By Tim Baltz

With so many rain outs over the last couple weeks drivers in all divisions have a lot of laps to get through from now until the end of the season. The Quebec Lightning Sprints and Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club were both on hand for their 2nd appearance of the year plus the 358 Modifieds were ready for a big night. A held over feature from July. 22 plus the final leg of the Bailey Motor Company 358 Modified Series with just 6 points separating Billy Dunn and Jordan McCreadie, would really put the drivers and their machines to the test.

The 358 Modified 30 lap feature from July. 22nd was first up and Gage Morin was looking to put a season of struggling behind him at MIR as he jumped out to a quick lead over Madison Mulder, George Foley, John Mulder and Chris Raabe. After 5 laps Morin continued his strong run but Chris Raabe was on the move and looking for the lead while, Mulder, Brian McDonald and George Foley all battled hard for a top 5 spot. On lap 7 Foley's great run came to a sudden stop as he slowed with a problem in turn 2 but was able to continue. On the restart Brian McDonald started his charge to the front of the field moving from 4th to 2nd while Morin continued to lead the way. Former track champion Carey Terrance had problems throughout this 30 lap event, a broken front end on lap 10 put him out of contention on lap 10 but bigger things were on the horizon for him later on. With Morin in front McDonald used the lap 11 restart to take over the top spot bringing Danny O'Brien with him to 2nd, over Morin, Tim Fuller, and points leader Jordan McCreadie. McDonald seemed untouchable and had built up a full straight away advantage and looking for his 2nd win of the season. As the laps clicked off Danny O'Brien began to inch closer to McDonald's machine. With lapped traffic coming into play, it was Danny's shot to steal the win, but McDonald was not Phased at all as he remained up front and in control. Brian McDonald had a stout machine and worked the traffic to perfection as he held on to score his 2nd win of the 2016 season over Danny O'Brien who scored his 4th top 3 finish in as many starts, with Tim Fuller, Gage Morin and Jordan McCreadie completing the top 5.

In the Bailey Motor Company 358 Modified Series finale Carey Terrance was the man in control as he took the lead from the outside pole over series points leader Billy Dunn, Chris Raabe, Ryan Arbuthnot and Corey Wheeler. Terrance would hold the advantage on the field in the opening 3 laps until the first caution flew for Brian McDonald who slowed to a stop in turn 2. When the green came back out Terrance kept his potent machine up front using the top side of the speedway while defending track champion Billy Dunn stay close in 2nd over Raabe, Arbuthnot and Wheeler. As the laps clicked off Terrance seemed to get stronger and pulled away to a big lead while Dunn tried at will to keep pace. In contrast Jordan McCreadie was having a rough night. After having to borrow Gage Morin's machine after the heat race, McCreadie would start 20th on the grid and would make a big charge to the front in hopes of catching Dunn for the Bailey's title. At the halfway point of the race Terrance was still I charge as the top 5 drivers started to space out and close in on some lapped cars. Terrance was not at all bothered by the traffic as he got through with no problems, until lap 18 when Zack Aubertine slowed in turn 2 bringing out the final caution. When the field went back to green it was still Terrance in control over Dunn, Raabe, Arbuthnot and Wheeler. It had been since August of 2012 when Carey Terrance last won a Baliey Series race and the drought would finally come to an end as Carey Terrance would go unchallenged to claim his 2nd win of the year and 5th in the series with Dunn crossing in 2nd, good enough to seal up his 4th title in 5 seasons. Ryan Arbuthnot nipped Chris Raabe at the line for 3rd and Modified rookie Corey Wheeler held off Tim Fuller at the line for 5th.

A thrilling Sportsman 25 lap contest saw Ricky Thompson jump out front and lead the opening 7 laps over Sid Harmer Jr., Robert Delormier, Billy Cook and points leader Louie Jackson Jr. Thompson had a solid car and was looking to return to victory lane for the first time since August. 15 of the 2014 season but Harmer and Delormier were not making it easy on him as they stayed close by in 2nd and 3rd over Jackson and Cook. With no cautions in the opening laps lapped cars began to get into the mix as well setting up a fantastic 3 car battle for the race lead. Thompson held the advantage but Harmer was there to challenge with Louie Jackson Jr. making his charge to the front taking 3rd away from Delormier with Joel Hargrave now moving into the top 5 for the first time on lap 18. On lap 20 Harmer made his move in traffic to take over the lead but Jackson was right there in his tire tracks to take over the top spot 1 lap later and seemed like he was on track for his 2nd win of the season. On lap 22 Joel Hargrave lost a left rear tire in turn 1 bringing out the only yellow flag of the event. On the restart Jackson held the lead but Sid Harmer Jr, was letting it all hang out as he used the outside lane to possibly score his first ever Sportsman win. on the final lap Jackson went to the bottom in turn 1 which allowed Harmer to narrow the gap to less than a car length. As the charged down the back stretch into turn 3 Harmer sailed his car around the top side in turn 3 and used all the momentum on the top to score his first ever DirtCar Sportsman victory by 0.029 seconds over Jackson who crossed in 2nd, Robert Delormier, Ricky Thompson and Gabriel Cyr rounded out the top 5.

