Brad Rouse ready to challenge Joey Ladouceur for series point lead at his home tracks
WEEDSPORT, N. Y. – With three races in three days at three different tracks, the next week could make or break many competitors in the DIRTcar Sportsman Series. The weekend of racing kicks off Friday, Sept. 6, at Ransomville Speedway, continues Saturday, Sept. 7 at Merrittville Speedway, and concludes Sunday, Sept. 8, at Humberstone Speedway.
Just 31 points shy of the series point lead, driver Brad Rouse, of St. Catharines, Ontario, could win back the lead from division rookie Joey Ladouceur if he can pull off good finishes at his home tracks. Rouse runs weekly at Merrittville and Humberstone, and is no stranger this season to Ransomville’s tough half-mile.
“We have a little bit of an advantage because we run there all year,” said Rouse of his Ontario home tracks. “I get around real well at Merrittville. We have a really competitive field at Merrittville and it’s been a great season there. Hopefully that will be another good night for us,” he said of Saturday’s race.
Rouse has indeed had a successful season at the Thorold, Ontario, track coming up fourth in track points. He has the fifth spot at Humberstone Speedway.
“We’re just going to keep plucking along at these tracks and hope for some good finishes,” said Rouse, who sights are set beyond this weekend’s races. “We’re actually getting the car ready for the ‘Mile’ right now.”
The weekend’s three races will be followed up by races at Mohawk International Raceway, Brighton Speedway and Le RPM Speedway before the Sportsman Modified Series competitors take on Syracuse’s “Moody Mile” in their biggest race weekend of the year, NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds.
AT A GLANCE:
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series, Race 6
When: Friday, Sept. 6
Where: Ransomville Speedway, 2315 Braley Road, Ransomville, N. Y. 14131
About the Track: Half-mile clay oval
For more information: www.ransomvillespeedway.com or (716) 791-3602.
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series, Race 7
When: Saturday, Sept. 7
Where: Merrittville Speedway, 2371 Merrittville Highway, Thorold, Ontario, Canada
About the Track: 3/8-mile banked clay oval
For more information: (905) 892-8266 or www.merrittvillespeedway.com
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series, Race 8
When: Sunday, Sept. 8
Where: Humberstone Speedway, 1716 HWY #3 East, Port Colborne, Ontario L3K 5V4
About the Track: 3/8-mile clay oval
For more information: (905) 834-4002 or www.humberstonespeedway.com
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series points, top 30
| No | Driver | Total | Series | Bonus | Diff | Track | Money | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Starts | |
| 1 | 92J | Joey Ladouceur ® | 1401 | 401 | 1000 | 0 | Cornwall | $2,160 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | 18 | Brad Rouse | 1370 | 405 | 965 | -31 | Merritt/Humber | $2,350 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 3 | 3m | Mathieu Desjardins | 1328 | 343 | 985 | -73 | Granby/Drum | $1,000 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 41 | Boyd MacTavish | 1324 | 349 | 975 | -77 | Ransomville | $1,600 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | 25* | Steve Bernier | 1290 | 290 | 1000 | -111 | Granby/Drum | $2,450 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | 92p | Martin Pelletier | 1273 | 328 | 945 | -128 | Granby/Drum | $1,105 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | 52 | Jessica Power | 1251 | 296 | 955 | -150 | Cornwall | $850 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | 3a | Adam Hilton | 1216 | 284 | 932 | -185 | Ransomville | $1,505 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 9 | 18Jr | Louie Jackson Jr. | 1174 | 219 | 955 | -227 | Mohawk | $430 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | 1m | Bill Mullin | 1160 | 228 | 932 | -241 | Cornwall | $500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 11 | 2 | Jenna David | 1156 | 221 | 935 | -245 | Mohawk | $500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 12 | 8s | Justin Sharp | 1139 | 174 | 965 | -262 | Ransomville | $440 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 13 | 5 | Don Spatorico | 1135 | 150 | 985 | -266 | Ransomville | $485 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 14 | 90 | Danny Gagne | 1119 | 154 | 965 | -282 | Granby | $400 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 15 | 3d | Pat Dumouchel | 1107 | 167 | 940 | -294 | Granby | $400 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 16 | 7 | Cody McPherson | 1100 | 100 | 1000 | -301 | Merrittville | $220 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | 28 | Gary Lindberg | 1095 | 95 | 1000 | -306 | Humberstone | $600 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | 1R | Ricky Thompson | 1093 | 163 | 930 | -308 | Mohawk | $340 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 19 | 32 | Guy Ouelette | 1091 | 116 | 975 | -310 | Granby/Drum | $325 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 20 | O | Shane Pecore | 1080 | 80 | 1000 | -321 | Brockville | $200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | 47s | Corey Wheeler | 1076 | 76 | 1000 | -325 | Mohawk | $225 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 22 | 23 | Mike Stacey | 1073 | 145 | 928 | -328 | Cornwall | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | 21 | Jonathan Desliets | 1067 | 102 | 965 | -334 | Drummond | $240 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 | 63 | Chris Herbison | 1065 | 80 | 985 | -336 | Brockville | $275 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | 52 | James Michael Friesen | 1062 | 62 | 1000 | -339 | Ransomville | $140 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 | 4G | Greg Martin | 1053 | 98 | 955 | -348 | Ransomville | $210 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 27 | 14 | Brett Wright | 1045 | 45 | 1000 | -356 | Albany-Saratoga | $100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | 21 | Robert Delormier | 1045 | 105 | 940 | -356 | Mohawk | $200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 29 | 66 | Dan Wiesner | 1041 | 41 | 1000 | -360 | Canandaigua | $100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | 48b | Sebastien Bourque | 1036 | 101 | 935 | -365 | Drummond | $200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Safety-Kleen. Contingency partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio, Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.
