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Cook wins first ever Empire Super Sprint feature at Cornwall





All Jeff Cook could think about was his idol and mentor Adrian Flath as he visited victory lane on Sunday night. Cook won his heat, the dash and the 25 lap Empire Super Sprint feature at Cornwall Motor Speedway with Flath front and centre working on the car and watching intently from the pit area..

The Antwerp, New York driver swapped the top spot back and forth with Alex Mosher for the first 15 circuits. Justin Berger claimed the lead briefly only to spin in turn 4 and hand the top spot back to Cook who held on the rest of the way, 10 years after his idol Flath had conquered the fast quarter mile oval at Cornwall.

“I love this place,” said the first time winner, “It’s the first time I’ve ever been able to hold my foot on the throttle all the way around.” Local favourite Ricky Wilson charged through the field from his 14th starting position to take second spot in front of a late closing Lance Yonge, Bubby Kerrick and Dan Kaszubinski who made up the rest of the top five.

Brian McDonald and Dale Planck swapped the lead back and forth 4 times in the final 10 laps with McDonald finally prevailing for his first feature win at Cornwall in 2004. The epic tussle brought the crowd to their feet in appreciation after the checkered flag fell. Planck settled for second followed by Stephane LaFrance, Lee Ladouceur and John Lazore.

Second year Pro Stock pilot Clayton Benedict took his first ever feature win taking the lead on lap 6 and was never really challenged the rest of the 20 lap distance. Louis Jackson was second with Travis Back, Joey Ladouceur and William Adams in hot pursuit.

Stuart Mullin took his second straight in the special extended 20 lap Rookie stock event. Mullin finished a full straightaway ahead of Ernie Cree, who ironically finished second a week ago. Andrew Russell, Dan Lortie and Rob Ray made up the rest of the fast five.

The Speedway returns to action next Sunday night with the regular program of Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Semi Pro and Rookies. The green flag drops at 7 pm with a special adult tire race at the intermission.

Empire Super Sprints 20 laps: 1. Jeff Cook 2. Rick Wilson 3. Lance Yonge 4. Bubby Kerrick 5. Dan Kaszubinski 6. Mike Stelter 7. Alain Bergeron 8. Billy Krull 9. Jeff VanDusen 10. Alex Mosher

Modifieds 30 laps 1. Brian McDonald 2. Dale Planck 3. Stephane LaFrance 4. Lee Ladouceur 5. John Lazore 6. Mark Hitchcock 7. Dan Jalbert 8. Laurent Ladouceur 9. Billy Cook 10. Kyle Jacobs 11. Patrick Dupree 12. Simon Marcoux 13. Cole Dingwall 14. Mark Smoke 15. Jeff Marshall 16. Tom Jock Jr. 17 Perry Francis 18. Tammy Jalbert 19. Chris Jones 20. Dave Heaslip 21. Billy King

Pro Stocks 20 laps 1. Clayton Benedict 2. Louis Jackson 3. Travis Back 4. Joey Ladouceur 5. William Adams 6. Matthieu Beaudoin 7. Roy Delormier 8. Marc Therrien 9. Joel Herme 10. Roch Aubin

Rookies 20 Laps: 1. Stuart Mullin 2. Ernie Cree 3. Andrew Russell 4.Dan Lortie 5. Bob Ray

Heat Winners

ESS Kerrick, Bergeron, Cook
ESS Dash Cook
Modifieds: Heaslip, Planck, McDonald
Pro Stocks: Benedict, Back, Delormier
Rookie: Ray, McPhee, Mullin