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 Cantusci Big Winner at First Can-Am STK/SS Events
Victoria Smith - May 28, 2005
The Smith Performance Specialties Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series held its first two events of its eighth season lst Victoria Day weekend. The races were held as part of the Funny Car Fox Hunt and PMRA event at Toronto Motorsports Park. Gianni Cantusci was the big winner when he piloted his 2000 Pontiac Firebird to two event wins.
Saturday’s race drew twenty competitors from Ontario and New York areas. In first round action race winner Cantusci, from Stittsville, ON took out John McIntyre from Dunnville, ON, and went out to take out Richard Mowat in a battle of the Firebirds. After a quarterfinal bye run, Cantusci and Kirk Vanni met at the starting line with Cantusci coming out on top at the finish line. Last year’s series champion Wally Clark was event runner-up. Clark started out by eliminating Franco Cantusci, Ken Emes, and Mike Vanni. After breaking a transmission during his semi-final bye, Clark was unable to make the call for the final round, handing Cantusci the win.
On Sunday Cantusci kept his streak alive by eliminating Peter DeHoog in the first round and moving on to take out Saturday night’s runner-up Wally Clark. In the third and fourth rounds Cantusci benefited from red lights by Tom Simon and Kirk Vanni. It was a good weekend for Vanni, who advanced to his second semi-final in two races. Meeting Cantusci in the final round was DJ Raiser, from Buffalo, NY. On his way to the final round, Raiser won the first round against a fouling Jamie Groves. In the second round, Raiser took out Franco Cantusci, Gene Emes, and then took it easy on his bye run to the final. Gianni Cantusci won it all after forcing Raiser to take too much stripe as he broke out by just four thousandths.
 Series organizers were pleased with the car count for their first races of the season, and expect it to grow as the season progresses and are hoping for a record turnout at the first Can-Am Labour Day Nationals to be held at Toronto Motorsports Park in September. More details for those races will be announced soon. Racers are gearing up for their next events at Grand Bend Motorplex on June 4, and St. Thomas Dragway on June 19.
For a complete schedule and list of series sponsors visit www.smithperformance.com/can_am.html
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