RYAN STABLER WINS THE OVIDE DOIRON MEMORIAL (4th June 2025 BLOG)
This weeks report begins on Thursday the 30th of May, when the Short Track Super Series was scheduled to make a stop at my local Airborne Park Speedway , in Plattsburgh. NY .
The weather forecast for the area didn’t look good , but according to face book reports from the track , there was a window of dry weather over the speedway.
After monitoring the situation throughout the day , I decided to head there with my usual Airborne companion Don Simpson. It was pouring with rain when we left Cornwall , and it did so for much of the journey.
When it wasn’t raining , the skies remained dark and over cast.
It was still like this when we arrived in Plattsburgh, but miraculously, there was a small patch of clear sky over Broderick Rd, just outside town where the track is located.
Things were looking up!
The place was dry , and track prep was taking place.
The car count and number of ‘punters’ in the grandstand, was obviously down, due to the doubtful weather.
The pre race drivers meeting was held at the scheduled time and warm up laps were set to begin. This took place as a huge dark cloud moved above us.
Before the cars had a chance to enter the track, the rain was coming down.
That was it ! shortly after , the night was cancelled and everyone was heading for home. This was the second consecutive week the track had rained out.
I had better luck 0n Friday night, when the much looked forwarded to, 2025 season opener at my local Mohawk International Raceway went ahead as planned . (well almost ! )
The weather forecast looked good , apart from the possibility of a late evening shower.
I was over the International Bridge and at the track in time to relax in the car until things got under way.
The program consisted of Twin 20 features for the Modifieds, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Pro Stocks and Mini Stocks.
The first feature was for the Rookie Sportsman and was won by Kobe Hernandez
Next up was the Ministock feature . This was won by CJ La Vair .
The first of the two 20 lap Modified features followed this.
Corey Wheeler took the early lead , and as Jarrett Herbison closed in, a duel for the lead developed.
Herbison edged past on the out side and stayed up front for the checkers.
This was his first career Modified win.
His father Chris told me after the race, this was quite a coincidence . Almost 25 years ago to the day, and the very same track, that he too, got his first ever Modified win. In those days the Mohawk International Raceway was known as the Frogtown Speedway.
Mike Watts Photo 2005.
The Sportsman feature was next , and what great race that was.
After seeing so many recent Sportsman features spoiled by cautions from over enthusiastic, aggressive driving , this was a joy to watch .
The top six drivers were all capable of the win, but respectful dueling by all made this race a good one. Shane Pecore passed early leaders Brennan Moore and Corey Castell to take the win. When the checkers fell , Nick Heywood had moved up to challenge but there were not enough laps left to find out what the outcome would have been .
The Pro Stock Feature was next , and just like Jarrett Herbison did in the Modifieds, Eric Jean-Louis did likewise and got his first career win.
It was then time for the final race of the night, the second of the two 20 lap Modified features.
Just as the cars entered the track the predicted late night rain arrived.
That was it , the cars returned to the pits and the night was over.
The wet weather continued into the next day and in the morning, the Brockville Ontario Speedway announced their second consecutive week of rain outs.
For me it was another Saturday night at home watching TV.
Sundays weather forecast wasn’t much better , but by mid day, the Cornwall Motor Speedway decided to go ahead with their show.
The two headline events were the Ovide Doiron Memorial for Modifieds and a DirtCar Series race for Sportsman.
These were joined by regular races for the Pro Stocks and Mini Stocks.
With all the recent rainouts drivers were hungry to race so the car count was high. This factor, plus the iffy weather and an 11-00 pm curfew looked like bad news right from the start.
Lots of cars , means more races , so once we’d had two brief rain showers causing the inevitable delays , it was a matter of getting as much of the show in as possible.
The only feature that got in the books was the most important one (to most of us) . The Ovide Doiron Memorial.
This race included Ovide’s son Joel , who came out of retirement to drive a tribute car in his late fathers colours.
The race was dominated by Ryan Stabler who fought off an early challenge from Brian McDonald to take the checkers , which fell about 20 minutes before the 11-00 curfew.
So this was turned out to be another show in my area to get ruined by rain .
It’s not only the race promoters who have to make difficult decisions about cancellations. It happens to all of us.
As many of you know, I make trips back to my home country of England as often as I can.
I never made it back last year with so much else going on, so was determined to rectify the situation this year. A few months ago I spotted a good deal on airline flights and booked a 7 day trip for June.
I was to leave Montreal late at night on the 10th bound for London Gatwick then return on the afternoon of Wednesday the 18th. I had two races that I planned to attend for BriSCA F1 stock cars at Ipswich and Gt Yarmouth, 14th/15th .
For the past month, I’ve been fighting a bronchial virus that won’t go away. The constant coughing and reaching has to led pressure on a disc thats resulted in severe back pain .
I was hoping everything would be cleared up , so I’d be fit to make the trip, but with just one week to go, not feeling much better and a string of physio appointments , I had to make a decision. I could not fly , in that state.
So , I had to cancel everything.
Hopefully I will make it back later in the year.
This weeks BLOG ends with the usual Wednesday Cruise Night in Cornwall. .
