THOROLD, ON - It’s the middle of August and young families from across Niagara are racing around getting ready to go back to school. A visit to the Pen Centre - Niagara’s largest shopping destination which features 180 stores and services and one million square feet of shopping fun is a must.
Also a must is when the Pen Centre presents a night of racing fun at Merrittville Speedway Saturday August 21st when the ASCS Patriot Sprints will headline the Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event.
“Merrittville had a few seasons completed when the Pen was built as an outside strip mall,” remarks (Merrittville GM) Erica Bicknell, “and now more than ever … look at it today … the merchants … employees and the mall staff can expect a thrilling night with the Sprint Cars on tap.”
Joining the alcohol belching winged wonders will be the Original Pizza Logs Sportsmen, Hoosier Stocks, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites and the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders
Prior to the start of the season the Pen Centre played host to a Race Car Show showcasing the incredible off season efforts of the Race Teams involved including the Big Moose Racing Sprinter of Mikey Kruchka.
The final time Merrittville fans saw that car on the track it was involved in a dramatic finish on the final Saturday Night of 2009 when Kruchka lost out on his first A Main win just feet from the finish line after climbing the front stretch jersey barrier.
The ASCS Patriot Sprints will be making only their third visit to the Thorold DIRTcar sanctioned facility this Saturday Night – the second event in the 2010 Fine Touch Collision King of the Golden Horseshoe Series after the series opener Friday Night at Ohsweken Speedway.
Bryan Howland - a three time and defending Overall Series’ Champion won the inaugural Merrittville A Main in 2006 and last season former 358 Modified driver Scott Kreutter made good on his homecoming in taking the checkered flag. Howland won the last event on the series schedule at the Black Rock Speedway becoming the first three-time winner in 2010.
Howland currently enjoys a 33 point lead over Jared Zimbardi with 5 point races remaining with Tim Kelly, Bubba Broderick, Don Adamczyk, Vern Wasson, Bobby Breen, Shayne Ely, Blake Breen and Kyle Moffit rounding out the top 10.
Blake Breen is the defending King of the Golden Horseshoe Series Champ with former local Sportsman driver Dave Dykstra finishing third.
Dykstra currently leads the points at the Chiefswood Road facility with Moffit, Kevin Job, Keith Dempster and Glenn Styres as the top 5 in the Corr/Pak sponsored division.
A number of other New Yorkers will be in competition this weekend, including Todd Hoddick, Derek Jonathan and rookies Bob Reis and Ross Vleck as well Devin Caron and Doug Bowman, also familiar faces to the Patriot Tour are likely to be on hand.
Drivers looking to capitalize on previous Merrittville experience include brothers Travis Cunningham, Chris Steele, Tom and Jim Huppunen, John Burbridge, former 358 Modified driver Jamie Turner, former karter and 4 Cylinder driver Mitchell Brown and Stan Zanchin are just some of the other names that will take their turn with the Patriots this weekend.
So how will it all play out? Will one of the Patriot regulars take home the King of the Golden Horseshoe hardware or it will be a local driver? All these questions will be answered Saturday August 21st – it’s surely an event you won’t want to miss!
The Pen Centre is home to popular national stores and brands including . Aeropostale, American Eagle, the Bay, H&M, HomeSense, Old Navy, Sears, SportChek, Winners and Zellers. Shoppers can dine in one of five restaurants or relax in the Food or any of the other food service providers. Enjoy a movie on one of Empire Theatre's 10 modern screens with stadium seating or just relax in one of our comfortable soft seating stations located throughout the shopping centre. The Pen Centre is located at HWY 406 and Glendale Avenue in St. Catharines and Store Hours are Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 9:30 to 6:00 and on Sundays from Noon to 6 PM. For further information visit www.thepencentre.com.
Gates open at 5:30 Saturday August 21st and with Showtime at 7:00 – you better be in your seat for the action .. the speed and the thunder of the ASCS Patriot Sprints!.
Merrittville Speedway is located at 2371 Merrittville Highway in Thorold Ontario in the heart of Niagara. Race fans can visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com or call the 24 Hour Raceline at 905-892-8266 for event information.
