Local Heroes Take Stage Next On Friday Night At Can-Am Speedway; Gill Grabbed Glory In Opener
Story By: TIM BALTZ / CAN-AM SPEEDWAY – LAFARGEVILLE, NY – The 2025 season at the Can-Am Speedway kicked off with exciting finishes and great racing despite a threat of rain from up above.
Representatives with VP Racing Fuels and Number One Speed Truck Accessories along with the Alzheimer’s Society Central New York Chapter and a great crowd, were treated to fantastic racing in the Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTcar 358 Modifieds. Jackson Gill grabbed the lead early, mastered lapped traffic and held off Billy Dunn and Tim Fuller to score his first ever Can Am Modified win.
The Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTcar Sportsman welcomed the first leg of the DIRTcar Sportsman North Regional Series for a 30 lap contest. Young stars Richard Murtaugh and Tyler Corcoran traded the lead several times over the final laps, before Corcoran got the advantage with two laps to go and cruised to his second straight opening day win, 7th career series win and 17th Sportsman win at Can Am with Gavin Eisele crossing third.
Genavieve Bartlett was the dominant force in the Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman class, claiming her second career win in the 12 lap event on Friday night. Bartlett grabbed the lead was never challenged the entire race with Mason Rogers collecting his best career finish of second, while Brianna Murtaugh came up for a third place finish.
Gatineau Quebec’s Bruno Richard dominated the early laps of the Panther Frameworx Crate Sprints. A late caution in the 20 lap affair gave the field one last chance to get the lead, however Richard was perfect on the restart and pulled away to score his second career sprint car win over last year’s opening day winner Tucker Donath and Andrew Hennessy.
The 15 lap Sundance Leisure Thundercar event saw a few early cautions slow the race but once the laps clicked off it was Rome New York’s Corey Valade taking the lead and driving away from the field. Michael Greenfield charged to the runner up spot and was looking for his second opening day win but ran out of laps as Valade scored the win. Teammate Justin Pope collected the third spot at the finish.
This week it’s Five Dollar Friday’s at Can Am, with a full card of racing in all five divisions taking to the speedway, plus some special guests will be on hand. State champion Lafargeville Central School Girls Basketball team will be at the speedway with their coach and be honored for the outstanding achievement. Local non profit Fort Drum MWR will be in attendance and Victoria Hartin has been named as anthem singer for the night.
Gates open at 5pm with the first green flag of the night falling at 7pm.
