MIKE LUTZ TAKES EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS CHECKER AT EDELWEISS SPEEDWAY

Action was back Friday night after inclement weather played a part in the cancellation of last week's program at Edelweiss Speedway and it was before a full house that Mike Lutz took the checkered flag in the final of the Empire Super Sprints.

The driver from Mercer, Pennsylvania gave the fans their monies worth by winning his sixth ESS feature of the season crossing the finish stripe in front of Dan Kaszubinski of Syracuse who ended second and Rob Dietrick of Farmington N.Y. who completed the podium. Donny Sharp jr, from Grafton New Hampshire and the pride of Joyceville Ontario, Rick Wilson rounded out the top five. Jeff Van Dusen who won the sprint also won a qualifying heat along with Donny Sharp and Mike Stelter who also were winners in the preliminaries.

In the modifieds, Laurent ''Laser'' Ladouceur won his second feature of the season at the Val des Monts oval. The Alexandria driver had to overcome post nine at the start to finally take the lead of the fourteen car field at lap 25 to complete the win in a very fast paced 30 lapper which saw no cautions. ''The track was in top shape here tonight and so was my car. I am very happy for this win because I chose to be here tonight on my niece's wedding day.'' said Ladouceur in the post race interview from the winners circle.

Dave ''The Slip'' Heaslip and Pierre ''The Snake'' Dagenais were second and third respectively while Brian ''Slim'' McDonald and sophomore Lee Ladouceur rounded out the fast five. Heaslip, McDonald and Peter Mantha who was back for the first time this season with a brand new vehicle won the qualifying heats.

Dave ''Bulldog'' Bissonnette won his fourth checkered flag of the season by finishing on top of the 21 car field in the Late Model Pro Stock category. The Cornwall driver won over Akwasasne's Jim Lazore, runner up and over Denis Gauvreau of Aylmer in third spot. Bissonnette, Clayton Benedict and Stephane Lebrun were the qualifying heat winners.

Pembroke's Glen McKenney broke the ice in the eight cylinders over Gilbert Mongeon and Dominic Gauvreau of Gatineau in second and third place respectively. Mongeon and Gauvreau won the qualifying preliminaries.

In the four cylinders, Dany Larose of Gatineau captured his first win of the season while Nico Leblanc was runner up and Wakefield's Erin Joyce took home third money for her effort. Larose, Brian Rochon and Carl Soucy won the preliminaries.

Action resumes Friday night July 25 at Edelweiss Speedway where fans will be greeted with a Demolition Derby besides the regular and full program. The green flag drops at 7:45 sharp.