2016-10-12

October 12, 2016 at 02:04PM

Nos collègues de Speed51.com en ajoutent avec la publication de Rob Blount. "Une nouvelle rivalité est née: Stephen Nasse vs Dalton Sargeant" "Nasse executed a bump-and-run on Lessard for the lead in turn three. Lessard paid him back in turn two with a stronger bump that put Nasse into the wall. As those two worked to get their cars back under them, Sargeant dove to the bottom into three. Sargeant and Nasse then made contact, which sent both Nasse and Lessard into the wall" Vous voyez ça comment?
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PASS North Championships To Be Decided At Oxford Plains This Weekend

PASS North Championships To Be Decided At Oxford Plains This Weekend





-       For Immediate Release

 

NAPLES, ME (October 12) – After the grind of another long season, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Models and Modifieds will close out 2016 this Saturday afternoon at Maine's Oxford Plains Speedway.  The PASS Modifieds have an outstanding points battle heading to Oxford Plains with Andy Shaw leading by a slight four points over Ryan Robbins and third place points man Ben Tinker just 19 points behind Shaw.

The battle for the PASS North Super Late Model crown comes down to two former champions, DJ Shaw and Johnny Clark. Shaw leads Clark by 69 points as they come to Oxford Plains for Saturday afternoon's 150-lap event.  Clark, the former six-time series champion, recently captured his first win of the season at White Mountain Motorsports Park.  While Shaw has not won since Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in April, his consistency has him on the threshold of a second PASS North title.

"As far as the season goes, I would consider the season successful, but we really wanted more wins," says Shaw, driver of the Precision JLM/Mulkern Excavating #60.  "We race for wins and they just didn't come this year.  We still have a shot at winning our second race this weekend, but you always want more."

While Shaw has a fairly healthy advantage over Clark, he knows that Oxford Plains always has some of the best car counts on the circuit and that this weekend will be no different.  For the title hopefuls, an early problem could mean disaster when it comes to winning the championship.

"I think we will have a big field so, at first, we will play it safe and maybe, if a few cars drop out and the risk becomes less, we can go for the win," says Shaw.  "Point racing is a tough deal because we probably could have had one or two more wins, but you don't want to take risks.  Hopefully we have a good car and can take no chances and still come away with a win and a championship."

A strong field is expected on Saturday afternoon led by former Oxford 250 winners, Travis Benjamin, and Mike and Ben Rowe.  David Oliver returns to the seat of the #21 this weekend and will be joined by fellow Mainers Scott McDaniel, Michael Landry, David Farrington, Kirk Thibeau, Scott Robbins, Tracy Gordon, Denis Spencer, Jr., John Peters, Reid Lanpher, Tim and TJ Brackett, and Adam Polvinen.  2016 winner Derek Griffith will be back, along with Nova Scotia's Cole Butcher.

All the action gets under way bright and early Saturday morning with pit gates opening at 8 AM, followed by rotating practice at9:30 AM, heat races start at 2 PM, with feature events to follow for the PASS North Super Late Models, PASS Modifieds, Street Stocks, Rebels, and Legends. 

The complete weekend schedule and entry forms can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.

The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America's premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the legendary Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway and PASS South's Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway.  For technical information concerning all PASS divisions please send questions topassracing@roadrunner.com.  For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 oralandietzpass@live.com.  And, don't forget to "Like" the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.

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Devil’s Bowl Speedway 50th Season in Review – Part 1: Asphalt Sportsman Modifieds

Devil's Bowl Speedway 50th Season in Review – Part 1: Asphalt Sportsman Modifieds

Durgan takes championship thriller in a tiebreaker

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                 DBS-101116-1

 

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil's Bowl Speedway's 50th season of stock car racing in 2016 was the busiest year in the facility's history with full schedules of action on two surfaces all summer long.  In all, 268 different drivers competed at the facility on the half-mile Asphalt Track or the 3/10-mile Dirt Track, with 48 trying both. A total of 46 drivers won feature races and 10 of them earned championships and bragging rights for the winter months.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned weekly racing for Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, and Mini Stocks on both tracks, along with Late Models on the pavement, and the Vermont State Championship for the "Division I" Sportsman Modifieds.  The winged Sprint Cars of New England tour made five appearances, and the Enduro Series alternated between surfaces in six events.

What follows is the first of a coming series of season reviews looking at each division.

***

Sportsman Modifieds – Asphalt Track – NASCAR Whelen All-American Series "Division I"

Division Sponsor: Bond Auto Parts

Champion: Jason Durgan – Morrisonville, N.Y.

