LUTZ POWERS TO ESS WIN AT CORNWALL
CORNWALL-Mercer, Pennsylvania’s Mike Lutz said he always wanted to win a sprint car race in a different country. On Sunday night, he passed one Canadian and held off another to do just that at Cornwall Motor Speedway.
Lutz started 12th in the 21 car field and quickly started his way through the field. Quebec’s Alain Bergeron powered into the lead and looked like the car to beat until the final 5 laps. Lutz finally got by the Canadian on the backstraight to take the top spot, then beat Joyceville’s Rick Wilson to the checkered flag for his second ESS in just 9 appearances. Billy White was third in front of Bergeron and pole sitter Lance Yonge.
Defending track champ Bill Mullin used two different grooves to win his second Modified feature of 2002 and first since June 9th. Mullin used the inside groove to get into the top five and then the high groove to rocket around Laurent Ladouceur for the lead and the victory. Mark Hitchcock nipped Ladouceur at the line for second and pulled to within a point of the Laser for the points lead with two weeks remaining. Ladouceur settled for third followed by Joel Doiron and Stephane LaFrance.
Joey Ladouceur waited awhile for his first win of the year, but now has scored back to back triumphs. Ladouceur started 12th but impressively powered his way through traffic taking the lead in the final few laps and pulling away for the victory. Dave Marshall, who before the race said he would shave his head if he didn’t record a top five finish ended up second. Dave Bissonnette, who started last was a strong third with Jody Beckstead and Gilles Godard rounding out the fast five.
Robin Laframboise survived a last lap restart with a badly smoking and steaming race car.to win the 15 lap Duke Stock feature. Laframboise held off the two points leaders Gaetan Amesse and Kees VanWinden in the one lap shootout. Tammy Jalbert and Norm Seguin were fourth and fifth respectively.
A couple of Rookie drivers from Quebec were impressive in their first appearances in Cornwall. Steve Bernier held off Francois Bernier in the 12 lap event which featured two rollovers. Rosco Garreau was third with Glen Dorie and Kevin Fetterly Jr rounding out the top five finishers.
Next Sunday night at Cornwall Motor Speedway features the first ever appearance by the Empire Sports Network Super DIRT Series for Pro Stocks in Eastern Ontario. The regulars will challenged by competitors from throughout New York State. There will also be a full program for the Modifieds, Dukes and Rookies. The green flag drops at 7pm.
E.S.S. Sprints 25 laps: 1. MIKE LUTZ 2. Rick Wilson 3. Billy White 4. Alain Bergeron 5. Lance Yonge 6. Mike Woodring 7. Mike Stelter 8. Ryan Coniam 9. Billy Coffey 10. Don Sharpe Jr. 11. Kyle Wilson 12. Jeff Vandusen 13. Rob Deitrick 14. Dan Kaszubinski 15. John Karklin Jr.
Modifieds 30 laps: 1. BILL MULLIN 2. Mark Hitchcock 3. Laurent Ladouceur 4. Joel Doiron 5. Stephane LaFrance 6. Chris Jones 7. Kyle Jacobs 8. Brian McDonald 9. Chris Herbison 10. Lee Ladouceur 11. Tom Jock Jr. 12. Simon Marcoux 13. Jim Lazore 14. Dave Heaslip
Late Models 20 laps: 1. JOEY LADOUCEUR 2. Dave Marshall 3. Dave Bissonnette 4. Jody Beckstead 5. Gilles Godard 6. Mitchell Jock 7. Roy Tarbell 8. John Lazore 9. Travis Back 10. Marc Therrien
Duke Stocks 15 laps: 1. ROBIN LAFRAMBOISE 2. Gaetan Amesse 3. Kees VanWinden 4. Tammy Jalbert 5. Norm Seguin 6. Dave Renaud 7. Dan Mitchell 8. Ken Sproule 9. Wayne Marsolais 10. Richard Brady
Rookie Stock 12 laps:
Heat Winners
ESS: Yonge, Woodring, R. Wilson Dash: Sharpe Jr.
Modifieds: Ladouceur, Hitchcock
Late Models: Therrien, Ladouceur, Tarbell
Duke: VanWinden, Jalbert, Tarbell
Rookies: Russell, Bernier, Garreau