Elbridge, NY – September 26, 2009 – By Dave Medler, DIRTcar Racing Northeast Series Correspondent

If there was any question whether a crate engine could keep up with an open motor in the Pro Stock class on a bigger speedway, Joey Ladouceur put those doubts to rest on Saturday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park. Ladouceur took the lead from top tour rival Pete Stefanski on lap 16 of the 30-lap Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series feature and rolled on to convincing win in the Terrell’s Potato Chips 30.

"Usually the roles are reversed, Pete (Stefanski) is a bottom dweller, he always runs the bottom," said Ladouceur, after exiting his Coffrage 20-20 Minimax Express no. 92 Cadillac-STS Stinger X in victory lane. With his win he extends his series points lead to 11 over three-time defending champion Stefanski going into Super DIRT Week XXXVIII, Oct. 7-11 at the New York State Fairgrounds. “He must of made up positions at the start because he left the door open.”

With battles all over the speedway, the yellow reappeared on lap five for a multi-car tangle exiting turn four, although all cars were able to continue. With Stefanski leading by a few car lengths, another caution period came on lap seven for a spinning Buddy Hecnke and John Zimmerman in turn two.

With 10 laps complete Stefanski had built up a quarter of a straightaway lead on the field as 10th-place starter Ladouceur had raced his way to third and was coming quickly to the front as he gained on Stefanski and Roy. Connecticut traveler Don Carlson and Canandian invader Dave Bissonnette ran in the top-five.

On lap 14, Ladouceur used a lapped car and Stefanski running the top to his advantage and he was able to duck under both exiting turn four to be scored the new leader. His lead was short lived as Stefanski fought back to retake the top spot at the halfway point. Yet still finding bite on the bottom, Ladouceur again made a charge re-assuming the top spot on lap 16 by a half a hood length.

With the starter giving the 10 laps to go sign, Ladouceur had opened up an almost full second lead although Stefanski still gave chase. Carlson ran alone in third as Roy and Bissonnette showed in the top-five.

A final caution came out on lap 21 to set up a nine-lap shootout to the finish.

Over the final laps Stefanski shadowed Ladouceur with Carlson right closing in on the top-two. On the last lap Ladouceur was first under the checkers yet exiting turn four Stefanski got caught behind a lapped car allowing Carlson to duck under and grab the runner-up spot at the finish. Bissonnette and Roy rounded out the final front-five.

"After that (pass for the lead) we just protected, which was good for me in the points tonight. Rolling Wheels is always fast and it lived up to that tonight." Ladouceur said he was going to get a good night sleep and get right to work for Syracuse.

Up next, the 2009 Hoosier-VP Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series makes its lone stop of the year at the New York State Fairgrounds when the Northeast’s top traveling teams converge on the Syracuse Mile for Super DIRT Week XXXVIII and the BNC Motorsports 25 on Sunday, October 11.

STOCK TIPS