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A Couple of Hat Tricks and the end of a Winning Streak - Racenight Recap for August 15th

Recap for Thursday August 15, 2024

Our 7th racenight of the season was held on the evening of Thursday August 15th. This was our final Thursday Night Thunder of this season, with just two remaining race dates: The Mike Parsons Memorial weekend on Friday Aug 23, and Saturday August 24th. We’ve had good luck from the “weather gods” this season, and our race night of August 15th was great with warm temperatures and relatively clear skies.

The on-track action was great too. We had a couple of “new winners” and good car counts in all divisions. We had a fantastic fan count again, thanks to all of you for supporting our sport!

Greg Brazeau and Oval Reving were back up in the tower to announce for the night. Annette Bouchard sang the national anthems and then heat races got started, with the Service Rentals and Sales Super Late Models out first.

Service Rentals and Sales Super Late Models:

We had 13 Service Rentals and sales Super Late Models out during the qualifying session earlier in the evening including for the first time this season #29 John Carter. John has been at the track weekly but has been concentrating on helping his son Xavier running in the Factory Stock division. Also for the first time this season we saw #78 Mike Sturgill from Onaway. Mike is the track promoter at Onaway Speedway in Michigan. Also back out was #47 Jordan Sims, missing for a few weeks while he did some major repair work on his machine which was badly damaged in an incident earlier this season. Also on track was rookie #15 Ryan Rocchetta with a nicely decorated, yellow and black machine.

Of the 13 qualifiers, Chase Wilson was fastest with a time of 14.283 seconds. Second fastest was another division rookie #33 Jordan Rocchetta with a time of 14.321 seconds. All thirteen qualifiers were clocked within 1.2 seconds of each other from fastest to slowest, which promised for some exciting racing during the night. The division was split into two groups for the heat races.

In the first 10 lap heat, consisting of the fastest qualifiers 6 cars took part in a fast caution free run. #51 Jeremy Vanhoek and #78 Mike Sturgill led them off at the green. Sturgill made a couple attempts on the outside of Vanhoek during the race, but was unable to pass. Vanhoek took the win, Sturgill 2nd, #61 Dustin Jackson 3rd, #47 Jordan Sims 4th, #77 Chase Wilson 5th, and #33 Jordan Rocchetta 6th.

Immediately following the first Late Model heat, we had a 10 lap heat for the slower qualifiers. Six cars took part. Leading them off at the green was #29 John Carter inside, with #826 Jordan Parniak outside. Caution was out before a lap was complete after Parniak looped it into corner 4, requiring a full restart.

The second start was successful. Carter got a good start, while Parniak slipped back to 4th in the first couple laps. #21M Cody Maclean got up alongside Carter and made a pass during the 5th lap but caution flew before all cars had completed the lap when #15 Ryan Rocchetta slid up touched the front stretch guardrail, then spun down into the infield just past the flagstand. Maclean had to restart behind Carter as the lap he passed on was not complete. During the caution Parniak left the track briefly for the pits but came back out for the green.

Carter led the next lap after the restart then caution flew one more time, this time for a spin out of corner 2 by #20 Mike Hearty. Carter took the lead for the last 4 laps after the restart, with Maclean challenging on the outside a couple times but unable to get buy. Carter took the win, with MacLean alongside in 2nd about 1/10th of a second later. #01 John Ross was right there too, in 3rd, Hearty 4th, Ryan Rocchetta 5th, and Parniak 6th.

All 13 qualifiers were out on track for a 30 lap Late Model feature right after intermission. Leading them at the green was #29 John Carter, and #01 John Ross. The front runners ran side by side with Ross a nose ahead on the first lap, on lap 2 Carter was a nose ahead, still on the inside, but caution flew before all cars crossed the line with a slide an spin by #21M Cody Maclean coming out of cor51ner 4 and up the front stretch to the infield. Maclean exited the track, his night was done.

Ross was single up front on the restart, with Carter inside, and #51 Jeremy Vanhoek outside row 2. Ross continued to lead the next few laps, first with Vanhoek challenging. A few laps after the restart the cars had spaced out a bit and #47 Jordan Sims was seen moving from mid field with some good inside passes to get up to 2nd. A couple laps later on lap 15 Sims made a great inside pass on Ross down the backstretch to take over the lead. On lap 16 caution flew with a spin out of corner 2 by #826 Jordan Parniak who was running at the back.