Rookie of the Year: Chuck Bradford – Addison, Vt.

 

The 50th Season opened on Saturday night, May 21, with a 50-lap feature for the Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds on the Asphalt Track.  Defending champion "VQ2" Vince Quenneville Jr. of Brandon, Vt., started things off on the right foot with a dominating performance.  Jason Durgan finished second, though, and the tone was immediately set for the season-long championship battle.

Veteran Jimmy Ryan rebounded from a tough opening night to win the Yorkmont Auto Auctions "Memorial Day 5000" event on May 28.  Asphalt newcomer Jackie Brown Jr. finished second as Durgan ran to third and took over the point lead after Quenneville crashed out.

Travis Bruno scored his first-ever Devil's Bowl win on People's United Bank Night on June 4, but fought Quenneville off the entire distance.  After a week off for local high school graduation ceremonies, the Modifieds returned "topless" on June 18.  With roofs removed to give fans a different look and the cars a different feel, Joey "Fireball" Roberts held Durgan off for his sixth career win.

Billy Lussier gave his large hometown crowd cause for celebration at the annual Rutland Regional Medical Center "Hometown Heroes Night" on June 25, earning the first open-wheel Modified win of his career and his first victory of any kind in a dozen years.  The win marked the arrival of Lussier as a bona fide frontrunner and kick-started an outstanding season.

"Durga-Mania" finally ran wild at the Coca-Cola Firecracker on July 2, as the Morrisonville, N.Y., dominated the 44-lap main event.  Dave Snow scored a career-best runner-up finish after a long fight with Brown.  Quenneville had a poor night in ninth place.

Durgan was just getting warmed up, though, winning the next event at the rescheduled double-points Friend Construction Mid-Season Championships on July 23.  Quenneville finished second ahead of Bruno, Lussier, and Bob Kilburn.  Durgan made it three-straight wins on July 30 as he won the first of two features run on Community College of Vermont Night.  Lussier won the nightcap for his second career victory.

Facing a 33-point deficit as Durgan threatened a championship runaway, Quenneville turned his season around with a big win at the Carrara Masonry & Concrete C.J. Richards Memorial 67, just as Durgan's run hit its first speed bump.  Durgan bounced off the wall twice in the final leg of the three-segment race, and the second contact ended his night.  Durgan still finished fourth in the overall scoring finish for the event, but Quenneville's comeback had begun.

Rain on August 13 meant that the next race would be Brown's Quarried Slate/Brown's Orchard & Farm Stand Night on August 20.  As Alex Bell visited victory lane for the first time since 2013, Quenneville stayed hot in second place and Durgan crashed out again, finishing 13th; his point lead was slashed to just three markers.

The annual Sugar & Spice "Double Stack Night" on August 27 brought twin 25-lappers to the table with the title contenders splitting victories.  Durgan took the first race with Quenneville as the runner-up, but Quenneville won the second race with Durgan in seventh.  For the first time since opening night, Quenneville found himself back in the championship lead with only three feature races left in the season, pacing Durgan by seven points.

Labor Day weekend's event on September 3, presented by the "Go Rutland" mobile app, set up a jaw-dropping title chase scenario.  Durgan won the race for his fifth victory of the season, and Quenneville finished fourth.  Through qualifying and the feature, the pair found each other locked in a tie for the point lead entering the Vermont 200 Championship Weekend.

Former champion Ron Proctor put on a show in Saturday's opening Heritage Family Credit Union 50 at the Vermont 200, on September 10, waiting until the final corner to pass Travis Bruno and steal his first win of the season.  Durgan was third with Quenneville fifth, and entered Sunday's finale – the Leon Gonyo Memorial 50 – with a two-point lead.  Rookie Chuck Bradford of Addison, Vt., won Saturday's fifth annual "Non-Winners Shootout."

Quenneville did everything in his power to win the title by grabbing his fourth victory of the year on Sunday, but Durgan finished second to create another mathematical tie in the point standings.  Per Devil's Bowl Speedway and NASCAR rules, Durgan captured the tiebreaker for the championship based on overall victories for the season, 5-4, to win the closest, most exciting title in Devil's Bowl history.  The two drivers were classy in victory lane, congratulating each other on a hard-fought battle, and the fans saluted both with a raucous cheer.

Proctor ended the season third in the point standings, followed by Lussier and Brown.  With 12 top-10 finishes in 16 starts, former Mini Stock champion Bradford won the Rookie of the Year title, topping Matt Bilodeau.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the "Devil's Bowl Speedway 50th Season in Review" series, which will look back at the Sportsman Modified division on the Dirt Track, coming soon.

