DOUG NORRIE SCORES FIRST EVER ESS WIN AT EDELWEISS

By: Andre Audette

Edelweiss Speedway played host to Empire Super Sprints Friday night and It’s before the largest crowd of the season that rookie Doug Norrie broke the ice to score his first ever win at the helm of his 92M sprint car.

The West Suffield Connecticut driver left from post five on the starting grid and found himself on top of the 21-car field with only five laps remaining and after taking advantage that Jeff Van Dusen lost control of his vehicle after side swiping the cement wall on the front straightaway. Dan Kaszubinski of Syracuse N.Y. ended second while Don Sharp Jr. of Alexandria New Hampshire completed the podium.

‘’I am very glad of this first win and the fact that it came here in Canada. I consider myself very lucky. I took advantage of Jeff’s mishap to sneak in and drive my way into victory lane’’ said a very happy young chauffeur in the post race interview. Lance Young of Penn Yan N.Y. and Bubby Kerrick of Stanley N.Y. made up the remainder of the fast five. Luke Erikson of Manchester Vermont, Doug Norrie and Don Sharp were the qualifying heat winners while Jeff Van Dusen was the best in the Dash for Cash confrontation.

It’s in the ESS shadow that Pierre Dagenais registered his second win in as many nights and his third of the season in the modifieds. The veteran Gatineau driver took over early after leaving from post five on the starting grid and never looked back in the fast paced 30 lapper which saw only one caution. Laurent Ladouceur was second while Peter Mantha settled for third best. Dave Heaslip in fourth and Eric Gauvreau in fifth rounded out the top five. Dagenais and Ladouceur were the qualifying heat winners.

Joey Ladouceur scored his third win of the season in the Pro Stock by taking command of the 20-lap feature with only six laps remaining. Nicolas Vaillant had to settle for fourth best after leading the pack all the way to the first 14 laps and that is where Ladouceur, Stephane Lebrun and Marc Therrien all went beyond him to complete the podium. Michel Dupuis was fifth while Dominic Gauvreau won the checkered flag in the qualifier.

It seem that it will be a two way affair all the way in the championship race between Bruno Richard and Serge Lagace in the Semi Pros. Bruno Richard drove into victory lane for the fifth time this season after another great battle with Lagace who had to settle for second best. Richard Brady ended third while Nicolas Gauvreau and Yan Robertson made up the remainder of the fast five. Bruno Richard also won the qualifying heat.

It was all Carl Soucy in the four cylinders after the Gatineau driver broke the winless drought leaving Martin Jacques behind him as second best and Erin Joyce of Wakefield in third spot. Michel Hamelin in fourth and Ryan Foley in fifth rounded out the top five at the finish stripe. Martin Jacques and Pat Legault previously won the qualifiers.

Next program of exciting races at Edelweiss Speedway is set for Friday July 22nd where a full and regular program is on the slate including an Enduro race for eight cylinders plus a Demolition Derby. The green flag drops at 7:45.

Empire Super Sprints 25 laps: Doug Norrie, Dan Kaszubinski, Don Sharp, Lance Yonge, Bubby Kerrick, Bobby Podolak, Kyle Wilson. Rick Wilson, Bily White, Kyle Moffit, Matt Norrie, Alain Bergeron, John Karklin, RC Faigle, Jeff Van Dusen, Randy Years, Luke Erikson, Nick Fratto, Jeff Cook, Ray Preston, Russ Bennatt.

Modifieds 30 laps: Pierre Dagenais, Laurent Ladouceur, Peter Mantha, Dave Heaslip, Eric Gauvreau, Stephane Lafrance, Denis Gauvreau, Philippe Landry, Pat Cashman, Kyle Wilson, Jeff Ciglich, Kyle Jacob, Yvon Morin.

Pro Stock 20 laps : Joey Ladouceur, Stephane Lebrun, Marc Therrien, Nicolas Vaillant, Michel Dupuis, Daniel Leduc, Dominic Gauvreau, Clayton Benedict, Eric Varin.

Semi Pros 15 laps : Bruno Richard, Serge Lagace, Richard Brady, Nicolas Gauvreau, Yan Robertson, Bryan Rochon, Denis Coderre, John Bedard, Jordan Fleming.

4 cylinders 12 laps : Carl Soucy, Martin Jacques, Erin Joyce, Michel Hamelin, Ryan Foley, Danny Larose, Gabriel Mercier, Pat Legault, Martin Bernard, Danny Matte, Marc Charbonneau.