The Novice Sportsman feature was set for their 15 lap contest and would be dominated by 2 drivers who have taken a liking to the dirt at MIR in 2016. Jamie Lafountain, who has taken many checkered flags in the Modified ranks on asphalt at Devil's Bowl and Airborne Park Speedway, was looking for his 3rd win of the year but Jamie Begor, who claimed a feature win early in the year, was trying hard to spoil the party. Over the final laps Begor did all he could to close in on the leader but it wouldn't happen as Jamie LaFountain would take home his 3rd win of the year and 2nd in a row over Begor, Styles Arquiett crossed 3rd while Dudes Thompson came across the line a solid 4th with Melvin Rush completing the top 5.

The Quebec Lightning Sprints were in town for the 2nd time this year and Guillaume Neiderer was in control of the field from the drop of the green flag over Lou Torres, Alex Therrien, Mathieu Bourgoin and Jordan Poirier. Neiderer had clearly the fastest car on the race track as he held a straight away lead by the halfway point of the 20 lap feature but Therrien and Poirier were on the moving charging to 2nd and 3rd. With the race going caution free in the opening 16 laps it seemed Neiderer was going to cruise on home to the win but the first and only caution flew on lap 16 for Alain Therrien who slowed to a stop in turn 2. Under the same caution Snowmobile World Champion Sabrina Blanchet saw a great top 10 run go away as her car caught fire in turn 3. Blanchet was able to get away from the car quickly and was uninjured. When the race went back to green Neiderer showed how good of a car he had as he pulled away from both Therrien and Poirier to score the big win with Therrien edging out Poirier for 2nd while Lou Torres and Mathieu Bourgoin completed the top 5.

The 9th event of the season for the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club was set for a 15 lap contest and Kingston's John Stanley was in search of his 4th win of the year. Stanley would pull out to nearly a straight away advantage but behind him the battle was on for 2nd with Paul Billings, June winner Josh Powers and 360 Sprint car driver Paul Pekkonen in a 1973 Gremlin. Without the aid of a yellow during the 15 lap feature John Stanley showed how much muscle his machine had as he dominated the entire distance to record his series leading 4th win of the 2016 campaign. Paul Billings crossed in 2nd while Josh Powers, Paul Pekkonen and Ryan Comeau completed the top 5.

Next week the 358 Modifieds will again have double 30 lap features plus the Sportsman will close out their Number 1 Speed Equipment Sportsman Series plus a full show for all classes and since nobody wanted to take any money home this past Friday night, the 50/50 draw will start off at a cool $1349.50. We shall see who takes home the big jackpot as well as the top prize in 6 feature races with White's Plumbing and Heating and Action Race Parts on hand for a great night. Racing begins at 7:30pm.

Pomier Jewelers in Cornwall had a special giveaway of a diamond necklace to a lucky race fan. Helene Paquette was the lucky recipient of the prize.

358 Modified(From 7/22)

BRIAN MCDONALD, Danny O'Brien, Tim Fuller, Gage Morin, Jordan McCreadie, Billy Dunn, Chris Raabe, Ryan Arbuthnot, Corey Wheeler, Zack Aubertine, Madison Mulder, Clement Therrien, Alain Therrien, David Papineau, Matt Woodruff, George Foley, Keith Weston, Lance Willix, Joey Ladouceur, John Mulder, Carey Terrance

Bailey Motor Company 358 Modified Series Finale

CAREY TERRANCE, Billy Dunn, Ryan Arbuthnot, Chris Raabe, Corey Wheeler, Tim Fuller, Jordan McCreadie, Alain Therrien, Madison Mulder, Clemet Therrien, Brian McDonald, Lance Willix, John Mulder, David Papineau, Keith Weston, George Foley, Matt Woodruff, Joey Ladouceur, Zack Aubertine, Gage Morin (DNS) Danny O'Brien

Sportsman

SID HARMER JR., Louie Jackson Jr., Robert Delormier, Ricky Thompson, Gabriel Cyr, Billy Cook, Thomas Cook, Mike Stacey, Brent Kelsey, Brianna Ladouceur, Brian Comeau, Wyatt Mullin, Jesse Hudson, Zack Arquiett, Jordan Miller, Anthony Rasmussen, Greg Snyder, Bruce Makinson, Troy Fleming, Tim Smythe, Dave Rogers, Moise Page, Chris Frennier, Delbert Legrow, Justin White, Delbert Legrow Jr., Joel Hargrave

Novice Sportsman

JAMIE LAFOUNTAIN, Jamie Begor, Styles Arquiett, Dudes Thompson, Melvin Rush, Kyle Simmons, Dana Francis, Jason Anderson, Okwari White, JP Herne, Justin Cooke, Jeffrey St. John

Lightning Sprints

GUILLAUME NEIDERER, Alex Therrien, Jordan Poirier, Lou Torres, Mathieu Bourgoin, Alex Vigneault, Kathy Caissy, Mario Moreau, Yannick Poirier, Stephane St. Laurent, Benjamin Malo, Dominic Tremblay, Benoit Lafleur, Sabrina Blanchet, Alain Therrien

Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club

JOHN STANLEY, Paul Billings, Josh Powers, Paul Pekkonen, Ryan Comeau, Aaron Pugh, Steve Lackie, Steve Billings, Denzil Billings Jr., Tim Charland, Tim Hegarty, Justin Saunders, Darrell Wilson