spencer Memorial 358 Modified race provided the perfect setting for the tightest championship battle of the night. With Mat Williamson racing elsewhere, the S&W Service Centre 358 Modified point title came down to Mike Bowman, Pete Bicknell and Gary Lindberg. Bowman lead Bicknell by three points and Lindberg by 17.
Bowman would draw the pole for the feature, but it was outside polesitter Wood who would spoil the party in dominant fashion. Wood took the lead from defending race winner Bowman before the lap five mark and never looked back. Lindberg, who started seventh, got by Bowman for second and closed on Wood in traffic.
Behind them, Bicknell had to work hard to get up from the 10th starting spot and could only get up to sixth as the caution-free event did him no favors. Once Wood cleared traffic, he was able to hold off Lindberg and take his first feature win in one of Merrittville’s biggest races. Bowman finished third and would be crowned champion.
Brent Begolo won his second sportsman feature of the season while Cody McPherson secure his fifth division championship since 2012. Dave Bailey topped the stock feature as well as capturing his third division title. Jay Moulton topped the 4-cylinder main event while Kyle Rothwell captured his first division crown. The mod-lite victory went to Tyler Winger as Begolo captured his third track title in the division. Lastly, Jordan Fidler topped the V6 feature and Dustin Daga captured the division crown.