Thorold, ON — May 4, 2019

Defending S&W Service Centre 358 Modified Champion Mat Williamson from St. Catharines, Ontario won the 35-lap feature event to headline the 68th Season Opener presented by Peter’s Excavating Saturday night at the Merrittville Speedway. Paul Gaboury from Welland picked up the win Dave Bailey from Hagersville, Ontario won home race number one for the Insta Panel Duel on the Dirt for the Hoosier Stocks. Defending track champion Brent Begolo from Thorold, Ontario won the Doidge Building Centre’s Mod Lites. Anthony Kelly Jr won the main event for the Central Fabricating 4 Cylinders. Kevin Conley won the feature event for the Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6’s.

Tyler Willard and Chad Brachmann shared the front row in the 35-lap feature for the S&W Service Centre 358 Modifieds. Brachmann would take the lead on lap five after Willard bobbled off turn four. Todd Gordon would take the lead away off a lap nine restart. Gordon and Brachmann would battle for the lead for several laps. Gordon popped the motor down the front stretch to bring out the caution on lap 13, giving the lead to Mat Williamson, who took second away from Brachmann. The restart would see Williamson pull away from Brachmann as Gary Lindberg, Tim Jones, and Fred Carleton raced in the top five. Williamson would start to open his lead as Lindberg started to reel in Brachmann. The lead trio were all within two car lengths of each other. Brachmann got high in turn three and spun and Tim Jones had nowhere to go to bring out the red flag. Both drivers were alright and talking to safety officials. On the restart, it was Williamson back in the lead as Lindberg was pressuring Williamson for the lead. Williamson would hold off Lindberg to score the win.

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