The final restart on lap 16 had Sims out front, and in row 2 Ross inside, and #77 Chase Wilson outside. The remainder of the race Sims maintained the lead, with Wilson following. The pair started to get around lap traffic late in the race but there were no opportunities for Wilson. The race finished with Jordan Sims taking the win, breaking a season long feature winning streak by Wilson. Wilson was just 4/10ths of a second behind. #61 Dustin Jackson finished 3rd, a couple seconds behind the winner. #33 Jordan Rocchetta ran a good race for 4th, #01 John Ross 5th, #20 Mike Hearty 6th, #78 Mike Sturgill 7th and #826 Jordan Parniak 8th. #05 Tyler Praysner, #29 John Carter & #15 Ryan Rocchetta finished 9th – 11th respectively, all a lap down. #51 Jeremy Vanhoek exited the track after completing 23 laps.

Northland Autobody Factory Four Division:

The Northland Autobody Factory Fours were second in the running order for the evening’s program. There were 15 cars out for qualifying with fast qualifier being #16 Dyllen Sherrard. The division was broken into two groups, each having two 10 lap heat races, and then all took part in the feature later. New to the division was #1 Lucas Crosato. We also once again welcomed visiting driver #166 Wyatt Dubois from Michigan.

Heat races for the faster group went as follows: For the first heat 6 cars took part. The 10 lap race ran caution free. #24 Christopher Viotto led all laps of the race and took the checkers first. #22 Shanna Harten finished a close 2nd. #16 Dyllen Sherrard 3rd, #7 Gianni Viotto 4th, #51 Kenn Schwarz 5th, and #38F Dylan Couturier 6th.

In the 2nd heat for the faster qualifiers caution was out once on lap 8 when #51 Kenn Schwarz dove under #22 Shanna Harten into corner 3 and knocked the young lady into a spin. Schwarz then bounced up along Harten’s right side. Schwarz was unable to restart and was pushed off the track by the Laird wrecker. Schwarz received a DQ for the action. On the same caution #7 Gianni Viotto left the track. The race restarted. #24 Christopher Viotto once again led all laps for the win. #16 Dyllen Sherrard 2nd, #22 Shanna Harten 3rd and #38F Dylan Couturier 4th.

Heat races for the slower group of qualifiers went as follows: Nine cars took part in the first 10 lap heat. #166 Wyatt Dubois and #6 Wayne Devon started at the front and ran there for the first two laps until caution flew. #4 Kayleigh Tucker went a bit hot into corner 3, up the track and slid off corner 4 to the track entrance. She was able to continue. Dubois restarted a the front with Devon right behind inside and #94 Seth Ralph outside row two.

Devon slipped back a couple spots after the restart and #17 Shaun Desjardins moved up on the outside. Caution flew again on lap 7, this time with a spin by #86 Tyler Mortimore into the infield on corner 1. On the restart, Dubois was again up front but almost immediately had Desjardins running up along side on the outside. The pair ran side by side until the finish line with #17 Shaun Desjardins taking the win right at the finish line by just 4/1000ths of a second – an inch or two. #166 Wyatt Dubois finished 2nd, #21 Daryl Whitmel 3rd, right behind the leaders, #94 Seth Ralph 4th, #4 Kayleigh Tucker 5th.

In the second heat for the slower qualifiers Dubois and Devon started up front again. This time the pair traded places for the first four laps until #21 Daryl Whitmel threaded a needle between the two on the front stretch and took over the lead on the beginning of lap 6. Caution flew on lap 7. As the group headed into corner 1 with Whitmel in the lead, they were going 4 wide right behind, that rarely works and it didn’t this time. Ralph was inside, with Devon, Dubois, and Desjardins outside. It looked like Devon got pinched a bit and got into Dubois, who then was sent up the track into Desjardins who then spun at the exit of corner 2. Both Dubois and Desjardins left the track, Devon restarted towards the rear.

The restart had Whitmel up front, with Ralph and #4 Kayleigh Tucker behind. Tucker got a great start and got up beside Whitmel and passed him for the lead then opened a gap and held on for the win. Whitmel was 2nd, Ralph 3rd, rookie #1 Lucas Crosato took 4th in his second race ever – way to go Lucas! #8 Alex Lapensee 5th.

The Factory Four feature later in the evening was a 20 lap event with 14 cars on track. We had a lineup problem and a false start, requiring a restart. Devon and Dubois started the group at the front. and led the first couple laps until caution flew on lap 3. Dubois spun into corner 4 and flagman Ron Schmidt sent him to the back for the restart. The restart had Devon single up front with Ralph inside and #38F Dylan Couturier outside in row 2. Before the group had another lap complete caution was out again, this time #7 Gianni Viotto spun into corner 2. Devon was sent to the back for the restart, and Viotto left the track unable to continue.

