5/6/2025
Can-Am Speedway
From First Green to Checkered Thrills: Can-Am’s Season Off to a Blazing Start
Two down and many weeks left to go in the 2025 season at the Can Am Speedway in Lafargeville New York and the action has been nothing short of exciting with close finishes and great battles in all five divisions. Last week Fort Drum MWR and the Class D Basketball Champions, Lafargeville Lady Red Knights were on hand and witnessed a great evening of racing.
Lance Willix was the talk of the town in the 25 lap Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTcar 358 Modified feature event. The Theresa New York driver showed speed earlier in the night coming from last to first in two laps to dominate his heat event. In the feature Willix came from 11th to take the lead with 5 laps to go from Larry Welling Jr. Willix then put it on cruise control for his first win of the year and 6th of his Can Am Modified career.
It was another Corcoran-Murtaugh battle for the win in the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTcar Sportsman feature. The 20 lap event saw Richard Murtaugh take the lead from Corcoran early on and appeared to be headed to his first ever Can Am win. Traffic would play a role in the outcome. Corcoran ran down the leader and made a three wide pass on lap 18 to get by and score his second win in a row and 18th of his Can Am Sportsman career.
Genavieve Bartlett has turned plenty of heads in 2025 and on this night she thrilled the crowd with a late race pass for the lead. Early in the 12 lap Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman feature Brianna Murtaugh held the lead but Bartlett was on the move, making her way to second on lap 9. The caution flew on lap 10 setting up a thrilling finish. On the final restart, Bartlett shot to the high lane in turn one and took the lead from Murtaugh to go on for her second in a row last week.
Corey Valade and Francis White put on an epic battle for the win in the 15 lap Sundance Leisure Thundercar feature. White led the way while Valade made a big charge from the back of the starting grid, to put the pressure on the former track champion. Over the final laps Valade would make the move to edge by White off turn two with 5 to go and held on to claim his second in a row and third win at the speedway.
The night was complete with a 20 lap Panther Frameworx Crate Sprint Car feature, which saw the biggest field of cars to ever take the green flag. Andrew Hennessy led the way but a quick yellow on lap 1 slowed the field for the one and only time. On the restart Hennessy pulled away to a comfortable lead while three-time defending track champion Josh Verne Jr. made his way to second, but didn’t have enough to run down the leader. Without the help of a yellow flag, Hennessy cruised to his first win of the year and his 5th career Crate Sprint Car win at the track, which put him in a tie for second on the all time win list.
Next week it’s all about Mom as the annual Mother’s Day Special will feature a full card of racing in all five divisions with local Non-Profit Watertown Vet Center on hand. The Vet Center will be on hand with a display and be honored during opening ceremonies. Gates open at 5pm with the first green flag flying at 7pm. Be sure to give the track a follow on our Facebook page and don’t forget to add us to your favorites on My Race Pass to get all the up-to-date results, alerts and media releases at the speedway. To check out everything that’s going on all season long check out our website at racecanam.com.
Article Credit: Tim Baltz
Submitted By: Tyler & Michelle Bartlett
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