Gauvreau Earns 1st Career Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Series Win At Rolling Wheels
Elbridge, NY – September 23, 2006 – By Jim Fremouw, DIRT Pro Stock Series Reporter
For several seasons there have been major discussions on the state of the DIRT Pro Stock division and ways to lower the costs of the full-fender machines to entice more competitors into the division. One of those ideas was to implement crate engines to put all competitors on a level playing field when it comes to the expense of the powerplant. Gatineau, Quebec Canada’s Denis Gauvreau scored a major victory for the crate engine as he breezed past some of the best in the Pro Stock division, including series point leader Pete Stefanski on lap 16 and then easily held the lead for the remainder of the 30-lap event to claim his first career Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Series Championship victory with a crate engine beneath the hood of his potent ride during the 20th Annual World Series of Dirt Track Racing Weekend at Rolling Wheels Raceway.
“This victory feels fantastic! The racing surface was very fast and I have to say it was due to the fact that the track maintenance crew worked hard to make it that way,” an elated Gauvreau explained following an impressive race to the checkers and a crowd pleasing roof dance atop his powerful ride. “The car ran great and the engine was definitely one of the major contributing factors. We are very happy with the crate engines and have found that it is a positive addition to our racing program. Thanks to my crew for working so hard to get me into victory lane here as well. It’s such a thrill to finally win one of these events and especially here at Rolling Wheels!”
A total of 29 Pro Stock teams entered the pit area of the Elbridge speedplant to battle fender to fender in stop #3 of the Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship series. Three heats were put in the books qualifying six drivers from each with the top three finishers going to a re-draw. Akwesasne, NY’s Louie Jackson and Somerset, NY’s Dave Schulz made up the front row of the starting field following the evening’s re-draw.
At the drop of the green flag, Jackson out-powered Schulz to take the early lead of the event before the first of three caution periods on lap two for debris on the frontstretch of the speedway. On the restart, Ransomville, NY’s Steve Lewis who had raced by Schulz to claim the second position, powered by Jackson as the duo raced into turns three and four to take over the top spot. The yellow flag was displayed one lap later for the slowing machine of Russ Marsden who had a right rear flat tire. Lewis continued to lead the event when racing resumed pursued by Jackson, Stefanski who was marching to the front from his seventh place starting position, Gauvreau from his fifth place starting spot and Mike Williams who had started fourth. Stefanski continued his charge as he passed Jackson to take over second on lap seven. The third and final caution of the event slowed the action on lap nine for the damaged car of Jack Terrell which sat resting over the burm on the back-stretch. The top five at this point continued to be Lewis and Stefanski with Jackson, Gauvreau and now Joey Ladouceur in tow. Coming off two straight series victories and seeking his first career win at Rolling Wheels Raceway, Stefanski wrestled the lead away from Lewis on the restart and began to put some distance on the field. All eyes then turned to the two and sometimes three wide racing for positions throughout the remainder of the top five with Gauvreau making some amazing moves to finally power into the second position. Gauvreau slowly began to reel in Stefanski and on lap 15, the pair raced side by side down the back-stretch with Gauvreau winning the drag race to be scored the leader on lap 16. Stefanski tried to retake the spot but by now Gauvreau had found a little extra power to allow him to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field as Stefanski fell into the clutches of Jackson, Clayton Benedict now running fourth and Mike Williams all racing in the top five. Jackson made his move to get by Stefanski on lap 21 hoping to have one more shot of catching Gauvreau to battle for the victory, but without the help of a caution period, his attempts continued to come up short.
Gauvreau seemed to be on cruise control the rest of the way and by the time the checkers flew, he had worked his way out easily to a 15 car length advantage over the rest of the competition earning him his first ever victory at “The Fast Track” as well as on the Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship Series behind the wheel of his Gauvreau Topsoil-Entreprises Beaudoin #72 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CRT chassis. Jackson in his Brass Horse Grille/Rangatangs Steakhouse & Pub #18 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger chassis held on for runner-up laurels with Stefanski behind the wheel of his Sunrise Bakery/San-Ter Sewing/ Mar Jon School of Beauty/PJ NFB Trailer Sales #2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro chassis taking the show position. Benedict in his Quality Concrete/#9 Fuels/Atlas Rentals #12 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro chassis and “The Somerset Jet” Dave Schulz aboard the John Panattoni owned Mark Cerrone Construction-NMCC-Norampac #67 Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger chassis completed the top five.
Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Series Race #3–Rolling Wheels Raceway, Sept. 23, 2006
20th Annual World Series of Dirt Track Racing Championship Event Summary
FEATURE (30-laps): DENIS GAUVREAU, Louie Jackson, Pete Stefanski, Clayton Benedict, Dave Schulz, Mike Williams, Steve Lewis, Joey Ladouceur, Steve Miller, Allen Peters, P. J. Peters, Dave Williams, Don Barnes, Bill Pascual, Dion Oakes, Russ Marsden, Mitchell Jock, Dick Parkhurst, Ricky Thompson, Roch Aubin, Scott Beeles, Steve Johnston, Jon Routhier, Mike Vaughn, Jack Terrell, Jody Swamp, Bob Buono, Perry Francis (DNS), Greg Ezard (DNS).
Lap Leaders: Jackson (1-2), Lewis (3-9), Stefanski (10-15), Gauvreau (16-30).
Heat Races (8 laps, top 6 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)
#1: M. Williams, Benedict, Schulz, Terrell, Barnes, Aubin, Routhier, Vaughn, Francis.
#2: Ladouceur, Buono, Gauvreau, Pascual, A. Peters, Miller, Oakes, Thompson, Parkhurst, Swamp.
#3: Stefanski, Lewis, Jackson, D. Williams, P.J. Peters, Jock, Marsden, Beeles, Ezard, Johnston.
Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Series Point Standings (through Sept. 23, 2006)
Rank No Driver Points Home Track Bonus Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts
1 2 Pete Stefanski 1,290 Ransomville 1000 2 3 3 3
2 12 Clayton Benedict 1,265 Edel/Cornwall 1000 0 3 3 3
3 18 Louis Jackson 1,226 Cornwall 970 0 2 3 3
4 99s Steve Miller 1,215 Ransomville 970 0 2 3 3
5 92 Joey Ladouceur 1,188 Cornwall 980 0 1 2 3
6 6m Mike Williams 1,181 Genesee 1000 0 0 2 3
7 88 Allen Peters 1,151 Frogtown 970 0 0 2 3
8 11s Steve Lewis 1,150 Ransomville 960 0 0 2 3
9 73 P.J. Peters 1,150 Frogtown 1000 0 1 1 2
10 67 Dave Schultz 1,149 Ransomville 934 0 2 2 3
11 64 Bob Buono 1,144 Fulton 980 0 0 1 3
12 28 Don Barnes 1,134 Ransomville 938 0 0 2 3
13 48 Dion Oakes [R] 1,114 Frogtown 960 0 0 0 3
14 9J Dave Williams 1,112 Ransomville 930 0 0 1 3
15 98t Jack Terrell 1,090 Fulton 950 0 0 0 3
16 4 Rock Aubin 1,081 Cornwall 938 0 0 0 3
17 u02 Ricky Thompson 1,075 Frogtown 950 0 0 0 3
18 6 Butch Zimmerman 1,066 Genesee 960 0 0 0 2
19 3 Bill Pascual 1,064 Orange County 1000 0 0 0 1
20 12g Eric Greenlief 1,058 Genesee 970 0 0 0 2
21 11 Mike Vaughn [R] 1,057 Fulton 930 0 0 0 3
22 72 Denis Gauvreau 1,042 Edelweiss 942 1 1 1 1
23 69 Jody Swamp 1,038 Frogtown 930 0 0 0 2
24 99 Mike Martin 1,036 Genesee 946 0 0 0 2
25 0 John Zimmerman 1,032 Genesee 934 0 0 0 2
26 05 Brian Kotarski 1,020 Genesee 980 0 0 0 1
27 21 Steve Johnston 1,018 Cornwall 924 0 0 0 2
28 22 Dan Shoop 1,012 Ransomville 950 0 0 1 1
29 40 Derek Boyle 1,003 Genesee 916 0 0 0 2
30 99 Billy Clark,Jr. 1,000 Fulton 1000 0 0 0 0
31 3J John Gagner 988 Genesee 926 0 0 1 1
32 0 Rick Gorhan 986 Ransomville 946 0 0 0 1
33 71 Scott Gribben 983 Ransomville 942 0 0 0 1
34 14 Mitchell Jock 982 Frogtown 934 0 0 0 1
35 47 D.Bissonnette 980 Frogtown/Edel 980 0 0 0 0
36 8 Sean Corr 980 Orange County 980 0 0 0 0
37 93b Tom Baker 978 Genesee 938 0 0 0 1
38 93 Dick Parkhurst 974 Fulton 928 0 0 0 1
39 45 T.J. Newton 971 Genesee 930 0 0 0 1
40 6 Stéphane Lebrun 970 Edelweiss 970 0 0 0 0
41 33 Don Williams 970 Orange County 970 0 0 0 0
42 711 Ron Marsden 970 Fulton 970 0 0 0 0
43 10 Brett Martin 964 Ransomville 924 0 0 0 1
44 55 George Renaud 960 Cornwall 960 0 0 0 0
45 38 Jason Parkhurst 960 Fulton 960 0 0 0 0
46 8J John Odendahl 960 Orange County 960 0 0 0 0
47 49 Greg Ezard 956 Frogtown 946 0 0 0 0
48 79g Guy Steffen 952 Genesee 942 0 0 0 0
49 18w Bob Waters Jr. 950 Orange County 950 0 0 0 0
