6-27-08
The
By Alan Plummer
Although rain pushed back the start of Friday’s race at Riverside Speedway, a PASS sanctioned track, the rest of the night stayed dry. The Cyclones were shuffled to the 1st feature, to help dry the track. Ciara McCoy, broke something in the rear of her dwarf car, as the tire seemed to shear off during qualifying. Her Cyclone car, that Dustin Poulin was racing, also had problems for the night. Next week is race number 2 of the Bond Auto Triple Crown Late Model Series. 75 laps with a cool grand for 1st. Rumor has it that former Riverside champ Randy Potter may be running the race.
Dustin Poulin started on the pole for the Cyclones, with Kristopher Russell outside. Russell took the lead. By lap 15 Andy Simpson had made his way up to 3rd. At the half way point, Russell was still in the lead followed by Simpson, and Rick Utley Jr. Russell still held the lead at lap 40 with Utley in 2nd, but that didn’t last long, as Luke Shannon bounded to the lead. Shannon took the win followed by Russell and Loren Vear. Charlie Rockwell and Andy Hill rounded out the top 5.
Toby Merchant sat on point for the Dwarf Cars, with Dany Huoppi on the outside. Huoppi took the initial lead, but Merchant settled into the top spot. David Hartshorn broke and axle. Huoppi grabbed 1st on the restart as Eric Hall moved to 2nd, and Ernie Laplant moved to 3rd. On the 2nd lap Hall moved to the lead and Laplant to 2nd. On lap 8, Laplant secured the lead. On lap 23, Alex Rancourt spun in turn 2, but recovered, and Huoppi regained 2nd. Laplant took the checkers followed by Huoppi and Hall.
The Angels were again out in full strength. Kristen Wheeler started on the pole, with Cynthia Litvin outside. Wheeler took the lead, but Wheeler and Litvin got tangled going into turn 3 and 4 sending Wheeler into the turn 4 tire bank. Mary Eastman started to pull ahead of Jen Terrill on the restart, but Terrill prevailed. Linda Ball moved to 2nd, and Johanna Christman moved to 3rd. Miranda Gervais and Vanessa Brown tangle on the front stretch, bringing out the yellow. Christman prevails on the restart. On lap 5 Danielle Brigham moved to 3rd, then 2nd on lap 6. Gervais moves to 3rd on lap 9. The yellow flies on lap 18, for pit road being blocked. Christman takes the lead, and Gervais moves to 2nd. Jennie Dion moves to 3rd on lap 34. Christman takes the win followed by Gervais and Dion.
The Street Stocks were up next. Cody Hodge started on the pole, with Bill Stebbins Jr. outside. Hodge took the lead. Tyler Therrien quickly moved to 3rd. On lap 4, contact was made between Stebbins and Therrien, bringing out the yellow. Hodge edged out the lead. On lap 24, Tori Delabruere nearly lost control, but does a great job of saving the car. Hodge takes his 2nd win of the season, followed by Alex Theroux and Therrien.
The Outlaws took to the field next. I wish there would be more of them, they put on a good show, but would be better with a few more cars. David Ofsuryk Jr. started on the pole, with Reggie Theroux outside. Ofsuryk took the lead as Steve Patnaude moved to 2nd. Dan Sidney moved to 3rd on lap 2. Doug Laleme moved to 3rd on lap 5, 2nd on lap 9, and took the lead on lap 15. Laleme took the checkers, followed by Ofsuryk and Patnaude.
The Super Stocks capped off the night. Allyn Briggs started on the pole, with Jamie Longley outside. Briggs took the lead. Brian Gosselin moved to 2nd on lap 3, and Jarred Ledger moved to 3rd. Gosselin took the lead on lap 4 bringing Ledger with him for 2nd. On lap 5 Jason Kenison overtook 3rd. The caution flag flew on lap 18 as Brian Middleton and Dean Switser Jr. got together after Switser blew a tire. Gosselin took the restart and the win, followed by Ledger and Kenison.
Riverside races again next Friday July 4th. On the card will be Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Daredevils, Dwarf Cars and Cyclones. It will also be round #2 of the Bond Auto Parts Triple Crown Series for the Late Models. The 75 lap race will pay the winner $1,000. There will also be fireworks at the close of events. Hope to see you there. Pictures and archived FANatic articles can be seen at http://racing.apcomptech.com If you have any questions or comments email me at riversidefanatic@apcomptech.com