Dave Trudeau celebrates his third win of 2016 Wednesday at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Thompson Speedway)
THOMPSON – After getting his second win in as many starts in 2016 at Thompson on May 18, Dave Trudeau said he was surprised by his quick start.
It seems now the Mansfield driver shouldn’t be surprised by anything this year.
Thursday Trudeau kept his perfect season rolling in winning the 15-lap Mini Stock feature at Thompson Speedway.
It was the third victory in three starts this year for Trudeau, the reigning division champion.
“It’s a dream,” Trudeau said. “I don’t want to wake up. It’s fantasy land. I never start the season this good. It’s usually top-fives. I’ve never had three in a row.”
Eric Bourgeois of East Haddam was second and Wayne Burroughs Jr. of Oakdale third.
Trudeau went by Steve Michalski for second on lap five and by lap 10 he was tapping on Bourgeois bumper in the lead. On lap 11 Trudeau inched by Bourgeois at the line and was able to hang on.
William Wall was the overall winner on the night in the Late Model division after winning one of two 20-lap segment features and the final 10-lap showdown.
Wall, of Shrewsbury, Mass., held off the charges of Rick Gentes on the final lap of the 10-lap final shootout for victory. Gentes got low under Wall out of turn four and the made contact coming to the checkered flag.
“I honestly don’t know,” Wall said when asked how he held off Gentes. “Rick is one of the best of the best. Racing side-by-side with him is a challenge. I just had to hold my line and let it play out. … That was probably the hardest 10 laps I’ve ever had to race in a Late Model.”
Gentes, of Woonsocket, R.I., was second in the 10-lap final segment and Marc Curtis of Brookfield, Mass. third.
Larry Gelinas of Buxton, Me. won the first 20-lap Late Model segment. Wall was second and Brian Tagg of Oxford, Mass. third.
Wall won the second segment with Curtis finishing second and Brandon Warren of Chicopee, Mass. third. The two 20-lap segment events counted as track wins. Wall has now won three of the four feature events this season.
If Gelinas didn’t blow up in that second segment it would have been a hell of finish in that segment and the 10 lapper. RIP Lil Blackie