Paine Wins Autodrome Drummond Series Race
DRUMMONDVILLE, PQ...Steve Paine, from Waterloo, NY, returned
to Autodrome Drummond and took the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT
Series $6,000 victory. Paine, who made the Quebec tracks his home
in the mid-90's, maintained his points lead by a slim margin over
series regular Danny Johnson, who finished second to Paine.
The 100-lap feature saw outside pole sitter, Bobby Varin,
from Sharon Springs, NY, take the lead at the drop of the green.
Doug Hoffman quickly took second over Alan Johnson, who was the
pole sitter by luck of the redraw.
The first yellow flag flew on lap four when local favorite
Steve Poirier spun out in the first turn. Varin maintained his
advantage over Hoffman. Hoffman had his hands full with holding
back Danny Johnson, who took third from his brother Alan.
On lap 14, the yellow flew again, when Todd Milton and Louis
Bouthillier tangled in the second turn. The track went green for
only a short time when the yellow flew on lap 17 as Charles
Bisillon slowed on the speedway surface.
Varin was able to remain the leader, holding back a
determined Danny Johnson, Steve Paine in third, Hoffman fourth
and Alan Johnson fifth.
Lap 22 saw the yellow fly for car 22, Mario Clair, who
slowed with a flat tire down the back stretch. The restart saw
Billy Decker join the fray, as Alan Johnson moved back to third,
followed by Paine and Decker.
Tim McCreadie was the next car to bring out the yellow, when
he slowed on the track. Paine had now moved back of Varin and was
pushing Varin for the lead as the top five continually swapped
positions. On lap 35 Paine inched the nose of his car in front of
Varin at the line. He was able to complete the pass exiting the
second turn. Paine then proceeded to pull away from varin, Alan
Johnson, Danny Johnson and Hoffman.
Lap 41 saw the yellow fly when Richard Chauvin slowed with a
flat tire. During this yellow Tim Fuller exited the race. Two
laps later the yellow was out again when Pierre Dagenais came to
a stop on the back stretch.
Paine was able to power away from the pack leaving a torrid
battle for second between seven drivers. On lap 47, Danny Johnson
took the runner up spot and set sail after Paine as they entered
lapped traffic.
On lap 60, Robert Ranger and Steve Poirier came together on
the front stretch resulting in Poirier hopping Ranger's wheel and
looping out. With yellow flags now counting after lap 50, the
field was able to bunch together behind Paine. Danny Johnson
looked to be after the lead, when he became distracted with
holding back his brother in third. Paine again put seven car
lengths between himself and the Johnsons.
As the race was winding down the yellow flew on lap 97,
setting up a very confusing finish. The restart, lap 101 saw
Chuck Bower blow the motor on his Currier Plastics machine
sending a thick cloud of smoke at the front of the pack. This set
up yet another restart.
Paine took the victory followed closely by Danny Johnson,
Alan Johnson, Decker and Pat Ward.
DRUMMOND NOTES: Gary Tomkins was the fast timer for the JE
Pistons fast timer award. Tomkins surprised everyone with his
first "fast time award" of the year. He then proceeded to win the
Exiss Trailers Dash for an additional $250.
Heat wins went to Poirier, McCreadie and Fuller. The
consolation race was won by Robert Ranger. Thirty-one cars
participated, with only Robin David failing to make the starting
field.
DRUMMONDVILLE ADVANCE AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRT SERIES/BUDWEISER
CLASSIC SUMMARY
TIME TRIALS:Gary Tomkins 17.178, Pat Ward 17.297, Alan Johnson
17.366, Vic Coffey 17.390, Bobby Varin 17.476, Doug Hoffman
17.482, Steve Paine 17.557, Billy Decker 17.558, Todd Milton
17.672, Steve Poirier 17.713, Tim McCreadie 17.715, Tim Fuller
17.718, Chuck Bower 17.721, Clement Therrien 17.831, Kenny
Tremont 17.832, Hughes Mercier 17.849, Andy Bachetti 17.854,
Danny Johnson 17.858, Robert Ranger 17.931, Richard Chauvin
17.968, Mario Clair 18.024, Robin David 18.057, Louis Bouthillier
18.058, Claude Brouillard 18.104, Pierre Dagenais 18.144, Charles
Bisillon 18.252, Jeff Brownell 18.301, Josh Skarzenski 18.379,
Pierre Hebert 18.433, Kayle Robidoux 18.588, Alain Beliveau NT.
HEAT 1: S. Poirier, S. Paine, C. Bower, H. Mercier.
HEAT 2: T. McCreadie, B. Decker, C. Therrien, A. Bachetti.
HEAT 3: T. Fuller, D. Johnson, K. Tremont, T. Milton.
CONSI: R. Ranger, C. Bisillon, M. Clair, J. Skarzenski, P.
Dagenais, C. Brouillard, L. Brouthillier, K. Robidoux, R.
Chauvin, P. Hebert, J. Brownell, A. Beliveau.
EXISS DASH: GARY TOMKINS, Pat Ward, Alan Johnson, Vic Coffey,
Bobby Varin, Doug Hoffman.
FEATURE (108-laps): STEVE PAINE, Danny Johnson, Alan Johnson,
Billy Decker, Pat Ward, Kenny Tremont, Doug Hoffman, Vic Coffey,
Gary Tomkins, Mario Clair, Bobby Varin, Richard Chauvin, Robert
Ranger, Josh Skarzenski, Chuck Bower, Claude Brouillard, Pierre
Hebert, Jeff Brownell, Alain Beliveau, Tim Fuller, Steve Poirier,
Andy Bachetti, Pierre Dagenais, Tim McCreadie, Kayle Robidoux,
Clement Therrien, Charles Bisillon, Todd Milton, Louis
Brouthillier.