Autodrome Granby results 2004-09-03

GRANBY, QC, September 5, 2004 --- David Hebert of the S.D. Performance team achieved his goal last Friday night at Autodrome Granby by clinching the CARQUEST Auto Parts title in the Modified division. The St-Damase driver did it his own way by winning the last feature race of the season. As for John Karklin Jr. of the Empire Super Sprint, he made his second visit of the year in the winner's circle at this speedplant while track favourite, Alain Bergeron was forced to quit with only two laps remaining.

With 29 sprint cars in the pits and the conclusion of the championship in all classes, promoter Bob Gatien worked very hard with his crew to prepare the track since it had rained in the afternoon. It's with a 45-minute delay that the first green flag was dropped but unfortunately the Sportsman feature had to be cancelled at end of the evening due to rain.

On the first row with his teammate, David Hebert, the points' leader, let Richard Chauvin take the first spot at the beginning for a safe start. Then, five laps later, Hebert was able to get by Chauvin. Winner last week, Martin Roy started to put pressure on Chauvin and by the halfway mark, he was able to take him. A few laps later, Chauvin caused the third yellow flag of this 30‑lap feature due to a flat tire.

At the restart, Roy got by Hebert to take the first place but Hebert regain it with four laps remaining. It was his fourth win of the season.

After starting at the end of the field because he decided to change car and try his brand new Bicknell, Pierre Dagenais of Gatineau, made a strong comeback to finish second in front of Martin Roy, Real Lafrance and Mario Moreau. For the second time this season at Autodrome Granby, Dagenais was disqualified because his car didn't have the required weight.

Cancelled

The Sportsman feature race, the last event on the program, had to be cancelled due to rain. Since Sebastien Gougeon and Michel Dusseault were very close in the points' standings and that, earlier in this evening, both drivers had won their respective heats, the fans had high expectations for this feature race.

DIRT rules do not allow for this feature to be rescheduled, therefore Gougeon was given the Castrol title.

Perfect night

Like Mike Woodring who registered many wins at Autodrome Granby, John Karklin Jr. has only good words for this Eastern Townships speedplant. On his two visits this season he was in the winner's circle, his only two wins so far this year.

After winning his heat race, Karklin led the 25-lap feature to have the best on Tim Kelly and Mike Stelter.

As for local favourite Alain Bergeron, bad luck was on the program for him. Before having to withdraw due to a contact with the concrete wall, after an incident with Don Sharp Jr., Bergeron had time to prove his skills to his fans. Fifth at the start, Bergeron constantly challenged Mike Stelter. On many occasions, Bergeron was able to get by Stelter in the turns, but Stelter always managed to take back his spot in the straightaway.

In the Semi-Pro division, by winning his first feature race of the season, Normand Voghell took the title with only a three-point margin over Stephane Larivière who finished fourth behind Gaetan Gatien, the early leader, and Michel Tessier. In the 4 Cylinders class, a sixth win for Sylvain Gagnon was not enough and it is Jonathan Junbinville, with his second place finish, who ended the season with a first crown in his young career.

$5,000 to be won

Next Saturday, promoter Bob Gatien will stage the second annual "Festival du stock-car" sponsored by CARQUEST Auto Parts. Starting at three o'clock with time trials, there will be an open wheels show with two 100-lap features for Modified and Sportsman. The winner on the Modified will go home $5,000 richer.

Then on Sunday, there will be the 200-lap Enduro for the Semi-Pro, a 50-lap feature for the 4 Cylinders and a 30-lap feature for the 6 Cylinders.

MODIFIED (30 laps)
1- 1, David Hebert; 2- 90, Martin Roy; 3- 11, Real Lafrance; 4- 5, Mario Moreau; 5- 2, Marco Potvin; 6- 61, Steve Poirier; 7- 46, Kayle Robidoux; 8- 09, Alex Fortier; 9- 8, Christian Salvas; 10- 66W, Wallace Stacey; 11- 10, Patrice McGrail; 12- 22J, Gino Clair; 13- 31, Richard Chauvin; 14- 4, Leon Gonyo; 15- 78, Vince Quenneville Jr.; 16- B8, Adam Bartemy; 17- 19, Guy Parenteau; 18- 3, Claude Brouillard; 19- 21, Ian Bussière; 20- 2x, Mario Lajoie; 21- 39, Clement Therrien; 22- 124, Pierre Dagenais (disqualified).

-ag-