Patrick Laperle Prevails in Wild PASS North 150-Lapper at Autodrome Chaudiere
Runner-up finish in borrowed car keeps Joey Doiron atop Series standings
Vallee-Jonction, QC – Patrick Laperle of St. Denis, Quebec rebounded from an early-race spin to earn his first trip to victory lane in Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Model competition in six years on Saturday night in the Frameco 150 at Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec.
Charging from the back of the pack after starting from 16th position in the 28-car Super Late Model field, Laperle wheeled his LaSalle Ford/Vision Harley-Davidson-sponsored machine through traffic almost flawlessly, setting up a late-race battle versus hometown competitor Martin LaTulippe, in the closing laps.
Occasionally swapping paint, Latulippe, fought a gallant battle throughout the event, but couldn’t hold back the talented Laperle, a proven champion in Late Model competition. Laperle, whose last PASS North triumph came in a $12,000-to-win 250-lapper at Maine’s Unity Raceway in 2007, was chased under the checkered flag by Joey Doiron of Berwick, Maine.
Doiron, who fought what turned out to be insurmountable problems with the powerplant in his Wild Willy’s Burgers/JBJ Machine 73, started the event in a car numbered 68, borrowed from the Precision JLM team and driver DJ Shaw. For Doiron it was a third consecutive PASS North SLM runner-up finish, He chased the racer he borrowed his ride from under the checkered flag at Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway a couple of weeks earlier, and finished behind Cassius Clark in the series opener at Oxford Plains Speedway. Doiron, 21, continues to lead the PASS North Super Late Model championship standings.
Latulippe, who led the most laps in the 150-lap main event, settled for third position at the finish line. He’d spent most of the race battling with six-time series champion Johnny Clark of Farmingdale, Maine. Clark had the lead when a flat tire forced him to the pit area in the late stages of the event, setting up the late race battle between Latulippe and Laperle.
Quebec racers Karl Allard of St-Felicien and Alex Gingras of Quebec City rounded out the top five. Gingras led the event’s opening laps and ran amongst the leaders until forced to make an unscheduled pit stop and subsequent charge back into contention.
The Frameco 150 was the first of three Pro All Stars Series events scheduled for this season at Autodrome Chaudiere, comprising the Autobus Quebecois Triple Crown Series. In addition to race purse earnings, a $35,000 bonus plan is offered for drivers competing in all three events at the Vallee-Jonction, Quebec racetrack, with the overall champion of the series claiming a $7000 prize. The second event in the three-race series is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, with NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch a confirmed entry.
The next Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Model event is scheduled for Saturday, May 25 at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. Post time is set for 4:00 p.m. For more information, please visit proallstarsseries.com or call (207) 693-6497.
Results from Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Model Race #3, The Frameco 150, Race #1 of the Autobus La Quebecoise Triple Crown, Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallee-Jonction, Quebec. (Finishing position, car number, driver, hometown, laps completed)
1. 91 Patrick Laperle, St. Denis, QC, 150 Laps
2. 68 Joey Doiron, Berwick, ME, 150
3. 84 Martin Latulippe, Vallee-Jonction, QC, 150
4. 7 Karl Allard, St-Felicien, QC, 150
5. 27 Alex Gingras, Quebec, QC, 150
6. 61 Marc Andre Cliché, Vallee-Jonction, QC, 150
7. 17 Travis Benjamin, Morrill, ME, 150
8. 54 Johnny Clark, Farmingdale, ME, 150
9. 29 Trevor Sanborn, East Parsonsfield, ME, 150
10. 12 Steve Cote, Montreal, QC, 150
11. 60 DJ Shaw, Center Conway, NH, 150
12. 84 Scott Mulkern, Falmouth, ME, 150
13. 23 Lonnie Sommerville, Barnesville, NB, 150
14. 20 Mike Landry, Oakland, ME, 150
15. 4n Ben Rowe, Turner, ME, 150
16. 36 Alex Labbe, St-Albert, QC, 150
17. 77 Cassius Clark, Farmington, ME, 150
18. 7 Curtis Gerry, South Waterboro, ME, 149
19. 47 Kelly Moore, Scarborough, ME, 149
20. 21 Jean-Francois Dery, Quebec, QC, 136
21. 42 Corey Bubar, Windham, ME, 102
22. 80 Donald Theetge, Boischatel, QC, 87
23. 2 Matt Matheson, Oromocto, NB, 75
24. 22 Aaron Ricker, Tamworth, NH, 63
25. 16 Kevin Roberge, Quebec, QC, 47
26. 39 Chad Dow, Faifield, ME, 46
27. 42x Eric St. Gelais, St-Aim Des Lac, QC, 35
28. 9 Brandon Watson, Stayner, ON 1
Sources: PASS North PR