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Two-time defending driver champion Michael Merton leads his brother, Gregory, by 45 victories at the mid-point of the 2026 harness racing season at Monticello Raceway.
Michael has 165 wins and Gregory 119 in races conducted between January 1 and July 1. Bruce Aldrich Jr. (97), Jim Taggart Jr (96) and Kyle DiBenedetto (91) round out the contending top-five.
Following a Thursday heat postponement, racing resumes at Monticello on Monday, July 6, and runs through December 31. Racing is usually held Monday through Thursdays, with exception of Sept. 7, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) and Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and addition of Friday, Nov. 6.
For all of 2025, Michael Merton had 250 wins (he had 239 to win the 2024 title and 251 to win in 2021), Gregory Merton 222, Aldrich 202, DiBenedetto 183 and Thomas Merton 106, the only five with triple-digit wins.
Eighteen drivers have one win, five have two wins and 30 in all have single-digit victories. In all 47 have visited the winner's circle so far in 2026 and 30 more have not.
The trainer's title is a neck and neck affair between Jennifer Petrelli (84 wins) and Tammy Sowers (83). With purses, Sowers leads Petrelli by $33,349. Bruce Aldrich Jr. ranks third in both categories.
In 2025, Sowers was second with 102 wins, trailing only Monica Eriksen (115).
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Drivers wins: 1. Michael Merton 165; 2. Gregory Merton 119; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr. 97; 4. Jim Taggart Jr. 96; 5. Kyle DiBenedetto 91; 6. Thomas Merton 63; 7. Ralph Silvestri III 42; 8. Ron Cushing 40; 9. McGwire Sowers 38; 10. Jason Ricco 29; 11. Bryan Quevedo 27; 12. Scott Keppler 26; T13. William Carter 17; T13. Shane Taggart 17; 15. Cory Stratton 15; 16. Jim Devaux 14; 17. Winter Asher-Stalbaum 10.
Driver purses: 1. Michael Merton $735,656; 2. Gregory Merton $532,603; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr. $559,163; 4. Jim Taggart Jr. $538,153; 5. Kyle DiBendetto $517,097; 6. Thomas Merton $469,081; 7. Ralph Silvestri III $235,929; 8. Ron Cushing $272,732; 9. McGwire Sowers $181,213; 10. Scott Keppler $166,940
Trainers wins: 1. Jennifer Petrelli 84; 2. Tammy Sowers 83; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr, 39; 4. Gary Messenger 38; 5. Ken Koch 31; 6. Jim Doherty Jr. 29; 7. Gregory Decker Jr. 28; 8. Michael Austin 26; T9. Daniel Gill 25; T9. Raheim Strong 25; 11. Laura Perino 22; 12. Jose Castillo 18; 13. Arthur Green 17.
Trainers purses: 1. Tammy Sowers $394,460; 2. Jennifer Petrelli $361,111; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr, $243,099; 4. Gary Messenger $196,732; 5. Gregory Decker Jr. $170,945; 6. Daniel Gill $154,177; 7. Michael Austin $142,460; 8. Jim Doherty Jr. $140,575; 9. Arthur Green $124,966; 10. Laura Perino $124,563.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Check out the midway statistics for the 2026 Monticello Raceway season
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Michael has 165 wins and Gregory 119 in races conducted between January 1 and July 1. Bruce Aldrich Jr. (97), Jim Taggart Jr (96) and Kyle DiBenedetto (91) round out the contending top-five.
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Following a Thursday heat postponement, racing resumes at Monticello on Monday, July 6, and runs through December 31. Racing is usually held Monday through Thursdays, with exception of Sept. 7, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) and Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and addition of Friday, Nov. 6.
For all of 2025, Michael Merton had 250 wins (he had 239 to win the 2024 title and 251 to win in 2021), Gregory Merton 222, Aldrich 202, DiBenedetto 183 and Thomas Merton 106, the only five with triple-digit wins.
Eighteen drivers have one win, five have two wins and 30 in all have single-digit victories. In all 47 have visited the winner's circle so far in 2026 and 30 more have not.
The trainer's title is a neck and neck affair between Jennifer Petrelli (84 wins) and Tammy Sowers (83). With purses, Sowers leads Petrelli by $33,349. Bruce Aldrich Jr. ranks third in both categories.
In 2025, Sowers was second with 102 wins, trailing only Monica Eriksen (115).
[email protected]
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
Monticello Raceway
2026 drivers standings
Drivers wins: 1. Michael Merton 165; 2. Gregory Merton 119; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr. 97; 4. Jim Taggart Jr. 96; 5. Kyle DiBenedetto 91; 6. Thomas Merton 63; 7. Ralph Silvestri III 42; 8. Ron Cushing 40; 9. McGwire Sowers 38; 10. Jason Ricco 29; 11. Bryan Quevedo 27; 12. Scott Keppler 26; T13. William Carter 17; T13. Shane Taggart 17; 15. Cory Stratton 15; 16. Jim Devaux 14; 17. Winter Asher-Stalbaum 10.
Driver purses: 1. Michael Merton $735,656; 2. Gregory Merton $532,603; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr. $559,163; 4. Jim Taggart Jr. $538,153; 5. Kyle DiBendetto $517,097; 6. Thomas Merton $469,081; 7. Ralph Silvestri III $235,929; 8. Ron Cushing $272,732; 9. McGwire Sowers $181,213; 10. Scott Keppler $166,940
2026 trainers standings
Trainers wins: 1. Jennifer Petrelli 84; 2. Tammy Sowers 83; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr, 39; 4. Gary Messenger 38; 5. Ken Koch 31; 6. Jim Doherty Jr. 29; 7. Gregory Decker Jr. 28; 8. Michael Austin 26; T9. Daniel Gill 25; T9. Raheim Strong 25; 11. Laura Perino 22; 12. Jose Castillo 18; 13. Arthur Green 17.
Trainers purses: 1. Tammy Sowers $394,460; 2. Jennifer Petrelli $361,111; 3. Bruce Aldrich Jr, $243,099; 4. Gary Messenger $196,732; 5. Gregory Decker Jr. $170,945; 6. Daniel Gill $154,177; 7. Michael Austin $142,460; 8. Jim Doherty Jr. $140,575; 9. Arthur Green $124,966; 10. Laura Perino $124,563.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Check out the midway statistics for the 2026 Monticello Raceway season
Continue reading...
