Ladouceur and Hebert split Twin 20's at Cornwall
There was some new blood in victory lane on Sunday night at Cornwall Motor Speedway. Laurent Ladouceur who hadn’t picked up a feature win at Cornwall since the year 2000 took the opening 20 lap Modified event. David Hebert, who had never won on the fast quarter mile oval, grabbed the second 20 lapper.
Ladouceur was hooked up early in the night winning his heat turning laps in the 13 and a half second range. He continued that torrid pace in the first feature rocketing out to a substantial lead and then crusing for the win. Brian MacDonald was second, followed by Pat O Brien, who sliced his way through the field from his 13th starting spot for third.
Hebert had a little tougher road to get to victory lane in the second 20 fighting through early traffic and a couple of incidents to take the top spot. The St. Damase, Quebec pilot then had to hold off numerous challenges from Mark Hitchcock to score his first Cornwall win. O Brien came through the field for the second time to again finish 3rd from 17th starting position this time.
Ladouceur was 8th in the second feature which enabled him to claim the overall title for the night and a spot in the all star race that will be part of the Victoria 200 weekend at Fulton Speedway later this season. The night turned the Modified points race upside down with Joel Doiron holding a single point lead on Mark Hitchcock and Chris Jones after 5 weeks of racing.
Marc Therrien expanded his advantage atop the Late Model standings taking the lead just after the halfway point as he recorded his first triumph of 2002. Jody Beckstead put in a solid second place finish in front of Dave Bissonnette, Marcel Pecore and Joey Ladouceur. Therrien also recieved a guaranteed starting spot for a Pro Stock event at Fulton later this year as well.
The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club was on hand for their annual visit to Cornwall. Illinois driver Phil Klaussen was tops among the 50's and 60's cars. Ally Amell was the winner in the 70's class.
Kees VanWinden continues to be the man to catch in the Duke Stocks. The former rookie champ wasted no time driving through the pack to win his 2nd feature of the year. Stephane Phillipe was second with early leader Dan Mitchell forced to settle for third.
The Alexandria race team of Rosco Garreau and Roch Aubin are showing the way in the Rookie stocks. Garreau picked up win number 3 with Aubin second. The two have combined for all 5 features in the class this year. Danielle Legault was a strong third.
Next Sunday night at Cornwall Motor Speedway features the only visit to Ontario this season by the Super DIRT Series for Big Block Modifieds as they compete in the 100 lap Molson Canadian International. All the big guns including defending champion Brett Hearn and the Sunday night Cornwall regulars will be in action for a $40,000 purse. Time trials begin at 6 with the green flag at 7pm.
1st Modified feature 20 laps: 1. Laurent Ladouceur 2. Brian MacDonald 3. Pat O Brien 4. Billy Cook 5. Chris Jones 6. Bill Mullin 7. Kyle Jacobs 8. Chris Herbison 9. Lee Ladouceur 10. Simon Marcoux 11. Mark Hitchcock 12. David Hebert 13. Richard Chauvin 14. Stephane LaFrance 15. Marcel Baron 16. Dan Jalbert 17. Graham Gorman
2nd Modified feature 20 laps: 1. David Hebert 2. Mark Hitchcock 3. Pat O Brien 4. Chris Jones 5. Lee Ladouceur 6. Kyle Jacobs 7. Chris Herbison 8. Laurent Ladouceur 9. Richard Chauvin 10. Joel Doiron 11. Brian MacDonald 12. Stephane LaFrance 13. Graham Gorman 14. Dan Jalbert 15. Simon Marcoux 16. Marcel Baron 17. Perry Francis 18. Jeff Ciglich 19. Billy Cook 20. Bill Mullin 21. Cole Dingwall.
Pro Stocks feature 20 laps 1. Marc Therrien 2. Jody Beckstead 3. Dave Bissonnette 4. Marcel Pecore 5. Joey Ladouceur 6. George Renaud 7. Stephane Lebrun 8. Roy Tarbell 9. Todd Raabe 10. Daniel Leduc
Duke Stock feature 15 laps: 1. Kees VanWinden 2. Stephane Phillipe 3. Dan Mitchell 4. Peter Stapper 5. Robin Laframboise
Rookie Stock feature 12 laps: 1. Rosco Garreau 2. Roch Aubin 3. Danielle Legault 4. Mark Radbourne 5. Kevin Fetterly Jr.
Heat Winners
Modifieds: La Ladouceur, LaFrance, MacDonald
Late Models: Winters, Lazore, Marshall
Vintage: Klaussen, Amell
Dukes: Gauvreau, Jalbert, Renaud
Rookies: Tyo, Mullin, Fetterly Jr.