Heaslip ends long winless string at Cornwall
The question was being asked around Cornwall Motor Speedway, when was fan favorite Dave Heaslip going to win a feature again. The legendary Smith Falls driver had the answer and showed it taking the 50 lap Modified event on Sunday night. It was the the "Slips" first win at the fast quarter mile since May 21st, 2000.
Heaslip won his heat and started on the pole for the special qualifying event for Super DIRT Week in October in Syracuse. However, when the 24 cars came to power it was Stephane LaFrance that roared off into the early lead clicking off laps under the 14 second barrier. LaFrance had leads as high as half a lap however caution flags kept bringing the field closer together.
Heaslip meanwhile after dropping back early started carving his way back to the second spot and on lap 38 going down the back straight, got inside of LaFrance to take the top spot. The former track champion then was able to pull away from the field in the final laps for the elusive victory. Last week’s winner Brian MacDonald was second in front of a late charging Joel Doiron. LaFrance settled for fourth followed by Chico Dingwall.
Randy Earl kept his dream season going. Earl captured his 8th Late Model feature of the season taking the lead on lap 3 and cruising from there. Marc Therrien was second followed by Todd Fletcher, Louis Jackson and Jody Beckstead. Earl has yet to record a DNF or a finish outside of the top 5 at Cornwall this year.
The 15 lap Duke Stock event went green to checkered with Ken Sproule becoming a first time winner. Sproule led every lap in a car that had mechanical problems in victory lane just but not during the race when it counted. Randy Andre won a pitched battle for second with Pat Nadon, Stephane Lemire and Gaetan Amesse third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Roch Aubin was the only repeat winner of the night. Aubin got past Chris Tremblay on a mid race restart and easily outdistanced Rosco Garreau in the 12 lap Rookie Stock event. Kevin Fetterly Jr. impressed in his first trip out at Cornwall with a third place showing in front of Tremblay and Andrew Russell.
Next week at Cornwall Motor Speedway features the annual Race for the Children with a complete race program including the Modifieds Late Models, Duke Stocks and Rookies. The Modifieds will race in the fourth and final leg in the Doiron Engineering Cup. Danny O Brien and Bill Mullin share the lead with 170 points each. The green flag drops at 7pm on Sunday, August 12th.
Modifieds 50 laps: 1. Dave Heaslip Smiths Falls 2. Brian MacDonald Cornwall 3. Joel Doiron Cornwall 4. Stephane LaFrance Brockville 5. Chico Dingwall Brockville 6. Dan Jalbert Cornwall 7. Laurent Ladouceur Alexandria 8. Denis Beaudoin Maniwaki QC 9.Mark Hitchcock Kingston 10. Peter Mantha Gatineau QC
Late Models 20 laps: 1. Randy Earl Brockville 2. Marc Therrien Alexandria 3. Todd Fletcher Renfrew 4. Louis Jackson Hogansburg NY. 5. Jody Beckstead Lunenburg
Duke Stocks 15 laps: 1. Ken Sproule Chesterville 2. Randy Andre Cornwall 3. Pat Nadon Gatineau QC 4. Stephane Lemire Drummondville 5. Gaetan Amesse St. Timothe QC
Rookie Stocks 12 laps 1. Roch Aubin Alexandria 2. Rosco Garreau Alexandria 3. Kevin Fetterly Jr. Massena NY 4. Chris Tremblay Cornwall 5. Andrew Russell Alexandria
Heat winners
Modifieds: Brian MacDonald Cornwall, Stephane LaFrance Brockville, Dave Heaslip Smiths Falls
Late Models: Todd Fletcher Renfrew, Stephane Lebrun Gatineau QC
Duke Stock: Pat Nadon Gatineau QC, Randy Andre Cornwall,
Rookie Stock: Chris Tremblay Cornwall, Glen Dorie Williamstown, Rosco Garreau Alexandria