Cornwall Motor Speedway Reflects Back on Exciting 2012 Racing Season

Cornwall, Ontario – By Craig Revelle – November 6, 2012 – With racing in our area now over for another season, Cornwall Motor Speedway would like to reflect on our season, and give recognition to all of our great champions.  We also want to thank all our fans, sponsors, employees, volunteers, teams and drivers for supporting Cornwall Motor Speedway and we look forward to returning for another season in May of 2013.

A lot of early season hype surrounded the off-season announcement that the World of Outlaw Late Models and World of Outlaw Sprint Cars would both be on the 2012 schedule.  There was plenty of disappointment when the Late Model race was cancelled due to rain, but the World of Outlaw Sprint cars came into Cornwall for the first time and put on a spectacular event in late July that awed the capacity crowd.  The 2012 schedule was packed with other special events, including the three race Canadian Nationals Series for the 358 Modifieds, in which two of those races also doubled as Mr. DIRTcar Series events.  The Pro Stocks and Sportsman also had Mr. DIRTcar events, as well as the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series.

Dale Planck, from Homer, New York took the overall track championship in the 358 Modified Division and also claimed the Canadian Nationals Series title for the first time in his career.  Not to be outdone, Chris Herbison also claimed multiple titles, winning the Sportsman track championship for the second year in a row, and also winning the inaugural St. Lawrence Seaway Sportsman championship.  Joey Ladouceur has been dominant in the Pro Stock division for a long time, and recently announced his move to the Sportsman division for 2013, but not before winning yet another Cornwall Speedway Pro Stock championship, the Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship and the Mohawk Racing Parts Pro Stock Series title.  Benoit Dubois was this year’s Semi Pro Champion while Martin Bernard captured the Mini Stock crown.

Although Dale Planck won two championships this season, he certainly had to fight for it over the final few weeks, as five drivers entered the final two weeks of the season with a shot at the overall track championship.  His win, under immense pressure on the final night of the season proved to be the difference in the overall championship battle and the Canadian Nationals Series.  Laurent Ladouceur, Chris Raabe, Joel Doiron and Planck’s teammate/car owner Carey Terrance all finished in the top five in track points while Danny O’Brien and Terrance again chased Planck in the Canadian Nationals.

Chris Herbison had a tremendous season in 2011 and came back even stronger in 2012.  His success didn’t come easy though, as he battled Sportsman rookie Corey Wheeler over the final few weeks of the year.  Wheeler, who had graduated from the Pro Stock division had a very impressive rookie season with a pair of feature wins.  Ryan Arbuthnot, Dan Jalbert and Louis Jackson Jr. finished amongst the top five in Sportsman points.

There hasn’t been a more dominant driver in any division over the past decade then Joey Ladouceur in the Pro Stock division.  He had three feature wins in 2012 and his consistency was unprecedented, with a season low finish of eighth.  Ladouceur won his sixth Cornwall Speedway Pro Stock Championship over Ryan Stabler, Ghislain Valade, George Renaud and Dion Oakes.  Ladouceur also claimed his ninth career Mohawk Racing Parts Pro Stock Series.  He leaves the Pro Stock division as the winningest driver in all of DIRTcar Pro Stock competition.

Benoit Dubois had a strong season in the Semi Pro division earning the top honors over Joey Woods, Junior Delormier, Michael McCargar and Derek Cryderman.

Martin Bernard’s first season at Cornwall Speedway in the Mini Stock division proved successful, claiming the track championship by just four points over Mathieu Aubin.  Justin Derosiers, Jamie McKee and Joel Pilon also had fantastic season’s, finishing the year among the top five in points.

2013 will surely be an exciting year as well.  Stay tuned for off-season news and announcements.  The banquet for the 2012 season will he held in the Spring, with date and location to be announced after the new year.

For more information about Cornwall Motor Speedway, please visit our website, www.cornwallspeedway.com. You can also visit us on Facebook for more useful information and fun contests at www.facebook.com/cornwallmotorspeedway.