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STEWART FRIESEN WINS TURNING STONE CASINO SERIES RACE AT FROGTOWN




Hogansburg, NY - Stewart Friesen of Niagara-of-the-Lake, Ontario bested a star studded field of DIRT 358 Modifieds to win the 17th running of the Budweiser 100 this past Wednesday night at Frogtown International Speedway.

Allen Jacobs of Akwesasne and Todd Burley of Spencerport, New York started on the front row of the 100 lap main event with Burley grabbing the early lead followed closely by Stewart Friesen, Allen Jacobs, Allan Johnson and Pete Bicknell. On lap #8, Friesen who started 4th in the field took the lead from Burley but could not start to put any distance between he and his contenders because the quick pace of the race already had caught some of the slower cars in the early going. Both Pete Bicknell and Alan Johnson tried to stay close to the speedy Friesen but as the race progressed, Friesen moved quickly through the traffic putting as many as four slower cars between he and his nearest contender.

Back farther in the field, Brian McDonald, Brett Hearn and Dale Planck were beginning to make their run to the front. Planck who started 7th in the field managed to catch Friesen on lap #24 and take the lead as the Quality Concrete / King Motor Sports 77x looked very strong. Behind Friesen and Planck, Brian McDonald and Alan Johnson staged one of the best side by side battles ever seen at Frogtown. The two DIRT 358 Modified drivers exchanged positions no less than 17 times over a period of about 25 laps.

On lap #67 after a restart, Friesen was able to get the jump on Planck and retake the lead. Once again it didn't take long for the leaders to get into traffic but Planck made sure that Stewart did not get the opportunity to run away and hide in the traffic as he stayed within striking distance of the leader only allowing at the most just a couple of cars between he and the leader.

With just three laps to go, it looked like Planck might get a shot at catching Friesen for the lead when the unthinkable happened as Planck got tangled up with a slower car and ended up pulling out of the race. Friesen continued on to win his first ever Budweiser 100 at Frogtown International Speedway. Alan Johnson held on for second with Brian McDonald finishing third. The always present and long time DIRT veteran Brett Hearn of Sussex, New Jersey finished fourth with Akwesasne's Kyle Jacobs who probably drove the most steady and consistent race of all finishing fifth after starting fifth in the field.

In the DIRT Pro Stock feature, William Adams made his return to "The Frog" to win the A&M Beverage 20 lap feature go.

Adams who started 6th on the grid didn't waste any time getting the lead as he was able to get by Tim Allen in lap #2. Roy Delormier, Clayton Benedict and PJ Peters put the heat on Adams from lap #6 to lap #14 when the caution came out. During the caution period, Delormier exited quickly to the pits with problems leaving Clayton Benedict and PJ Peters the duty of trying to catch the consistent Adams. On the final lap, Benedict pulled along side coming out of turn #4 but could not catch Adams as William went on for the win. Clayton Benedict finished second with PJ Peters, Roch Aubin and Joel Herne rounding out the top five.

In the Semi Pro Division, Steven Brand held off Mike Allen and Dion Oakes to win the A&M Beverage 15 lap feature.

Greg Snyder led the first six laps of the event until Brand who started 13th in the field came rearing up through the pack to grab the lead on lap #7 and fight off Mike Allen and Dion Oakes for the win. The race was overshadowed by the loss of one of the divisions own. John Bashaw who had just moved up from the Bandit division and made his debut last Saturday night for team 64 and 64J was killed in an automobile accident early Tuesday morning. Our condolences go out to the family of John from all of us in the Frogtown International Speedway family and above all commend them on their courage and their love for the sport of racing by still putting the #64 part of the team on the race track on Wednesday night despite all that has happened. John would have approved.

In the Bandit Division, Stewart Mossow won his first of 2004 as he held of Ernie Cree and Billy "Woo Woo" Woodward for the victory.

Mossow took the lead on lap #1 from popular Claudia Tarbell and was able to put three or four car lengths between himself and his competitors at the finish. Ernie Cree finished second with Billy Woodward, Jr. picking up a ride in Bob Ray's car finishing third. Claudia Tarbell ran a great race to finish fourth and Trevor White just getting a transmission in the car in time to go racing Wednesday, rounded out the top five.

In the Enduro Class, Garrett White continued his winning ways by taking his #68G from his 9th starting spot to the win.

The Speedway will be closed on Saturday, August 14th but will come right back on Saturday night August 21st with a big night of racing that includes a stop at Frogtown of the Empire Sports Network DIRT Pro Stock Series. The show will be sponsored by Legends and Spirits Tavern, Banquet Hall and Pizzeria of Akwesasne.

Pit gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with the main grandstand gates opening at 6:00 p.m. The first race is set to go at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Frogtown International Speedway is located just off Route 37 on Frogtown Road in Akwesasne (Hogansburg), New York. You can visit us on the World Wide Web at www.frogtownspeedway.net. SEE YOU AT THE FROG!

Modified: Stewart Friesen, Alan Johnson, Brian McDonald, Brett Hearn, Kyle Jacobs, Pat Ward, Mike Perrotte, Dave Heaslip, Alan Jacobs, Martin Roy, Pete Bicknell, Dale Planck, Laurent Ladouceur, Ray Hoard, Perry Francis, Richie Pratt, Matt Butler, Tammy Jalbert, Jim Lazore, Kayle Rabidoux, Ron White, Bill Cook, Dave Camara, Dan Jalbert, John Lazore, Tom Jock, Jr., Leon Gonyo, Todd Burley, Jeff Sykes and Mark Hitchcock. DNQ: Roy Tarbell, Mike Arquiett, Mike Reyell, Doug Haldane, Kevin Fetterly, Delbert LeGrow, Bill Mullin and Jamie Martin.

Pro Stock: William Adams, Clayton Benedict, PJ Peters, Roch Aubin, Joel Herne, Allan Peters, Aaron Day, Mitchell Jock, Craig Paquin, Tim Allen, Jason Fetterly, Jody Swamp, Roy Delormier, Casey Swamp and Ricky Thompson.

Semi Pro: Steven Brand, Mike Allen, Dion Oakes, Chad Vallance, Greg Ezard, Kevin Fetterly, Jr., Dick Planty, Brandon Snyder, Harvey Arquette, Kevin Clement, Carey Terrance, Scott Mere, Greg Snyder, PD Bigtree, Jack Johnson, Robbie Grant, Ryan Phillips and Kelvin Clement.

Bandit: Stuart Mossow, Ernie Cree, Billy Woodward, Jr., Claudia Tarbell, Trevor White, Adam Caldwell, Joey Foster, David Page, Jeb Beeson, Chris Cooke, Bobby Lavair, Robert Bolia, Brad Sharlow, Steve Smith, Josh Poste, Shannon Gray, Roy Weaver, Jr. and Corey Thompson. DNS: Jason Bressett, Fred Weaver and Bob Ray.

Enduro: Garrett White.