The MSD Performance DIRTcar Pro Stocks rolled out onto the Dirt Track at Charlotte Saturday night for their second and final Feature of the eighth annual World Short Track Championship.
The competition level was high with several accomplished veterans competing for the $3,000 payday in the 25-lap showcase – reigning DIRTcar Sportsman Series champion and night one Feature winner Luke Horning, 2022 World Short Track Championship All-Star Feature winner Pete Stefanski, and 2022 DIRTcar Pro Stock Series champion Bruno Richard.
The racing was immediately hampered with challenges, with pole sitter Kim Duell being forced to exit on Lap 4 after a multi-car collision around Turn 4 that drew a red flag. The momentum of the race continued to be staggered as a steady flow of cautions followed in the 31-car field.
Upon Duell’s exit, outside pole-sitter Stefanski assumed the lead with Denis Gauvreau joining him on the front row. The Wheatfield, NY driver navigated the 4/10-mile oval, finding his stride as best he could in the middle of a steady stream of cautions.
He remained as steadfast as he could, avoiding contact with other competitors in lapped traffic to not jeopardize his position. Due to the events’ time constraints for each division, the checkered flag was waved at Lap 12 with Stefanski still at the helm. It was his second career Feature win at the event.
“It’s amazing,” Stefanski said. “We were hoping for a top-five…we knew draw was important here so in the beginning, when the yellows started coming out, I knew I had to get out front for the time frame in the race. After (Duell) left, it was just hitting our marks every corner and just making sure we weren’t spinning out on our own… we’ve had a shock problem all year, but the guys down at the shock trailer helped me out yesterday… we just put the good shocks on that they got for us and the car was just absolutely perfect.”
Gauvreau held on to finish runner-up in his second visit to the event.
“I feel very good (about finishing second),” Gauvreau said. “My car isn’t very good on the restarts, but after that my car is very fast.”
Chris Dolack Photo
Lee, MA driver Zach Sorrentino finished in third place, crediting his solid restarts and wise decision making for his podium finish.
“Restarts were key,” Sorrentino said. “Being able to stay consistent with the guys in front of you and not trying anything foolish was key. But it was awesome. I absolutely loved it. We exceeded all expectations.”
Richard finished in fourth place while Horning finished in fifth place.
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2-Pete Stefanski[2]; 2. 72G-Denis Gauvreau[4]; 3. 54S-Zachary Sorrentino[6]; 4. 44X-Bruno Richard[15]; 5. 2H-Luke Horning[5]; 6. 04-Jaxson Ryan[7]; 7. 33-Bruno Cyr[12]; 8. 8C-Sean Corr[30]; 9. 8-Marc Lalonde[3]; 10. 6P-Shane Playford[31]; 11. 4M-Jordan Modiano[19]; 12. 09J-Shawn Perez Jr[20]; 13. 32-Jonathan Levesque[18]; 14. 9-Shane Henderson[14]; 15. 28-Philip DeFiglio[28]; 16. 63-Ryan Crellin[23]; 17. 58-Roxanne Roy[25]; 18. 7-Sean Brierley[27]; 19. 6C-Brian Carter[29]; 20. 56-John Fitzgerald[22]; 21. 25Y-Ken Griffin[16]; 22. 6-Stephane Lebrun[21]; 23. 9J-Eric Jean Louis[8]; 24. 5-Ian Bressette[17]; 25. 01-Francois Adam[26]; 26. 14-Kim Duell[1]; 27. 14J-Johnny Rivers Jr[9]; 28. 93-Kenny Martin[10]; 29. 15-Guy Viens[11]; 30. 35-Jonathan Lemay[13]; 31. 09-Shawn Perez Sr[24]
