PERRY FRANCIS WINS FIRST EVER 358 MODIFIED FEATURE AT FROGTOWN
Perry Francis of Akwesasne finally pulled off something that he has been hoping for since he stepped into a 358 Modified and that’s his first 358 Modified feature win. In was just a matter of time before his dream became a reality as he has been so close to doing it so many times before. On Saturday night he did just that, by winning the 1st running of the Big Boyz Gas and Street Wear 25 for the 358 Modifieds.
Tom Jock, Jr. and Al Jacobs started on the front row of the event with Jacobs grabbing the lead. The young star Jacobs who also is looking for his first ever at Frogtown held the lead until lap #4 when Francis made a slick move to get by and take the lead. Doug Fuller, Brian McDonald, Jeff Sykes and Mark Hitchcock were moving up quickly from their starting spots with McDonald being the first to put the heat on the young lion Francis but Perry did not stray from his line one bit.
Next to try was Jeff Sykes as Sykes got by the speedy McDonald to take over 2nd in lap #24. By the time Sykes got by McDonald, it was to late as Francis was able to put some distance between he and Sykes and go on for the win. During the track side interview with track announcer Jamie Davis, Francis summed it all up by saying, "I’m so thrilled. I don’t know what to say".
Jeff Sykes finished second with Brian McDonald, the always-consistent "Boomer" McIntyre and the surprising Dan Jalbert rounding out the top five.
In the DIRT Pro Stock division, Dave "The Bulldog" Bissonnette got back into his winning ways with a very hard fought victory. Joel Herne and Tammy Jalbert started up front with Jalbert hanging on to the lead only momentarily though as PJ Peters took over the lead on lap #4. Both Bissonnette and John Lazore put the pressure on Peters for the lead with Bissonnette getting by on lap #10 and then Lazore getting by Peters on lap 12. "The Bulldog" then put some distance between he and the tough Lazore and went on for the win. PJ Peters held on for third with Jody Swamp and Joel Herne rounding out the top five.
In the Semi Pro class, it was yet another first time victory for an up and coming star. This time it was Carey Terrance visiting victory lane for the first time. Terrance who started 4th in the field grabbed the lead from popular Greg Ezard on lap #5 of the Big Boyz Gas and Street Wear sponsored event and fought off Ezard and Kevin Fetterly, Jr. for the win. Chad Vallance and Ryan Phillips rounded out the top five.
In the 17 lap Mid-Summer Championship for the Bandit division, it was a four car battle for the lead that thrilled the Frogtown faithful lap after lap as Billy "Woo Woo" Woodward managed to fight off repeated challenges from Roch Aubin, Ron Sharlow and Kevin Mere for the big win. Aubin managed to barely hang on for second with Ron Sharlow, Kevin Mere and Ernie Cree rounding out the top five.
In the Enduro feature, Brandon Snyder finally got the win he has worked so hard for by fighting off a number of challenges by Ricky Thompson to take the win. Thompson finished second with Steve Bushey, Jr., Donald Delormier and Ross Mitchell in the #XXX rounding out the top five.
Next Saturday night it will be the Empire Super Sprints visiting Frogtown International Speedway for the 8th running of the Coca-Cola 20 plus a regular card of racing for the DIRT Pro Stocks, Semi Pros, Bandits and Enduro class. There will be no 358 Modified racing this night with the Sprint cars in for this special appearance.
Pit gates open at 5:30 p.m., main grandstand gates open at 6:00 p.m. with the first heat getting underway promptly at 7:00 p.m.
For more information visit us on the World Wide Web at www.frogtownspeedway.net and for more information on the ESS Sprint cars, visit them at www.empiresupersprints.com.
Frogtown International Speedway is located just off Route 37 in Hogansburg (Akwesasne), New York on Frogtown Road. SEE YOU AT THE FROG!
Modified: Perry Francis, Jeff Sykes, Brian McDonald, Boomer McIntyre, Dan Jalbert, Leon Gonyo, Al Jacobs, Bill Cook, Jeff Marshall, Sam Liechty, Matt Gonyo, Jim Lazore, Tom Jock, Jr., Matt Butler, Mark Hitchcock, Tom Gonyo, Mike Reyell, Mark Smoke, Doug Fuller and Greg Monica.
Pro Stock: Dave Bissonnette, John Lazore, PJ Peters, Jody Swamp, Joel Herne, Clayton Benedict, Tim Allen, Bryan Loeb, Mitchell Jock, Louie Jackson, Jason Fetterly, Travis Back, Tammy Jalbert, Greg Snyder and Casey Swamp.
Semi Pro: Carey Terrance, Greg Ezard, Kevin Fetterly, Jr., Chad Vallance, Ryan Phillips, Dion Oakes, Steven Brand, Mike McDonald, Tylor Terry, Aaron Day, Craig Reyell, Harvey Arquette, Jr., Scott Mere, Kevin Mayville, Pete Backus, Dick Planty, Mike David, Mike Trombley, Chris Rabideau and Kevin Clement. DNS: John Bashaw.
Bandit: Billy Woodward, Jr., Roch Aubin, Ron Sharlow, Kevin Mere, Ernie Cree, Trevor White, Dudes Thompson, Nick Mallette, Larry LaPage, Melissa Dezell, Robert Bolia, John Bradley, David Page, Jeb Beeson, Dan Lortie and Tim Wilcox. DNS: Trevor Jones.
Enduro: Brandon Snyder, Ricky Thompson, Steve Bushey, Jr., Donald Delormier, Ross Mitchell, Konke Lazore, #18 Ayotte, Corey Edwards, John McCarthy, Matt Langdon, Francis Thompson, Raun Mitchell, Tom Square, Kyle Delormier and Kevin Thompson. DNS: Dillon Cole, Rock Niles, Roy Barrick III and Chris Garrand.