Cornwall Motor Speedway: Steve Poirier wins ASCS Patriot Sprint Feature

CORNWALL, ON - by Martin Bélanger – Sprint car fans were served on Sunday night with the ASCS Patriot Sprint Group making their lone visit to the speedway on Nortrax Night. The Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro-Stock and Mini-Stock were also on the racing schedule as the Semi-Pro having a night off.

Carey Terrance was the early leader in the 30-lap Modified feature with Gage Morin in second and Kyle Dingwall in third spot. The high lane seemed good for Morin as he got closer to Terrance with 5 laps down. Morin was able to pass Terrance on the following lap and grabbed the lead but Terrance charged back as the two cars were now with a slower car. The leaders were now in heavy traffic with 11 laps done. Morin bobbled in turn 4 and Terrance gained back the lead on lap 13. At the halfway, Terrance, Morin, Dingwall, Laurent Ladouceur and Dave Heaslip, was your top 5. Still using the top line, Morin got close to Terrance as 20 laps were done. Morin tried hard and went a little too high in the frontstretch and hit the retaining wall and caution came out after running 23 consecutive laps on green conditions. On the restart, Terrance kept the lead over Dingwall with Danny O'Brien now third and Stéphane Lafrance in the mix. O'Brien used the outside lane to pass Dingwall for second with 2 laps to go. Terrance had the feature in his pocket but a flat tire in turn 4, cost him the win and Danny O'Brien won the feature over Dingwall, Lafrance. Terrance rallied the finish line in fourth with Ladouceur completing the top 5.

The 25-lap ASCS Patriots Sprint Group took the green with 20 cars on the track, Vern Wasson took the early lead followed by Steve Poirier and Jeff Cook.  Rick Wilson and Brian McDonald brought the first caution on the fourth lap. Wasson stayed first but got passed by Poirier on the fifth lap; Cook did the same over Wasson on the next lap. Alain Bergeron was now in the mix for third when Normand Beaudreault spun out and caution came out with 10 laps completed. Poirier got a good start over Cook when a multi-car tangle in turn with 2 cars on their sides brought the red flag on the track on lap 11. Poirier kept the lead with Cook getting closer to him. The top 2 cars got away from the rest of the field with 8 laps to go. Poirier and Cook got into a little traffic with 20 laps in the books. Poirier resisted at some charges from Cook and won the feature race over Cook and Tim Kelly completed the top 3.

Ryan Stabler grabbed the early lead in the 20-lap Pro-Stock Feature with Rock Aubin and Dave Bissonnette behind him. Aubin was now running with Stabler with 4 laps completed. Bissonnette was also in the mix for the lead as Michel Desjardins brought the first caution on lap 5. Stabler kept the lead with Bissonnette as his dancing partner. The top 10 cars were racing together when the race hit the halfway point. Ricky Thompson was now in third when the caution came out for Steve Johnston on lap 12. Stabler in the lead but Bissonnette charges had and takes over the lead with a great battle for third between Thompson, Aubin and Corey Wheeler with 5 laps to go. Thompson got to second by passing Stabler as 17 laps were done. Bissonnette led the final laps to win the feature in front of Thompson and Wheeler completing the top 3.

The 20-lap Sportsman Feature closed out the night with Dillon Sallows taking the lead over Randy Earl and Steve Bernier. Earl took the lead on the first lap by passing Sallows in turn 4. Chris Raabe and Chris Herbison quickly got into the top 5. Raabe seemed pretty fast as he past Sallows for second on lap 5. The first caution came out on lap 7. On the restart, Raabe was able to pass Earl as Steve Bernier stopped in turn 2 and the race was slowed down on lap 8. Raabe had a good start over Earl with Sallows in third when caution came out at the halfway point. Raabe still in front with Earl following him closely with Cole Dingwall taking third spot over teammate Shane Pecore with 11 laps in the record books. Earl was now racing side by side with Raabe, the veteran driver was able pass Raabe using the outside lane on lap 14 but Raabe charged back and regained the lead when the yellow was out with 4 laps to go. Raabe in front as Cole Dingwall passed Earl for second. Raabe managed to lead the final laps and won his fourth feature race at Cornwall in front of Dingwall and Earl completed the podium.

The 12-lap Mini-Stock Feature race saw David Seguin take the lead with Marc Chartrand in second. Ronnie Tyo was really fast and took second spot when caution came out on lap 3. On the restart, Tyo passed Seguin for the lead and the yellow was back out on lap 5. Tyo led 3 more laps when a multi-car tangle occurred in turn 1 and slowed the field down. Tyo still the leader with Martin Bernard and Seguin in third, the leader led the final laps to win the feature in front of Bernard and Seguin.