Ralph got to restart again single up front, this time with Couturier behind and inside row 2 and #17 Shaun Desjardins outside. Ralph held the lead for a couple laps then was passed by #24 Christopher Viotto on lap 5. A couple laps later and #22 Shanna Harten got around Ralph as well and started challenging Viotto for the lead. Dubois left the track after completing 6 laps. Devon also left after 8 laps complete. #51 Kenn Schwarz also left with 12 laps complete and #17 Shaun Desjardins with 13 laps complete.

Harten led lap 13 and 14 by a nose but Viotto regained the lead and led the remaining laps for the win. Harten held second until the final lap when the leaders were going past a lap car, letting #16 Dyllen Sherrard take 2nd place just 1/10th of a second behind Viotto. #22 Shanna Harten was 3rd, a quarter second behind the leader, #38F Dylan Couturier 4th a few seconds back, #94 Seth Ralph 5th and #4 Kaleigh Tucker 6th. #8 Alex Lapensee, #1 Lucas Crosato and #86 Tyler Mortimore completed the race in 7th through 9th, all a lap or two down.

Lakeway Automotive Factory Stock Division:

Ten of the Lakeway Automotive Factory Stocks were out for their qualifying session before the evening program. All ten cars qualified within 6/10ths of a second of each other which promised some exciting racing. Fast qualifier was #80 Brad Bibeau with a time of 16.124 seconds around the 1/3 mile paved oval. We had two 10 lap heats and a 20 lap feature in the division during the night.

The first heat had #77x Ed Lapish on the pole with #12 Owen Brown outside. On the initial lap Brown went sideway in corner 1 and cars accordioned up behind with tires smoking. Somehow they all avoided a collision. Brown had a right rear tire down and left the track.

Lapish started up front again, now with #08 Daniel Bibeau behind, and #15 Andrew Givens outside. Lapish got another great start but quickly had Bibeau alongside challenging. After a few laps Bibeau slipped a bit and fell back to third with #4 Dale Tucker taking that spot on lap 5. Tucker also made some attempts to get alongside Lapish for a pass but couldn’t do it. Lapish crossed the finish line first, Tucker 2nd, #80 Brad Bibeau 3rd, #08 Daniel Bibeau 4th, #29 Xavier Carter 5th.

Nine cars were out for the Factory Stock 2nd heat; missing was #33 Cody Champagne. Lapish and Brown started front row again. Lapish got off to a great start but Brown immediately started to fall back, unable to keep up. Caution was out on lap 4 when #15 Andrew Givens slid in corner 1, knocking #08 Daniel Bibeau into a slide in corner 2. Givens restarted at the back.

Lapish now had #08 Daniel Bibeau and #4 Dale Tucker behind on the restart. Lapish got an excellent start again. #29 Xavier Carter started third row and within a lap of the restart had made his way to 2nd. The laps wound down with Lapish leading all for his second win of the night. Carter snagged 2nd, #08 Daniel Bibeau 3rd, #4 Dale Tucker 4th, and #80 Brad Bibeau rounded out the top 5.

In the Factory Stock Feature all 10 were out again for their 20 laps but #51 Jamie Fox exited before the green flag lap, leaving 9 to start. Lapish and Brown started up front. Caution flew right away before a lap was complete with a spin out of corner 4 and up the front stretch by #29 Xavier Carter. The race had a complete restart.

Lapish once again got a great start, while Brown seemed to be struggling and started to fall back in the pack. By lap 6 drivers had more or less sorted themselves out and were running single file; leaders were Lapish, Daniel Bibeau and Dale Tucker. Caution flew on lap 7; further back it looked like a couple drivers checked up and the result was Brown getting sent into a spin in corner 3 when #15 Andrew Givens piled into the back of him. Givens, unable to continue left the track during the caution.

The restart saw Lapish take up the lead again, with #08 Daniel Bibeau and #4 Dale Tucker right behind. A lap after the restart Tucker and Daniel Bibeau made contact at the beginning of the front stretch, Tucker was able to save it but fell back a few positions. Now #80 Brad Bibeau had taken up 2nd place and was working hard outside of Lapish for the lead. #33 Cody Champagne exited the track with 9 laps complete. Lapish was driving his car like it was on a slot car track, holding his line nice and tight on the inside. Brad was able to get close alongside but unable to complete a pass. On lap 14 Brad’s engine gave out and he rolled to a stop bringing out the caution. Six cars remained for the restart.