50 2 Dom.Gauvreau 950 Edelweiss 950 0 0 0 0
Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship Series Driver Roster
Through Rolling Wheels Raceway Event (September 23, 2006)
CAR# DRIVER TEAM (Sponsor / Make Model / Chassis)
u02 Ricky Thompson/Snye,QUE Seven Nations Tobacco-Phatty Cat Bar & Grill-MoMoney Pawn Shop/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro
0 John Zimmerman/Burt,NY K & S Motor Shop/Pontiac Grand Prix/Zimmerman
05 Brian Kotarski/Alabama,NY B.D.K. Construction/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/LoLine
2 Pete Stefanski/Wheatfield,NY Sunrise Racing-San Ter Sewing-PJ NFB Trailer Sales/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro
3 Bill Pascual/Crompond,NY Turner Construction-Turner Interiors-EMS Race Cars/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/EMS
3j John Gagner/Mt. Morris,NY Underground Technologies-Dio's Auto Specialties-Moffat Farms/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Tuff Toys
4 Roch Aubin/Alexandria,ONT Home Hardware-Go Glass/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CRT
5 Don Newton/Batavia,NY 49 Xpress-Superior Home Improvement-Carryville Inn-O'Ryans Tree Svc./Pontiac Grand Prix/Newton-Bieber
6 Butch Zimmerman/Burt,NY Able's Auto Wrecking-Carney's Landscaping/Pontiac Grand Prix/Zimmerman
6m Mike Williams/Tuscarora Nation,NY Mighty Taco-Gray Furnace-Rhino Linings-Able Insurance Agency/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger
jr7 Harvey Arquette/Hogansburg,NY Seven Nations Tobacco-Phatty Cat Bar & Grill-MoMoney Pawn Shop/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro
9j Dave Williams/Tuscarora Nation,NY Mighty Taco-Niagara's Lazy Lakes Camp Resort/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger-Fish
10 Brett Martin/Lockport,NY Stedman Old Farm Nurseries-Performance Manufacturing/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CSC
11 Mike Vaughn/Jordan,NY Fulton Auto Salvage-East Syracuse Chevrolet-John Vaughn Trucking/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/J & M
11s Steve Lewis/Ransomville,NY ME Engineering-Telco Construction/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Lewis
12 Clayton Benedict/Cornwall Island,ONT Quality Concrete-#9 Fuels-Atlas Rentals/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro
12g Eric Greenlief/Gasport,NY Greenlief's Restaurant-Scott Perry & Co. Auctioneers-Drum Oil & Propane/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Schulz
14 Mitchell Jock/Akwesasne,NY Sweet Dreams-King Enterprises/Pontiac Grand Prix/White Lightning
14x Greg Ezard/Cornwall,ONT Sweet Dreams-King Enterprises/Pontiac Grand Prix/White Lightning
f18 Perry Francis/Cornwall Island, ONT Brass Horse Grille-Rangatangs Steakhouse & Pub/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro
18 Louie Jackson/Akwesasne,NY Brass Horse Grille-Rangatangs Steakhouse & Pub/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger
22 Dan Shoop/Lockport,NY J&T Auto Salvage/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Shoop
28 Don Barnes/Gasport,NY Original Pizza Logs-A. Superior Concrete-Ed's Garage/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Schulz
40 Derek Boyle/Middleport,NY Greenlief's Restaurant-Scott Perry & Co. Auctioneers-Drum Oil & Propane/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Fish
45 T.J. Newton/Batavia,NY Reisdorf Oil-Johnson Automotive-Pfalzer's Garage/Pontiac Grand Prix/Mullan
