DOMINIC GAUVREAU CLAIMS PRO STOCK VICTORY FLAG AT EDELWEISS
By: Andre Audette
Dominic Gauvreau sent a message to the Edelweiss Speedway faithful on Friday night that he means business in the Pro Stock this season.
The former Semi Pro champion did it in a most fashion way at his first lifetime start in the Pro Stock demolishing his competition by being very early on the go pedal and set a torrid pace through the 20 lap affair that saw only two cautions. Gauvreau who inherited the pole after a brilliant drive in the qualifying heat took the early lead and never relinquished it, leaving behind him at the finish stripe, Cornwall Speedway promoter Ron Morin in second place and last year’s champion Stephane Lebrun who completed the podium. Aylmer’s Michel Dupuis was fourth while Clayton Benedict rounded out the fast five. The very happy and humble Gauvreau had this to say in his first post race interview in the winner’s enclosure: ‘’ I want to thank everybody around me and I’d like to say that the track is in excellent shape tonight.’’ Gauvreau and Dupuis were the qualifying heat winners.
In the modifieds, Lawrence Ladouceur the 2004 track champion claimed his first checkered of the new season after the officials disqualified Peter Mantha. The Alexandria driver finished in front of Akwasasne’s Kyle Jacob ending second and Smiths Falls veteran Dave Heaslip settling for third best. Another veteran Pierre ‘’The Snake’’ Dagenais was fourth and Jeff Ciglich rounded out the top five. Heaslip also won the qualifying heat.
It’s behind the steering wheel of Dominic Gauvreau’s former race car that Yan Robertson took top honours in the Semi Pros by crossing the finish stripe for the first time in front of Richard Brady as second best and in front of Martin Laroche ending third. Charles Galipeau in fourth and John Bedard in fifth spot rounded out the fast five. Serge Lagace won the sole qualifier.
Michel Hamelin took a trip to Edelweiss Speedway win lane after a brilliant performance in the four cylinders. Hamelin took the feature over Wakefield’s Ryan Foley in second place and Carl Soucy completing the podium. Gatineau’s Nico Leblanc in fourth and Erin Joyce of Wakefield, the only female driver at the Val des Monts oval rounded out the top five. Hamelin and Martin Jacques each won a leg of the qualifying heats.
Next program of exciting races at Edelweiss Speedway is set for this coming Friday night, May 27, where a full and regular program is on the slate including an Enduro race for eight cylinders and featuring the first leg of the Capital Tire series in the Pro Stock and also the first leg of the Fondations BRL in the modifieds. The green flag drops at 7:45.
Feature Finish
Modifieds : 1. Laurent Ladouceur 2. Kyle Jacob 3. Dave Heaslip 4. Pierre Dagenais 5. Jeff Ciglich 6. Philippe Landry.
Pro Stock : 1. Dominic Gauvreau 2. Ron Morin 3. Stéphane Lebrun 4. Michel Dupuis 5. Clayton Benedict 6. Mitch Jock 7. Daniel Leduc 8. Nicolas Vaillant 9. Claude Rochon 10. Éric Varin 11. Ricky Thompson.
Semi Pros : 1. Yan Robertson 2. Richard Brady 3. Martin Laroche 4. Charles Galipeau 5. John Bédard 6. Serge Lagacé 7. Bryan Rochon 8. Bruno Richard 9. Gilles Lessard.
4 Cylinders : 1. Michel Hamelin, 2. Ryan Foley 3. Carl Soucy 4. Nico Leblanc 5. Erin Joyce 6. Gabriel Mercier 7. Yannick Fafard. 8. Danny Matt 9. Martin Bernard 10. Pietro Bellai 11. Martin Jacques 12. Pat Legault 13. Marc Charbonneau