By Tim Baltz

AKWESASNE -- Going into the final night of points for all divisions, two of the five divisions had been claimed as Dylan Evoy wrapped up the Frenchie’s Built Ford Tough Sportsman division with two races remaining and Chris Raabe had to take the green flag and he would claim the Frenchie’s Chevrolet 358 Modified title.

But the Frenchie’s Chevrolet American Revolution Series title was still up for grabs and with just 13 points separating Chris Raabe and defending series champ Todd Stone, nobody was about to lay down and give up.

The final round of the Frenchie’s Chevrolet American Revolution Series saw Larry Welling Jr. and Clayton Benedict lead the 28 car field to the green flag with Benedict getting the advantage over Jeff Sykes, Welling Jr., Tim O’Brien and Delbert Legrow. The caution flew right away on lap 1 as Carey Terrance slowed to the infield on the front stretch and was forced to the pits for the night. 4 more early race cautions slowed the field through the first 10 laps but Clayton Benedict was able to fend off all challengers to keep the top spot. Dale Planck won this race 1 year ago and was on hand looking to repeat. He closed in on Todd Stone for 2nd on lap 16 and 2 laps later would grab the top spot away from Benedict after starting in the 9th position. On lap 26 Newly crowned track champion Chris Raabe came to a halt in turn 2. Green would return to the track with Planck still in command followed by Todd Stone Jeff Sykes, Mario Clair who came from 19th on the grid and Laurent Ladouceur. Planck looked to be cruising to an easy win but the caution flew with laps remaining as last week’s winner Gage Morin suffered front end damage to his machine in turn 4. This set up a 3 lap dash to the finish and Mario Clair was the man to watch. Once the green came out he charged to the top side and flew by Stone for 2nd and ran down Planck on the white flag lap. Less than 1 car Length separated the 2 drivers as they pulled even in turn 4. Clair would jump the cushion and that was all Planck need to score win #1 of 2011 at MIR. Clair, Ladouceur, Stone and Jeff Sykes rounded out the top 5.

The Frenchie’s Built Ford Tough Sportsman division started their 20 lapper with one of the wildest wrecks of the year as Jenna David and Brandon Hagan locked bumpers in turn 4 sending Hagan into a violent flip down the front stretch. His car teetered on top of the fence before coming to rest back down on the racing surface. Hagan climbed out of his mangled car under his own power but was taken to the ambulance for further observation. Jenna David was able to re-fire and join the race at the back of the pack. After a small delay to repair the fence the green flag flew with Dillon Sallows and Billy Cook leading the field into turn 1. Sallows had been winless at MIR in 2011 and was looking to change that on this night. The yellow would come back out on lap 4 as several cars piled up in turn 4 including last weeks winner Dylan Evoy who spent the rest of the night in and out of the pits. With the green back out Sallows would keep the top spot but Sheldon Hoogwerf was out for a little redemption. After flipping in turn 4 last week before the green flag Sheldon was on a mission as he grabbed the lead from sallows just past the halfway point. Hoogwerf and Sallows raced hard throughout the race and with 2 laps to go Sallows charged after Hoogwerf in turn 3 and got by only for a brief moment as Hoogwerf was able to driver by on the bottom side of the speedway at the white flag and hold for his first win since opening night and 2nd of the year over Sallows, Brent Kelsey, Kristian Smoke, and Brian Copp.

In the Bailey Motor Company Pro Stock division Dave Bissonnette held a 40 point lead over Roch Aubin in the chase for the track title and Aubin was looking to narrow that gap. Louie Jackson had been to victory lane once all year and was looking for his first win since June 10 as he grabbed the lead at the green flag with David Papineau, Stephane Lebrun, PJ Peters and Roch Aubin completing the top 5. Jackson was literally on cruise control in his machine as the defending Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Champion built up a commanding lead. Behind him Roch Aubin was doing his part in trying to nail down a track title as he grabbed 2nd from PJ Peters with 4 laps to as Dave Bissonnette ran in the 8th spot. Jackson however had clear racetrack as he led the caution free 20 lap event over Aubin, Peters, Corey Wheeler and David Papineau. Bissonnette’s 8th place run was enough to score his 7th track championship at MIR.

