Speedway all revved for wheel-spinning action

Speedway all revved for wheel-spinning action
The stakes were high and the adrenaline was higher on the oval track.

CORNWALL, Ont. – Consider the countdown to the Cornwall Motor Speedway season opener in high gear.

The wheel-spinning action gets underway on Sunday, May 15, with the new ‘Race for the Cure’ 100-lap sportsman series.

Newcomers and returns

Two new drivers will join the Modified group as Joey Ladouceur and Corey Wheeler compete for Rookie of the Year.

“Great friends in life, both drivers have a wealth of experience in other divisions and this will facilitate the transition into the headline division,” said Martin Belanger, communications director for the speedway.

Several racers have also announced their return to the Modified ranks, including former track champion Joel Doiron (after being absent from competition for work commitments in 2015), Marc Therrien, and Tim O’Brien.

“With these five drivers joining the class, we could see numbers back in the 20s,” said Belanger.

Can Terrance make it a fourpeat?

Defending track champion, Carey Terrance was clear at the track’s annual banquet he is aiming for title No. 4 at Cornwall Motor Speedway.

But Terrance will have to beat several great runners, including 2013 champion Mario Clair (who has announced that he will run in Cornwall on a regular basis this season in Roy Delormier’s #22D on regular nights and his own #22c on special evenings), Stephane Lafrance (currently finalizing a new car for the season as well as Chris Raabe, Brian McDonald, Gage Morin, and Kyle Dingwall.

Speedway updates:

– RSI Industrial will be the title sponsor for the heat championship in the Sportsman and Pro-Stock.

– Division title sponsors are now confirmed as Bandit Motorsports in Modified, Tracy-Wheeler/Royal Lepage in Sportsman, Alexandria Home Hardware in Pro-Stock, and Polar Sound DJ Services in both Novice Sportsman and Mini-Stock.

– The new grandstands will be ready for the May 15 season opener.

Speedway lineup:

“2016 will have less dates, but the nights will be as busy as last season,” said Belanger.

The season features 18 programs and begins on Sunday, May 15, with the new ‘Race for the Cure’ 100-lap sportsman series.

Belanger noted that ticket prices will be announced in the near future.

– Modifieds hit the track on May 22 for the first Bandit Motorsports Canadian Nationals modified series’ 125-lap race.

– A full program, with a special semi-pro 25-lap race on May 29.

– After an eight-year hiatus, the Empire Super Sprints returns on June 5.

– A full program, with a visit from the Eastern Ontario Vintage Club, on June 12.

– The Ultimate Pro-Stock Series’ second edition of the Danny Lefebvre Memorial for Mini-Stock on June 19.

– One of the biggest events of the year, the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Series’ 100-lap modified on June 26.

– With five nights of racing, July will be the busiest month on the calendar. Starting with the Go Nuclear Late Model Series and Autograph Night on July 3.

– The second event of the Race for the Cure Sportsman Series, with a 50-lap Modified counting towards the DIRTcar Regional Bonus, on July 10.

– The Patriot Sprint Tour, and their smaller cousins, the Lightning Sprint, will hold a Canada-U.S. Challenge on July 17.

– The SpeedSTR and Slingshot make their annual trek to the speedway on July 24.

– The second round of the Bandit Motorsports Canadian Nationals in a 125-lap event as well as the DIRTcar Pro-Stock Series in a 50-lap race on July 31.

“The month of August is always spectacular, with the season ending and action on the racetrack to finalize all point battles,” said Belanger.

– The Race for the Cure Sportsman series will end on August 7 with a 100-lap event.

– The Modified will share the spotlight with the second visit of the Lightning Sprints, a 50-lap event is on tap for the Modified counting towards the DIRTcar regional bonus series and a guaranteed spot for Super DIRT Week.

– The Pro-Stock will have an extended race, a complete program, and Fan Appreciation night on August 28, with the final visit of the vintage club, mini-stock dash, and a 25-lap semi-pro invitational.

“There are only two events in September, but they are some of the most important and popular,” said Belanger.

– The DIRTcar 358-Modified, DIRTcar Sportsman Series, 125-lap with the final point’s night.

– The 2016 schedule will end on September 11 with the annual Enduro, described as “an afternoon of fun and excitement.”

For more information, visit www.cornwallspeedway.com.

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