AKWESASNE -- With cool temperatures and a very tacky racing surface, Friday night’s action at Mohawk International Raceway was highlighted by the inaugural run of O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series.

With the sprints taking to the speedway for 30 very fast laps many fans were curious to see how these drivers would handle on this night as it was the first time 410 sprint cars had turned a lap on the track. Stevie Smith and David Gravel who were looking still looking for their first win in 2011 led the field to the green with Smith grabbing the top spot. At lap 5 Smith had built up a margin of almost a full straightaway with David Gravel, Lance Dewease, Tim Shaffer and Jessica Zemken rounding out the top 5. Smith entered into lap traffic a few laps shy of halfway which allowed Gravel and Dewease to close in. On lap 12 Gravel made the move through traffic and grabbed the lead bringing Tim Shaffer with him into the third spot. Gravel was on cruise control until lap 23 when he also experienced problems in heavy lapped traffic and Stevie Smith was able to regain the lead. Once in front Smith had no worries of anyone behind him or a late race caution as he sailed to his first win of the season on the All Star Sprint Series. Tim Shaffer was 2nd, David Gravel 3rd, Lance Dewease 4th and the man who swept both nights in Quebec Daryn Pittman completed the top 5.

The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds were set to go next with 21 cars taking the green flag on Ellis Automotive night. Ryan Helm and Derek Martin led the charge into turn number 1 with Helm getting the early advantage. It didn’t take long for the first caution to fly as reigning Mohawk Rookie of the Year Melvin Rush and Roy Delormier spun in turn 2 on lap number 4. Just 2 laps later the caution would fly again for Casey Swamp who lost a motor. Once the yellow flag was put away the racing began to heat up as Chris Raabe who started 12th had taken away the top spot by lap 10 with Gage Morin, Tim O’Brien, Perry Francis, and Carey Terrance rounding out the top 5. Raabe was looking to run away and hide from the rest of the field as he made his way through lapped traffic. On Lap 14 the final caution came out for Melvin Rush who spun again in turn 2. On the restart Raabe continued to hang onto the lead with Morin, O’Brien, Terrance and Todd Stone completing the top 5. With Raabe in full control of the race the man on the move was Carey Terrance. The defending track champion started in 19th and was passing cars at will eventually getting around Gage Morin for 2nd with 2 laps remaining. Chris Raabe once again showed his muscle on this night by capturing his 4th win of the season and 2nd in a row over Terrance, Morin, Todd Stone and Tim O’Brien.

In the DIRTcar Sportsman division Jenna David and Mike Arquette paced the field to Austin Swamp’s green flag with Arquette getting the top spot. 2 drivers in this field had made bold moves early on in this 20 lap contest. 4 time winner Dylan Evoy and last weeks runner up Brandon Hagan started deep in the field and made multiple 3 wide moves in an effort to get to the front. The yellow cam out on lap 7 as Kristian Smoke came to a stop in turn 3. On the restart Brandon Hagan became the new race leader over Brent Kelsey, Evoy, Arquette and Tom Conklin. Hagan was making it look easy on this night but Dylan Evoy had made his way to the runner up spot and started to close the gap. The final yellow came out on lap 16 as Mike White spun in turn 4. On the final restart Evoy made a last ditch effort to get the lead away and keep is winning streak alive but Brandon Hagan was too strong as he claimed his first ever Mohawk win over Evoy, Brent Kelsey, Tom Conklin and Mike Arquette.

In the DIRTcar Pro Stocks last weeks winner Dave Bissonnette and Roch Aubin led the field to the green with Bissonnette grabbing the lead in turn 1. Caution came out very quickly Ricky Thompson slowed in turn 3. As the green flag flew Bissonnette charged to the head of the class with Dion Oakes, Jody Swamp, Louie Jackson and Joey Ladouceur rounding out the top 5. Dave Bissonnette started to open up a comfortable distance on the battle for the top spot which was a sight to watch. Oakes, Swamp, Jackson and Ladouceur each took turns in spots 2 through 5 in the final 8 laps using multiple groves on the racetrack and thrilling the Mohawk fans. But in the end Bissonnette was untouched for the 2nd straight week as he grabbed the win Oakes came home in 2nd followed by Jackson, Ladouceur and Jody Swamp.

In the Bandits Nolan Swamp and Derek Colbert paced the field to the green with Swamp grabbing the early lead. Ernie Cree who has struggled through the opening part of 2011 was looking to put all the bad luck behind him as he took the lead from Colbert with Owen White giving chase from 3rd. Cree powered his car away from the rest of the field in the 12 lap event to score his 2nd win in as many weeks, Owen White, John Greene, Darryl Mitchell and Derek Colbert completed the top 5.

Next week the action switches back to Friday night as Keegan’s Tobacco presents a full card of DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, DIRTcar Pro Stocks and round 2 of the 97.3 CKON FM Bandit Series. The Green Flag drops at 7:45pm.

Mohawk International Raceway is located in Akwesasne, NY, midway between the Seaway International Bridge to Cornwall, ONT and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. From Route 37, turn south onto Frogtown Road. Racing is held on Friday nights at 7:45 PM from May through September, featuring the Frenchie's Chevrolet DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, Sportsman and Pro Stocks, as well as the Bandit division. Visit us on the web at www.MohawkInternationalRaceway.com. The MIR office is located at the track, and the phone number is 518-358-9017. The track is owned and operated by Mohawk International Raceway, LLC.

RESULTS:

All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (30 laps)

STEVEIE SMITH, Tim Shaffer, David Gravel, Lance Dewease, Daryn Pittman, Jessica Zemken, Dale Blaney, Danny Holtgraver, Cap Henry, Pete Miller III, Anthony Cain, George Suprick, Devin Caron, Clint Ide, Justin Barger, Mark Ide

DIRTcar 358 Modifieds (25 laps)

CHRIS RAABE, Carey Terrance, Gage Morin, Todd Stone, Tim O’Brien, Perry Francis, John Lazore, Jeff Sykes, Clayton Benedict, Mario Clair, Roy Tarbell, Roy Delormier, Gardner Stone, Kevin Gamble, Tom Jock Jr., Rick Miller, Derek Martin, Ryan Helm, Melvin Rush, Larry Welling Jr., Casey Swamp

DIRTcar Sportsman (20 laps)

BRANDON HAGAN, Dylan Evoy, Brent Kelsey, Tom Conklin, Mike Arquiett, Josh Jock, Sheldon Hoogwerf, Billy Cook, Tom Benedict, Dillon Sallows, Louie Jackson Jr., Ryan Arbuthnout, Neall Provost, Mike White, Jenna David, Travis Back, Kristian Smoke, Thunder Anderson

DIRTCar Pro Stocks (20 laps)

DAVE BISSONETTE, Dion Oakes, Louie Jackson, Joey Ladouceur, Jody Swamp, PJ Peters, Stephane Lebrun, David Papineau, Roch Aubin, Marc Lalonde, Rod Tarbell, Preston Mossow, Gilles Godard, Ricky Thompson, Morgan David(DNS)

Bandit (12 laps)

ERNIE CREE, Owen White, John Greene, Darryl Mitchell, Derek Colbert, Trevor Gaucher, Randy Whiting, Nolan Swamp, Corey Castell