Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Friday, June 26 at Mohawk International Raceway saw Carey Terrance take his second win of the year in the 358 Modifieds, with Corey Wheeler doing the same in the Sportsman race. Greg Snyder and Derrick Ellsworth took first wins of the season in the respective Novice Sportsman and Mod Lite bouts. Matt Zira cruised to his fourth win of the year in the Bandit race.

The evening included a special recognition for Mod Lite driver Louis Jackson Jr. The Salmon River senior skipped commencement so he could compete. Following the Mod Lite feature race, his family and fellow racers gathered on the track and he received his diploma.

After that, kids got to compete in a tire race, with Nate Wade, Dylan Wood, Karah White and Tyler Bethel claiming trophies.

In 358 Modified action, John Mulder and Jordan McCreadie brought the field to the green flag, but it was third place starter Brian McDonald who would lead lap one over Mulder, Tom Conklin, McCreadie and Carey Terrance. With the outside groove being the fast way around, McDonald used that to his advantage as he pulled out to a big lead, but Terrance was on the move from his sixth starting spot. The 2010 track champion moved into second by lap six, and began to close the gap on McDonald as the race neared the one-third mark.

By lap nine, Terrance had caught McDonald and did all he could do to take away the top spot while behind them Conklin, Chris Raabe and McCreadie raced hard for a top five position. On lap 12, Terrance took over the top spot and began to put on a dominant performance. With Terrance well out front, Raabe and McDonald put on a fantastic show for second and third, swapping the position several times with many crossover and slide job moves before Raabe took control of the second spot for good on lap 22. By lap 23, Terrance had nearly lapped up to 10th place Pat O'Brien and was on the charge.

However, this all changed on lap 29 as the yellow flew for Danny O'Brien, who had mechanical issues in turn two. With a one-lap shootout to decide the winner, Terrance had to get a great restart, and he did just that as he held off a very determined Raabe at the finish to become the first two-time winner of the year. Raabe, McDonald, Billy Dunn and McCreadie completed the top five finishing order.

In Sportsman action, Ricky Thompson took over the lead from the drop of the green flag over Brianna Ladouceur and Corey Wheeler. Thomspon had a fast car, but a lap two caution bunched up the field, giving Ladouceur a shot at the race lead. When the green flew, Ladouceur went to the high side and drove by Thompson for the lead with Wheeler still in third. Thompson re-grouped and drove to the extreme outside. By lap 6, he would retake the top spot as behind the top two, Wheeler, Louie Jackson Jr. and Sid Harmer Jr. were all closing in to try and get their shot at the top spot.

On lap 15, Wheeler dipped to the low side and made the move work as he took over the lead bring Jackson to second. Thompson, Ladouceur and Harmer continued to round out the top five. On lap 18, Thompson's great run ended with a blown engine, bringing out the yellow flag.

When the race went back under green, Wheeler remained in control, but points leader Shane Pecore was on the move from his tenth starting spot. Pecore drove by Ladouceur for third on lap 22, then took over second from Jackson coming to the white flag. Despite his late race charge, nobody was going to catch defending track champion on this night as Wheeler became the first two-time winner in 2015. Pecore crossed in second, with Dylan Evoy coming from 12th on the grid to finish up third. Zach Arquiett and Harmer completed the top 5.

The Novice Sportsman event saw one of the most exciting finishes of the year as Gabriel Cyr took the lead at the start of the race over Joel Herne and Madison Mulder. Cyr had one of the fastest cars out there, but on lap 10, Darryl Mitchell spun in turn two, bunching up the field for a key restart. When the green flew, Cyr continued to lead but former Street Stock champion Greg Snyder found the outside to his liking as he took second from Mulder, then chased down the race leader Cyr. On the final lap, Snyder put it all on the line as he drove to the high side in turn four and sailed by Cyr to record his first win in the Novice Sportsman division. Cyr came home second, with last week's winner Herne crossing in third.

The 15-lap Mod Lite feature was a fantastic show, as Derrick Ellsworth had the fastest car on the track taking the lead by lap one from his sixth starting spot over John Foster, Dan Reif, Mathieu Robinson and Dan Desnoyers. By lap six, Ellsworth was on cruise control building up a full straightaway lead while Foster and Robinson tried to keep pace. On lap seven, the first of three cautions flew. Cameron Reif spun, bunching up the field for the restart. When the green flew, Ellsworth took the lead away and seemed destined for victory as he pulled away once again. On lap 13, the yellow flew for the final time, which made more work for Ellsworth. When the green flew for the final time, Jesse Hudson made one last shot at the leader. It wasn't enough, as Ellsworth stormed on to victory over points leader Hudson and Harley Brown.

In the 12-lap Bandit feature, Cory Castell grabbed the lead in the early going over Matt Zira and Dudes Thompson. Castell would lead the first two laps before the caution flew, bunching up the field for the only restart of the race. On the restart, Castell continued his great run, but Matt Zira was ready to pounce. On lap four, Zira made a daring three-wide pass to take the lead from Castell, bringing Thompson with him to second. By halfway, Zira had nearly a straightaway lead over the entire field and from there would go unchallenged to score his second in a row and fourth victory of the season, with Cory Castell and Neil Martin in tow.

Next week, the second round of the Frenchie's Chevy Runs Deep 358 Modifieds is set for battle, along with a full show in all divisions. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

358 Modified - Carey Terrance, Chris Raabe, Brian McDonald, Billy Dunn, Jordan McCreadie, Lance Willix, Tim Fuller, Tom Conklin, Gage Morin, Pat O'Brien, Luke Stewart, Dexter Stacey, John Mulder, Matt Woodruff, Charlie Rice, Craig Collier, David Papineau, Danny O'Brien, Jenna David, Patrick Dupree, (DNS) George Foley

Tyler Bethel got to take home a tire race trophy.

Sportsman - Corey Wheeler, Shane Pecore, Dylan Evoy, Zack Arquiett, Sid Harmer Jr., Gilles Godard, Brianna Ladouceur, Louie Jackson Jr., Wyatt Mullin, Mike Maresca, Moise Page, Mike Stacey, Thomas Cook, Adam Rozon, Delbert Legrow, Rick Reandeau, Joel Hargrave, Larry Welling Jr., Nolan Swamp, Jean-Nicholas Garreau, Delbert Legrow Jr., Robert Delormier, Billy Cook, Brad Winters, Tim Smythe, Kyle Sharp, Ricky Thompson, Jordan Miller

Novice Sportsman - Greg Snyder, Gabriel Cyr, Joel Herne, Madison Mulder, Styles Arquiett, Junior Delormier, Darryl Mitchell, Regi Castelle

Mod Lite - Derrick Ellsworth, Jesse Hudson, Harley Brown, Mathieu Robinson, John Foster, Dan Reif, Kevin Foster, Rej Lemieux, Dan Desnoyers, Steve Jeffery Jr., Jason Paige, Cameron Reif, Benjamin Cartier, Nick Mallette, Brad Reif, (DNS) Henry Lamica

Bandit - Matt Zira, Cory Castell, Neil Martin, Dudes Thompson, Shane Ray, Curtis Smith, Devan Cook, John Messenger, Richard Thorton, (DNS) Corbin Millar