DAVID HEBERT IS ÇMr. ModifiedÈ AND MARIO GIGUéRE, ÇMr. SportsmanÈ
GRANBY, QuŽ., August 3, 1997 --Two new names joined the long list of winners of those two annual championships, last Friday at Autodrome Granby, at the occasion of a program delayed for more than hour due to rain. David HŽbert is the driver who won the 12th edition of the Mr. Modified championship while Mario Gigure was given the crown in the 10th Mr. Sportsman after the disqualification of ClŽment Therrien.
HŽbert of St-Damase, despite the fact that he was involved in a spectacular crash last June, gave a serious demonstration of how much he is an improved driver this season. Before his accident, he was running very well and since, he never stopped challenging the leaders. Last Friday, he took his first win in career in the modified class.
First at the start, HŽbert was passed by Luke Plante on lap 2. Instead of quitting, HŽbert challenged seriously Plante and then, on the second restart of this 40-lap feature, he was able to take back his first place and fly home with a victory that he deserved since a long time. At the end, he was followed by Marco Potvin and Steve Paine, the Molson pointsÕ leader, Luke Plante and Alain Boisvert.
Paine had started 13th. ItÕs only on the very last lap that he was able to take the third spot from Plante who did a little mistake. Without this, for the second time this season, it would have been a QuŽbec driversÕ podium. As for American driver Dave Camara of Poultney, Vermont, he was plagued by mechanical problems early in this challenge. Forced to quit the race, Camara who finished 18th lost the second place to Marco Potvin in the championship trail.
Earlier in the evening, Marco Potvin and Bernard Mathieu took the win in their respective heats.
Disqualified
For this 10th Mr. Sportsman championship, Mario Gigure was credited the victory after the disqualification of ClŽment Therrien, the leader at the least 21 laps of this 25-lap challenge. At the inspection after the race, DIRT officials found out that Therrien had used an illegal gear ratio.
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For Gigure, it was also his first success of the present season. Daniel was placed second followed by rookie, Louis Bouthillier. Gerry Patenaude, the pointsÕ leader in that category finished fifth.
In the Late Models division, Marcel Tessier took also his first win of the season by having the best on Daniel BŽlanger and Normand Voghell while in the new Tourism class, it was a great night. For the first time this season, twenty drivers battled for the checkered flag and AndrŽ Gauthier had the last word.
Next Friday, promoter Gatien will present the 12th annual Mi-Season Championship, a race that was scheduled for July 18 but rescheduled due to rain.
Results
Modified
1- 99 - David HŽbert, 2- LP2 - Marco Potvin, 3- 1 - Steve Paine, 4- 66 - Luke Plante, 5- 73- Alain Boisvert, 6- 44J - Gino Clair, 7- 27 - Robert Ranger, 8- 71 - Pierre HŽbert, 9- 96 - Claude Brouillard, 10- 4 - Leon Gonyo, 11- 28 - Steve Poirier, 12- 87 - Paul Hamel, 13- D50 - Mike Romano, 14- 02 - Mike Reyell, 15- 50 - Hugues Mercier, 16- 63 - Dominic Dufault, 17- 92.1 - Mario Lajoie, 18- 26 - Dave Camara, 19- 1X - Todd Stone, 20- 59 - Bernard Mathieu.
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"Mr. Modified Championship" (40 laps)
1- 99 David Hebert
2- LP2 Marco Potvin
3- 1 Steve Paine
4- 66 Luke Plante
5- 73 Alain Boisvert
standings
1- 1 Steve Paine 642 pts
2- LP2 Marco Potvin 562
3- 26 Dave Camara 540
4- 66 Luke Plante 478
5- 63 Dominic Dufault 461
"Mr. Sportsman Championship" (25 laps)
1- 48 Mario Giguere
2- 1 Daniel Ruel
3- 61 Louis Bouthillier
4- 26 Mario Moreau
5- 57 Gerry Patenaude
standings
1- 57 Gerry Patenaude 604 pts
2- 9 Claude Gagne 547
3- 1 Daniel Ruel 546
4- 48 Mario Giguere 485
5- 77 Alain Mathieu 470
LATE MODELS RESULTS
1- 87 Michel Tessier
2- 52 Daniel Belanger
3- 3 Normand Voghell
4- 6 Luc St-Pierre
5- 24 Stephane Michaud
standings
1- 63 Stephane Messier 550 pts
2- 24 Stephane Michaud 536
3- 04 Marcel Messier 468
TOURISM
1- 72 Andre Gauthier