Wonderful Weather and Clean Racing on July 25th at LIR

Racenight Recap for Thursday July 25, 2024.

We had perfect seasonal weather for our Thursday Night Thunder at Laird International Raceway on Thursday July 25th, 2024. This was the fourth regular racenight of our season with a full show of Service Rental and Sales Super Late Models, Lakeway Automotive Factory Stocks, NAPA Reyco Automotive Modifieds, Northland Autobody Factory Fours, and AIM Recycling Enduros, plus a lawnmower race and school bus race during intermission. The night was sponsored by SaultSports.com

The grandstands and the pits were once again packed with another high fan count, estimated at 3,000. Announcer Greg Brazeau was accompanied in the announcer booth by Oval Reving. We had our national anthems, sung by Annette Bouchard and racing got started.

Service Rentals and Sales Super Late Models:

In the Service Rentals and Sales Super Late Model division there were 9 cars in the pits but #46 Dan Byrnes was not out for qualifying. Of the 8 that qualified, #77 Chase Wilson posted fast time of 14.106 seconds around the 1/3 mile oval. The Super Late Models ran a single 10 lap heat, and a 30 lap feature during the night.

All 8 qualifiers were on track for their 10 lap heat right after opening ceremonies, but #15 Ryan Rocchetta was unable to fire his car up and was pushed off the track. Leading them off were #01 John Ross & #61 Dustin Jackson. Jackson took the lead right away. With just a lap complete caution flew with #826 Jordan Parniak coming to a stop at the top of corner 1. He blew the driveshaft and was done for the night.

Caution flew again on the restart lap with #51 Jeremy Vanhoek and #01 John Ross getting together in corner 1 into corner 2. Vanhoek was getting sent to the back for the incident, but left the track with a tire down. This left 5 for the restart. With 2 laps complete caution was out again for a third time, this time it was Ross that spun out on corner 3.

The final start saw Jackson out front with #21M Cody Maclean alongside. Jackson maintained the lead through lap 7 then was passed by #21K Kevin Errington on lap 8. Errington went on to take the checkered flag. #77 Chase Wilson and Maclean both got around Jackson during the final laps, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, Jackson 4th, and #01 John Ross 5th.

The 30 lap Late Model feature also got off to a bit of a rocky start. There were 8 cars at the start, including #46 Dan Byrnes. At the front to start was #01 John Ross inside and #21M Cody Maclean outside. Jackson opted to start at the back, rumored to have an engine issue. Ross had a great start and was leading, while behind him we saw #21K Kevin Errington move up to follow, with #77 Chase Wilson moving up the outside. Jackson left the track after completing a lap. At the beginning of lap 3, Wilson slowed in corner 2 and rolled down around the track to the top of corner 4. Apparently he had spotted oil on the track. It was a good call and may have served to avoid a serious incident. After a few minutes for track crews to clean the track the race restarted, with 6 cars remaining – Cody Maclean left during the caution/red flag.

This time it was Ross on the pole again single file, with Errington 2nd row inside and Wilson outside. Errington got a great start and passed Ross on the restart lap for the lead. Wilson and Ross raced for 2nd behind. On lap 7 caution was out for the second time, this time for #51 Jeremy Vanhoek after he looped it all alone coming out of corner 4.

On the restart lap, caution was out right away again when John Ross & Vanhoek made contact in corner 1. Vanhoek was sent to the back. Ross restarted inside row 2 behind Errington, with Wilson outside. As they were rounding corner 4 on the restart lap, with Wilson pulling up alongside Errington, #15 Ryan Rocchetta running at the back went into a slide and spin into corner 3, up over the bank and down sideways just in front of the pit wall tires. He was able to bring it back on track with no damage. We were still sitting with 6 laps complete.

