SCARBOROUGH WINS AND THE BATTLE FOR THE TITLE GOES ON
GRANBY, Qué., August 24, 2002—It’s only at the end of next Friday program at Autodrome Granby that the champion for the 2002 season will be known. Last Friday, American driver Donald Scarborough clearly showed that he has no intention to let Claude Brouillard fly home with the Modified crown, the gold ring and the $10,000 check that goes with it. With his second success of the present season, he has now reduced Brouilllard’s lead to only 16 points. The Teo/Eau Labrador couldn't better than a sixth place finish.
Ninth on the starting line-up for this 30-lap feature, Scarborough saw Richard Chauvin take the early lead. Then, on the second restart on lap seven, Scarborough who was then third, was able to get by fellow American Leon Gonyo for the second spot. From that moment, Scarborough started to put pressure on Chauvin and during more than 20 laps, they were side-by-side with Chauvin refusing to leave his place. But, on lap 28, Chauvin made the little mistake that Scarborough was hoping for. That was enough for Scarborough to take the checkered flag.
Despite a second place finish, Chauvin was very pleased with his race, his best of the season. Steve Poirier finished third followed by Leon Gonyo and Jerry Pinnock Jr. As for Réal Lafrance, the defending champion, he couldn’t do better than an eleventh position.
Young Andrew Ranger, the son of veteran driver Robert Ranger, was making his debut in the Modified class. At only fifteen years old, Andrew has won many titles in karting. He failed to make the feature due to engine problems during his qualification.
Besides Scarborough who had a perfect night, Richard Chauvin and Mario lajoie were also the winners in the qualification heats. Furthermore, in the Modified division, Clément Therrien was the winner of a 15-lap race for non winners this season. He had the best on Dominic Dufault and Jerry Pinnock Jr.
A costly flat tire:
In the Sportsman feature, Alain Mathieu the Castrol points’ leader, was plagued by a flat tire on the second lap of this 20-lap race. Unable to comeback on the track without loosing laps, this situation cost Mathieu the first place in the standings. He finished 16th while his most serious contender for the crown, Dany Bilodeau registered his third win of the season. Bilodeau has now a 22 point lead over Mathieu.
In the Late Model class, Alain Brochu was the winner, but with his second place finish, Stephane Larivière took the Prolab championship for a third year in a row. Finally, Alain Poirier made his first visit in career in the winner’s circle in the 4 Cylinders division.
MODIFIED 30 laps 1- 11VT, Donald Scarborough; 2- 31, Richard Chauvin; 3- 61, Steve Poirier; 4- 4, Leon Gonyo; 5- 11J, Jerry Pinnock Jr.; 6- 3, Claude Brouillard; 7- 2, Luke Plante; 8- 46, Kayle Robidoux; 9- 73, Alain Boisvert; 10- 22J, Gino Clair; 11- 11, Réal Lafrance; 12- 09, Mario Lajoie; 13- 90, Martin Roy; 14- 66W, Wallace Stacey; 15- 63, Dominic Dufault; 16- 24, Stéphane Michaud; 17- 54, Jean-Guy Primeau; 18- 39, Clément Therrien; 19- 5, Mario Moreau; 20- 66, Martin Gagné; 21- 2C, Jasmin Léveillé.