The 25th Anniversary Season at Laird Raceway has lived up to expectations and then some. Photo finishes, first-time winners, record crowds and consistent car counts have come to the forefront over the past month-and-a-half. More specifically, the Lakeway Automotive Factory Stock Division has undoubtedly been the most consistent to-date and one of the most entertaining divisions at LIR this summer.
Night 7 (Aug. 15) would be no different. With four feature winners through the first six nights of the season, another new winner would find their way to Victory Lane in the division’s 20-lap feature event on Thursday Night.
But the win would be much more than just a feature victory. Building off back-to-back strong weeks at the 1/3-mile track, Ed Lapish (No. 77X, Echo Bay, ON) made this one a night to remember. After winning both of the division’s heat races, Lapish took his favourable feature starting spot and set the pace from the drop of the green flag.
Running a perfect race, Lapish held off current points leader Daniel Bibeau (No. 08, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and the night’s fast qualifier Tyler Praysner (No. 05, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) to capture his first-career feature win, while bringing his hometown supporters to their feet.
Feature Results (11 cars)
1. 77X Ed Lapish, 2. 08 Daniel Bibeau, 3. 05 Tyler Praysner, 4. 4 Dale Tucker, 5. 29 Xavier Carter, 6. 12 Owen Brown, 7. 80 Brad Bibeau, 8. 33 Cody Champagne, 9. 15 Andrew Givens
Did not start – 88 Rob Wagner, 51 Jamie Fox
Fast Qualifier – 80 Brad Bibeau – 16.124
Heat #1 – 77X Ed Lapish
Heat #2 – 77X Ed Lapish
SERVICE RENTAL AND SALES SUPER LATE MODEL DIVISION
Thirteen Service Rental and Sales Super Late Models took the green flag for their 30-lap main event, including a first-time 2024 competitor making their return to LIR. Onaway Speedway promoter Mike Sturgill (No. 78, Onaway, MI) made the trip north to join the familiar faces of the track’s premiere division.
When the green flag dropped, current points leader and defending track champion Chase Wilson (No. 77, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) started 10th on the grid as he looked to keep his win streak alive. To this point, Wilson had been unstoppable in the division, winning six consecutive feature events.
John Ross (No. 01, Echo Bay, ON) enjoyed the lead until around the midway point, when Jordan Sims (No. 47, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) made an inside pass in Turn 3 to take over the lead and build some ground. Sims had started one row ahead of your points leader and would soon have to contend with him on his back bumper.
Wilson was in striking distance but was unable to mount a significant threat on your leader and an emotional victory would culminate for Sims taking the checkered flag ahead of Wilson, Dustin Jackson (No. 61, Sault Ste. Marie, ON), Jordan Rocchetta (No. 33, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and Ross as the Top-5.
Feature Results (13 cars)
1. 47 Jordan Sims, 2. 77 Chase Wilson, 3. 61 Dustin Jackson, 4. 33 Jordan Rocchetta, 5. 01 John Ross, 6. 20 Mike Hearty, 7. 78 Mike Sturgill, 8. 826 Jordan Parniak, 9. 05 Tyler Praysner, 10. 29 John Carter, 11. 15 Ryan Rocchetta, 12. 51 Jeremy Van Hoek, 13. 21M Cody MacLean
Fast Qualifier – 77 Chase Wilson – 14.283
Heat #1 – 51 Jeremy Van Hoek
Heat #2 – 29 John Carter
NORTHLAND AUTO BODY FOUR CYLINDER DIVISION
Another week and another solid field of Northland Auto Body Four Cylinders made their way pitside, matching their season-high 15 car total.
The top four cars solidified themselves ahead of the pack as the laps wound down in a nose-to-tail formation, meaning it could have been anyone’s race. But like he did just a couple of events ago, Christopher Viotto (No. 24, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) captured the checkered flag and his second feature win of the season.
