Fourth-place finish for Mat Williamson launches him to Series point lead
Cornwall, Ontario – Sunday, September 1st, 2013 – Martin Bélanger, Cornwall Motor Speedway Public Relations- Cornwall Motor Speedway was the host of the fourth race of the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series with the Jiffy Auto Services 125 in conjunction with the final round of the Gaetan’s Chip Stand Canadian Nationals Sunday, Sept. 1.
The final round Gaetan`s Chip Stand Canadian Nationals/DIRTcar 358 Modified Series, saw Chris Raabe took the initial lead in the 125-lap event as Stephane Lafrance quickly jumped to second. Caution came out on lap 3 as Mike Bowman had a fire in the back of his car.
On the following green, Lafrance grabbed the lead as the yellow lights came back on lap 9 with a 3-car tangle causing the caution. Lafrance lead the way over Raabe and Kayle Robidoux running in third. The yellow flag was back on the speedway on lap 18 as Joel Doiron slowed on the backstretch.
Lafrance stayed at the top with 25 laps down as Steve Bernard, now in third, passed Robidoux. Ledoux slowed the field down on the next lap. Bernard was on the move as he got Raabe and was chasing the leader Lafrance with 36 laps in the books.
Bernard build himself a sizeable lead as the race got momentum, Lafrance and Robidoux trying to get closer to the leader as they got into heavy traffic. A lap 55 caution occurred for Brandon Sweet and Justin Lalancette who got together on the front stretch.
Bernard rocketed to the lead on lap 60 with Matt Williamson making his way to fourth. Williamson continued his way up grabbing third on lap 70 while Bernard was comfortable in front. The mandatory caution occurred on lap 75 as the car stopped on the front stretch for a 10-minute pit stop.
The green was back after the break with Bernard in the lead, as the top 3 remained the same. The leaders got into heavy traffic on lap 85 as Lafrance was now close to Bernard but the leader was able to build a little distance with 30 laps to go. Dingwall got out of the speedway on lap 96 and the yellow was out.
On the following green, David Hebert found something running up to fourth as caution was out on lap 100. Looking for track championship and also the Canadian Nationals title, Mario Clair stopped on the front stretch and was sent to the pits. Only 1 lap was completed as championship contender Chris Raabe stopped in turn 4 opening the chances to others for the titles.
While Bernard was alone in front, Lafrance, Williamson and Hebert had a good battle for the other top 4 positions. Hebert got Williamson with 4 laps to go for third spot. Bernard led the final laps to capture the win over Lafrance and Hébert.
Bernard was smiling in the winner`s circle: “my friend were teasing me because I was mad last night not winning at Drummondville, but winning here tonight is very special!” Longtime supporter of big events at Cornwall, Bernard also noted this for his win: ”We have been coming here for so long and finally being able to win a big one is something I will remember for a long time!”
The Series will remain in Canada as round five will be held at Autodrome Drummond next Friday evening as the Modifieds will have a 75-lap event part of a busy month of September for this division.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Race #4-Cornwall Motor Speedway, September 1st, 2013 Jiffy Auto Services 125 Event Summary
Feature Results:
Steve Bernard, Stephane Lafrance, David Hebert, Mat Williamson, Erick Rudolph, Alain Boisvert, Brandon Easey, Joel Doiron, Yan Bussiere, Danny O’Brien, Tim O’Brien, Kayle Robidoux, Carey Terrance, Brian McDonald, Kyle Dingwall, Ryan Arbuthnot, Laurent Ladouceur, Jeff Sykes, Gabriel Richer, Roy Delormier, Gilles Godard, Yannick Ledoux, David Papineau, Chris Raabe, Justin Lalancette, Mario Clair, Zach Aubertine, Roger Levesque, Chad Chevalier, Mike Bowman
LAP LEADERS:
Raabe (1-7)
Lafrance (8-37)
Bernard (38-125)
Heat Races (8 laps, top 2 went to redraw, top 4 qualify)
H1: T.Obrien, Clair, McDonald, Godard, Richer, Doiron, Easey, Levesque
H2: Raabe, Robidoux, Hebert, Bussiere, Lalancette, Langlois, Wilson, Chicoine (DNS)
H3: Lafrance, Rudolph, D.O’Brien, Terrance, Ladouceur, Bowman, Lepage, Chevalier
H4: Boisvert, Bernard, Aubertine, Papineau, Arbuthnot, Sweet, Therrien, Bilodeau
H5: Williamson, Ledoux, Dingwall, Sykes, Dagenais, Hamel, Delormier, Stacey, Gauthier
Cornwall Motor Speedway DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Race #4 Roster (41)
