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HURRICANE HITS VICTORY LANE AT CAN AM




LaFargeville, NY ... Steve “the Hurricane” Paine won the Second Annual Battle at the Border Saturday night at the Can Am Motorsports Park which was sponsored by Stadium International, Gilco Trucking, Number One Speed and Curtis Snowplows that saw the 100-lap 358 Super DIRT Series race called after 75 laps because of rain. In the process, Paine took home $3,000 for the win, after winning $3,000 the night before at Brockville in their 100-lap race, as well as padding his point lead in the series leading to Mr. DIRT 358.

The pits were jam packed with 148 racecars, 56 358’s, 41 DIRT Sportsman, 30 Pure Stocks and 21 IMCA Mods. After six heats and three consolation races, 34 358 Mods lead by Paine and Todd Stewart took the green flag from starter Steve Rickett. Paine, who drew the pole in the redraw, quickly put his Sweetener’s car in the lead. Only four laps were run before the first yellow flew as Larry Welling, Jr. and Brian McDonald got hooked together on the front stretch. Frankie “Flatfoot” Caprara, who had earlier timed the quickest in time trials, ducked into the pits during the caution coming out two-laps down on the sixth lap when Steve Sheppard in the Nick’s Café Teo took the lead from Paine. The two then battled for the lead as a couple of cars were making their way to the front, those being Lee Gill in his Channel 7 News Bicknell and Mitch Gibbs from his 13th starting spot. After 25 laps, the top five was Paine, Sheppard, Gill, Pete Bicknell and Clement Therrien. With the race now into the 30’s in laps, lightning was being scene in the sky and the radios were full of talk about rain. As the race entered the 40-lap point, the Hometown Hammer, Lee Gill, was now pressuring Paine for the lead. Gill was able to wrestle the lead away from Paine on the 48th lap, and at the halfway point the lead pack was Gill, Paine, Gibbs, Sheppard, Therrien, Bicknell, Justin Haers, Jason Barney, Billy Wilcox, Tom Sears and Ryan Baye. It was then Gill trying to hold off the Hurricane and the impending rain, and by the 65th lap Paine was all over Gill and was successful in re-taking the lead on lap 67. Three laps later, it started sprinkling and Paine knew all he had to do was stay in front for a few more laps. On the 74th lap, the cars of Billy Wilcox, Willy Decker and Bill Gill were involved in a turn two accident and the caution came out as the leaders crossed the line for the 75th lap and the heavens opened up with a heavy downpour. The race was then called because of rain after 75 laps and Steve Paine racks up another Super DIRT Series win.

The remaining features were likewise rained out and will probably be run in the spring of 2003 when the track reopens, as this was the final race night of the year.

The management of Can Am Motorsports Park would like to take this time to extend a sincere Thank You to its employees, the race teams and especially our loyal sponsors and fans for making the 2002 season such a great success. We look forward to seeing you either at our banquet after the New Year or at the track next spring. Thanks everyone!

358 Mods: STEVE PAINE, Lee Gill, Matt Sheppard, Mitch Gibbs, Clement Therrien, Jason Barney, Pete Bicknell, Danny O’Brien, Tom Sears, Ryan Baye, Justin Haers, Ted Lamb, Roger Phelps, Mike Adderley, Jerry Higbie, Don Spatorico, Bill Gill, Bill Cook, Pierre Dagenais, Alex Hoag, Billy Wilcox, Willy Decker, Brian McDonald, Rob Galloway, Vic Coffey, Frankie Caprara, Scott Parliament, Jeff Sykes, Gus Schmidt, Chad Brachman, Todd Stewart, Vince Quennville, Jr., Larry Welling, Rich Swartout