Strong run for Mathieu Desjardins makes him DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series Champion
BROCKVILLE, ONTARIO – Saturday, October 18, 2014 – Martin Bélanger, DIRTcar Correspondent – With the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series title within reach, Shane Pecore and his race team gave Saturday’s series finale at Brockville Ontario Speedway every ounce of effort they could muster. It paid off with a trip to victory lane in the 1000 Islands RV Centre Fall Nationals feature race, but the win wasn’t enough to clinch the title. Mathieu Desjardins finished fourth and gained enough points to keep the lead and become the 2014 DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series Champion.
Mike Maresca and Pecore were on the top row of the 50-lap event, Maresca taking the initial lead before point Brad Rouse broke his mount to bring the race’s first caution. Thus ended point runner-up Rouse’s run for the series championship. On the following green, Pecore led the way over Maresca with Corey Wheeler in third.
The caution was thrown on the field for Thomas Cook on lap 3, again slowing the field down. Pecore was back to the lead with Dany Gagne passing Wheeler for third when the green was back on the speedway. Wheeler and John Mills completed the top 5.
A few cars got together in turn 4 and the yellow lights got lit with 12 laps in the books. Maresca surprised Pecore with a charge on the restart as Mathieu Desjardins started to make some noise in sixth. Gilles Godard hit the wall hard and caution was out on lap 18. On the restart, big accident occurred involving several cars, bringing the field to a stop.
Pecore powered to the lead with Desjardins making some great moves to go up to third spot on that restart as Maresca held onto second.
Just before midrace, No. 0 car of Pecore was alone in the lead with Maresca, Desjardins, Wheeler and Gagné, the top 5 at the halfway point. Mathieu Laramee spun in turn 2 and yellow was out with 23 laps to go.
Another accident occurred on the restart with John Mills rolling over, sending the field to a stop for a second time during this event.
The restart took Pecore to the lead with Maresca and Desjardins behind him as Dany Gagne, running fourth, lost his great spot as he went off the speedway with 33 laps in.
The event got some momentum at the end as Pecore led the final portion to capture his second DIRTcar Sportsman feature in front of Maresca and Wheeler. Finishing in fourth, Mathieu Desjardins was able to get the DIRTcar championship by one point over Pecore.
“We had a great car, we ran hard. Winning here at the Fall Nationals is quite something,” said winner Shane Pecore.
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series Champion Mathieu Desjardins was really happy: “We worked so hard for this championship, a great way to finish our season, as we are probably moving to Modified in 2015.”
DIRTcar Sportsman Series Race #12—Brockville Speedway, October 18, 2014 Event Summary
Feature Results: Shane Pecore, Mike Maresca, Corey Wheeler, Matheiu Desjardins, Jessica Power, Joey Ladouceur, Martin Pelletier, Justin Lalancette, Jeremy Lasalle, Mathieu Laramée, Adam Leslie, Louie JacksonJr, Cody McPherson, Mike Stacey, Dany Gagné, Thomas Cook, Brad Rouse, Dillon Sallows, Jon Mills, Dylan Evoy, Jason Shipclark, Jonathan Ferguson, Ryan Scott, Bruce Makinson, Aaron Pugh, Ryan Stabler, Gilles Godard, Ricky Thompson, Wyatt Mullin, Greg Ezard