Errington restarted out front and led lap 7 then was passed for the lead by Wilson on lap 8. Wilson began to open up a larger and larger lead on Errington as the race progressed. No further cautions and Wilson went on to take his 4th feature win this year. Will he be unbeatable? Errington pulled up second about a half lap behind, Vanhoek 3rd another ¼ lap further back, and rookie #15 Ryan Rocchetta was credited with 5th – a lap down. Ross and Brynes both had DNF’s (did not finish) along with Maclean and Jackson all having left the track part way through.

Announcer Brazeau went out and gave a post race interview on the front stretch, with about 50 or more young fans watching up along the catch fence. Chase handed a couple lucky youngsters a checkered flag through the fence, then went inside the gate. Looking like the pied piper, with many of his young fans behind, Chase made his way up into the grandstands and delivered a special flag to Brazeau’s autistic son Brett. Brazeau was a bit choked up with the gesture.

Lakeway Automotive Factory Stock Division:

In the Lakeway Automotive Factory Stock division we saw 10 cars out to qualify. Out for the first time in his new car was #05 Tyler Praysner, who ran the fast qualifying lap at 16.090 seconds around the paved oval. Fans saw two 10 lap heats and a 20 lap feature in the division during the night.

The first factory stock heat saw all 10 qualifiers on track for a fast caution free race. Leading them off at the green was #77x Ed Lapish and #88 Rob Wagner. Both fell back three positions by the end of the first lap. #12 Owen Brown had the lead for a lap, then was overtaken by #08 Daniel Bibeau. #80 Brad Bibeau was running third at that point. By lap 6 fast qualifier Praysner had worked his way to 4th place from the back of the field. The race continued with no further changes in order. Dan Bibeau once again had the checkered flag, Brown took 2nd, Brad Bibeau 3rd, Praysner 4th, and #29 Xavier Carter 5th.

In the Factory Stock second heat, 9 cars took part. Missing was #88 Rob Wagner. With Wagner missing, #12 Owen Brown moved up to start outside #77 Ed Lapish. Within a lap of the start the Bibeau’s had taken top spots ahead of Brown, with #08 Daniel Bibeau ahead of brother #80 Brad.

The only caution of the race flew on lap 3 with #51 Jamie Fox rolling to a stop at the top of corner 1 with a tire down. With the restart, the Bibeau’s maintained their lead with Brown behind. By lap 6 Praysner had snagged 3rd place from Brown, only to drop back a few positions when he slid up in corner 3 and 4. It was a tense moment but Praysner saved it, but lost spots and momentum. At the end it was #08 Daniel Bibeau running the checkered flag around again, #80 Brad Bibeau finished 2nd – about a half second behind his brother. #12 Owen Brown took 3rd, #29 Xavier Carter 4th, and #4 Dale Tucker 5th.

The factory stock feature was a 20 lap, fast and caution free race, with all 10 back out. #77x Ed Lapish and #88 Rob Wagner led them off. On the backstretch of the first lap, #08 Daniel Bibeau threaded a needle between Wagner outside and #12 Owen Brown inside. By the start/finish line, Lapish was a nose behind in 2nd, while Wagner fell back a few spots.

On lap 2 both Brown and #80 Brad Bibeau passed Lapish on the inside for 2nd and third. As the race progressed #51 Jamie Fox was on fire, he started 4th row. On lap 7 Fox got past #15 Andrew Givens who was running 4th right behind the leaders. On lap 11 Fox got by Brad Bibeau to take up 3rd. Fox then ran outside of Brown for a couple laps eventually taking 2nd spot on lap 15. Fox then completed the pass on Brown and moved nose up to the leader Dan Bibeau. Fox ran the final laps right behind Bibeau but didn’t have enough. Daniel Bibeau had a clean sweep of the night, winning both heats and the feature. Despite his fantastic run, Fox had to settle for 2nd, just 0.3 seconds behind. Owen Brown took 3rd place with a good run too, Brad Bibeau 4th, #05 Tyler Praysner 5th, #4 Dale Tucker 6th, and #29 Xavier Carter 7th.

