DAVE HEASLIP TAKES 358 MODIFIED SPRING FLING AT FROGTOWN
Veteran 358 DIRT Modified star Dave Heaslip on Smith Falls, Ontario sent a message to the Frogtown faithful on Saturday night that he means business in 2003. The long time North Country favorite fought off challenge after challenge from top contenders Brian McDonald, Jeff Sykes, Bill Cook and Mark Hitchcock for the win.
Heaslip grabbed the early lead at the drop of the green flag followed closely by Mark Hitchcock, Bill Cook and young star Jimmy Lazore. Jeff Sykes had the fastest car on the race track in the early going as he worked his way up through the pack from his 11th starting spot and grabbed the lead on lap #7 from Heaslip. At the halfway point, Sykes continued to lead with Brian McDonald, Dave Heaslip, Mark Hitchcock and Bill Cook in hot pursuit.
On lap #18, Heaslip saw an opening on the bottom side of the race track in turn #2 and made the move he is so well known for and slid underneath the #23J of Sykes to inherit the lead once again and go on for the win. Jeff Sykes after a great run finished second with Bill Cook, Bill Woodward and Tom Jock, Jr. rounding out the top five.
In the DIRT Pro Stock division, Mitchell Jock came from his 5th starting spot to bring home the win in the Mohawk Springs Water Pro Stock event. At the drop of the green flag, Akwesasne’s Jody Swamp grabbed the early lead followed closely by Dave Bissonnette, Louie Jackson and John Lazore. Swamp after an impressive heat race held the lead until lap #10 when Mitchell Jock came flying up through from his 5th starting spot to grab the lead. Jock went on for the win in the JR Fuels #14 with Jody Swamp finishing a close second. Louie Jackson, John Lazore and Dave Bissonnette rounded out the top five.
In the popular Semi Pro division, Steve Brand and Scott Kocher put on a great battle throughout the race until problems with the #64 of Brand retired him to the pits in the closing laps of the race. Kocher grabbed the lead from Brand on lap #11 just before Brand headed to the pits and went on for the win. Dick Planty got up for second with an impressive run with Ryan Phillips, Chad Vallance and Chris Rabideau rounding out the top five.
In the always-exciting Bandit class, Kevin Mere picked up where he left off in the 2002 season and brought home the win. Mere was challenged early by Bandit class veterans Kurtis McPhee and Dan Lortie early in the race but managed to grab the lead from first McPhee in lap six then Lortie on Lap #10 to go on for the win. Billy "Woo Woo" Woodward, Jr. got up for second with Jeb Beeson, Ron Sharlow and Ernie Cree rounding out the top five.
In the always unpredictable Enduro feature, it was Ricky Thompson taking home with win in convincing fashion over Brandon Snyder and Tom Square. Konke Lazore and Dillon Cole rounded out the top five.
The staff and management at Frogtown Speedway would like to thank the good people at Mohawk Springs Water the official bottled water of Frogtown Speedway for sponsoring a great night of racing.
Next week at Frogtown it will be the 13th funning of the Memorial Cup a 358 Modified 50 lap Syracuse qualifier with a guaranteed starting spot in Syracuse at Super DIRT Week in the fall up for grabs, plus a regular card of racing in all other classes.
Frogtown International Speedway is located on Frogtown Road just off Route 37 in Hogansburg, New York. You can visit us on the World Wide Web at www.frogtownspeedway.net. SEE YOU AT THE FROG!
Modified: Dave Heaslip, Jeff Sykes, Bill Cook, Bill Woodward, Tom Jock, Jr., Boomer McIntyre, Dan Jalbert, Al Jacobs, Tom Gone, Kevin Fetterly, Greg Monica, Mark Hitchcock, Steve Rookey, Delbert LeGrow, Brian McDonald, Matt Gonyo, Jim Lazore, Perry Francis, Wayne Stearns, Doug Fuller, Mark Smoke, Bruce Sawyer, Mike Reyell and Leon Gonyo. DNQ: Kyle Jacobs, Jeff Marshall and Jamie Martin.
Pro Stock: Mitchell Jock, Jody Swamp, Louie Jackson, John Lazore, Dave Bissonnette, PJ Peters, Casey Swamp, Bryan Loeb, Melvin Rush, Joel Herne, Tim Allen, Billy King, Clayton Benedict and Gilles Godard.
Semi Pro: Scott Kocher, Dick Planty, Ryan Phillips, Chad Vallance, Chris Rabideau, Kevin Clement, Steven Brand, Brian Patterson, Tylor Terry, Kevin Fetterly, Jr., Barb Donnelly, Tammy Jalbert, Mike David, Mike McDonald, Doug Haldane and Andrew Bordeau.
Bandit: Kevin Mere, Billy Woodward, Jr., Jeb Beeson, Ron Sharlow, Ernie Cree, John Bashaw, Joey Foster, Nick Mallette, Dudes Thompson, Brad Sharlow, Robert Bolia, Rico Hernandez, Dan Lortie, Fred Weaver, Gilles Bernique, Larry LaPage, Brad Jerome, Kurtis McPhee and Jim Webb. DNS: Chris Reynolds.
Enduro: Ricky Thompson, Brandon Snyder, Tom Square, Konke Lazore, Dillon Cole, Steve Bushey, Jr., Steve Green, Sheldon Jacobs and Joshua Michael.