GAUVREAU, LAGACÉ AND FOLEY DISTINGUISH IN EDELWEISS
By: André Audette
It was Gauvreau night on Friday night at Edelweiss Speedway as Éric Gauvreau recorded his first modified victory at the local track and Dominic Gauvreau won his second checkered flag in the Pro Stock category in front of still full podiums. .
In his second year in the modified car category, Éric Gauvreau enjoyed his first win at Edelweiss and his second career in this category since he had enjoyed the joys of a visit to the circle of winners on another occasion the year last but not least, at the Cornwall autodrome. The Chelsea rider who started from sixth on the starting grid was quick to take control of the peloton, taking advantage of a few yellow flags in the first moments of the 30-lap event and heading straight for the victory. In doing so, Gauvreau left behind Peter Mantha de Hull in second place and veteran Pierre Dagenais in third place. Lee Ladouceur of Alexandria andKyle Jacob of Akwasasne finished in fourth and fifth place respectively.
"Since Mother Nature made her own before tonight's program, we had to make adjustments to the car between qualifying and the final. To compete with guys like Dagenais, Heaslip, Ladouceur and Mantha is something special for me, "said Gauvreau from the circle of winners. Let's mention that Laurent Ladouceur and Peter Mantha were the winners in qualifying.
Dominic Gauvreau dominated the final in the Pro Stock category, taking Gatineau's Stephane Lebrun by the slimmest margin, while Ron Morin of Cornwall completed the podium in a twenty-lap no-history race. Marc Thérrien of Alexandria was fourth while Michel Dupuis of Aylmer finished fifth.
"It was time for this event to end, I was starting to feel Stéphane in my door during the last moments of the race," Gauvreau said at the end-of-race interview from the circle of winners. Gauvreau had previously won the qualifying event.
Serge Lagacé demonstrated his expertise in the Semi Pro category by taking the measure of Yan Robertson of Cantley and Richard Brady who completed the podium. Nicolas Gauvreau won the fourth silver while Gilles Lessard had to settle for fifth place. Lagacé and Bruno Richard had previously won the qualifying events. All indications are that the championship race will be three in this category between Lagacé, Richard and Robertson.
In the four-cylinder category, the win went to Wakefield's Ryan Foley , Pat Legault of Gatineau was second, and Martin Jacques was third. Gabriel Mercier and Danny Matt finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Martin Jacques won the checkered flag in the preliminary round.
The next race program at Edelweiss will be scheduled for Friday, June 17, when a full program will be presented including an eight-cylinder Enduro race and a children's tire race. The Edelweiss autodrome will host the Monsieur Radiateur series in the Pro Stock category. The first green flag will be waved at 19.45.
Modified: Eric Gauvreau, Peter Mantha, Pierre Dagenais, Lee Ladouceur, Kyle Jacob, Dave Heaslip, Dan Jalbert, Pat Cashman, Philippe Landry, Jeff Ciglich, Laurent Ladouceur.
Pro Stock: Dominic Gauvreau, Stéphane Lebrun, Ron Morin, Marc Thérrien, Michel Dupuis, Claude Rochon, Eric Varin.
Semi Pro: Serge Lagacé, Yan Robertson, Richard Brady, Nicolas Gauvreau, Gilles Lessard, Bruno Richard, Jordan Fleming, John Bédard, Charles Galipeau, Bryan Rochon.
4 Cylindres: Ryan Foley, Pat Legault, Martin Jacques, Gabriel Mercier, Danny Matt, Carl Soucy, Erin Joyce, Marco Raymond, Nico Leblanc, Michel Hamelin.