Reyco Automotive Modified Division:

In the Reyco Automotive Modified division we saw 8 cars on the track for qualifying. Fast qualifier for the night was #01 Jerry Ross. The division had two 10 lap heats and a 20 lap feature.

In their first 10 lap heat all 8 qualifiers were up. #28 Mark Porpealia inside and #84 Mark Laakso outside led the group for the start. As they were coming out of corner 4 to the green flag, Porpealia spun, pulling out the only caution of the race.

The restart was good. Laakso took the lead immediately while Porpealia fell back a few positions. Laakso held the lead for the entire 10 laps for the win. #78 Jason Herrington ran 2nd for the entire race. #01 Jerry Ross 3rd, #22 JP Delpaggio 4th and #20 Matt Lewis 5th.

In the second modified heat all 8 were back out, with Porpealia and Laakso in first row at the green again. Caution flew on the first lap with #20 Matt Lewis having a tire down or broken tie rod going through corner 1. Lewis left the track.

The race was restarted and was similar to the first heat with Laakso taking up the lead and Porpealia falling back a few positions. Herrington ran second for the first 3 laps until he was passed by Ross. Towards the end of the race Herrington fell back another position to Delpaggio. Laakso took his second heat win of the night, #01 Jerry Ross 2nd, #22 JP Delpaggio 3rd, #78 Jason Herrington 4th, and #28 Mark Porpealia 5th.

The 20 lap modified feature got started later in the evening with all eight back out again, Porpealia and Laakso up front for the start. Laakso took the lead right off the bat. Within a lap he had JP Delpaggio and Jerry Ross running side by side right behind him. Once they sorted it out, Ross had 2nd spot ahead of Delpaggio. Caution flew on lap 7 with a spin in corner 1 by Porpealia.

Laakso had a good restart single file up front with Ross and Delpaggio in row 2 right behind. The running order stayed the same for the next laps with Delpaggio making a number of outside attempts to get by Ross. The leaders were running nose to tail, then towards the end of the race, on lap 18 caution flew again when Delpaggio tagged Ross in corner 3 sending Ross for a spin. Delpaggio was sent to the back.

Laakso maintained the lead with a good restart. Ross was inside 2nd row, and Herrington outside. Ross kept 2nd spot until the very end of the race when he was passed by Herrington on the front stretch coming to the checkered flag. Laakso captured his third checkered flag of the night for a clean sweep. Herrington pulled 2nd, a half second behind, with Ross taking 3rd, a 1/10 of a second behind Herrington. Delpaggio had made his way past a couple cars after the last restart to pull 4th, and #20 Matt Lewis 5th.

Honorable mention goes out to rookie #36 Jesse Bailey, who ran a nice clean race, a little slower than the rest. Jesse paid attention to the flagman and moved up the track properly when he was being lapped by the leaders. Keep your eyes on this driver, I’m betting he’ll show great improvement as he gets comfortable with the car.

Northland Autobody Factory Four Division:

In the Northland Autobody Factory Four division there were a dozen cars out to qualify. #22 Shanna Harten was fast qualifier with a time of 17.270 seconds. There were two 10 lap heats, and a 20 lap feature in the division during the night.

In the first heat the group was led by #21 Daryl Whitmel inside, and #4 Kayleigh Tucker outside. The race ran caution free. Tucker led the first couple laps then fell back to 3rd place on lap 3 behind Whitmel and #51 Kenn Swarz. A lap later Schwarz took on the lead and held it to take the win. Shanna Harten pulled up 2nd, just a 10th of a second difference. #7 Gianni Viotto was 3rd, #16 Dyllen Sherrard 4th, and Whitmel 5th.

Whitmel and Tucker led them off in heat #2 as well. Tucker maintained the lead with #7 Gianni Viotto challenging. On lap 5 the #46 car spun into the infield out of corner 4. The car is normally driven by Ryder Byrnes, but possibly by one of the Byrnes pit crew during this race. The car came back onto the track when cars were rounding corner 3 & 4 and there was almost a disaster. Caution few and the driver was sent pit-side for unsafe driving. #8 Alex Lapensee also saw a black flag during the race. #16 Dyllen Sherrard left during the caution.

