LONG SAULT, Ontario – After letting a win slip through his fingers at Cornwall Motor Speedway last year, Mat Williamson had some extra motivation to park the No. 6 DIRTcar 358 Modified in victory lane this year.
Williamson had to fend off major challenges from runner-up Mike Mahaney on Sunday, who nearly passed Williamson on the final lap before a caution flag came out.
Tim Fuller finished third and was reeling in the leaders at the end of the race.
Williamson has had a banner weekend picking up three feature wins, including Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship events at Ransomville Speedway and Merrittville Speedway, but Sunday it was all about the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series. Williamson came into Cornwall with the series points lead and has now stretched that lead out further by winning another 100-lapper.
“We’re on a roll. That final caution (on lap 99) might have saved my race. I don’t know if Mike [Mahaney] would have gotten by us as I was fighting with lapped traffic. Mike raced me as clean as you can ask for and I thank him for that. We’re rolling right now and we’ve got one more to go,” a grinning Williamson said.
The family-owned No. 6 started fourth and quickly entered the top three in the opening stages. Williamson dueled with Steve Bernard for the lead and got around him on lap 18. As only two caution periods interrupted the 100-lap race, he was forced to contend with some fast lapped cars on the slick bullring.
“It was very tough in traffic,” Williamson said. “We had a great car early but used our stuff up racing the around the No. 96 car. I was just happy to hang on. The last lap we were coming to the white flag and I just got visions of the No. 3RS going around me last year. I made the car wide as possible and luckily we’re here.
“I love this place. The fans are awesome. The atmosphere is like going to a rock concert every time we come here so I’m happy to be here and happy to finally get it done.”
Meanwhile, Mike Mahaney was pleased with this best-ever effort at on the quarter-mile Long Sault oval. On several occasions, Mahaney looked like he was going to pass eventual winner Williamson. When the field took the white flag on lap 99, Mahaney drove in with a huge run on the No. 6 but suddenly the caution flag was displayed for a spinning Danny Johnson. On the restart, Williamson was too strong for Mahaney.
“This is definitely our best run here ever,” Mahaney said. “I’ve always struggled with this place, especially in turns one and two. I want to thank Stephane LaFrance. He gave me some tips before the Feature and it really helped my driving.”
Veteran Tim Fuller crossed the finish line ahead of Erick Rudolph by a bumper. No. 19 was catching the two leaders and had a strong car on the long runs.
“I think I was really good towards the end until a caution would come out,” Fuller said. “It seemed like on warmer tires Mat [Williamson] was coming back. The No. 35 car was really fast. I thought he was gonna get him there at the end. That was great racing. I mean you can’t beat that right there, slippin’ and slidin’ around. No one knew until the very end who was going to win this.”
The finish:
1. Mat Williamson 2. Mike Mahaney 3. Tim Fuller 4. Erick Rudolph 5. Yan Bussiere 6. Steve Bernier 7. Luke Whitteker 8. Corey Wheeler 9. Carey Terrance 10. David Herbert 11. Todd Root 12. Dave Marcuccilli 13. J.F. Corriveau 14. Kyle Dingwall 15. Mario Clair 16. Danny Johnson 17. Louie Jackson Jr. 18. Tim Sears Jr. 19. Michael Parent 20. Joey Ladouceur 21. Lance Willix 22. Jordan McCreadie 23. Ryan Arbuthnot 24. Chad Brachmann 25. Jeff Sykes 26. Brian McDonald 27. Tristan Draper 28. Dany Gagne 29. Steve Bernard 30. Chris Raabe 31. Ronnie David III