MERRITT, BC – Merritt Speedway wrapped up its 2024 race season on the Thanksgiving long weekend.  The British Columbia facility held its annual Bill John Memorial Invitational.  A total of 8-different race classes competed Saturday and Sunday.  Josh Shufada represented Team NPP in the Super Stock class.  Early Saturday race action saw Shuflada winning his Trophy Dash and finishing fourth in his Heat race.  The Super Stock field in Merritt was extremely competitive.  “At the start of the weekend there were 14 registered cars.  Then it started to dwindle.”  All race classes saw their share of on-track incidents both days.  “Oh it was just carnage.  A lot of wrecking.  (The race days) went way later than they should of.”  On Lap 8 of the Super Stock Feature, racing was halted after a wild crash.  The single vehicle rollover saw part of the front straight catch fence at the flag stand damaged.  Thankfully the driver was uninjured.  “His car was destroyed,” exclaims Shuflada, “the roll cage did its job.”  Track officials canceled the remainder of the Saturday night Feature.  “Made my way up to second when they shut us down.”  Shuflada and the rest of the Super Stock field would now run two Features on Sunday.

In the first Feature, Shufludas car suffered a mechanical failure.  “I started hearing a weird noise from the car.  As soon as they dropped the green flag, I got on it and there goes my gears.”  The Edson, Alberta driver headed for the pits and registered a DNF.  With the number of classes on the property, Shuflada had plenty of time to repair his #81 Northern Provincial Pipelines/RCE #81 Dodge.  “We changed the gears.  I didn’t miss any of the races.”  Shuflada finished second in the Sunday afternoon Trophy Dash and 4th in his Heat.  In the second Super Stock Feature, Shuflada started from the back of the pack.  Despite dry track conditions Shuflada found a little bit of traction.  “The car started hooking really good.”  Near the halfway point of the Feature Shuflada found himself leading the field.  “Made my way to first.”  He had the lead for only 2-laps. “Then I spun out.  Shot it into the corner a little too hard.”  He wasn’t the only one.  “Several of the other fast cars were spinning on their own too.”  Shuflada salvaged his Super Stock Feature at Merritt Speedway with a 4th place finish.  “Not the way I wanted to wrap up the season but overall it was still a pretty good weekend.”

SHUFLADA RESULTS – MERRITT SPEEDWAY
> Saturday, October, 12th
Trophy Dash – Win
Heat – 4th
Feature – cancelled after 8-laps due to crash

>Sunday, October 13th 
Feature #1 – DNF
Trophy Dash – 2nd
Heat – 4th
Feature #2 – 4th