Once again Lapish had a great start, with #08 Daniel Bibeau inside in row 2 and #05 Tyler Praysner outside. Lapish had his work cut out for him but proved up to it. Praysner got alongside but was unable to pass, the fell back to race beside Bibeau. Bibeau moved up to second but didn’t have enough to get alongside Lapish. Lapish went on to take his third checkered flag for the night and got his first feature win! Daniel Bibeau finished 2nd, a quarter second behind, Praysner 3rd, #4 Dale Tucker 4th, #29 Xavier Carter 5th and #12 Owen Brown 6th.

NAPA Reyco Automotive Modified Division:

Seven NAPA Reyco Automotive Modifieds were out to qualify early in the evening. Fast qualifier was #97 Michael Gold with a time of 15.370 seconds. The Modifieds also ran two 10 lap heats, and a special 35 lap feature during the night.

In their first heat they had a difficult time on the get go. At the green #28 Mark Porpealia spun to the infield near corner 1. After the restart as the first lap was nearling completion Porpealia lost it again, sliding sideways out of corner 4, over corrected and hit the guardrail near the flagstand. This race was done for him.

The caution flew again on the third start before a lap was complete, this time it was #97 Michael Gold getting tagged by #20 Matt Lewis on the front stretch as they were headed into corner 1. The fourth full start was single file and that seemed to work. #78 Jason Herrington had started up front and led all laps of the race for the win. #20 Matt Lewis took 2nd, #84 Mark Laakso 3rd, #7 Terrance Devon 4th, and #36 Jesse Bailey 5th.

The second modified heat with 6 cars was a much smoother affair with no cautions. Missing from the lineup was Michael Gold. Herrington and Porpealia led them off with Herrington leading all 10 laps for the win. #7 Terrance Devon moved into 2nd place by lap 3 and that is where he finished. 3rd place went to #84 Mark Laakso, 4th to #28 Mark Porpealia, 5th to #20 Matt Lewis, and 6th to rookie #36 Jesse Bailey.

The modified feature was a special 35 lap race. Six cars were out; missing from the lineup was #28 Mark Porpealia. With Porpealia missing #20 Matt Lewis started front row beside #78 Jason Herrington. Herrington held the lead for the entire race. #7 Terrance Devon had moved into 2nd by the end of the first lap, with #97 Michael Gold running 3rd. The running order remained the same with Devon running within a car length or two of Herrington, and Gold about a quarter lap behind the leader when caution flew on lap 21; Devon looped it in corner 3.

Herrington kept the lead on the restart with #97 Michael Gold running 2nd. #36 Jesse Bailey exited with 28 laps complete. Devon followed, exiting on lap 33 with 3 laps remaining. At the end of the 35 laps Herrington had captured his 3rd checkered flag of the night. Gold took 2nd, Matt Lewis 3rd, and Mark Laakso 4th.

AIM Recycling Enduro Division:

The final feature race of the night was the 15 lap AIM Recycling Enduros, with 18 cars taking part. The race started with #4 Madison Tucker in the lead. Madison stayed up front for the first 5 laps and was overtaken by #17 Chris Pinder on lap 6. Pinder got passed by #44 Eric Sylvestre two laps later and Sylvestre ran up front unchallenged for the win. Pinder finished 2nd, 4.6 seconds behind; #86 Dylan Connolly 3rd, 5.9 seconds behind the leader. #66 Cord Hughson took 4th place, and #54 John Morrin Jr. was 5th. The remaining cars on track at the end had all been lapped at least once.

Intermission:

Once again we had a Lawnmower Race during intermission, courtesy of the Algoma Lawnmower Racing Association (ALMRA). It was a bit dusty as they churned up their track. The race winner was Ken Ferguson. Announcer Greg Brazeau interviewed some of the lawnmower racers on the infield post race, including Chuck Siddall who got injured when he rolled his Lawn Tractor a few weeks back. For information about ALMRA visit their facebook group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/101494564073784

At the end of intermission, just prior to the feature races fans got to welcome late model driver Rob Hiiemaa as he had a ride up the front stretch in a pickup truck. Rob suffered a heart attack late spring and underwent a heart transplant. We are all happy you are still with us Rob!

Photos from the night and other race-nights through the season can be found on our website under the “media” menu item - https://www.lairdraceway.com/gallery/

Our 25th Anniversary Race season is nearing the end. The season finale will be the weekend of Friday Aug 23 for a full show, plus Saturday Aug 24th for the Mike Parsons Memorial show. Come join us folks!

Fans are invited to view the Laird Raceway Facebook page to get current news and updates including weather cancellations, announcements, and more at https://www.facebook.com/lairdraceway

General track information is available here on our website at https://www.lairdraceway.com. Here you will find post-race writeups, photos, results, point standings and more.

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