BY JOHN CIRILLO, for Empire City/Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Thursday, June 16, 2016—Yonkers Raceway’s team of
five premier drivers, led by points-leader Jordan Stratton, try to say “au
revoir” to their French counterparts. The group travels across the Atlantic
to Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris for the second leg of the
inaugural Drivers’ Cup Challenge.
There’s one race each next Friday (June 24) and Sunday
(June 26).
The first
leg saw Stratton win both Yonkers’ races in late March, one in a dead-heat with
YR captain Jason Bartlett. The locals won the opening round, 85 points to 47
(points awarded as
17/12/9/7/6/5/4/3/2/1, with five given in the event of a scratch).
In addition to Bartlett and Stratton, Tyler Buter, Dan Dube
and Pat Lachance are representing Westchester against a potent French
quintet of Pierre Vercruysse (captain), Matthieu Abrivard, Nicolas
Ensch, Pierre Levesque and Franck Ouvrie.
“I’ve driven at Vincennes before (in the World Driving Championship), and the
track is great, “Bartlett said. “It’s an honor to represent both Yonkers and
the U.S.”
As for Stratton, he’s keeping his eyes on the prize.
“I have to make sure to bring a suitcase big enough to
carry home the trophy,”
he
said.
Further information about the Vicennes portion of the
competition shall be sent when available.
