PAINE, PATENAUDE AND MESSIER, THE

CHAMPIONS AT AUTODROME GRANBY

GRANBY, QuŽ., August 31, 1997 -- Following the 12th edition of the Molson Canada-USA, held last Friday at Autodrome Granby, Steve Paine in the Modified class, Gerry Patenaude in Sportsman and StŽphane Messier in the Late Models were crowned the seasonÕs champions. Paine who won this title for the second consecutive year at this very popular speedplant of the Eastern Townships and Messier celebrated by winning their respective feature races.

In the 40-lap Modified feature, Mike Romano, the pole sitter, took the lead at the drop of the green flag. As for Paine, eleventh on the grid, he started his move to find himself second on lap 12. Then, three laps later, at the occasion of the second restart of the race, Paine got by Romano and never had to look back. For Paine, it was his third consecutive win in this Molson Canada-USA.

While Paine was leading very easily, the fans watched a real good battle for the second spot. Mike Romano, Marco Potvin, Dave Camara and Denis LabontŽ were all seeking for that position and everybody was trying to get by Romano, who finally had the last word. Camara finished third for an other American sweep at Autodrome Granby, this season. By finishing sixth, Alain Boisvert, the driver of the Auto Hebdo/Valvoline Olsen, finished fourth in this Molson championship, his best finish ever since he graduated in the Modified class.

Earlier in the evening, Marco Potvin and Alain Boisvert had won their respective heats.

Double feature

With two feature races on the program for the Sportsman division, Gerry Patenaude, the pointsÕ leader, decided to play it safe. Winner of four features so far this season, Patenaude decided to go for the title rather than other victories.

At the restart of the final stopped after five laps on August 15, Patenaude finished third. Robin David who led all the way took his first win of the season and Claude GagnŽ finished second.

Then, in the 12th Molson Canada-USA feature for the Sportsman division, Alain Mathieu took his second checkered flag in 1997. Robin David was the second driver to cross the finish line followed by Daniel Ruel and Gerry Patenaude. That was enough for Patenaude to clinch the title with an 51 point lead in front of Claude GagnŽ.

In route for his first title in the Late Models division, StŽphane Messier had a perfect night. After winning his heat, he went on to take this 10-lap feature. His victims were StŽphane Dubuc, Normand Voghell and StŽphane Michaud. Later, Dubuc was disqualified because his car failed the technical inspection by DIRT officials.

At the occasion of this 12th Molson Canada-USA, the Empire Super Sprints were on hand for their second visit of the season. Faster than his rivals, Bobby Parrow took his first win at Granby. After starting seventh, Parrow needed only two laps to reach and pass Mark Bragman, the early leader in that 20-lap feature. Lance Yonge took the second place and Mike Woodring, the crowdÕs favorite at Granby, finished third after starting thirteenth. Woodring needed an other yellow to catch the lead but the occasion never occured.

Finally, in the Tourism class, ƒric Archambault was the winner.

The season ends next Saturday afternoon at Autodrome Granby with the presentation of the BF Goodrich Enduro 200, a race for the Late Models and Tourism divisions.

Results

Heat 1: 1- LP2 Marco Potvin, 2- 1 Steve Paine, 3- 27 Robert Ranger

Heat 2: 1- 73 Alain Boisvert, 2- D50 Mike Romano, 3- 26 Dave Camara

Feature: 1- 1 Steve Paine, 2- D50 Mike Romano 3- 26 Dave Camara, 4- LP2 Marco Potvin, 5- 59 Bernard Mathieu, 6- 73 Alain Boisvert, 7- 7 Denis LabontŽ, 8- 27 Robert Ranger, 9- 71 Pierre HŽbert, 10- 99 David HŽbert, 11- 1x Todd Stone, 12- 85 Alain Langlois, 13- X1 Gardner Stone, 14- 5 Jean-Guy Primeau, 15- 87 Paul Hamel, 16- 4X Vern Bruno, 17- 50 Hugues Mercier, 18- 44J Gino Clair, 19- 4 Leon Gonyo, 20- 63 Dominic Dufault, 21- 352 John Proctor, 22- 66 Luke Plante, 23- 96 Claude Brouillard, 24- 28 Steve Poirier.

12th EDITION of the MOLSON CANADA-USA

MODIFIED

1- 1 Steve Paine

2- D50 Mike Romano

3- 26 Dave Camara

4- LP2 Marco Potvin

5- 59 Bernard Mathieu

final standings

1- 1 Steve Paine 942 pts

2- 26 Dave Camara 826

3- LP2 Marco Potvin 785

4- 73 Alain Boisvert 713

5- 63 Dominic Dufault 681

SPORTSMAN

1- 77 Alain Mathieu

2- 33 Robin David

3- 1 Daniel Ruel

4- 57 Gerry Patenaude

5- 61 Louis Bouthillier

final standings

1- 57 Gerry Patenaude 826 pts

2- 9 Claude Gagne 775

3- 1 Daniel Ruel 754

4- 77 Alain Mathieu 688

5- 61 Louis Bouthillier 657

EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS

1- 9 Bobby Parrow

2- 17 Lance Yonge

3- 19 Mike Woodring

4- 32 Doug Emery

5- 91 Scott Holcomb