LAP LEADERS:
Pecore (1-12)
Maresca (13- 18)
Pecore (19-50)
Heat Races (8 laps, top 2 went to redraw, 4 to feature)
#1: C.Wheeler, J.Mills, J.Lalancette, W.Mullin, R.Stabler, B.Comeau, G.Ezard, S.Billings, B.Johnson
#2: S.Pecore, J.Ladouceur, B.Makinson, M.Laramee, C.Winters, B.Rouse, R.Delormier, J.Cummings, S.Desrochers
#3: D.Evoy, C.McPherson, A.Leslie, A.Pugh, T.Cook, J.Shipclark, S.Stearns, D.Andre, S.McGill,
#4:R.Thompson, M.Maresca, J.Lasalle, M.Stacey, L.Jacksonjr, B.Ladouceur, J.Power, C.Dawdy, T.Draper
#5:M.Desjardins, D.Gagne, M.Pelletier, D.Sallows, J.Ferguson, R.Scott, Z.Arquiett, G.Godard, B.Cook
B-Mains:
#1: R.Stabler, B.Rouse, G.Ezard, T.Cook, J.Ferguson, B.Ladouceur, S.Stearns, J.Cummings, Z.Arquiett, C.Dawdy, B.Cook, S.McGill, B.Johnson
#2: L.Jackson, R.Scott, J.Shipclark, J.Power, G.Godard, C.Winters, S.Desrochers, S.Billings, R.Delormier, D.Andre, B.Comeau
Brockville Speedway DIRTcar Sportsman Series Race #12 Roster (45)
0 Shane Pecore/St-Andrews, ONT
1 Robert Delormier/Akwesasne, NY
1M Mathieu Desjardins/Sorel, QUE
1r Ricky Thompson/Snye, QUE
B3 Steve Billings/Brockville, ONT
4 Samuel Desrochers/Granby, QC
4 Scott McGill/Cornwall, ONT
5 Wyatt Mullin/Finch, ONT
B7 Brian Comeau/Smith Falls, ONT
7 Mike Maresca/Hawanna Falls, NY
7 Cody McPherson/St-Catherines, ONT
11K Dillon Sallows/Kingston, ONT
L12 Jeremy Lasalle/Brockville, ONT
14 Zach Arquiett/Brasher Falls, NY
15B Brianna Ladouceur/Cornwall, ONT
17 Tristan Draper/Sydenham, ONT
18jr Louie Jackson jr/Akwesasne, NY
20 Jason Shipclark/Brockville, ONT
22s Shane Stearns/Brockville, ONT
23 Mike Stacey/Kahnawake, QC
27a Gilles Godard/Alexandria, ONT
29x Ryan Scott/Kingston, ONT
30 Brad Rouse/St.Catharines, ONT
30L Adam Leslie/St.Catharines, ONT
32j Jason Cummings/Brockville, ONT
35 Thomas Cook/Hogansburg, NY
44 Jonathan Ferguson/Brockville, ONT
47s Corey Wheeler/Cornwall, ONT
52 Jessica Power/Kingston, ONT
63 Cory Winters/Finch, ONT
M70 Billy Cook/Hogansburg, NY
77E Ryan Stabler/Cornwall, ONT
81 Bruce Makinson/Ottawa, ONT
81j Bucky Johnson/Brockville, ONT
83 Dylan Evoy/Brockville, ONT
84 John Mills/Gananoque, ONT
87 Greg Ezard/St-Andrews, ONT
88c Connor Dawdy/Kingston, ONT
90 Dany Gagne/Granby, QUE
91 Mathieu Laramee/St-Hyacinthe, QUE
92p Martin Pelletier/Sorel, QUE
92 Joey Ladouceur/Alexandria, ONT
98 David Andre/Cornwall, ONT
98h Justin Lalancette/St-Andrews, ONT
180 Aaron Pugh/Kingston, ONT
2014 DIRTcar Sportsman Series Schedule
Date Track Location
Sun., June 1 Cornwall Speedway Cornwall, Ontario M.Pelletier
Wed., July 2 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville, New York J.Sharp
Mon., July 21 Autodrome Granby Granby, Quebec M.Pelletier
Tues., July 22 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville, Quebec S.Pecore
Fri., Sept. 5 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville, NY J.Friesen
Sat., Sept. 6 Merrittville Speedway Merrittville, Ontario C.McPherson
Sun., Sept. 7 Humberstone Speedway Port Colborne, Ontario M.Desjardins
Sat., Sept. 13 Mohawk International Raceway Akwesasne, New York D.Evoy
Fri., Sept. 19 Brighton Speedway Brighton, Ontario G.Lindberg
Sat., Sept. 20 Le RPM Speedway St. Marcel de Richelieu, QC M.Desjardins
Wed., Oct. 8 Cayuga County Fairgrounds Speedway Weedsport,NY D.Marcucilli
Sat., Oct. 11 New York State Fairgrounds Syracuse, NY J.Spellmon
Sat., Oct. 18 Brockville Speedway Brockville, Ontario S.Pecore
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.
