LAFRANCE AND LEBRUN SHARE EDLWEISS SPEEDWAY LIMELIGHT
By: Andre Audette
A pair of Stephane broke the ice Friday night at Edelweiss Speedway where another exciting race program was held before a large crowd of faithful under the supervision of race director Joel Doiron.
Stephane Lafrance who seems to become a regular at the Val des Monts oval and where he is fast becoming the crowd’s favourite almost went green to checkered in the Modified 358 feature. The likable Casselman driver took off from post five on the starting grid but did not waste any time on the Go pedal finding himself on top of the field near midway of the fast paced 30 lapper and it was a done deal from then on. Alexandria’s Lee Ladouceur ended second while his father Laurent Ladouceur settled for third best.
‘’The racecourse is much different from Cornwall but we are starting to adjust. We seem to have made the right choice in tonight’s set-up and we are very glad to find ourselves right here in the winners circle’’ said the voluble and happy chauffeur in the post race interview. It was Lafrance’s 163rd stock car career win since he started 20 years ago at the age of 16. Veterans Dave ‘’The Slip’’ Heaslip and Pierre ‘’The Snake’’ Dagenais made up the remainder of the fast five while Cornwall’s Dan ‘’Wild Thing’’ Jalbert and rookie Denis Gauvreau were the qualifying heat winners.
Stephane Lebrun took advantage of an early restart to capture the early lead and drove himself straight to victory lane in the Pro Stock 20-lap feature. It was Lebrun’s first win this season leaving Marc Therrien behind him as second best and Dominic Gauvreau to complete the podium. Michel Dupuis and Daniel Leduc came in fourth and fifth respectively while Eric Varin was the qualifying heat winner. Here is what last year’s champion had to say in the post race interview from the winners circle: ‘’We had motor and transmission problems with the car but everything seems to be falling into places. Let’s not forget that there is very strong competition coming from guys like Therrien, Gauvreau, Ladouceur and company in this category’’.
The Semi Pros feature was again a well fought battle between Bruno Richard and Serge Lagace with the edge going to Richard who drove into win lane for the sixth time this season. Lagace had to settle for second best while Bryan Rochon ended third. Nicolas Gauvreau in fourth and Richard Brady in fifth rounded out the top five. Yan Robertson won the qualifier.
Martin Jacques was hot in the four cylinders capturing the checkered flag in both the qualifying heat and the feature. It was Jacque’s fourth feature win this season and he did it over a late charging Carl Soucy who had to settle for second best and over Wakefield’s Ryan Foley taking home third cheque for his efforts. Also taking home bragging rights are Gabriel Mercier in fourth and Danny Larose rounding out the fast five.
Next program of exciting races at Edelweiss Speedway is set for Friday July 29 where a full and regular program is on the slate including a 50 lapper for modifieds and also the third leg of the Capital Tire series in the Pro Stock. The green flag drops at 7:45.
Modifieds 30 laps : Stephane Lafrance, Lee Ladouceur, Laurent Ladouceur, Dave Heaslip, Pierre Dagenais, Bill Mullin, Philippe Landry, Pat Cashman, Denis Gauvreau, Dan Jalbert, Skip MacKenzie, Peter Mantha.
Pro Stock 20 laps : Stephane Lebrun, Marc Therrien, Dominic Gauvreau, Michel Dupuis, Daniel Leduc, Eric Varin, Claude Rochon.
Semi Pros 15 laps : Bruno Richard, Serge Lagace, Bryan Rochon, Nicolas Gauvreau, Richard Brady, John Bedard, Michel Dagenais, Charles Galipeau, Yan Robertson.
4 Cylindrées 12 laps : Martin Jacques, Carl Soucy, Ryan Foley, Gabriel Mercier, Danny Larose, Erin Joyce, Danny Matte, Pat Legault.