LA FARGEVILLE, N.Y. — Friday night at the Can Am Speedway was nothing short of exciting in all divisions with many teams having something to cheer about.
Despite unfavorable weather throughout the week, track crews did their best all night to give drivers the best track possible. What this produced, was a night of first-time winners on Cinco de Mayo night.
The Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman kicked off the evening and the 12 lap event was a battle to remember as Brady Howard led early on over last week’s winner Keegan Nier.
These two drivers would be the story of the race as they fought hard and even traded some paint. Joey Wilcox lost his rear bumper on lap six, which produced the first yellow of the race. When the green came back out, Howard was determined to keep Nier at bay. Howard nearly spun on a few occasions, trying to keep Nier behind him and get to victory lane.
After a tough physical race between the two, Howard came away with his first career win. Nier had to settle for second with Dustin Woods finishing third.
Anthony St. Mary Jr. was the driver out front at the start of the 15-lap Sundance Leisure Thundercar feature, but Remington Hamm, a star in the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTCar Sportsman, would be the driver to beat as he took the lead before the completion of lap one over St. Mary, O.J. White, Steve Smith and Francis White.
Hamm had a dominant car but opening day winner Francis White was on the move as well. White would grab second and begin to run down the leader. With five laps to go the big lead that Hamm had was down to less than a car length.
O.J. White broke the left front on his car, ending a solid top-five run for him on lap 12 and the yellow flew. On the final restart Hamm would jump out front and hold off a very determined Francis White, to record his first ever win in the Thundercar ranks.
White crossed in second, while Steve Smith, Daniel Valade and Lyle Robinson rounded out the top five.
The Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTCar 358 Modifieds are always exciting but it was not an exciting time for last years runner up in points Ryan Bartlett.
At the drop of the green flag Bartlett’s car began to smoke heavily forcing a quick yellow. Under caution the car became engulfed in flames. Bartlett was able to get the car near the safety crew, climb out quickly and was not injured.
The restart of the 25-lap even saw Nick Webb take the lead with Matt Caprara, Tyler Meeks, Shaun Shaw and Chris Raabe chasing him. Webb had a strong car in the early laps, but Caprara was strong on this night and began to reel in the race leader.
On lap 10 drivers started to enter traffic as the lead battle started to take shape with Webb and Caprara, while Shaw continued to run a distant third. With five laps to go Caprara charged to the top of the track in turn one and grabbed the lead.
Once in front, Caprara put his machine on auto pilot to secure his first career win. Webb claimed second with Jordan McCreadie coming from 11th starting spot to finish third, while Shaw and Meeks completed the top five.
With three divisions seeing first time winners Taylor Doxtator and Owen Nier were looking to keep that trend going in the 20-lap Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTCar Sportsman feature event. Both drivers traded the lead lap after lap at the start of the race, with nobody having a clear advantage, while Gavin Eisle, Tyler Corcoran and Brennan Moore also had a spirited battle in the top five.
Doxtator was able take the top spot away just before the halfway point while behind them, Moore was moving forward, as he moved to the third spot.
Moore would charge to the top spot on lap 14 as several late race cautions saw many drivers suffer mechanical issues. As the laps clicked off Moore remained strong while Nier stayed right there to challenge and both were looking for their first career wins.
On the move was three-time and defending track champion Corcoran, who would challenge the top two drivers for his first win of the year. On this night Moore was determined to head back to Elgin Ontario with a trophy, as he rode the high side of the speedway to victory lane, scoring his first ever win.
Nier’s bid for his first win would result in a career-best second place finish, with Corcoran, Dustin Bradley and Eric Nier, who rebounded from mechanical issues on lap 17, to finish fifth.
Bruno Richard was trying to make it five first time winners in five races on the evening as he took the lead at the start of the 15-lap Panther Frameworx 602 Crate Sprint Car feature, with Michael Cousins and last week’s winner Josh Verne Jr. right there to challenge.
Richard and Cousins put on a great show for the fans as they battled side-by-side for the lead while Verne and Tucker Donath joined the battle, making it a four-car dance for the top spot.
On lap eight Verne Jr. was tired of having cars in front of him, as he got by both Richard and Cousins to take over the lead. Verne would drive away and looked to be well on his way to his second win in a row.
On lap 13 the yellow flag flew as Cousins’ great drive came to an end, slowing on the backstretch. On the final restart, Verne Jr. would not be denied as he claimed his second win of the season. Donath made a great move to claim second while Richard and veteran Lee Sanders completed the field.