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Bubby Kerrick Collects His Third Empire Super Sprint Victory of the 2007 Season at Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway; Jeff VanDusen Claims Lucas Oil Canadian Invasion Series Championship.
CANTLEY, QC – It looked like the Friday night make-up event at Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway was all Tommy Wickham’s. But his smoking engine finally gave way on lap 13 handing the lead to second place running Bubby Kerrick who went on to claim his third A-Main triumph of the season on the Empire Super Sprint (ESS) tour brought to you by Jacobs Motorsports.
While Kerrick’s triumph was indeed headline making, the story within the story was the crowing of the Lucas Oil Canadian Invasion Series champion. Coming into the night, Steve Poirier has a slim lead over Jeff VanDusen and Lance Yonge. Poirier’s fate however was decided on lap 11 when he became involved in a multi-car accident which saw his sprinter go over. By virtue of his 16th place finish and VanDusen’s third and Yonge’s fourth, Poirier dropped to third in the final standings with VanDusen claiming the title.
Kerrick’s West Front Construction #4U started the $2,000 to win Northwood 2 Construction A-Main from the outside pole with Wickham inside. While Wickham’s #75 did show small signs of smoke at the drop of the green flag, his J&J sprinter took off to a big lead. The 25 lap A-Main looked to be the second victory of the season for the second year driver.
But, just as the halfway mark was displayed the motor under the hood finally seized up and giving the lead to Kerrick. “I had a good car but I don’t think I was going to get Tommy, not even in lapped traffic, he was just so fast tonight.” noted the driver from Stanley, N.Y. “While you hate to get a lead handed to you like that, you’re not going to give it back either. So I just ran as hard as I could for the last part of the race and it worked, a third win in one year, wow! This is incredible.”
Since Brian McDonald has taken over the finances of Kerrick’s mount, he has had new life. “I just can’t thank Brian enough; he gives me anything I need now. Before, I had to drive conservative as I just didn’t have any extra spares.” Kerrick mentions on his situation earlier in the season.” I had good equipment but nothing after if I wrecked. He (McDonald) has kicked me in the ass and just told me to run it as hard as I could. If I wreck, we will worry about that later. This is nothing I have had ever before!”
It wasn’t a cake walk victory though as Michael Parent Les Constructions Ultra F5 sprinter was right there in striking distance in hopes for his first ever A-Main win. But, Kerrick never made the mistake for the defending rookie of the year to take advantage of. At the checkered flag it was Kerrick over Parent, VanDusen, and Yonge with McDonald himself in fifth
.
The third place finish netted VanDusen a $1,500 prize for the championship. “I got a little lucky tonight but we also gave away a few points this year like that as well.” VanDusen mentioned on winning the Lucas title. “We needed Steve to drop out, something he hasn’t done all year, and luckily that did happen. This is a nice bonus for our team, we want the overall title but we will take this one first and go from there.”
The second five In the final run down were July Edelweiss winner Jeff Cook, Jared Zimbardi, Edelweiss small block star Lee Ladouceur in the third McDonald entry, Chris Jones, who earned the Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger bonus after starting in 21st. and Normand Beaudreault.
Three cautions and one red slowed the pace on a very tacky 1/3rd mile oval. Beaudreault spun on the original start while on the second try Mike Stelter made contact with another car and unfortunately he lost his front end. On lap 11 the lights came on for debris as Daniel Lampron’s rear brake rotor just came apart. On the lap 11 restart, Russ Bennett got spun around causing the field to bunch in with Poirier and Justin Barger flipping over. Also involved were Cook, Rick Wilson and Alain Bergeron. Only Cook was able to return and he came back for a fine sixth.
Taking the Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heats were Stelter, Kerrick and Wickham with Wickham copping the La Pepiniere du Golf/Walt’s Hobby Dash. The KSE Racing Products B-Main was won by Kyle Wilson.
ESS/EDELWEISS NOTES: A fine field of 26 sprinters came out for the August 17th make up date…Serge Legace’ extended his season for the return of the ESS sprinters and a big crowd was on hand with unseasonably warm temps greeting all. With the success of the event, look for Edelweiss to bring down the Canadian points championship again next year…After his very successful Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, Ohsweken Speedway promoter Glenn Styres spent the weekend with ESS. However, electrical problems hindered his effort with his brand new mount and he just missed qualifying by two spots with his back-up.
RESULTS:
Heat 1 – Mike Stelter, Normand Beaudreault, Jeff Cook, Jessica Zemken, Jared Zimbardi, Cory Sparks.
Heat 2 – Bubby Kerrick, Russ Bennett, Brian McDonald, Alain Bergeron, Justin Barger, Daniel Lampron
Heat 3 – Tommy Wickham, Michael Parent, Lance Yonge, Jeff VanDusen, Steve Poirier, Rick Wilson.
La Pepiniere du Golf/Walt’s Hobby Dash – Tommy Wickham
B-Main – Kyle Wilson, Lee Ladouceur, Chris Jones, Daryl Turford.
Did Not Qualify – April Wilson, Glenn Styres, Derek Jonathan, Ryan Stabler
A-MAIN – BUBBY KERRICK, Michael Parent, Jeff VanDusen, Lance Yonge, Brian McDonald, Jeff Cook, Jared Zimbardi, Lee Ladouceur, Chris Jones, Normand Beaudreault, Kyle Wilson, Tommy Wickham, Russ Bennett, Alain Bergeron, Justin Barger, Steve Poirier, Rick Wilson, Daniel Lampron, Cory Sparks, Daryl Turford, Jessica Zemken, Mike Stelter.
Gater News Lap Leaders – Wickham 1-13, Kerrick 14-25
Northwood 2 Construction A-Main Winner’s Bonus – Kerrick $275
Canadian Sprint Car Nationals A-Main Winner’s Bonus – Kerrick $100
National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus – Wickham $100
Les Constructions Ultra Blue Collar Award – Cook $100
Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger Bonus – Jones (12 pos.) $50
Cook’s Contracting Bridesmaid Bonus – Parent $50
HG Associates Pole Award – Wickham $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats – Stelter, Kerrick, Wickham $25.
Final Lucas Oil Canadian Invasion Series Points:
1.
Jeff VanDusen
1211 - $1,500
2.
Lance Yonge
1191 - $1,000
3.
Steve Poirier
1170 - $750
4.
Jeff Cook
1113 - $500
5.
Alain Bergeron
1108 - $350
6.
Tommy Wickham
1106 - $250
7.
Michael Parent
1068 - $200
8.
Bubby Kerrick
1042 - $175
9.
Mike Stelter
957 - $150
10.
Justin Barger
804 - $125
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