The rookie competitor edged out fast qualifier Dyllen Sherrard (No. 16, Sault Ste. Marie, ON), current points leader Shanna Harten (No. 22, Sault Ste. Marie, ON), Dustin Couturier (No. 38F, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and Seth Ralph (No. 94, Sault Ste. Marie, ON).
Notably, Kayleigh Tucker (No. 4, Sault Ste. Marie, ON), who earlier in the night won her first career event in one of the heat races, finished sixth.
Feature Results (15 cars)
1. 24 Christopher Viotto, 2. 16 Dyllen Sherrard, 3. 22 Shanna Harten, 4. 38F Dylan Couturier, 5. 94 Seth Ralph, 6. 4 Kayleigh Tucker, 7. 8 Alex Lapensee, 8. 1 Lucas Crosato, 9. 86 Tyler Mortimore, 10. 17 Shaun Desjardins, 11. 51 Kenn Schwarz, 12. 6 Wayne Devon, 13. 166 Wyatt Dubois, 14. 7 Gianni Viotto
Did not start – 21 Daryl Whitmel
Fast Qualifier – 16 Dyllen Sherrard – 17.233
Heat #1 – 24 Christopher Viotto
Heat #2 – 17 Shaun Desjardins
Heat #3 – 24 Christopher Viotto
Heat #4 – 4 Kayleigh Tucker
NAPA REYCO AUTOMOTIVE MODIFIED DIVISION
Another sweep would be had, this time in the NAPA Reyco Automotive Modified Division.
Current points leader Jason Herrington (No. 78, Thessalon, ON) backed up his pair of heat race wins by holding off the previous week’s winner Michael Gold (No. 97, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) to capture his third feature win of the season and extend his points lead in the division to 15 over Mark Laakso (No. 84, Echo Bay, ON).
Gold salvaged the second position with an ill-handling race car, from an on-track incident earlier in the night, and Matt Lewis (No. 20, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) rounded out the podium positions.
Feature Results (7 cars)
1. 78 Jason Herrington, 2. 97 Michael Gold, 3. 20 Matt Lewis, 4. 84 Mark Laakso, 5. 36 Jesse Bailey, 6. 7 Terrance Devon
Did not start – 28 Mark Porpealia
Fast Qualifier – 97 Michael Gold – 15.370
Heat #1 – 78 Jason Herrington
Heat #2 – 78 Jason Herrington
AIM RECYLING ENDURO DIVISION
Backing up the biggest win of his career just one week prior, Eric Sylvestre (No. 44, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) won the AIM Recylcing Enduro over Chris Pinder (No. 17, Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and current points leader Dylan Connolly (No. 86, Sault Ste. Marie, ON).
Nineteen cars took the green flag for the final race of the night.
Feature Results (19 cars)
1. 44 Eric Sylvestre, 2. 17 Chris Pinder, 3. 86 Dylan Connolly, 4. 66 Cod Hughson, 5. 54. John Morrin Jr., 6. 415 Brian Berg, 7. 16 Dyllen Sherrard, 8. 4 Madison Tucker, 9. 07 Tannis Wirth, 10. 21+ Drew Dowding, 11. 26 Nelson MacKay, 12. 77X Teagan Lapish, 13. 8 Alex Lapensee, 14. 22 John Morrin, 15. 55 Hayden Lewis, 16. 68 Nathan Reid, 17. 705 Ayen Zelonko, 18. K27 Kohle Kennedy, 19. 727 Unknown
Ray Ferguson picked up the Algoma Lawn Mower Racing Association main event on the dirt oval at Intermission.
The final events of the 2024 season at Laird Raceway are on tap this coming weekend. The 3rd Annual Mike Parsons Memorial is set for back-to-back nights – Friday, August 23rd and Saturday, August 24th – with racing action starting both nights at 7 p.m.
Saturday night will be highlighted by a 73-lap, $10,000-to-win, Super Late Model feature.
For more detailed information go to www.lairdraceway.com or follow us on Facebook. Laird Raceway is proud to be the one-and-only Canadian member track of the prestigious Contingency Connection Racer Rewards program.
- From Laird Raceway
