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Laurent Ladouceur wins the Canadian DIRT Challenge at Edelweiss Speedway
By Martin Bélanger
Cantley, PQ – Friday, July 27, 2007 – It was a hot and humid night at Edelweiss Speedway for the first race of the Lucas Oil Canadian DIRT Series. The largest field of modifieds at Edelweiss in the past few years showed up, it is no less than 38 drivers that got into the pit area for this 100 lap event.
Stéphane Lafrance took the lead over the 32 car field and led for the first 4 laps until Yan Bussière slowed the field. On the restart, Pierre Dagenais was able to grab the lead over Lafrance by out powering him on the green. Dagenais led for the next lap until a second caution came out for a 2 car tangle in turn 2. Dagenais kept the lead on the issuing green and he built himself a comfortable lead over Mike Adderley who is now second. Dagenais lost his huge advance with the third caution of the race on lap fifteen for Bussière who stopped in the backstretch. The 124 machine of Dagenais, was still first on the following restart, with Heaslip now in second. Dagenais got rapidly in traffic and Healslip was able to close in, but Dagenais manage to keep himself in front. The fourth caution came on lap 34 for Robbie Grant. The top 5 at this point was Dagenais, Heaslip, Laurent Ladouceur, Todd Stuart and Adderly. Dagenais got another good start on the green. Danny O’Brien who started 16th manages to get himself in the top 5 on lap 36. Dagenais who led for the last 35 laps broke something in the rear, in turn four and Dave Heaslip is now the new leader. Laurent Ladouceur who was second took the lead on the restart. A big crash occurred in turn 4 on lap 41 in which included many cars. Ladouceur kept the lead over Heaslip while O’Brien is now in top 3 with a pass on the restart. At the half-way point, the top 5 was Ladoucuer, Heaslip, O’Brien, McDonald and Robidoux. Michel Dusseault slowed down the field on lap 51. Laurent Ladouceur kept the lead but Dagenais brought another yellow on lap 57. Many drivers moved during the first 57 laps, Mario Clair is now 5th after starting 22nd in the field. Heaslip who was second, had a flat on lap 66 but went to the pits without causing a yellow. Martin Gagné slowed in front of the grandstand and the yellow came out on lap 75. The top 5 is Ladouceur, O’Brien, McDonald, Robidoux and Clair. On the restart, O’Brien grabbed the lead over Ladouceur with a great pass from the outside lane and started to built a good lead over him. André Gauthier spun out in turn 1 to bring the field back together on lap 86. Ladouceur retakes the lead on the green over O’Brien. He led the last ten laps to win his fourth race at Edelweiss and the first race of the Canadian DIRT Series over Danny O’Brien and Brian McDonald finished third. Ladouceur had also won the second heat while McDonald was the winner in the first one. Dany Bilodeau and Alain Boisvert were the other heat winners. Ron Valade had won the consolation race.
The track was really fast during the big feature, the track maintenance made a few adjustments during the evening to give the greatest surface possible to the drivers. The serie continues tomorrow night at Brockville with the presentation of the second event. Time Trials are scheduled to start at 6:30pm and the first heat at 7pm. Danny O’Brien was the winner of last years event.
Full Results:
Lucas Oil Canadian DIRT Series (100 laps)
Laurent Ladouceur, Danny O’Brien, Brian McDonald, Kayle Robidoux, Mario Clair, Clément Therrien, Stéphane Lafrance, David Hébert, Jasmin Léveillé, Lance Willix, Lee Ladouceur, Ron Valade, Martin Gagné, André Gauthier, Dany Bilodeau, Fred Gamache, Patrice Demers, Sebastien Gougeon, Dave Heaslip, Pierre Dagenais, Michel Dusseault, Mike Adderly, Robbie Grant, Alain Boisvert, Todd Stewart, Ryan Foley, Chris King, Eric Gauvreau, Yan Bussière, Bobby Herrington, Denis Larocque, Claude Marcoux
Mod Heat 1: Brian Mcdonald, David Hébert, Stéphane Lafrance
Mod Heat 2: Laurent Ladouceur, Pierre Dagenais, Eric Gauvreau
Mod Heat 3: Dany Bilodeau, Mike Adderly, Dave Heaslip
Mod Heat 4: Alain Boisvert, Yan Bussière, Michel Dusseault
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