Devil's Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of Exit 2 off of U.S. Route 4 and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt.  For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112.  Devil's Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

 

FINAL 2016 POINT STANDINGS

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds

Devil's Bowl Speedway Asphalt Track

1.       Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, N.Y. – 828

2.       Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt. – 828

3.       Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y. – 775

4.       Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt. – 757

5.       Jackie Brown Jr., Hurley, N.Y. – 749

6.       Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y. – 730

7.       Joey Roberts, Fletcher, Vt. – 701

8.       Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt. – 649

9.       Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt. – 573

10.   Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt. – 518

 

Feature Winners: Jason Durgan (5), Vince Quenneville Jr. (4), Billy Lussier (2), Alex Bell (1), Travis Bruno (1), Ron Proctor (1), Joey Roberts (1), Jimmy Ryan (1).

 

Qualifying Heat Winners: Ron Proctor (4), Vince Quenneville Jr. (4), Dave Snow (4), Jason Durgan (3), Billy Lussier (3), Jackie Brown Jr. (2), Travis Bruno (1), Bob Kilburn (1), Joey Roberts (1), Jimmy Ryan (1).

 

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ACCIDENT FORCES RAPHAËL LESSARD OUT OF WINCHESTER 400

RAPHAËL LESSARD

#99 FRL Express/ Team Coach Imaging/Toyota/JBLAudio

 

 

ACCIDENT FORCES RAPHAËL LESSARD OUT OF WINCHESTER 400

Knocked out of race with 5 laps to go in epic first place battle

 

WINCHESTER, Indiana, October 9, 2016– Raphaël Lessard, from St-Joseph-de-Beauce, was not able to complete the 45th Annual Winchester 400 at the Winchester Speedway when Stephen Nasse lost control of his car and brought Lessard with him. This action-packed race was one of the several non championship races in which Raphaël has decided to participate this season.

 

Qualified 9th for this race, Raphaël raced against top notch drivers, such as NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers Cody Coughlin, Christopher Bell, William Byron and Dalton Sargeant. As a matter of fact, Lessard had an amazing battle with Coughlin who eventually bowed down to the 15 year-old Québec driver. However, what impressed the most was Raphaël's comeback undertaken with 50 laps to go.

 

It is behind the wheel of his Toyota Racing Camry #99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging /Toyota/JBLAudio, wearing for the occasion the I Brake for Trains logo, the latest safety campaign from CSX Transportation, that Raphaël went from 9th position to 1st place. Prepared by David Gilliland RacingLessard proved  once more that his car excels every time he attacks the leaders in closing laps of a race.

 

Five laps before the end, the worst happened when Lessard was trying to protect his first place against Dalton Sargeant and Stephen Nasse. After a contact between Sargeant and Nasse, who by then had passed Lessard, Nasse lost control of his #51 car and hit the wall. Raphaël was then on the outside of the field, and was not able to avoid him.

 

"Prior to the accident, the race was going very well, we led for many laps. At the beginning, we were safeguarding the car, we tried not to go to the front because it was rough racing.  The strategy was to get to the 300th lap without forcefully attacking, and then for the last 100 laps, we would go for it.  At the restart we were first, but we were passed because we had not stopped at the pits, the strategy being different.  When we came in to the pits for the last time, the team changed the tires on the right side and it did great for the car.  We were still leading the race until a yellow flag came up with 5 tours remaining. On the restart, Stephen Nasse and Dalton went through. I think that Dalton forgot to brake, because he hit Nasse and I was not able to prevent the accident."

 

Raphaël states that the team will be ready for the next CARS Tour Super Late Model race.  In all he is happy with the experience:  "Overall, we raced with the best in stock-cars, we even overtook them.  Of course, we go to the races to win them, so to not finish an event is disappointing, but we shall come back stronger. I can only thank the crew of David Gilliland Racing and TRD for their support and amazing work at preparing race after race a very performing car."

 

Once again, the commentators from Speed51 repeatedly commented on Raphaël undeniable talent. While the commentators had predicted that Christopher Bell, Dalton Sargeant or William Byron would win the race, they quickly changed their minds when they saw what Lessard was able to do behind the wheel. They were quite disappointed to see Raphaël abandon the race.

 

Raphaël's next race will be on October 29 for the second to last race in the CARS Tour Super Late Model series at the Hickory Motor Speedway.

 

We invite you to visit Raphaël's Facebook page for more details and information on each on-track appearance and also to follow his Twitter feed: @raphael_lessard. Photos and support documents are also available if you click on this Dropbox link.