48 Dion Oakes/Akwesasne,NY Jacob's Excavation-NativePoker.Com-Orca Power Boats/Pontiac Grand Prix/Cannizzaro
61 Scott Beeles/Hastings,NY The Auto Repair Center-Bullet Performance Engines/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Troyer
64 Bob Buono/Wayne,NY Buono's Auto Sales-Lincoln Fabrication-LOE Trailers/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger
67 Dave Schulz/Somerset,NY Mark Cerrone Construction-NMCC-Norampac/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger
69 Jody Swamp/Akwesasne,NY Swamp's Performance-Keegan's Tobacco/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Raptor
71 Scott Gribben/Royalton,NY Gerry's Service-Top Shop Collision/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger
72 Denis Gauvreau/Gatineau,QUE. Gauvreau Topsoil-Entreprises Beaudoin/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CRT
73 P.J. Peters/Akwesasne,QUE Sunrise Bakery-Mo' Money Pawn Shop-Jacob's Excavation/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro
79g Guy Steffen/Albion,NY Moyer's Auto Parts-Mathes Farms-TRC/Pontiac Grand Prix/Steffen
88 Allen Peters/Massena,NY Sunrise Bakery-Legends Spirits, Tavern & Pizzeria-Jacob's Excavation/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Cannizzaro
92 Joey Ladouceur/Alexandria,ONT Mini Max Transportation-Leisure Days RV Center-CRT Race Cars & Parts/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/CRT
93 Dick Parkhurst/Oswego,NY Rumetco-Marshall Painting-Syracuse Haulers/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/GRT
93b Tom Baker/Alabama,NY Johnson Automotive-Red Jet Daycare/Ford Taurus/Johnson
ba98 Steve Johnston/Ingelside,ONT Bub's Auto-03 Racing/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger
98t Jack Terrell/Jamesville,NY H&R Block-Labatts Beer-Terrell's Chips-Bachman Snacks/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Slowiak
99 Mike Martin/Lockport,NY Pippard Automotive-Burcolo Cold Storage-Able Auto Insurance/Chevrolet Monte Carl/Cannizzaro
99s Steve Miller/Olcott,NY Colton RV-Stedman's Nursery-Blue Moon Potatoes-Highway Motorsports/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Stinger
111 Russ Marsden/Mexico,NY Raymond's Car Care/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Art A Fab
315 Jon Routhier/Canaan,CT Canaan Auto Supply-King's Stone/Pontiac Grand Prix/Spraker
UPCOMING EVENTS
Racing for the Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Series continues it’s ‘Full Fender Frenzy’ on Friday, September 29 at Fulton Speedway as part of the 21st Annual Victoria 200 Weekend with a 30-Lap event. The action then moves to the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse during Super DIRT Week XXXV for the Pro Stock season finale on October 8 with the running of the 25-lap Pro Stock Championship when the 2006 Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Champion will be crowned.
2006 MR. DIRT PRO STOCK SERIES SCHEDULE (6)
Day-Date Track (Laps) Location/Winner
Sun-Sept. 3 Cornwall Motor Speedway (50)………………..RAIN
Sat-Sept. 9 Genesee Speedway (40)……………………….PETE STEFANSKI
Sat-Sept.16 Ransomville Speedway (100)….………………PETE STEFANSKI Sat-Sept.23
Rolling Wheels Raceway (30)……………….........................…DENIS GAUVREAU
Fri-Sept.29 Fulton Speedway (30)…………………………..Fulton, NY
Sun-Oct. 8 New York State Fairgrounds (25)……………...Syracuse, NY
MR. DIRT PRO STOCK SERIES SPONSORS
The DIRT MotorSports™ Pro Stock Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., DealMaker Auto Group and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
|