Wilson and Dagenais claim Can Am wins
LAFARGEVILLE, NY: Sixteen-year-old Kyle Wilson has been described as “having a tad of dad in the lad.” The tad he had Saturday night at Can Am Motorsports Park was winning as the young Joyceville, Ontario driver was able to claim his first ever Sportsman win at Can Am Motorsports Park on Stadium International, Subway Subs and Fast Lube of Watertown night.
A strong field of 26 Sportsman came under the green flag of Starter Steve Rickett. Pole sitter Dave Surace of Watertown raced to the early lead, but on the fourth lap he and Wilson were running side by side down the backstretch with Wilson gaining the lead on the fifth lap. Turning times in the 20.2 range, the Junior Jet was able to distance himself from the pack. At the halfway point, the running order was Wilson, Surace, B. J. Vock, Scott Webb, Jody Spooner, Jordan Bennett, Andrew Howard and Scott MacCue. A late race caution slowed the field as the cars of Ryan Phelps and Adam Moore had problems. When the race restarted, Wilson was able to hold off the fast closing Vock for his first Can Am win and promptly did a roof dance in victory lane to show his excitement. Trailing Wilson across the line was Vock, Surace, Webb and Bill Plooy.
In the modified feature, the Belleville Bullet, Ryan Bartlett, and George Horning brought the starting field to the green flag. Bartlett, another young driver mixing it up every week with the veterans, took command of the race early. The fastest car on the computer at that point belonged to the Troyer of Gatineau, Quebec driver Pierre Dagenais. The race was the last qualifier for the rich Battle at the Border in September, and while Dagenais already secured his spot early on the season, he was looking to win his third race of the season and took the lead from Bartlett on the 5th lap. Frankie “Flatfoot” Caprara has been struggling as of late and debuted a new Troyer in his heat, which sustained some damage in the heat causing Frankie to switch to his backup Olsen mount started in the last row with point leader Billy Wilcox who did the same thing. Caprara also was making up time on the track working his way up to 7th before the halfway mark, which stood as Dagenais, Bartlett, Racin Jason Barney, Steve Roberts and Steve Hulsizer. The night came to an end for Caprara on the 17th lap when he broke a U joint. Steve Hulsizer was running second on the 22nd lap when he lost a cylinder and had to retire. Dagenais then went on to record the win with the Hometown Hammer, Lee Gill, finishing a strong second followed by Bartlett, Barney and Roberts completing the top five. Billy Wilcox moved closer to his first 358-track championship with an 8th place finish.
It began sprinkling late in the modified feature, and by the time the IMCA feature was ready to be called out, the sprinkles turned to rain, which postponed the IMCA and Pure Stock features. They will be run first thing next week.
Tragedy struck the Can Am family this week as IMCA driver John Mason lost two children in a house fire, Tyler age 7 and Logan age 2. Tyler was a big race fan and was always at the races with his dad. The IMCA drivers went through the stands taking up a collection for the Mason family, and the Can Am fans donated $1500 to them. They decided to put that money toward the purchase of a thermal imaging camera for their fire department. Can Am’s management, staff and fans all extend condolences to the Mason family.
Next Saturday, August 25th, will be a busy one at Can Am as the Empire Super Sprints make a return trip to the fast oval on Pennzoil-Quaker State night. As mentioned, the two rained out features will be run first. The regular show will then begin, with the exception of the 358 modifieds who have the night off.
Sportsman: KYLE WILSON, B.J. Vock, Dave Surace, Scott Webb, Bill Plooy, Andy Howard, Scott MacCue, Lance Willix, Bill Trexler, Jordan Bennett, Jody Spooner, Matt Butler, Mike Amell, Pete Schroy, Rick McCready, Darren Catallier, Ray Zemken, Doug Matthews, Scott Joy, Rob Galloway, Jessica Zemken, Adam Moore, Jeff Stevenson, Ryan Phelps, Rich Keller, Anthony Fiorentino. DNQ: Jason Potter
358 Modified: PIERRE DAGENAIS, Lee Gill, Ryan Bartlett, Jason Barney, Steve Roberts, Bill Gill, Lansing Petzoldt, Bill Wilcox, Dale Eggleston, Gus Schmidt, Ben Tucker, Steve Bilow, Joel Thomas, Mike Prentice, Steve Hulsizer, Wayne Reutimman, Jr., Frankie Caprara, Roger Phelps, Danny O’Brien, Pat Sullivan, George Horning, Denny Young. DNS: George McIntyre and Ron Ward