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Steve Poirier uses Brand New Car to Beat Justin Barger in Non-Stop Event at Cornwall
By Dean Reynolds
CORNWALL, ONT. – It wasn’t in the plans but sometimes the last minute changes go your way. That is exactly what happened to defending Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint champion Steve Poirier as he was forced to unload his brand new Eagle chassis Sunday night at the Cornwall Motor Speedway. With a lap 16 pass on Justin Barger he took his sixth tour victory but more importantly showed why he’s the current point leader with the combination of driver and team.
During warm-ups a rocker broke in the engine on his main entry and the crew took the unproven piece down from the top shelf in his stacker trailer. “We just got this new Eagle and we were hoping to use it down the road but when we hurt the engine it had to be used.” said the driver from Quebec. “We hurt the frame with the car we had at Fonda so we put this one together for a just in case. That just in case happened tonight.”
The car never turned a competitive lap on a race track before his win in the second heat. But, after the dash, changes were needed. “I wasn’t comfortable in the dash so we tightened the car up more and it was faster in the A-Main.” said Poirier on his set up.
When the green flag for the non-stop WestFront Construction A-Main for the SMAC Magazine Canadian Invasion Series was dropped it was Tim Kelly leading the first five circuits on the quick, quarter-mile oval. Barger came from his fourth place start and took over the top spot with the lap counter showing six.
Poirier in the mean time was moving up from his eighth place start and quickly took chase of Barger on lap eight when he passed Kelly. While most teams were hugging the bottom, the FM Industries #28FM was up top making its moves.
“When we changed the car after the dash it was to be faster on the bottom.” noted Poirier “But, when I went up top to pass cars I found bite up there and that helped as everyone was down low.”
That lane helped in swinging by Barger to lead with 16 tours in the books and he quickly opened up distance for the convincing win. Barger “hung” on for second.
“I was way too loose at the end. I had nothing to hold him back and we just had to settle for second tonight.” said the driver of the Ohsweken Speedway #32.
Rounding out the top five were Jeff Cook, Kelly and Tommy Wickham. A special $1,000 point fund set up by Riverside Bar and Grill for the three-race weekend was also won by Poirier over Barger, Lance Yonge, Cook and Wickham.
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints/WestFront Construction A-Main - Steve Poirier ($2,075), Justin Barger, Jeff Cook, Tim Kelly, Tommy Wickham, Lance Yonge, Jared Zimbardi, Lee Ladouceur, Brian McDonald, Alain Bergeron, Michael Parent, Kayle Robidoux, Bubby Kerrick, Justin Harris, Anthony Cain, Normand Beaudreault, Howard Singer, Chuck Hebing (Non-Stop A-Main)
Did Not Start - Rick Wilson, April Wilson
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 1 - Lee Ladouceur, Lance Yonge, Jared Zimbardi, Jeff Cook, Rick Wilson, Justin Harris, April Wilson.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 2 - Steve Poirier, Bubby Kerrick, Tommy Wickham, Kayle Robidoux, Alain Bergeron, Brian McDonald
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 3 - Anthony Cain, Justin Barger, Tim Kelly, Chuck Hebing, Michael Parent, Normand Beaudreault, Howard Singer.
Fifth Wheel Truck Stop/Walt's Hobby Dash - Justin Barger.
Riverside Bar and Grill Top 5 - Steve Poirier, Justin Barger, Lance Yonge, Jeff Cook, Tommy Wickham.
Cash Bonuses:
WestFront Construction A-Main – Poirier $350
Ohsweken Speedway Winner’s Bonus – Poirier $100
National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus – Barger $100
Les Constructions Ultra Blue Collar Award – Cook $100
Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger Bonus – Poirier (7 pos.) $50
Cook’s Contracting Bridesmaid Bonus – Barger $50
HG Associates Pole Award – Kelly $50
AMB Moteurs Fast Time Award – Kelly (13.415) $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers – Ladouceur, Poirier, Cain $25.
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