The 97.3 CKON Bandits had a point battle that was separated by 1 point between Ernie Cree and Owen White. Corey Castell and Nolan Swamp led the field to the green with Swamp getting the top spot early. It had been the Dan Desnoyers show over the last 3 weeks as the Cornwall regular had taken a liking to the MIR surface and quickly made his move into 2nd just past halfway. The battle for the track title was also in jeopardy as Ernie Cree who was running 3rd was forced pitside with a right front flat tire. Despite many challenges for the lead Nolan Swamp would get the best of Desnoyers on this night for his 3rd win of the year over Desnoyers, Jeff Trapp, Mike Gaucher, and Derek Colbert. Owen White’s 9th place run was enough to secure his first 97.3 CKON Bandit track title.

In Mod Lite action Mathieu Robinson held a 2 point advantage on Matt Meuten going into the nights racing action and with Meuten having won the last 2 weeks Robinson had his work cut out. Dean Pronovost was the early pace setter and was in search of win #2. Mathieu Robinson knew he had to go to the front and that’s exactly what he did as he got by pronovost with 3 laps to go. Despite numerous attempts by Pronovost Robinson would go on for win #2 and secure the Mod Lite title over Pronovost, Matt Meuten, Eric Varin and Dave Bell.

The first ever appearance for the Crate Late Models was one for the record books as the 25 lap affair saw Brighton Speedway regular Phil Potts grab the lead from the pole with Mike Ramos chasing him. As the 2 entered turn #3 Ramos lost control of his car and went head on into the 4th turn wall. Ramos was uninjured in the crash, however the car was done for the night. Time Sears Jr. impressed many people last year with his DIRTcar Sportsman tour win last fall at Mohawk. He quickly showed his Late Model skills as he took the lead from Potts and would go on to dominate the 25 lap Great Crate Late Model Race qualifier on this night. Potts was 2nd followed by Can Am regular Lee Gill, Mike Trapp and AJ Kingsley.

In 2 weeks time Mohawk International Raceway will host its 2nd annual triple-header weekend. Friday night 222’s/ Tomohawk Tobacco will the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series 75 lap event plus the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series and an open Bandit show. Saturday Twin Leaf and Jercks Subs present the Super DIRTCar Series 100 laps for the Big Block Modifieds plus the Mr. DIRTCar Pro Stock Series and the CSRA 305 Sprints. Sunday Twin Leaf and Jercks Subs will conclude the year with the popular 100 lap Ironman Slick Track Enduro. For more information be sure to log on to www.mohawkinternationalraceway.com.

Mohawk International Raceway is 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.

Frenchie’s Chevrolet American Revolution Series Final Round (50 laps)

DALE PLANCK, Mario Clair, Laurent Ladouceur, Todd Stone, Jeff Sykes, John Lazore, Randy Chrysler, Roy tarbell, Clayton Benedict, Shane Pecore, Larry Welling Jr., Tim O’Brien, Kevin Gamble, Perry Francis, Leon Gonyo, Joel Doiron, Gardner Stone, Delbert Legrow, Marc Therrien, Casey Swamp, Gage Morin, Chris Raabe, Brian McDonald, Derek Martin, Carey Terrance, Ryan Helm(DNS)

Frenchie’s Built Ford Tough Sportsman (15 laps)

SHELDON HOOGWERF, Dillon Sallows, Brent Kelsey, Kristian Smoke, Brian Copp, Kyle Wilson, Billy Cook, Tom Conklin, Thunder Anderson, Mike Arquiett, Gilles Goddard, Neal Provost, Josh Jock, Dan Jalbert, Louie Jackson Jr., Cory Winters, Dylan Evoy, Wyatt Mullin, Jenna David, Josh Rogers, Robert Delormier, Brandon Hagan

Bailey Motor Company Pro Stock (20 laps)

LOUIE JACKSON, Roch Aubin, PJ Peters, Corey Wheeler, David Papineau, Dion Oakes, Joey Ladouceur, Dave Bissonette, Jody Swamp, Mike White, Stephane Lebrun, Ricky Thompson, Ryan Stabler, Gilles Goddard (DNS)

97.3 CKON Bandits (12 laps)

NOLAN SWAMP, Dan Desnoyers, Jeff Trapp, Mike aucher, Derek Colbert, Randy Whiting, Danny Lefebvre, Corey Castell, Owen White, Ernie Cree, John Greene

Mod Lites (15 laps)

MATHIEU ROBINSON, Dean Pronovost, Matt Meuten, Eric Varin, Dave Bell, Scott Mere, Lacey Cox

Crate Late Models (25 laps)

TIM SEARS JR., Greg Belyea, Lee Gill, Mike Trapp, AJ Kingsley, Phil Potts, Mark Rayner, Richard Raison, Shane Tenace, Mike Ramos