MARK HITCHCOCK WINS FROGTOWN R.O.C. (JEFF SYKES CROWNED TRACK CHAMPION)
HOGANSBURG, NY ... Mark Hitchcock of Kingston, Ontario won his first Frogtown International Speedway Race of Champions. Jeff Sykes of Edwards, New York won his first Frogtown International Speedway 358 Modified Track Championship and Leon Gonyo picked up a guaranteed starting spot at Super DIRT Week in Syracuse on Wolfclan Truck Stop / Coca Cola night.
Dave Heaslip and Kyle Jacobs started on the front in the third running of the R.O.C. with Heaslip grabbing the early lead followed by Jacobs, Mark Hitchcock, Jeff Marshall and Doug Fuller. In lap #3 coming off the #4 turn, Hitchcock went to the outside of Heaslip and grabbed the lead heading into turn #1. Hitchcock tried to pull away but the long time veteran would not be that easy to shake even when the two DIRT North stars got into traffic each knew the other was close and there was no room for mistakes. Back further in the field, Leon Gonyo of Chazy, New York was moving towards the front along with Jeff Sykes and Brian McDonald. On lap #23, Sykes retired to the pits but not before he captured the 2003 track championship.
Back up front, both Hitchcock and Heaslip set a torrid pace for the rest of the race with Hitchcock prevailing in the end. Dave Heaslip finished second with Leon Gonyo getting up for third and to the delight of the Frogtown fans, picked up the spot for Syracuse. Doug Fuller and Brian McDonald rounded out the top five.
In the DIRT Pro Stock division, it was the third leg of the Coors Light Pro Stock Super Series. Joel Herne and Casey Swamp started on the front row with Swamp grabbing the lead. Casey built up a seven to eight car length lead within the first seven laps of the event. In lap #9, the caution flag waved which took away the big lead that Casey Swamp had built up over Louie Jackson and brother Jody Swamp. When the green flag flew again, Louie Jackson made his move and grabbed the lead in lap #12 and held on for the win. John Lazore made a tremendous run at the end to finish third with Joel Herne staying consistent and finishing fourth and young Pro Stock star Clayton Benedict rounding out the top five.
Dave Bissonnette was named the 2003 Pro Stock Track Champion and in the Coors Light Series, it was a close one with Gilles Godard winning the series by just six points over Louie Jackson.
In the most exciting and entertaining race of the evening, Dominic Gauvreau of Gatineau, Quebec won by just a matter of a bumper in the three car dash to the finish line with young standouts Aaron Day and Carey Terrance. The three put on one of the most exciting races in Frogtown Speedway history with one of the largest fields ever (28 cars) taking the green for the event. It was one of the most exciting wins in "The Jet’s" career and one that Dominic will remember for a long time. Carey Terrance finished second after a stellar performance with Aaron Day who finished third. Steven Brand claimed fourth and won the track Championship by just 2 points over Kevin Fetterly, Jr. Mike McDonald who stayed steady as a rock throughout the event finished fifth.
In the Bandit Division, it was Ernie Cree who finally after many close encounters with finishing first got the job done and held off some tough competition to win the Bandit 12-lap feature. Leonard Duval finished second with David Page, Robert Bolia and Dudes Thompson rounding out the top five. Billy Woodward, Jr. claimed his first track championship in this division.
In the best Enduro feature of the season, Steve Bushey had things just go his way with early race leaders succumbing to accidents in the early going. Tyson Cole finished second with John McCarthy, Donald Delormier and Dustin Lipinsky rounding out the top five.
The next event at Frogtown International Speedway will be on Sunday afternoon September 14th at 2:00 p.m. that will feature as the main event of the day the Iron May Slic Track Enduro 100 sponsored by CKON 97.3 FM radio, St. Lawrence Centre and Smith Lumber. Also on the card will be the First Time Winners Classic in the Pro Stock, Semi Pros and Bandit Divisions. Anyone who has not won a feature race in those divisions this year at Frogtown is eligible. There will be no Modified racing for this event.
For more Information visit us on the World Wide Web at www.frogtownspeedway.net. SEE YOU AT THE FROG!
Modified: Mark Hitchcock, Dave Heaslip, Leon Gonyo, Doug Fuller, Brian McDonald, Al Jacobs, Kyle Jacobs, Bill Cook, Delbert LeGrow, Jeff Marshall, Sam Liechty, Pierre Charette, Jim Lazore, Mike Reyell, Tom Jock, Jr., Boomer McIntyre, Jamie Martin, Perry Francis, Chris Herbison, David LeGrow, Jeff Sykes, Tom Gonyo, Dan Jalbert, Mark Smoke and Kevin Fetterly.
Pro Stock: Louie Jackson, John Lazore, Casey Swamp, Joel Herne, Clayton Benedict, Dave Bissonnette, Travis Back, Jason Gabrielle, Gilles Godard, Pete Backus, Jason Fetterly, Jody Swamp, Angus Lazore, William Adams, Junior Barnes, Roch Aubin, Mitchell Jock, Bryan Loeb, Scott Kocher, Roy Delormier and Tim Allen.
Semi Pro: Dominic Gauvreau, Carey Terrance, Aaron Day, Steven Brand, Mike McDonald, Kevin Fetterly, Jr., Chris Rabideau, Kevin Mere, Dion Oakes, Dick Planty, Andrew Bordeau, Greg Ezard, Tylor Terry, Chad Vallance, Rich Thornton, Scott Mere, Harvey Arquette, Jr., Mike Merrill, John Bashaw, Kevin Clement, Owen White, Craig Reyell, Dale Seymour, Charles Thompson, Kevin Duffy, Wayne Foster, Robbie Ezard and Caleb Bradley. DNS: Mike David and Ryan Phillips.
Bandit: Ernie Cree, Leonard Duval, David Page, Robert Bolia, Dudes Thompson, Nick Mallette, Stuart Mossow, John Bradley, Claudia Tarbell, Larry Lapage, Billy Woodward, Jr., Brian Rochon, Ron Sharlow, April Tarbell, Trevor White, Trevor Jones, #29 and Jeb Beeson. DNS: Chris Lavair and Glenn Stratton.
Enduro: Steve Bushey, Jr., Tyson Cole, John McCarthy, Donald Delormier, Dustin Lipinsky, Ronnie Gibson, Rock Niles, Matt Langdon, Kevin Thompson, Darryl Mitchell, Chris Garrand, Corey Edwards, Tom Square, Konke Lazore, Scott Mere, Casey Clark, Tom Day, Brandon Snyder, Tim Herne, Andy Snider and Raun Mitchell. DNS: Ricky Thompson and Phil Snyder.