BRIAN MCDONALD SCORES EDELWEISS SPEEDWAY 2003 SEASON OPENING MAIN EVENT
Brian ‘’Slim’’ McDonald clinched a spot in the Victoria 200 at Fulton Speedway by scoring his first feature win of the 2003 season before a very large crowd who certainly got their money’s worth Friday night at Edelweiss Speedway.
The Cornwall driver took over from Maxville’s Lee Ladouceur on top of the 15-car field at lap 40 maintaining a torrid pace through out the last ten laps to claim the checkered flag. Pierre Dagenais completed the top three. Last three years Late Model Pro Stock champion Eric Gauvreau of Chelsea who took the green flag for the very first time in the mods gave Dave Heaslip the slip when the rookie driver passed by the Smiths Falls veteran in the final lap to complete the big four.
Last year’s champion, Laurent Ladouceur who previously scored a qualification win had to leave for pit lane early in the final due to mechanical problems. Other winners in the qualifiers were Heaslip and Dagenais.
Dave ‘’Bulldog’’ Bissonnette registered the first Edelweiss win of the season in the Pro Stock category by edging out Gatineau veteran Stephane Lebrun. Marc Therrien of Alexandria completed the podium while Cornwall Speedway promoter Ron Morin was fourth. Marcel Pecore completed the fast five. Denis Gauvreau who experienced mechanical problems in the final won a leg of the preliminaries while Bissonnette won the second leg.
Lady driver Tammy Jalbert sure gave the boys what they’ve bargained for in the eight cylinders. Jalbert scored a wire to wire win over last year’s champion Dominic Gauvreau who was all over the Val des Monts oval, trying desperately to overtake the lead from the Cornwall female driver all through the 15-lap affair. Richard Brady from Vars rounded out the top three. Jonathan Holmes and Jalbert were the heat winners in this class.
In the four cylinders, besides winning a leg of the qualifiers, Carl Soucy claimed the checkered flag after a fast paced 12-lap feature. The Gatineau driver took the lead early and never relinquished it, leaving Dany Larose behind as second best and Nico Leblanc as third best. Also taking home bragging rights in this category was other female driver, Erin Joyce who got the best of the boys in the other preliminary heat.
They’re will be another program of exciting races, next Friday night, May 23rd at Edelweiss Speedway where the first 250 patrons will be handed a cap bearing the Speedway crest and colours. Action will resume in all categories and the green flag will drop at 7:45 on the button.