Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite - Merrittville Speedway
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
By Jim Irvine
Driver Adam Leslie enjoyed a rare July 4 evening at Merrittville Speedway, with his Lucas Oil # 15 Salute to the Troops and Fallen Heroes car put on display twice – first inside the grandstand gates to welcome spectators, then again later in Victory Lane.
Leslie won his Open Wheel Lite race in front of a large crowd that included a number of reservists from the Lincoln & Welland Regiment, as well as the families of fallen heroes W.O. Dennis Brown and Cpl. Tyler Crooks. When Corporal Crooks was killed in action, Leslie felt that he had to do something to honor his former hockey coach, and all Canadian Forces personnel.
"Adam came to me with his idea," revealed Lucas Oil Canada’s Steve Snowden. "I could tell right from the start that it meant so much to Adam to honour the troops this way. To go on to actually win the race was a perfect ending."
The start of the Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite race went to a red flag right away, after a number of cars came together at the start. Rick Brubacher would take control once the track was cleared, with Adam Leslie soon to take control. He was ultimately able to pull away to a five-car lead at the finish. Leslie was followed by Paul Klager, Josh Sliter, Rick Brubacher and Andy Tallman.
It was also the best it could be for Garnet Wilson who won his first career Merrittville Turn 4 Collision Four-Cylinder Feature after countless runner-up finishes in his eight-year career.
Photo credit: Photochik Action Photography
Many thanks to Craig Ritchie, Editorial Director of World Of Wheels Magazine for permission to post this article!