Poirier and Paine win at Can-Am; Dunn, O’Brien, Hulsizer and Gill are Track Champions
Written By Megan Rowe
LaFargeville NY… Chapman’s Can-Am Motorsports Park along with WWNY TV7, FOX 28, Route 37 Building Supply and Laura Penazek-Whitney/State Farm Insurance presented North Country Labor Day Racing Weekend. Headlining the opening weekend’s events on Friday, September 3, 2010 were the ESS Super Sprints, Big Block/Small Block Modifieds, Sportsman and Crate Late Models. The track also crowned their 2010 Track Champions in the Big Block/Small Block Modifieds, Sportsman and Crate Late Model division.
The evening began with the Empire Super Sprints taking center stage as Lance Yonge and Chuck Hebing led the field of 24 cars to Matt Burdick’s green flag. Lance Yonge took the early control as the field sailed off into turn number one with Chuck Hebing and Brian McDonald jumping into the second and third positions. As the field rounded into turn number three, Chuck Hebing jumped out of line and pulled high into the pit area which allowed Brian McDonald to fill out the second position. As lady luck had it, McDonald’s second place run was short lived as he also pulled pit side giving the second place position to Steve Poirier. Justin Barger and Alain Bergeron battled side by side for the fifth position with Barger wasting little time moving under Bergeron as the pair drove into turns one and two with Barger taking over the fifth position. Shawn Donath quickly closing in on Steve Poirier as the two closed in on Lance Yonge who continued to set the pace on the field. Steve Poirier made a bonsi move to the inside of Lance Yonge as the pair came out of turn number two and down the backstretch to take the lead over the field. Shawn Donath used the high side of the speedway to pull around Lance Yonge on the front stretch and slip into second as they hit the middle of turn two. Shawn Donath then began his assault on leader Steve Poirier, even pulling within .350 seconds of him as the race reached its closing laps. Steve Poirier would not be defeated as he went on to take the checkered flag over Shawn Donath and Justin Barger.
As Mother Nature was quickly bringing rain to the area, track officials quickly put the Big Block/Small Block Modified feature on the speedway surface. The nights 30 lap feature, which decided the 2010 championships in both the Big Block and Small Block divisions, was led to the green flag by Kenny Bearup and Lance Willix. The two cars battled side by side at the wave of the green flag as Willix held the slight advantage as the pair worked their way out of turn number two. Scott Parliament dived under Matt Billings and Kenny Bearup out of turn number two to take over the third position as leader Lance Willix pulls pit side. Willix’s sudden departure from the speedway turned the top spot over to Adam Roberts who quickly took over a healthy and steady lead on the field. Vinnie Vitale slipped under Kenny Bearup to take over the third position as Steve Paine followed in pursuit by taking the fourth position from Bearup. Billy Dunn, who started in the 12th position had quickly worked up into the top eight as Steve Pain made opportunity for himself under Vinnie Vitale in turn number one which gave him the third position. Steve Paine continued his trek to the front as he moved under Scott Parliament out of turn two for the second position. Billy Dunn continued his move to the front as Scott Parliament drifted high out of turn two allowing Dunn to slip under him for position. Steve Paine maneuvered his way under Adam Roberts coming out of turn three and four for the lead. On lap 23 the rain fell on to the speedway, giving Steve Paine his 300th career win as Adam Roberts and Rob Bellinger rounded out the top three. Billy Dunn took the 2010 Big Block Track Championship while Tim O’Brien collected the 358 Modified Track Championships.
As heat action was completed in the Crate Late Model and Sportsman, there features will be run at a later date. The Crate Late Models will compete in their 20 lap feature on Friday, September 17, 2010. The Sportsman will complete their feature as part of Chapman’s Can-Am’s Super DIRT Week Special on Wednesday, October 6th. As the feature action will be completed on those dates, the ending of the DIRT North East Points Battle does end at Labor Day Weekend. Matt Hulsizer collected the 2010 Sportsman Championship as Lee Gill collected the Crate Late Model Championship.
Chapman’s Can-Am looks to carry on their North Country Labor Day Weekend on Saturday, September 04, 2010. Headlining the evening are the SUNY Canton Street Stock Series, IMCA Modifieds, Mod Lites, Purestocks and Thunder Cars. There will also be a 40 lap Enduro that pays $1,000 to win. At the end of the evening the track will also host a Huge Fireworks Spectacular! More information on the 2010 season at Chapman’s Can-Am can be found at www.canammotorsports.com or by contacting Chip Burdick at (315) 778- 3407.
