RPW Exclusive: Cornwall Honors 2018 Champions At Awards Banquet Saturday Night
Column By: TIM BALTZ / RPW – CORNWALL, ONT – Another emotional night for drivers, crews and race fans during the 2018 Cornwall Motor Speedway champions banquet. The event, which was held once again at the South Stormont Community Hall, saw many veteran drivers and several future stars receive awards for their accomplishments during the previous year.
In what will be now called the Loud ‘n’ Dirty 358 Modified division at the speedway for 2019, Carey Terrance of Hogansburg New York collected an impressive 4th career track championship aboard his Twin Leaf Express Teo Chassis. Terrance who was unable to be present due to work commitments on this night, had another dominant season on his way to the track title winning 3 races with the first of those coming on June 10th. He would add two more wins on July 19th and August 19th but what was more significant is that the champion missed a race on August 12th and still had enough to wrap up the title easily. He joins Ovide Doiron, Doug “The Ox” Carlyle, Dave Heaslip, Laurent Ladouceur and Danny O’Brien as the only 4-time 358 Modified track champions. Terrance will be back in 2019 to try for number 5.
The Doiron Engineering Cup Championship was claimed for a 3rd straight year and 4th overall by former track champion Chris Raabe. The Alexandria native had his share of tough luck at Cornwall in 2018 but with this title rewarding heat points to the driver, Raabe was solid as anyone claiming 6 heat victories and set another record at Cornwall as the first ever driver to win this particular title 4 times.
The Next Level Home Improvement Sportsman division belonged to St. Andrews West Ontario native Shane Pecore for and impressive second time in the last 3 seasons. The 2018 Super Dirt Week Sportsman Champion was in a tight point battle all season long that came right down to the final race of the year between Pecore and 2018 Mohawk International Raceway Sportsman champion Brianna Ladouceur. Pecore claimed a 3rd place finish which was enough to claim an 11-point advantage when the checkered flag flew. Along with his Super Dirt Week win in October at Oswego, he also claimed 3 wins including the season opener on May 20th, July 12th and August 26th.
Despite starting in the rear of many heat races for the 2018 season Pecore was also able to claim the 2018 RSI Industrial Heat Championship to go along with his many accolades. Out of the 54 heat events contested in 2018 Pecore won 9 on his way to the title besting his rival for the track title Brianna Ladouceur who claimed an impressive 5 heat wins.
The Alexandria Home Hardware Pro Stock division saw Ormstown Quebec native and 2018 Super Dirt Week Pro Stock Champion CD Beauchamp claim his first ever track title. Beauchamp has been getting better every season in his number 88 machine and put it all together at Cornwall. After a couple of quick victories to start the year in back to back weeks on June 3rd and June 10th Beauchamp added a 3rd win on July 19th.He also took a thrilling last lap victory in the DirtCar Pro stock Series event over title rival Rock Aubin, his 4th win of the season. Beauchamp then followed that up with a division leading 5th win of the season on August 19th to go along with an impressive 11 top 5 efforts.
The RSI Industrial Pro Stock Heat Championship went to Gatineau Quebec’s Stephane Lebrun for a 2nd straight season. Lebrun who’s only track title came in the 2016 season had a great season in the qualifying heats winning 7 of the 27 heat events which were contested during the year. He joins Dave Bissonette and George Renaud who also won back to back titles.
The Tracy Wheeler Assis2Sell Mini Stock division saw a return by Chris James be successful as he won his 2nd career track championship. James claimed only one win on Canada Day but consistency was what led his to the overall championship. During a quick interview on stage James noted he would be back but knee surgery would keep him sidelined through most of 2019 but hopes to return to racing at mid-season.
Two special awards were given out during the evening. The Ron Morin award which honors a person or sponsors who have given back to the speedway in many ways and the 2018 recipient absolutely has. Morin who owned the speedway for 35 years was on hand for the presentation. The award was given to 4-time 358 Modified track champion Ovide Doiron for his contributions to may race teams and sponsorships at the speedway through his engine business, Doiron Engineering. The Dirt Hall of Famer is the first person to win both the Ron Morin award and the Mitch Jock Memorial award as well.
This years Mitch Jock Memorial award went to local car dealer Seaway GM for their contributions to the sport of auto racing and their continuous support of the speedway. The award was received by several Seaway GM employees which include race car drivers like 358 Modified campaigner Corey Wheeler, longtime Pro Stock Sportsman and 358 Modified driver Gilles Godard and former sportsman champion Justin Lalancette.
On hand to present were Mitch’s widow Fallon, son Ty and sisters in law Farrah and Jasmine. The award is given each year in the honor of Mitch Jock who is to this day the youngest track champion at Cornwall winning the Mini Stock title at age 14 along with many Pro Stock wins, his lone 358 Modified win came in 2008 at Autodrome Edelweiss. His final full time season in a Modified was at Mohawk where he finished 5th in points in 2009. Mitch passed away in 2010
The 2019 season is only a few months away details on the season schedule are being finalized and will be released in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to the speedway website at cornwallspeedway.com plus follow the Facebook and Twitter page for continuous updates.
