Brachmann Loses Heartbreaker to Sheppard in Bob St. Amand Memorial at Merrittville
(Thorold, Ontario) Chad Brachmann is living proof that the best car doesn’t always win, as he led for 83 laps in the 100 lap Bob St. Amand Sr Memorial SDS Big Block Feature, only to come up short, as Matt Sheppard made a pass in heavy lap traffic on lap 91 to claim an unlikely victory on Monday, August 1st at Merrittville Speedway.
Brachmann took the lead from Gary Tomkins on lap seven and dominated the event until the fateful lap, enjoying leads of close to a straightaway at times, while the rest of the field battled for what appeared to be the runner-up spot.
Sheppard, who went off tenth, was on the move early, lining up fourth after a lap ten caution when Mike Bowman and Pete Britten got together in turn two. From there, he patiently worked his way forward, taking third from Pete Bicknell on a lap 21 restart and then stalking Tomkins for second on the slick racing surface.
While Brachmann cruised at the front, there was significant action behind him, as Bicknell, running a strong fourth, suddenly retired to the pits, while Larry Lampman Jr, the Modified winner of the All Canadian at Humberstone on Sunday, charged from 21st to 8th on lap 42. On lap 45, Sheppard cleared Tomkins for second and set sail for Brachmann, who had a 2.77 second lead at that point.
On lap 50, Brachmann entered lap traffic, allowing Sheppard to creep closer. By lap 57, it was a two man dice through traffic as Brachmann and Sheppard drew away from third place running Dale Planck. As they occupied the front, Lampman continued his ascent, claiming fifth on lap 59 and fourth on lap 63.
A caution on lap 67, when Planck suddenly stopped in turn four (he would return after a trip to the pits), saw Brachmann, Sheppard, Chad Chevalier, Lampman, and Billy Decker, who was the top time trialer, the top five.
As Brachmann once again drove away, Lampman claimed third from Chevalier and Mat Williamson, who started fifteenth, suddenly appeared in fourth on lap 75. Even more startling was Travis Braun, who started last (32nd), and cracked the top ten.
Brachmann was setting a fast pace when he once again caught lap traffic on lap 85. With Brachamnn stymied by the slower cars, Sheppard once again closed in, erasing a ten car lead to nothing by lap 89. As Brachmann desperately tried to maneuver, Sheppard saw his opportunity and made his move for the lead on the fateful lap 91.
Brachmann tried to repay the favor as Sheppard navigated through the heavy going, but couldn’t make a move for the lead over the remaining laps. At the line it was Sheppard, with Brachmann close behind, followed by Lampman, Williamson, and Decker, to complete the top five.
Sheppard, from Waterloo, NY, who was running a small block for this race, as was Brachmann, was almost apologetic in Victory Lane, after his third straight SDS Big Block victory at Merrittville, noting, “We had a good car tonight, but I really didn’t think I had anything for Chad. It’s a tough break for him. I rolled up to him in the middle of the race there, and I was pretty sure I was going to go right by him, but the groove changed and he got away a little bit. It seemed like we were dead even, but the lap cars just got him.”
Brachmann was flat out angry, exclaiming, “It just shows how much disrespect that most drivers have around this place. They can’t move over for the guys that are running fast.”
Lampman was pleased with his third place finish, declaring, “The track got slippery and we were just putting around the bottom. It seemed to work for most of the race. We got a top three there at the end. Matt and Chad were fast. I was just hoping to qualify tonight, so this is good.”
In a race that started on May 23rd, Brett Hearn scored the 798th win of his storied career in the 75 lap completion of the event, the first scheduled SDS 358 Modified Series race of the year. Hearn started on the pole, as he took the lead just before the rains came on May 23rd. Twenty-six of the original starters were on hand as Hearn drove out to an early lead when the race resumed on lap 26. Chad Brachmann, who started 5th, was on the move early, catching Hearn on lap 27 and then sweeping into the lead on lap 28.
Brachmann pulled away to a comfortable lead, but lap traffic soon thwarted his advance and allowed Hearn to close in. Hearn eased around Brachmann to reclaim the top spot on lap 53. Danny Johnson, who went off 11th, raced around the outside and claimed fourth on lap 58. Following a caution for a spin by Mike Bowman on lap 61, Johnson kept digging and took over second on lap 70.
Johnson was able to close in on Hearn, showing a nose on lap 76, but Hearn held him off. Two more cautions did not affect the top two. On lap 90, Johnson tried a move on the outside, but jumped the cushion in turn two and lost three spots. From there, Hearn cruised the rest of the way to take the win. Pete Bicknell, finished second, followed by Mat Sheppard, Mat Williamson, who started 15th, and Johnson, to round out the top five.
Hearn commented, “That was the longest hundred lapper I ever ran. It was real tricky because we had it set up for the end of the race. It was uncomfortable at the beginning. We just stayed patient when Brachmann got by us.”
In the other race of the evening, Rob Murray, from St. Catharines, took the lead from 15 year old James Thompson after a lap one caution and led the rest of the way to win the 25 lap Hoosier Stock Feature. Thomson finished second, followed by Jason Fontaine, Jeff Dayman, and Peter Reid. Both Murray and Fontaine were DQ’d in tech. They were allowed to keep there finishing positions, but forfeited all points and money for the race.
NOTES: There were 54 Modifieds in the pits, 21 of them Big Blocks………..With Sheppard winning an SDS big block event in his small block car, he forfeited 30 points in the standings………………..Decker’s fast time was .001 faster than Gary Tomkins- 17.628 versus 17.629…………..Close to $5,000 in lap money was awarded in honor of Bob St. Amand Sr, the beloved former Merrittville driver and long time Pit Steward …………The Merrittville Drivers’ Qualifier, a special race, which allowed four more local drivers to make the starting field, had a total purse of $2500, with $1500 going to winner, Mike Bowman…………..The Hard Charger Award went to Travis Braun, who qualified through the Merrittville drivers’ race, started last, and finished eleventh.
Bob St. Amand Memorial: (100 laps) Matt Sheppard, Chad Brachmann, Larry Lampman Jr., Mat Williamson, Billy Decker, Danny Johnson, Chad Chevalier, Ryan Phelps, Brett Hearn, Tom Flannigan, Travis Braun, Larry Wight, Jimmy Phelps, Dale Planck, Ryan Susice, Gary Tomkins, Carey Terrence, Rob Bellinger, Justin Haers, Rick Richner, Pete Britten, Danny O’Brien, Tom Sears Jr., Rob Pietz, Rich Scagliotta, Boyd MacTavish, Tim Currier, Mark D’Ilario, Tim Jones, Pete Bicknell, Brandon Easey, and Mike Bowman. Heat winners were Phelps, Brachmann, Sheppard, Bicknell, Johnson, and Hearn. Consi winners were Terrence, Jones, and Lampman. Merrittiville drivers’ Qualifier winner was Bowman.
358 Finish: (75 laps) Brett Hearn, Pete Bicknell, Matt Sheppard, Mat Williamson, Danny Johnson, Chad Brachmann, Travis Braun, Danny O’Brien, Chad Chevalier, Rick Richner, Tim Jones, Luke Whittaker, Tom Flannigan, Carey Terrence, Jeremy Wilder, Boyd MacTavish, Matt Billings, Fred Carleton, Scott Wood, Jimmy Phelps, Bill Bleich, Mike Bowman, Robbie Krull, Stewart Friesen, David Herbert, Dale Planck, Mario Clair, Ryan Susice, John Lazore, and James Friesen.
Related Media
