First SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES WIN FOR JACKSON GILL (16th Sept 2026 BLOG)
The last BLOG ended on the Thursday the 10th of September after returning from the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville NY.
It was day one of a three day show, and was a rain delayed round of the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series from the 1st of July , which also included the DIRTcar Sportsman.
Friday the 11th , they had another round of the 358 Series with a program that included Sprint Cars.
On Saturday it was the SUPER DIRTcar Series for Big Block Modifieds as well as a DirtCar Sportsman Series.
I was still taking things easy following my dose of flu, so decided to stay at home on the Friday.
Then on Saturday afternoon I set off from home in Cornwall, for another relaxing drive beside the St Lawrence to Lafargeville .
I was there by 4-30 pm and already many of the big teams had arrived. I wandered the pits and chatted to friends before taking up my usual position for Hot Laps.
The Modifieds were out first for Hot Laps , with the time trials following after the other divisions had theirs.
The Sportsman time trials were combined with their Hot Laps,
The ‘Late Model Alliance’ from the Brighton Speedway joined the Big Blocks and Sportsman on the program.
There was the good chance of rain arriving towards the end of the night , which is never a good thing. but looking on the bright side , when the prospect of this occurs , it often provides us with a bonus. It meant there were no unnecessary delays , and a ‘lets get it done’ attitude .
The Sportsman heats got the show rolling.
Then the Modifieds followed with their heats
Then it was the turn of the Late Models
There was a short break and some track prep , and the Sportsman had their Last Chance Qualifier
The 67 Lap Big Block race was the first of the features n
Erick Rudolph was the early contender , but as he dropped back the race looked like it would go to either Jack Lehner or Alex Yankowski.
While all this was going on Jackson Gill, who’d started 15th on the grid was moving his way up through the pack .
He caught up with the front runners and made the pass.
There was no stopping him as he went on to win his career first Super DIRTcar Series.
The close battle between Lehner and Yankowski happening behind him was hampered in the closing laps by the back markers . The top groove proved better to get past them, and at the checkers Yankowski managed to get there before Lehner;
The First three were Gill, Yankowski and Lehner
The DIRTCAR SERIES for Sportsman was up next .
This race had two of the divisions top runners, Tristan Ladouceur and Gavin Eisele starting at the front, so that’s pretty much how it stayed throughout, with them finishing first and second .
This was a first a career first Sportsman Series win for Tristan.
There were very few cautions and things looked good for me to have an early get away , once the Sportsman Victory Lane pics were done, (or so I thought) .
One of the downers when rain is expected , is to postpone Victory Lane ceremonies until the end of the night.
There was still a Late Model feature to go, (which I had no interest in ) so I was trapped on the middle until it was done.
Actually it was a pretty good race , and I think it had only one caution. The winner was AJ Miller .
Tristan’s Sportsman Victory pics were then done first .
We then moved on to do AJ Miller’s Late Model Victory pictures..
That brought the night to an end, and still with no rain in sight.
I was back home in good time , just after midnight.
By 2-00pm on Sunday , I was well rested when Don Simpson turned up to give me a ride to my next destination.
It was final points night at the Airborne Park Speedway , Plattsburgh NY.
The program consisted of all the regular classes of 358 Modifieds , Sportsman , Rookie Sportsman, Renegades, Crown Vics and Mini Stocks. .
We arrived in good time for the earlier than normal start time , with Hot Laps starting at 4-15 pm.
As usual I took my Hot Lap shots from the outside of turn four.
Once the hot laps were done I moved to middle , where Don and I met up with our buddy and resident Airborne photographer Kyle Coryea
The Rookie Sportsman were up first with their heats
Then the Modifieds followed with theirs
Nick Heyward , was on double duty that day , he raced his Modified first, and was later driving his Sportsman
Next up were the Mini Stocks
Then it was the Renegades
The Sportsman then took their turn
By now, Nick Heyward had switched seats and was behind the wheel of his Sportsman.
The final heat races were for the Crown Vics
After a break for a bit of track prep , the main event got under way.
The 40 lap feature for the 358 Modifieds.
Chris Raabe and Tim Fuller were on the front row, and that’s how it stayed for the full forty laps
The more interesting racing was taking place further down the field.
Points leader ,Mike Mahaney tried to catch the front runners , but never made it and had to settle for fourth.
Raabe stayed in font of Fuller , as they cruised their way to the checkers, with Felix Roy keeping them company in third.
Mike Mahaney’s fourth place was enough to take the 2026 Season Championship.
While the Presentations were taking place , a large black storm cloud was moving above us , so the Rookie Sportsman feature was hastily brought on to the track.
The race was only had a few laps in the books before a car hit the wall and the yellows came out.
While the tow trucks were attending to the stricken car , a few drops of rain were felt. It was ovious it was going to get a lot worse , so the cameras were put away and we waited for the chance to escape.
The rain got heavier and the inevitably the reds came out , as the three of us ‘togs’ scrambled off the middle to seek shelter.
As the rain became torrential , it was obvious to Don and I that, there would be two ways the scenario would end . Either the night would be cancelled or there would be a long delay before the track could be race ready.
We didn’t want a late night, so made our exit. We’d seen the main, so we were happy with that.
Kyle only lives a few minutes from the track so he waited for the outcome.
Once the rain stopped , he texted us to say, they planned to carry on racing and hoped to have the track ready in an hour.
We were well on our way home by then, and found out later, that in our absence Travis Bruno won the Sportsman feature.
So, I was back home in Cornwall at a sensible time, and ready to prepare for my next big adventure.