 

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RAPHAËL LESSARD VICTIME D’UN ACCIDENT AU WINCHESTER 400

RAPHAËL LESSARD

# 99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging /Toyota/JBLAudio

 

 

 

RAPHAËL LESSARD VICTIME D'UN ACCIDENT AU WINCHESTER 400

 Contraint à l'abandon à 5 tours de la fin alors qu'il se battait pour la première place

 

WINCHESTER, Indiana, le 9 octobre 2016 -- Raphaël Lessard, le pilote originaire de St-Joseph de Beauce, n'a pu terminer la 45e édition du Winchester 400, au Winchester Speedway lorsqu'il n'a pas été en mesure d'éviter Stephen Nasse, victime d'une sortie de piste. Cette course haute en action faisait partie de la série de courses hors championnat que Raphaël effectue cette année.

 

Qualifié en 9e place, Raphaël a eu la chance de se frotter à des pilotes de haut niveau durant cette course, notamment les pilotes de la NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Cody Coughlin, William Byron et Dalton Sargeant. D'ailleurs, Lessard a eu une excellente bataille avec Coughlin qui s'est finalement incliné face au pilote québécois de 15 ans. Cependant, ce qui a le plus impressionné est certainement la remontée de Raphaël alors qu'il restait un peu plus de 50 tours à l'épreuve, lorsqu'il a décidé d'attaquer pour finalement prendre la tête du peloton.

                                                                                                                                            

C'est au volant de sa Toyota Racing Camry #99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging/Toyota/JBLAudio arborant le logo I Brake for Trains, la plus récente campagne de CSX Transportation, que Raphaël a réussi une belle remontée, passant de la 9e place à la première. Comme d'habitude, la voiture de Raphaël -- préparée par David Gilliland Racings'est montrée excellente en fin d'épreuve. C'est à cinq tours de la fin que le pire s'est produit, alors qu'à la relance Lessard se battait pour maintenir sa première place au profit de Dalton Sargeant et Stephen Nasse. Suite à un accrochage entre Sargeant et Nasse qui venait de le dépasser, Nasse a perdu le contrôle et frappé le mur. Raphaël était alors sur la ligne extérieure et n'a pu éviter la voiture de Nasse.

 

« Avant l'accident, la course se déroulait très bien, on a même mené plusieurs tours. Au début, je ménageais la voiture, j'essayait de ne pas aller en avant vu que ça brassait beaucoup. La stratégie était de se rendre jusqu'au 300tour sans attaquer fort, puis pour les 100 derniers tours j'allais foncer. Lors d'une relance je suis parti parmi les premiers, mais je me suis fait dépasser parce que je n'avais pas fait d'arrêt aux puits, la stratégie était différente. Lorsque je suis rentré aux puits pour la dernière fois, l'équipe a changé les pneus côté droits et là ça allait vraiment bien. Je menais la course jusqu'à une neutralisation vers le 5e tour, puis, à la relance, Stephen Nasse et Dalton m'ont dépassé. Je pense que Dalton a oublié de freiner à un moment donné, car il est venu frapper Nasse, et je n'ai pas pu éviter l'accident. »

 

Raphaël précise que l'équipe sera prête pour la prochaine course en CARS Tour Super Late Model. Somme toute, il se dit content de son expérience : « Nous avons tout de même roulé avec les meilleurs de stock-car, même que nous les avons dépassés. C'est sûr que nous allons aux courses pour gagner, alors de ne pas terminer l'épreuve c'est décevant, mais nous allons nous reprendre. Mais je ne peux que remercier David Gilliland Racing et TRD pour leur soutien et le travail fantastique qu'ils font pour me préparer de voitures performantes. »

 

 

Encore une fois, les commentateurs de Speed51 étaient élogieux à l'endroit de Raphaël, confirmant son talent indéniable de pilote d'ovale. Si les commentateurs avaient prévu que Christopher Bell, Dalton Sargeant ou bien que William Byron remporterait l'épreuve, ils se sont vite ravisés voyant ce que Lessard était en mesure de faire derrière le volant. Eux-mêmes étaient d'ailleurs très déçus de voir Lessard poussé à l'abandon.

 

La prochaine course de Raphaël sera le 29 octobre pour l'avant-dernière épreuve en CARS Tour Super Late Model au Hickory Motor Speedway.

 

Nous vous invitons à visiter la page Facebook de Raphaël pour plus de détails et informations sur le déroulement de ses sorties en piste, ou sur son compte Twitter @raphael_lessard. Pour des photos de Raphaël Lessard en action ou des documents de référence, veuillez cliquer sur ce lien Dropbox.

 

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