Matt Sheppard wins an historic Super DIRTcar Series at Autodrome Drummond

Matt Sheppard wins an historic Super DIRTcar Series at Autodrome Drummond!

Matt Sheppard sweeps the Quebec swing with two locals completed the podium

Story By: Martin Belanger/Super DIRTcar Series

Photos By: Dave Dalesandro/RacersGuide.com

DRUMMONDVILLE, QC, CAN – July 27, 2017 – Always looking forward to the Quebec swing at the end of July, the Super DIRTcar Series regular went into battle with the top local runners of Autodrome Drummond as Matt Sheppard brought out the broom as he swept both races, as the other two steps of the podium at Drummond were occupied by local talent.

Matt Sheppard was all smile in the Victory Lane, “It seems that I’m always fast in Quebec, always had success up here in Drummond and Granby,” said Matt Sheppared. ”We had a great car and had so much fun up here this week.”

Sheppard had to work hard for his win with local runner giving him quite a challenge, ”I saw the bottom starting to rubber up and could feel that my car was hooking up and this help me keep my first position,” added Sheppard

History was made tonight as for the first time, two Drummond regulars took finished on the podium with Steve Bernier in second, “It took a little time for to get my groove,” said Steve Bernier. “I don’t race here that much this year and the rubber tricked me a little bit at the, I tried to have a second line, I was close. We race clean and seems to be Quebec vs the others. A lot of hard work in the garage by a lot of people paid off tonight,” alluded to his clean battle with Steve Bernard as they tried to claim the Series victory.

Suffering engine issues last night at Granby, third-place finisher Steve Bernard had a very eventful day.

”It was a crazy day today,” said Steve Bernard. “I broke the engine last night, borrowed an engine from Dean Billings at 11am this morning, I got here late but had fun tonight started seventh and finished third. I congratulate Bernier for a great run.”

Polesitter Carey Terrance led the field of 31 cars to the green as Steve Bernier was the early leader with David Hebert in third. Terrance was able to the lead back from Bernier as the hard charging Hebert was challenging Bernier for second with Peter Britten and Steve Bernard in the top-five with the first 10-laps being completed.

There was a great battle for the lead between Terrance, Bernier and Bernard as they swapped the top spot when Mike Maresca slowed the field down on lap 15 when he hit the wall in turn 4. Terrance kept the top position as Bernard challenged Bernier for second with Brandon Walters bringing the second caution on lap 27 with a right rear flat.

Bernier jumped to the lead on the restart and grabbed the lead on lap 32, Phelps and Corriveau brought the caution on lap 38.

Bernier stayed out front as Bernard was able to get second with Terrance holding third on lap 45. Billy Decker had a flat tire on the No. 91 when he was in a tight battle for a top-five position with 47 laps in the record books.

On a lap-53 restart, Sheppard had a strong run as he challenge for the second position of Bernard. Sheppard found some grip on the inside lane and took second from Bernard on lap 64. The driver of the No. 9s machine attacked Bernier and took the lead on lap 70 using the inside lane, Bernard used the same strategy a few laps later and took second from Bernier.

The three leaders went into battle for the lead for the last portion of the feature with Sheppard using the low lane and never looked back to complete the sweep in Quebec with a second win in a row over Bernier, Bernard, Britten and Larry Wight!

Max McLaughlin was the fastest during the time trials session being the best of 39 registered cars. Peter Britten, Stewart Friesen, McLaughlin and David Hebert won the heat races as Kevin Hamel and Michael Parent were the winners in the Last chance qualifiers.

The Super DIRTcar Series will be back in action on Monday, August 7 at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, ON, CAN for the Bob St. Amand Memorial 100. Race time is 7:00pm. For additional event information, visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. The Series will then travel to nearby Ransomville Speedway on Tuesday, August 8 for the Alex Friesen Memorial. Race time is 7:15pm for that event. Additional information is available at www.ransomvillespeedway.com.

Autodrome Drummond Notebook

Feature (100 Laps) – 1.9s Matt Sheppard (9), 2. 25 Steve Bernier (2), 3. 54 Steve Bernard (7), 4. 21a Peter Britten (5), 5. 99l Larry Wight (17), 6. 20 Brett Hearn (14), 7. 44 Stewart Friesen (8), 8. One David Hebert (6), 9. 66x Carey Terrance (1), 10. 96c Mario Clair (16), 11. 1m Mathieu Desjardins (20), 12. 6h Max McLaughlin (12), 13. 19 Tim Fuller (13), 14. 91d Billy Decker (11), 15. 42p Pat Ward (3), 16. 109 Billy Whittaker (18), 17. 23 Dany Bilodeau (28), 18. 44 Stewart Friesen (8), 19. 21y Yan Bussiere (30), 20. 98h Jimmy Phelps (10), 21. 43 Keith Flach (19), 22. 25p Michael Parent (22), 23. 39x Alex Therrien (27), 24. 7 Patrice Demers (25), 25. 8 Rich Scagliotta (4), 26. 7m Mike Maresca (24), 27. 22 Brandon Walters (29), 28. 39 Alan Therrien (26), 29. 13 Kevin Hamel (21), 30. 96 JF Corriveau (31), 31. 22j Gino Clair (23)

CONTINGENCY WINNERS: VP Racing Fuels ($50 Cash): One David Hebert; Super DIRTcar Series Fast Time Award ($100 Cash): 6H Max McLaughlin; Bicknell Racing Products ($100 Product Certificate): 9s Matt Sheppard; Cometic Gasket ($50 Cash): 91d Billy Decker; Comp Cams ($50 Cash): 6H Max McLaughlin; Comp Cams ($50 Product Certificate): 9S Matt Sheppard; Edelbrock ($50 Cash): 91d Billy Decker; Fox Racing Shocks ($50 Cash): 54 Steve Bernard; JE Pistons ($50 Cash): 99L Larry Wight; JE Pistons (Product Certificate):98H Jimmy Phelps; JE Pistons (Product Certificate): 43 Keith Flach; KSE Racing Products Inc. ($50 Product Certificate): 99l Larry Wight; MSD Ignition ($50 Cash): 9s Matt Sheppard; MSD Ignition ($25 Cash):7 Patrice Demers; SuperFlow Dynos & Flowbenches ($50 Cash): 91d Billy Decker; Wrisco Aluminum (Product Certificate): 9s Matt Sheppard; JRI Shocks ($50 Cash): 98h Jimmy Phelps; Speedy First Aid Hard Luck Award (Product Certificate): 7m Michael Maresca; ASi Racewear ($50 Cash): 44 Stewart Friesen