HEASLIP IN VICTORY LANE AT EDELWEISS SPEEDWAY
Veteran Dave Heaslip captured the 358 modified feature Friday night at Edelweiss Speedway before another large crowd of faithful fans.
The driver from Smith Falls rapidly gained ground after taking the green flag in 8th place and took the lead away from last week’s winner Laurent Ladouceur at lap 20 en route to his first win of this young season at the Val des Monts oval. Ladouceur who had to leave for pit lane at one time came back strong and finished behind his son Lee to complete the winning trio. Brian McDonald was fourth and Akwasasne’s Billy Cook rounded out the top five.
Favourite Pierre Dagenais who won a leg of the qualifying heats had to retire to the pits with only four laps remaining. Laurent Ladouceur was the other winner in the qualifiers. After three weeks of activity at Edelweiss Speedway, Dave Heaslip sits on top of the standing over Lee Ladouceur and Brian McDonald.
Fourteen cars took the green flag in the Late Model Pro Stock and Stephane Lebrun took top honour by coming from sixth spot at the start to bring home the win, his first of this young season. The Gatineau driver took the lead midway into the 20 lap feature and never relinquished it. He repelled the race long challenges of Dave Bissonnette, who settled for runner-up money. Cornwall Motor Speedway promoter Ron Morin completed the podium.
John Lazore, Michel Dupuis and Denis Gauvreau were the qualifying heat winners. Dave Bissonnette is now leading the drivers standing. He leads Denis Gauvreau and Michel Dupuis both of Aylmer who are standing in second and third spot respectively.
It was a walk in the park for female driver Tammy Jalbert who leads the standing in the eight cylinders. Jalbert won her second feature in three outings by taking the measure of Gilbert Mongeon who settled for second best while defending champion Dominic Gauvreau took home third cheque for his efforts. Kevin McRea and Serge Belair rounded out the top five. Claude Laurin, Jonathan Holmes and Gauvreau each won a leg of the qualifiers.
Carl Soucy won the checkered flag for the second time in three weeks in the four cylinders. Danny Larose came in second while last week’s winner Erin Joyce ended third. Stewart Mullin and Nico Leblanc rounded out the fast five. Soucy and Jarrid Foley had previously won the preliminary heats. Fans got up on their feet at the start of the feature when Pierre Brabant lost control of his car in turn No 1 and completely disappeared in the ditch but Brabant came out of the mishap uninjured.
Action will resume this coming Friday night June 6 at Edelweiss Speedway featuring a Mr. Radiator 50 lapper in the Late Model Pro Stock and a 25 lapper in the four cylinders besides the regular slate. The green flag drops at 7:45 sharp.