Poirier sweeps Pro finals at Black Mountain for Rock Maple Racing
RUMFORD, ME (Dec. 15, 2008) - Veteran snowmobile racer Danny Poirier began a
new season in dominant style Sunday, sweeping the Pro class finals as Rock
Maple Racing (RMR) opened its 2008-09 snocross campaign at the Black
Mountain of Maine ski area.
Poirier, of St. Theodore, QC, passed early leader John O'Malley at the top
of the hill on lap 2 of the 14-lap Pro Stock final and led to the checkered
flag. Former champion Matt Boron powered his way to a solid second place
finish, while O'Malley hung on for third.
In the Pro Open final, Jason Rudd got the holeshot and led the first couple
of laps. Poirier picked up speed on the downhill section of the track, took
command at lap 3 and cruised home to complete the sweep. For Poirier's
Hulten Speed Sports (HSS) Polaris team, the weekend couldn't have gone any
better. Matt Boron got by Chris Chico late in the going to post his second
runner-up finish of the day, while Chico piloted his new Amsoil-sponsored
Arctic Cat to third for a podium finish. After years on Polaris sleds, Chico
is making the transition to Cat quite well.
Cory Culberson was the first winner in final round action Sunday, claiming
the five-lap Pro Vet final over Vermont's Rene Desrochers and New York's
Joey Santy. Based in Malone, Santy is known as "the racing chiropractor" and
gets around the track in fine fashion. Defending class champion Joe Lemieux
drew a gasp from the crowd when he crashed hard while going for the lead
headed for the final corner. Fortunately, Lemieux was uninjured and
completed the race.
Although her uncle Joe may not have had the best season opener, Michelle
Lemieux gave the family from St. Johnsbury, VT, reason to smile. Michelle,
who now resides in Cabot (yes, the home of Cabot cheese) held off defending
champion KC Anderson to claim the Pro Women's final, with Janell Smith
finishing third. When she was racing full time a couple of years ago,
Michelle was ranked in the top three nationally among female snocross
competitors.
In Semi-Pro action Sunday, Corin Todd and Lucas Brunelle kept the crowd
cheering. Todd, of Otego, NY, grabbed the holeshot in Semi-Pro Open and
never looked back. Lincoln Lemieux, who jumped up to Semi-Pro this year from
the Junior ranks in 2007, impressed all in attendance with a solid second
place run. Brennan Berardo (Land-Air/Ski-doo) kept the pressure on all race
and came home third. In Semi-Pro Stock, Brunelle got the advantage early and
held off Garrett Mees (All Island Plumbing/Ski-doo) for top honors. Todd
capped a strong weekend performance with a third place finish.
Sport division standout Joey Stock kicked off his new season in fine
fashion, holding off Charles House and Mike Simonson for top honors in the
Semi-Pro Stock 440 final. Simonson would not go home empty-handed, however,
as he claimed the Plus 25 final over Scott Edwards and Culberson. Stock also
claimed the Sport Super Stock finals on Saturday and Sunday, along with
Sunday's Sport Stock 600 final.
Edwards found redemption in the Sport 500 class, holding off Andrew Bailey
and Bruce Gaspardi Jr. for the win. Anderson picked up three wins to go
along with her second place run in the Pro Women's final. The gifted athlete
from Franklin, Maine, won Saturday's Women's Stock 600 final, then capped a
great weekend with victories in Stock 500 and Stock 600 on Sunday.
Other final round winners at Black Mountain Sunday include Sarah Acker
(Girls 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Joe Klimas Jr. (Sport Stock 600 Fan); Amanda
Patenaude (Women Stock Novice); William Defocie (Jr. 16-17 Stock 600 Fan);
Nick St. Amand (Jr. 16-17 Stock 500); Jake Scott (Jr. 14-15 Stock 500 and
Jr. 14-15 Stock 600 Fan); Leo Patenaude (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Montana
Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 380 Fan); Jessie Kirchmeyer (Jr. 8-10 Freestyle Sat.);
Hunter Patenaude (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Sun.); Derek Corey (Trail 600
Saturday); and Brandon Bell (Trail 600 Sunday).
RMR's East Series teams were also in action over the weekend at Black
Mountain. Final round winners Sunday afternoon include Matt Simonson
(Semi-Pro Open); Joe Mosher (Sport Stock 600); KC Anderson (Women Stock
600); Whitney Covill (Jr. 16-17 Stock 500); Nick St. Amand (Jr. 14-15 Stock
500); Leo Patenaude (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); and Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13
Stock 380 Fan).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank operations manager Peter Chase and the
entire staff at Black Mountain for hosting last weekend's event. With the
help of several volunteers from local snowmobile clubs, the place was more
than ready for racing when RMR officials arrived on Friday. An intense snow
making effort produced tons of the white stuff for a great track, and our
racers were deeply appreciative. Having host sites like Black Mountain makes
it a whole lot easier to conduct a motor sports event of this size.
Over 450 entries made for an action-packed weekend, with tight competition
among all divisions. While cold temperatures and a persistent wind made it
hard on fans Saturday, Sunday brought a nice warm-up so everyone could enjoy
the final rounds. Overall, it was a fantastic way to kick off the new
season.
For full results from Black Mountain in all classes or for more information,
please go to www.rockmaple.com. On behalf of
president Tara Saxton and the
entire RMR staff, Happy Holidays to one and all. RMR's next event is set for
Jan. 3-4, 2009, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Malone, New York.
Last Updated on 12/16/08
By George Campbell or Greg Fish
Email: neracing@neracing.com
