By TIM BALTZ

AKWESASNE -- Three of four races at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night were cut short by thunderstorms and rain.

In the Novice Sportsman division, Dana Francis and Junior Delormier led the field to green with Delormier getting the top spot bringing Dudes Thompson to 2nd with Greg Snyder and Jamie LaFountain completing the top five. On lap five, Thompson was strong as he used the extreme outside lane to get by Delormier for the lead. Without a caution during the 15-lap contest, Dudes Thompson set the car on auto pilot and cruised to his first Novice Sportsman win at Mohawk and third career win having claimed to checkered flag at Cornwall in 2016. Veteran Greg Snyder held on for second while last week's winner, Jamie, LaFountain took third.

The Bandit divison was set to complete lap one when a heavy rain shower hit the speedway sending defending track champion Shane Ray CJ Lavair and Johnny Messenger into the outside wall in turn three. Messenger would get upside down in turn thre, but all three drivers were able to walk away.

With the evenings action cancelled due to the heavy rains and thunderstorms the remaining laps of the Bandit 10-lap feature plus the 358 Modified Sportsman and Mod Lite will be made up at later dates. They will post updates at www.mohawkraceway.com. They are also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novice Sportsman

DUDES THOMPSON, Greg Snyder, Jamie LaFountain, Junior Delormier, Melvin Rush, JP

Herne, Styles Arquiett, Thunder Anderson, Dana Francis, Okwari White, Jason

Anderson, Jamie Begor