Poirier wins Goodyear 100 and Canadian DIRT Challenge crown at Cornwall
It was a night to remember for Steve Poirier. Things went from good to bad and then from worst to first all in one evening as the Quebec driver claimed the Goodyear 100 on Sunday night at Cornwall Motor Speedway. Poirier’s win also allowed him to claim the Canadian DIRT Modified Challenge title.
Poirier won 2 of the three 100 lap events that make up the series with races at Cornwall, Autodrome Edleweiss and Autodrome Granby but the closer wasn’t easy. While leading his heat race he damaged the car’s suspension and tore off a wheel. Poirier was forced to make use of his guaranteed starting spot to make the field for the Cornwall race and started 26th in a field of 26 cars.
Poirier went to work immediately and avoided numerous incidents including a multi car wreck on lap 1 taking over the lead on lap 34. He led the rest of the way holding off a late restart opportunity for second place finisher Martin Roy to grab the win. The points from the first place finish were good enough for Poirier to win the 3 race series points crown as well. He outdistanced Roy there as well by 16 points.
"I tried to be patient because the track was so tacky," said the Quebec pilot. " We had a lot of luck with the set up of the car, we basically flipped a coin on it, and the car was good." Dave Heaslip and Mark Hitchcock battled throughout the race and finished in third and fourth spots respectively. 2001 Canadian DIRT Challenge champion Leon Gonyo was a solid fifth. Stephane LaFrance set fast time of the night getting around the quarter mile in 13.412 in time trails only to break his car in the heat race.
Marc Therrien became just the third different winner in the Pro Stock division this season at Cornwall. Therrien got by Joey Ladouceur with a daring last lap pass in turn 1 and took the triumph in the 20 lap caution filled race. Ladouceur settled for second followed by John Lazore, points leader Dave Bissonnette and Travis Back.
The Duke Stock feature also featured numerous caution flags. Kevin Duffy avoided all the carnage by running in or near the lead for the entire distance winning his second feature of the season. Johnathon Holmes was second followed by Dave Renaud, Gaetan Amesse and Carey Terrance.
The 12 lap Rookie event was also accident marred, but Stuart Mullin took over the top spot with a strong outside move going into turn 1 on the next to last lap to grab his second victory of 2003. Kurtis McPhee, Dan Lortie, Martin Walter and Ernie Cree rounded out the fast five.
The Speedway returns to action next Sunday night with a full program of Modifieds, Pro Stocks Dukes and Rookies will also be in action. It will also be Powder Puff night with ladies competing in rookie class cars. The green flag drops at 7 pm.
Modifieds 100 laps:1. Steve Poirier 2. Martin Roy 3. Dave Heaslip 4. Mark Hitchcock 5. Leon Gonyo 6. Luke Plante 7. Brian MacDonald 8. Yan Bussiere 9. Kayle Robidoux 10. Pierre Dagenais 11. Billy Cook 12. Richard Chauvin 13. Jasmin Leveillee 14. Claude Brouillard 15. Lee Ladouceur 16. Jim Lazore 17. Dan Jalbert 18. Laurent Ladouceur 19. Mario Lajoie 20. Bill Mullin 21. Skip McKenzie 22. Jeff Marshall 23. Tommy Jock Jr. 24. Stephane Nault 25. Alain Boisvert 26. Kyle Jacobs
Pro Stocks: 20 laps 1. Marc Therrien 2. Joey Ladouceur 3. John Lazore 4. Dave Bissonnette 5. Travis Back 6. Mitchell Jock 7. Dave Marshall 8. Roy Delormier 9. Tammy Jalbert 10. Stephane Lebrun
Duke Stocks 15 laps: 1. Kevin Duffy 2. Johnathan Holmes 3. Dave Renaud 4. Gaetan Amesse 5. Carey Terrance
Rookie Stock 12 laps: 1. Stuart Mullin 2. Kurtis McPhee 3. Dan Lortie 4. Martin Walter 5. Ernie Cree
Heat Winners
Modifieds: Dagenais, Heaslip, Ladouceur, Roy
Pro Stocks: Bissonnette, Renaud, Jock
Duke: Bradley, Woods, Renaud
Rookie: McPhee, Cree Woodward Jr.
Modified Consi: Cook, Bussiere