Granby Eastern Townships Results 1999-05-29

14th Eastern Townships Championship MARCO POTVIN AND LUKE PLANTE GAVE THEIR BEST FOR THE DAOUST BROTHERS

GRANBY, Que., May 29, 1999- Marco Potvin and Luke Plante, two veteran drivers from the Sorel region to whom the Daoust brothers gave the steering wheel of their Troyes/Transport Dion were well served, last Friday night at the occasion of the 14th Annual Eastern Townships Championship. In fact, those two drivers were in the winner's circle in their respective categories.

In this 40-lap feature race, Potvin was 10th on the starting grid, but on the 14th lap was just in the rear bumper of Alain Boisvert who had taken the lead on lap 8, at the third restart of this confrontation. Then, eight laps later, Potvin was offered the lead on a silver plate when Alain Boisverts's car stopped in turn four due to a broken torsion bar. Despite three more yellow flags, Potvin was able to retain his position to take the win over Dave Camara, the defending champion and winner of the first heat of the evening. For the fourth consecutive week, Claude Brouillard was third.

On the three last restarts, Camara who had to go to the back of the field on lap 8 due to a flat tire, was aside Potvin, but every time, Potvin was able to get away and complete a perfect night due to his win in the first qualification race. For one, Steve Poirier, the points' leader before that race, had to work very hard to finish in fourth in front of Pierre Hebert. Twenty-fifth on the grid at the start, Poirier was involved in an early accident on lap 4 and was forced again to restart at the end of the field. As for Denis Labonte, the early leader, he lost many laps in the pit due to mechanical problems. He end up twelveth.

Undefeated Since the Daoust brothers gave him the wheel of the small block Transport Dion -Troyer, Luke Plante was undefeated. For the fourth night in a row, Plante was the first of this class to cross the finish line. During that race, it was Clement Therrien that was the leader in the small block and at one time, Therrien was third overall. But, on the very last lap, Plante took advantage of his large experience to get by him for the checkered flag in this division. Rookie Gerry Patenaude was the third small block driver to cross the finish line.

In the 25-lap feature for the Sportsman division, Louis Bouthillier led from the green flag to the end to register his third victory of the season. Robin David, his most serious challenger so far, had to withdraw on lap 14 due to mechanical problems. Before his retirement, David was always of Bouthillier's rear bumper. Alain Mathieu, the defending champion took the second place followed by Mario Moreau. For Moreau, it was his best finish so far this season.

Again Again, Stephane Michaud, in the Late Model class, was in the winner's circle. It was his fourth success of the season and so far, nobody is able to put an end at his domination. Daniel Belanger, the title holder was second but was never a serious threat for Michaud.

The other winners of this 14th Eastern Townships Championship were Benoit Berube in the Tourism class and Yves Beaupre in the new 4 cylinder division.

RESULTS Eastern Townships Championship (40 laps)

1- 25, Marco Potvin 2- 26, Dave Camara 3- 3, Claude Brouillard 4- 28, Steve Poirier 5- 71, Pierre Hebert 6- 24, Luke Plante 7- 39, Clement Therrien 8- 44J, Gino Clair 9- 27, Robert Ranger 10- 50, Hugues Mercier 11- 72, Mario Lajoie 12- 7, Denis Labonté 13- 57, Gerry Patenaude 14- 1, Richard Chauvin 15- 85, Alain Langlois 16- 61, Marc Nadeau 17- 17, Patrick Labonté 18- 24L, Carl Labonté 19- 22, Mario Clair 20- 21, Jacques Poulin 21- 02, Mike Reyell 22- 16, Éric Sundborg 23- 9, Yves Dessureault 24- 66, Alain Boisvert 25- 23, Renald Daoust 26- 4, Leon Gonyo 27- 46, Kayle Robidoux.