CORNWALL, Ont. – The countdown is over for the 2016 season opener at the Cornwall Motor Speedway.
The first round of the ‘Race for the Cure’ sportsman series will kick off the new season with a 100-lap event tonight (May 15) at 7 p.m.
The pit gates will open at 4 p.m. ($30 per person), while general admission starts at 5 p.m. ($20 adults, $10 seniors, $2 16-years-of-age and younger). Time trials are scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Martin Belanger, the speedway’s communications director, said drivers are showing a lot of interest towards the new charity race, which collects funds for local families affected by cancer, including Martin Pelletier, former sportsman challenge champion.
Shane Pecore, Ryan Stabler, and Justin Lalancette will also be racing for the cure and the $2,000 purse.
In addition, the Bandit Motorsports modified category will have a 30-lap program to start the season.
“The championship race will be quite interesting, with a healthy and talented field on a weekly basis,” said Belanger.
Regulars such as Mario Clair, Joel Doiron, Bobby Herrington, Marc Therrien as well as two new rookies, Corey Wheeler and Joey Ladouceur, will make a run against Carey Terrance, track champion, along with fellow racers Stephane Lafrance, Chris Raabe, Brian McDonald, Gabriel Richer, and Gage Morin.
Belanger said the Alexandria Home Hardware pro-stock 20-lap championship will be heated as well, with many contenders, including Rock Aubin, Ghislain Valade, Stéphane Lebrun, CD Beauchamp and others.
The new Polar Sound DJ Services novice sportsman division will also hit the track during the season opener.
“Five runners were at practice and they looked pretty good on the speedway,” said Belanger.
He noted that Marc Dagenais and Bob Ray are expected to have a good run at the points title in the Polar Sound DJ Services mini-stock.
For more information, visit www.cornwallspeedway.com.
