Hebert battles Hearn, Robidoux for the win
GRANBY, QUEBEC — September 5, 2014 — David Hebert, of St-Damase, Quebec, fended off late-race challenges from Brett Hearn, of Sussex, N.J., to pick up the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series win Friday night at Autodrome Granby.
“It was a good race, a good car,” Hebert said. “I got to the front and the car stayed good to the end of the race.”
Thirty-eight cars started the 150-lap special on Granby’s half-mile, with Carey Terrance, of Hogansburg, N.Y., taking the initial lead over Erick Rudolph, of Ransomville, N.Y. Hebert started eighth on the grid and worked his way to the top five by lap 47.
Steve Bernier, who started seventh, quickly dashed to the front of the pack and overtook Terrance for the lead off a lap-25 restart. The race leaders approached slower traffic in lap 34, but Bernier skillfully maneuvered past lapped cars, putting distance between the his No. 25* and the second place car, Mario Clair’s No. 22c.
Meanwhile, Brett Hearn, out of Sussex, N.J., made it to twelfth in the running order by lap 54 after having started 32nd, and was setting his sights on the win.
Hebert was also making moves through the lapped traffic, making it to second place in lap 59 and challenging Bernier for the top spot. In lap 62, Hebert crossed the start-finish line ahead of Bernier by a nose, and before the leaders hit the backstretch Hebert had pulled ahead of the No. 25*.
However, with almost 100 laps left to the feature race, Hebert was hardly in the clear. After the completion of lap 75, the field took a mandatory five-minute pit stop to fuel up and make adjustments.
Hebert kept his lead when cars returned to the track. Behind him, Hearn was steadily working his way forward, powering past Clair and Yan Bussiere off a lap-94 restart for second. A caution in lap 96 for early race leader Bernier brought the field together again for a restart, and Hearn sped ahead at the green flag to claim the lead.
Hebert was not ready to let a win slip from him without a fight, and kept at Hearn’s tail. Kayle Robidoux, then in third, found some speed to pass Hebert in lap 105 and Hearn the next lap, but lap 106 was not complete when the yellow flag waved again.
Robidoux was able to again charge to the front, and Hebert was also fast enough on the next restart to pass Hearn as well.
In lap 110, Hebert pulled up beside Robidoux and battled him for four laps before he was able to reclaim the lead. The next 30 laps, Robidoux and Hearn fought for second, Hearn taking it in lap 128, Robidoux reclaiming the position in lap 132 and Hearn taking it back in lap 134.
With some momentum from the series of green laps, Hearn was able to make up some distance, challenging Hebert for the lead the last five laps, to no avail.
“I saw him at the bottom there, and I just pushed hard the last five laps and I stayed good,” Hebert said of his battle with Hearn.
Hearn finished second after Hebert and Robidoux third. Rounding out the top five are Clair in fourth and Dominic Dufault in fifth.
The DIRTcar 358-Modified Series continues Friday, Sept. 12, at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y. For more information about the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series, visit www.dirtcar.com.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Statistical Report
Autodrome Granby
Friday, September 5, 2014
A-Main (150 laps)
- 1 David Hebert – St-Damase, Quebec
- 20 Brett Hearn – Sussex, N.J.
- 46 Kayle Robidoux – St-Constant, Quebec
- 22c Mario Clair – Drummondville, Quebec
- 63 Dominic Dufault – St-Victoire-de-Sorel, Quebec
- 22J Gino Clair – Drummondville, Quebec
- 73 Alain Boisvert – Dorval, Quebec
- 16W Lance Willix – Theresa, N.Y.
- R70 Ryan Arbuthnot – Renfrew, Ontario
- 23b Dany Bilodeau – Victoriaville, Quebec
- 3 Claude Broulliard – Tracy, Quebec
- 97 Michel Chicoine – Ste-Cecile-de-Milton, Quebec
- 25 Erick Rudolph – Ransomville, N. Y.
- 99 Bruno Lepage – Maplegrove, Quebec
- 25P Michael Parent
- 21 Yan Bussiere – Drummondville, Quebec
- 44 Sebastien Gougeon – Drummondville, Quebec
- 64 Daniel Nadeau – Montreal, Quebec
- 47 Simone Perreault – Longeuil, Quebec
- 66x Carey Terrance – Hogansburg, N. Y.
- 49 Francois Bernier – St-Hyacinthe, Quebec
- 37 Paul St. Sauveur
- 25* Steve Bernier – St-Hyacinthe, Quebec
- 10 Gabriel Richer – Les Coteaux, Quebec
- 43 Sebastien Fournier – St-Leonard, Quebec
- 124 Pierre Dagenais – L’Ange Guardien, Quebec
- 54 Steve Bernard – Granby, Quebec
- 94 J.F. Corriveau – Granby Quebec
- 26 Maxime Viens – St-Cesaire, Quebec
- 39 Alex Therrien – Victoriaville, Quebec
- 44R Yvan Rivard
- 39A Alain Therrien – Victoriaville, Quebec
- 21J Jacques Poulen – Bolton-Est, Quebec
- 7 Patrice Demers – Drummondville, Quebec
- 8 Peter Britten – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 13 Kevin Hamel – Yamaska, Quebec
- 13R Roger Labreche – Saint-Remie, Quebec
- 13p Paul Hamel – Yamaska, Quebec
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, ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mobil 1, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD LLC, Fox Shocks, Pole Position Raceway, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.
