A VERY IMPORTANT WIN FOR STEVE PAINE

GRANBY, Que., August 10, 1997 -- By winning for a third year in a row the Mid-Season Championship at Autodrome Granby last Friday night, Steve Paine, the X-Tend Bicknell driver has without a doubt clinched the most important victory of the season. This sixth win might give him the chance to retained his title in the modified division at Granby for a second year in a row.

His success, with a tenth place finish by Marco Potvin who was his most serious challenger for the title before the race, gave him the opportunity to take an advance of 107 points over Dave Camara his new opponent. As far as Potvin is concerned, he wound up third and has now 118 points less than Paine. Before the race, he had only an 80-point difference with the leader.

Nineth at the start of this 40-lap feature, Paine had to battle strongly with Gino Clair in the first third of the race. After taking the lead at the green flag, Clair was able to resist to Paine during the first portion of the race. In two occasions, Paine was able to take him, but Clair was always able to come back. ItÕs only on the thirteenth lap that Paine was able to overtake him for good. Despite six yellows, Paine was never in trouble after.

Then, while Paine was in front all alone, fans in the grandstands had a chance to witness a good battle for the second place by Clair, David Hebert and Marco Potvin until Dave Camara was able to challenge them. On lap 34, Potvin had to quit the battle to visit his pit. Camara took the second place while Hebert could not take Clair and finished fourth. With his second place finish, Camara moved back in the second spot in the Molson championship trail.

Earlier in the evening, Dave Camara and Luke Plante were the winners in their respective heats.

Also an important win for Gagne

If the win for Steve Paine was important, it was the same for Claude Gagne in the Sportsman class. Being in the winnerÕs circle for the second time this season gave him a chance to take off 15 points to Gerry PatenaudeÕs lead and increase his margin at 15 points over Daniel Ruel, the third place driver. In this 25-lap final, Gagne who was inroute for a perfect night after winning his heat, had the best on Mario Clair and rookie Louis Bouthillier. Bouthillier had the lead for almost the first half of this challenge. Gerry Patenaude was the winner of the other heat.

In the Late Models feature, Martin Deshaies was the first one to cross the finish line but after the technical inspection of his car, he was disqualified for illegal motor parts. Stephane Messier wound up in the winnerÕs circle while in the Tourism division, Andre Gauthier took the checkered flag for a second week in a row.

Next weekend will be the busiest of the season at Autodrome Granby. Friday night in addition to the regular program, there will be a special race for women and another one for the mechanics of the modified class. Then on Sunday night, Autodrome Granby will the site of the Snap-On 200, the first race of this season for the Mr. DIRT Modified Championship.

Results

1- 1 Steve Paine 2. 26 Dave Camara 3. 44j Gino Clair 4. 99 David Hebert 5. 63 Dominic Dufault 6. 73 Alain Boisvert 7. 59 Bernard Mathieu 8. 28 Steve Poirier 9.27 Robert Ranger 10. LP2 Marco Potvin 11. 66 Luke Plante 12. 50 Hugues Mercier 13. 1x Gardner Stone 14. 71 Pierre Hebert 15. D50 Mike Romano 16. 4x Leon Gonyo 17. 11J Jerry Pinnock 18. 85 Alain Langlois 19. 0 Craig Ormsby 20. 42 Gilles Perreault 21. 39 Clement Therrien 22. 92.1 Mario Lajoie 23. 76 Richard Salvas .24. Real Lafrance 25. Claude Brouillard.

12th Annual Mid-Season Championship

MODIFIED

1- 1 Steve Paine

2- 26 Dave Camara

3- 44J Gino Clair

4- 99 David Hebert

5- 63 Dominic Dufault

standings

1- 1 Steve Paine 742

2- 26 Dave Camara 635

3- LP2 Marco Potvin 624

4- 63 Dominic Dufault 541

5- 66 Luke Plante 538

SPORTSMAN

1- 9 Claude Gagne

2- 22 Mario Clair

3- 61 Louis Bouthillier

4- 57 Gerry patenaude

5- 26 Mario Moreau

standings

1- 57 Gerry Patenaude 689

2- 9 Claude Gagne 647

3- 1 Daniel Ruel 622

4- 77 Alain Mathieu 542

5- 61 Louis Bouthillier 533

LATE MODELS

1- 63 Stephane Messier

2- 87 Marcel Tessier

3- 97 Roland Hebert

standings

1- 63 Stephane Messier 650

2- 24 Stephane Michaud 601

3- 04 Marcel Messier 526

TOURISM

1- 72 Andre Gauthier

2- 68 Gilles Ostiguy

3- 99 Jean-Claude Beauregard