01 Chris Raabe – Napanee, Ontario
1H David Hebert – St-Damase, Quebec
03 Zach Aubertine – Chaumont, N. Y.
4J Jeff Sykes – Edwards, N. Y.
06 Brandon Easey – St. Catharines, Ontario
6 Mat Williamson – St. Catharines, Ontario
10R Gabriel Richer – Les Coteaux, Quebec
12 Chad Chevalier – Port Colborne, Ontario
12L Yanick Ledoux – Granby, Quebec
13 Kevin Hamel – Yamaska, Quebec
15 Kyle Wilson – Joyceville, Ontario
17 Marc Therrien – Williamstown, Ontario
17d Danny O’Brien – Iverary, Ontario
21 Yan Bussiere – Drummondville, Quebec
22c Mario Clair – Drummondville, Quebec
22D Roy Delormier – Cornwall, Ontario
23 Laurent Ladouceur – Alexandria, Ontario
23b Dany Bilodeau – Victoriaville, Quebec
24b Roger Levesque – Kingston, Ontario
24 Brandon Sweet – LaFargeville, NY
25 Erick Rudolph – Ransomville, N. Y.
27 Gilles Godard – Summerstown, Ontario
27T Travis Stacey – Kahnawake, Quebec
31 Suzie Langlois – Yamaska, Quebec
40 Joel Doiron – Alexandria, Ontario
46 Kayle Robidoux- St. Constant, Quebec
54 Steve Bernard – Granby, Quebec
66 Kyle Dingwall – South Dundas, Ontario
66x Carey Terrance – Hogansburg, N. Y.
R70 Ryan Arbuthnot – Renfrew, Ontario
71 Mike Bowman – St. Catharines, Ontario
73 Alain Boisvert – Lachine, Quebec
88 Tim O’Brien – Kingston, Ontario
97 Michel Chicoine – Ste-Cecile De Milton, Quebec
98L Justin Lalancette – St. Andrews, Ontario
99 Bruno Lepage – Maple Grove, Quebec
115 Shephane LaFrance – St. Albert, Ontario
124 Pierre Dagenais – Gatineau, Quebec
151 Brian McDonald – Cornwall, Ontario
172 Andre Gauthier – Granby, Quebec
188 David Papineau – Akwesasne, Ontario
2013 DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Schedule
Mon. May 20, Merrittville Speedway, Thorold, Ont. – Matt Sheppard
Mon. July 1st, Cornwall Motor Speedway, Cornwall, Ont. – Matt Sheppard
Wed. July 3, Ransomville Speedway, Ransomville, N. Y. – Chad Brachmann
Sun. Sept. 1, Cornwall Motor Speedway, Cornwall, Ont. – Steve Bernard
Fri. Sept. 6, Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que. – 75 laps
Fri. Sept. 13, Mohawk International Raceway, Akwesasne, N. Y. – 100 laps
Fri. Sept. 20, Le RPM Speedway, St-Marcel De Richelieu, Que. – 100 laps
Sat. Sept. 21, Brighton Speedway, Brighton, Ont. – 100 laps
Wed. Oct. 9, Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Weedsport, N. Y. – 75 laps
Thurs. Oct. 10, Rolling Wheels Raceway, Elbridge, N. Y. – 75 laps
Sat. Oct. 12, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N. Y. – 150 laps
Sat. Oct. 19, Brockville Ontario Speedway, Brockville, Ont. – 100 laps
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Safety-Kleen. Contingency partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio, Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.