On the restart Viotto got the jump on Tucker for the lead then opened up a gap on Tucker during the remaining laps. #7 Gianni Viotto had the checkered flag in hand, #4 Kayleigh Tucker finished 2nd about 4 ½ seconds later. #51 Kenn Schwarz 3rd, #22 Shanna Harten 4th, and #24 Christopher Viotto 5th.

Twelve of the Factory Fours were out for their 20 lap feature towards the end of the evening. Leading them off was #94 Seth Ralph inside, and #21 Daryl Whitmel outside. The green flag flew, and the cars were going three wide, two rows deep into the first corner of the race. It didn’t work as #7 Gianni Viotto in the middle got bumped and spun into corner 2. The race restarted but before the first lap was complete caution flew again, this time it was #51 Kenn Schwarz doing a full 360 on the backstretch. Somehow he kept it rolling, but the caution was pulled out anyway.

The race had a full restart for the third time and this time it was successful. The race ran caution free for 20 laps after that. Ralph led from the pole for the first couple laps then was passed by Gianni Viotto for the lead. Chase Wilson was driving the #31 car during the race, starting in the 5th row. By lap 3 Chase was up near the front challenging Ralph. Chase got past Ralph on lap 4 to take over the 2nd position.

Viotto opened the lead on Wilson and at one point was nearly a quarter lap ahead. Shanna Harten was running 3rd behind Wilson for most of the race. As the leaders were going through lap traffic, Wilson was able to close the gap a bit, but laps ran out. #7 Gianni Viotto took the win, #31 Chase Wilson took 2nd about 1 second later. #22 Shanna Harten was 3rd, about 3/10ths of a second after Wilson. #17 Shaun Desjardins was 4th, about 14 seconds after the leader crossed, #94 Seth Ralph was 5th, #38F Dylan Couturier was 6th. Tucker finished a lap down in 7th, Schwarz 2 laps down and #8 Alex Lapensee 3 laps down. Dyllen Sherrard, Christopher Viotto and Daryl Whitmel all left during the race with problems.

AIM Recycling Enduro Division:

The AIM recycling Enduro’s had a single 15 lap feature at the very end of the night. Nineteen cars were up on track but one was disqualified and sent off as it had no transponder and the driver had jumped the start.. #21+ of Drew Dowding started at the front and was able to lead a lap before being passed on lap 2 by #22 Jay Morrin. Morrin had started about 4 rows back. Lap 3 saw Dylan Connolly take over the lead, having started 6 rows back. Connolly went on to increase his lead as the race progressed and took the win. #721 Tehden McBride crossed the line 2nd, about 4.8 seconds after the leader. #4 Madison Tucker 3rd, #79 Cody Herrington 4th, and #17 Chris Pinder 5th.

Intermission Activities:

During the intermission once again we watched a Lawnmower Race, courtesy of the Algoma Lawnmower Racing Association (ALMRA). Chuck Siddall was the race winner and was interviewed by Announcer Brazeau following their race. For information about ALMRA visit their facebook group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/101494564073784

Also during the intermission the School Buses were out for a race with 6 drivers taking part. The happy winner was Rita Guay. Rita had a short interview on the front stretch by Greg Brazeau and was quite elated.

The next Thursday Night Thunder is set to be another full show, running on Thursday August 1st. The show will be our mid-season awards night. Come on out and join us for more edge of your seat action!

Photos from the night can be found on our website under the “media” menu item - https://www.lairdraceway.com/gallery/

Fans are invited to view the Laird Raceway Facebook page to get current news and updates including weather cancellations, announcements, and more at https://www.facebook.com/lairdraceway

General track information is available on our website at https://www.lairdraceway.com. There you will find post-race writeups, photos, points standings, race results and more.

Article Credit: Tom Stephenson

Submitted By: Tom Stephenson