LADOUCEUR AND THERRIEN VICTORIOUS IN NAIL BITING MOMENTS AT EDELWEISS
By: Andre Audette
Defending champion Laurent Ladouceur captured his fourth feature win of the season in the modifieds 358 and Marc Therrien did the same in a nail biting Pro Stock 20-lapper before another large crowd of faithful Friday night at Edelweiss Speedway.
Ladouceur took off from post four on the starting grid and it took him eleven laps to take command of the fast paced 30 laps which saw only one caution. The Alexandria driver took the lead off Stephane Lafrance who seemed to be cruising to his second title of the season until the veteran driver decided otherwise. Dave ‘’the Slip’’ Heaslip who calls Smiths Falls his home ended second while last week’s winning driver, Pierre ‘’The Snake’’ Dagenais settled for third best. Lafrance’s effort earned him fourth spot at the finish stripe and Hull’s Peter Mantha rounded out the fast five.
‘’It’s been too long without a victory and it’s great to be back in the winners circle. We believe that we found the right set-up for the car and we hope that it will get us on the move’’ said a happy Ladouceur in the post race interview. Peter Mantha was the qualifying heat winner.
Marc Therrien and Clayton Benedict fought a classic battle all the way through the 20 laps in the Pro Stock with the edge going to Therrien who registered his fourth feature win of the season at the Val des Monts fast clay oval while the Sophomore driver from Akwasasne held on to second spot. Rookie Dominic Gauvreau completed the podium while Aylmer’s Michel Dupuis and Gatineau’s Stephane Lebrun made up the remainder of the fast five. ‘’ It was close all the way between Clayron and me. Its fun to race 20 laps besides a guy like him where there is no touching or ruff stuff’’ said the winning driver from Williamstown in the post race interview. Therrien also won the checkered flag after posting a win in the qualifier.
Bruno Richard captured his eighth win of the season and his fifth in a row in the Semi Pros by taking the measure of Yan Robertson who ended second and Richard Brady as third best. Nicolas Gauvreau and Serge Lagace made up the remainder of the top five. Yan Robertson however got the best of Bruno Richard in the qualifying heat.
It was all Carl Soucy in the four cylinders after the Gatineau driver disposed of Martin Jacques who settled for second best and of Wakefield’s Ryan Foley ending third. Gabriel Mercier in fourth and female driver Erin Joyce of Alcove rounded out the fast five. Michel Hamelin took the checkered flag in the qualifying heat.
Next program of exciting races at Edelweiss Speedway is set for Tuesday August 9th where a leg of the Turning Stone Casino Dirt Series, a 75 lapper for modifieds 358, is on the slate besides the Pro Stocks and the four cylinders. The green flag drops at 7:45 while the time trials are scheduled at 7:00.
Modifieds 30 laps : Laurent Ladouceur, Dave Heaslip, Pierre Dagenais, Stephane Lafrance, Peter Mantha, Philippe Landry, Jeff Ciglich, Pat Cashman.
Pro Stock 20 laps : Marc Therrien, Clayton Benedict, Dominic Gauvreau, Michel Dupuis, Stephane Lebrun, Daniel Leduc, Claude Rochon, Nicolas Vaillant.
Semis Pro 15 laps : Bruno Richard, Yan Robertson, Richard Brady, Nicolas Gauvreau, Serge Lagace, John Bedard, Bryan Rochon, Denis Coderre, Charles Galipeau.
4 Cylindrées 12 laps : Carl Soucy, Martin Jacques, Ryan Foley, Gabriel Mercier, Erin Joyce, Danny Larose, Michel Hamelin, Nico Leblanc, Pat Legault.