LaFrance wins Syracuse Qualifier, loses engine at Cornwall

Stephane LaFrance won one and lost one on Sunday night at Cornwall Motor Speedway. LaFrance won the 50 lap Syracuse qualifier for the Modifieds, but lost his engine on the last lap in the process.

LaFrance explained in victory lane that he debated pulling into the pits as the gauges indicated problems. However, with a Syracuse spot up for grabs he opted to go for it on the final restart and managed to get across the line after the powerplant let go on the final circuit. LaFrance added "It’s the biggest race that I have ever won, it’s awesome."

Pat O Brien rocketed from the outside pole into the early lead turning laps as low as 13.4 seconds around the quarter mile oval. He quickly built a solid lead as the first half of the race went without a caution flag. Brian McDonald took advantage of the first restart to speed by O Brien, who dropped out a couple of laps later due to a bad vibration in his car. McDonald in turn gave up the top spot to Pierre Dagenais on another restart on lap 43. It appeared that the Gatineau driver was destined for victory lane until he slid off the track between turns 3 and 4 on lap 45.

LaFrance who had taken his time going through the field grabbed the top spot and with the engine on its last legs held on for the final few laps for his second win of the season at Cornwall. Kyle Jacobs, who almost went a lap down at the midway point came back through the pack to finish second, while McDonald settled for third in front of Joel Doiron and Laurent Ladouceur.

Stephane Lebrun scored just his second win in 8 years of competition at Cornwall as he captured the 20 lap Late Model main. Lebrun took the lead with 5 laps to go as leader Roy Tarbell fell victim to mechanical problems. Louis Jackson was second followed by Joey Ladouceur, Marcel Pecore and Dave Marshall.

Kees VanWinden pulled to within a point of the lead in the Duke Stock standings. VanWinden took his fifth feature win of the year after a side by side battle in the closing laps with Dan Mitchell. Mitchell had to settle for second with Peter Raabe, Dave Renaud and Kevin McRae rounding out the fast five. More than half the field were not around at the finish due to numerous incidents during the 15 lap battle.

An incident with a lapped car in the final half of the Rookie feature cost Rosco Garreau. Garreau had to go to the back of the field handing Bruno Richard, the lead and then the victory in the 12 lap event. Andrew Russell was a close second at the checkered flag in front of Stuart Mullin, Nico Leblanc and Dan Lortie.

Next Sunday night at Cornwall Motor Speedway features the annual Race for the Children fundraiser. The Modifieds, Late Models, Dukes and Rookies will all be in action. The green flag drops at 7pm.

Modifieds 50 laps: 1. STEPHANE LAFRANCE 2. Kyle Jacobs 3. Brian MacDonald 4. Joel Doiron 5. Laurent Ladouceur 6. Dave Heaslip 7. Chris Jones 8. Mark Hitchcock 9. Bill Mullin 10. Pierre Dagenais 11. Perry Francis 12. Jim Lazore 13. Billy Cook 14. Paul Pekkonen 15. Marcel Baron 16. Mark Smoke 17. Simon Marcoux 18. Kevin Fetterly 19. Lee Ladouceur 20. Peter Mantha 21. Chris Herbison 22. Tommy Jock Jr. 23. Pat O Brien 24. Chico Dingwall

Late Models 20 laps: 1. STEPHANE LEBRUN 2. Louis Jackson 3. Joey Ladouceur 4. Marcel Pecore 5. Dave Marshall 6. Jody Beckstead 7. George Renaud 8. Marc Therrien 9. Dave Bissonnette 10. Daniel Leduc

Duke Stocks 15 laps: 1. KEES VANWINDEN 2. Dan Mitchell 3. Peter Raabe 4. Dave Renaud 5. Kevin McRae

Rookie Stock 12 laps: 1. BRUNO RICHARD 2. Andrew Russell 3. Stuart Mullin 4. Nico Leblanc 5. Dan Lortie

Heat Winners

Modifieds: Dingwall, O Brien, Dagenais

Late Models: Pecore, Jock, Bissonnette

Duke: Sproule, Laframboise, Terrance

Rookies: Mullin, Leblanc,St. Louis