By Jonathon Howe
THOROLD, Ont. (June 10, 2023) – Canada’s Oldest Dirt Track played host to their first Sprint Car event of the season Saturday as the Oakwood Transport Action Sprint Tour West hit the Merrittville Speedway clay. It was past Modified champion Mike Bowman of St. Catharines winning on Pen Centre night at the races.
The Oakwood Transport Action Sprint Tour West made their first stop of three stops at Merrittville Speedway with a familiar name starting on pole. Mike Bowman led the field to green alongside Lance Erskine and was dominant from the get-go. A caution of lap 5 halted his progress of building a large lead but it was a temporary setback. Meanwhile, Brett Stratford who had to work his way forward from 7th, inched closer lap after lap, picking up positions when he could. He got a shot at Bowman with 10 to go when John Cadman spun in turn four leading to another restart. However, Stratford still had to pass Erskine on the restart and ran out of time to make a challenge on Bowman for the win. Bowman saw the checkers first with Stratford, Erskine, Matt Billings and Al Sleight completing the front five behind him.
RACE RESULTS –- June 10th, 2023
Action Sprint Tour – MIKE BOWMAN, Brett Stratford, Lance Erskine, Matt Billings, Al Sleight, Tanner Podwinski, Ashton VanEvery, Johnny Miller, Brian Nanticoke, Sheldon Bender, Keegan Baker, Cam MacKinnon, Tyler Ward, John Cadman, Will Marche, Cameron Thomson
Qualifying Heats: Brett Stratford, Mike Bowman, Matt Billings