AKWESASNE – Drivers and their cars are into the seventh week of the competition season at Mohawk International Raceway, and fans were not disappointed with Friday night’s action with Frenchie’s Chevrolet on hand for the third running of the Independence Day Classic.

The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds were set to go for 50 laps of racing in round 2 of the Frenchie’s Chevrolet American Revolution Series. Chris Raabe and Quebec star Gino Clair would pace the field to Austin Swamp’s green flag with Raabe taking the early lead and prove he meant business on this night. Behind Raabe, Gino Clair, Larry Welling Jr., John Lazore and Gage Morin battled it out in the top 5. The race ran caution free until lap 12 as Dale Planck came to a stop in turn 3 with a flat tire. On the restart Raabe grabbed the top spot once again with Gage Morin taking second, Lazore in third, Gino Clair and Todd Stone who had charged from 10th starting spot to round out the top 5. The caution flag flew on lap 18 as 4 time track champion Mike Perrotte spun in turn 2. The green came back out and Raabe continued his domination of this event building up a full straightaway lead over Lazore, Carey Terrance, Joel Doiron who’d made the charge from 12th starting spot to 4th and Perry Francis in a back up Roy Tarbell machine came from 22nd to round out the top 5 just before halfway. With Raabe way out in front Carey Terrance and John Lazore had a spirited battle for the runner up spot as they raced through lapped traffic, Terrance tried to make the move for 2nd but the yellow flag flew on lap 29 as Roy Tarbell came to a halt in turn 3. On the final restart Raabe stayed strong keeping the number 1 spot with John Lazore, Carey Terrance, Joel Doiron and Perry Francis completing the top 5. With 5 to go Lazore looked to be closing but Raabe was too strong leading all 50 laps to record his 2nd win in the Frenchie’s Chevrolet American Revolution Series and 3rd win overall at MIR in 2011. John Lazore, Carey Terrance, Joel Doiron and Todd Stone rounded out the top 5.

In the DIRTcar Sportsman Thunder Anderson and Travis Back led the field to the green flag with Anderson taking control as the field made their way into turn 1. As drivers scrambled for position Dylan Evoy made some quick moves from his 9th starting spot to grab the lead by lap 3. Brandon Hagan followed Evoy to 2nd, Travis Back, Thunder Anderson and Tom Conklin who started 11th rounded out the top 5. The yellow flew for the first time on lap 6 as Jenna David spun to a stop in turn 4. On the next restart, Evoy grabbed the lead away with Hagan in tow, Tom Conklin got around Travis back to grab 3rd and Dillon Sallows who’d made his way from 12th all the way up to grab 5th. With the race going caution free till the end Dylan Evoy made sure it was no contest for the top spot behind him Dillon Sallows made every effort to stay in the top 5 as he battled with Tom Benedict. But in the end it was “The Brockville Bullett” Dylan Evoy grabbing his 4th win of the season and 3rd win in a row over Hagan who had his best finish at Mohawk of 2nd, Tom Conklin, Travis Back and Dillon Sallows rounded out the top 5.

The DIRTcar Pro Stocks took to the speedway and Dave Bissonette started on the pole with 2008 track champion Stephane Lebrun right beside him. The Bulldog was able to get the lead at the drop of the green with Lebrun, Dion Oakes, Louie Jackson and Eugene Tarbell completing the top 5. The first yellow flag in this event came out on lap 7 as defending track champion Ricky Thompson spun his machine in turn 2. On the restart Bissonette was able to hang on to the top spot with Lebrun, Oakes, David Papineau and Louie Jackson rounding out the top 5. The yellow would come back out just past halfway as defending Mr. DIRTcar Series Champion Louie Jackson looped his machine in turn 2. One lap later points leader Roch Aubin brought out the yellow flag as he blew a tire going into turn 3. On a lap 11 restart Dave Bissonnette grabbed the lead once again from Papineau who was in search of his 2nd career win in the Pro Stocks and made several moves to get by the veteran campaigner. But the Bulldog was able to keep the top spot with Papineau, Lebrun, Oakes and Jody Swamp rounding out the top 5. Eugene Tarbell spun in turn 2 bringing out the yellow on lap 18. Despite a 2 lap dash Dave Bissonnette scored his first win in over a year at MIR. David Papineau, Stephane Lebrun, Jody Swamp and Dion Okaes completed the top 5.

The always-exciting Bandits took on the tacky track at Mohawk. Corey Castell and Ernie Cree led the field into turns 1&2 with Cree getting the advantage down the backstretch. Ernie Cree had struggled through the 2011 season and looked to be on cruise control as he paced the field for the first 8 laps. Despite 1 caution flag for Derek Colbert, Ernie Cree put all the bad luck behind him and led wire to wire for his first win of the season over John Greene, Brockville invader Corbin Miller came home 3rd, Corey Castell and Darryl Mitchell rounded out the top 5.

Next week the racing action shifts to Thursday night July 7th as Ellis Automotive presents the inaugural appearance of the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series, along with a regular card of DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, DIRTcar Pro Stocks and Bandits. The green flag drops as always at 7:45pm.

Frenchie’s Chevrolet American Revolution Series Race 2 DIRTcar 358 Modifieds (50 Laps)

CHRIS RAABE, John Lazore, Carey Terrance, Joel Doiron, Todd Stone, Perry Francis, Dale Planck, Gino Clair, Gage Morin, Jeff Sykes, Clayton Benedict, Casey Swamp, Larry Welling Jr., Mike Perrotte, Melvin Rush, Tim O’Brien, Roy Tarbell, Ryan Helm, Derek Martin, Rick Miller, Tom Jock, (DNS) Delbert Legrow

DIRTCar Sportsman (20 laps)

DYLAN EVOY, Brandon Hagan, Tom Conklin, Travis Back, Dillon Sallows, Tom Benedict, Brent Kelsey, Neal Provost, Thunder Anderson, Billy Cook, Sheldon Hoogwerf, Jenna David, Louie Jackson Jr., Wyatt Mullin, Josh Jock, Mike White, Bruce Makinson, John McCourt.

DIRTCar Pro Stocks (20 laps)

DAVE BISSONETTE, David Papineau, Stephane Lebrun, Jody Swamp, Dion Oakes, Ricky Thompson, Rod Tarbell, Louie Jackson, Eugene Tarbell

Bandit (12 Laps)

ERNIE CREE, John Greene, Corbin Miller, Corey Castell, Darryl Mitchell, Owen White, Randy Whiting, Derek Colbert, Gary Sharlow, Curtis Cayer, Andy Fish, (DNS) Nolan Swamp

Mohawk International Raceway is midway between the Seaway International Bridge to Cornwall, Ont. and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino off of St. Rt. 37 on Frogtown Road.

Racing is held on Friday nights at 7:45 from May through September, featuring the Frenchie's Chevrolet DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, Sportsman and Pro Stocks, and the Bandit division.

More info: www.MohawkInternationalRaceway.com.