LADOUCEUR WINS BATTLE WITH LEBRUN FOR PRO STOCK SUPER DIRT TRIUMPH AT EDELWEISS
Edelweiss Speedway played host to Syracuse qualifier Dirt Pro Stock series Friday night and Joey Ladouceur and Stephane Lebrun put on a battle that thrilled the packed house right up to the checkered flag.
The Alexandria driver who drew the pole led the 21-car field almost from start to finish with a very tenacious Lebrun in tow who took the lead for a few laps mid way in the 50 lapper only to give way again to Ladouceur who had but one thing in mind and that was to register his sixth triumph at the Val des Monts oval which he finally captured. ‘’This is the big one for us. When things go well they really go well. Stephane gave us the scare at lap 25 when he took the lead. It was quite a battle between him and I every time we competed this season.’’ Said a very happy chauffeur before getting down on his knees and propose to his girl friend before everybody in the middle of the winners circle.
Mitch Jock completed the podium while Clayton Benedict and Louis Jackson rounded out the top five. Ladouceur, Todd Raabe and Cornwall Speedway Promoter Ron Morin won the qualifying heats. Stephane Lebrun was crowned Edelweiss Pro Stock champion and earned a spot at Syracuse along with Ladouceur who already was qualified for the big event. The Gatineau driver accepted the honours before his sick father who had never seen his son in action and who was temporarily out of the hospital for the occasion.
Laurent Ladouceur scored his fifth modified win this season and was crowned champion for the 2004 season. Leaving from post nine on the starting grid the veteran didn’t waste anytime and found himself on top of the field very early cruising to an easy trip to victory lane in a feature which saw 27 consecutive laps under green. Peter Mantha ended second while second generation driver Lee Ladouceur settled for third best. Veteran Dave ‘’The Slip’’ Heaslip and Dan ‘’Wild Thing’’ Jalbert rounded out the fast five. Mantha and Jalbert captured checkered in the qualifiers.
Serge Lagace scored his third Semi Pros win of the season by taking the measure of runner up Bruno Richard and Dave Renaud as third best. Also taking home bragging rights in this category were Greg Ogilvie and Richard Brady rounding out the top five. Ogilvie, Lagace and Richard also won the qualifying heats.
Wakefield’s Ryan Foley held on to win the feature in the four cylinders over Daniel Lessard who ended second and over Gatineau’s Nico Leblanc who had to settle for third best. Brian Rochon and point leader and champion Jack St-Arnaud rounded out the fast five. St-Arnaud and Martin Jacques claimed checkered flags in the preliminaries.
Next program of exciting races at Edelweiss Speedway is scheduled for Friday September 10 where the final of the Capital tire series for Pro Stocks will be featured. A demolition derby is also on the slate. The green flag drops at 7:45