Photo credit: Don SimpsonBernier has demonstrated that he can compete with the best!
Steve Bernier can race with the best of the Super DIRTcar series
The version française ici By now, most have heard of Danny Johnson's outstanding victory in the Battle of Plattsburgh 100 last Tuesday. But Steve Bernier, of Saint-Hyacinthe QC, put on a good show riding his small-block 358 Modified against the other riders in their big-blocks. Bernier rebounded from disappointing results at Autodrome Granby. Steve was consistent all day, having had a good practice session and finished fourth in timed practice. Qualifying went well for Steve as he finished just 1.022 seconds behind Tim Fuller, proving he was definitely in the game that day and all systems were good with the small block working perfectly. In the draw, Steve grabbed the 10th starting spot. Matt Sheppard, the current points leader, will start second and second in the standings Erick Rudolph will start fourth. It was clear that Steve was going to work hard in this final.
Bernier is already quite familiar with the track as he races on a regular basis in the Modified 358 class at Airborne, Steve started moving forward as soon as the green flag was given. On lap ten, he made it all the way to eighth where he got stuck behind Brett Hearn's 20th. Lap after lap Bernier tried to go up and down the track in order to pass Hearn's slower car.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonAs the remaining laps quickly decreased, you could clearly see that whenever Steve had an opening for Hearn well the late cars were preventing overtaking. Eventually, Hearn was forced into the pits just after halfway with car trouble, clearing the way for Bernier. By lap 70, Steve was now in 7th place and continuing to work hard, but the track and tire conditions changed significantly as more and more rubber coated the track, making overtaking more difficult. Two laps from the finish, the yellow flag came out, regrouping the peloton for a final sprint to victory. On the restart on lap 98, Steve tried to stop Carey Terrence 66 from passing him, but Bernier finished in 8th place just 0.5 seconds behind Terrance and 3.64 seconds behind race winner Danny Johnson. An excellent race result considering that six of the seven leading cars were fitted with big-block engines; further proof that Steve Bernier of Saint-Hyacinthe, QC can race with the best.
Bernier is already quite familiar with the track as he races on a regular basis in the Modified 358 class at Airborne, Steve started moving forward as soon as the green flag was given. On lap ten, he made it all the way to eighth where he got stuck behind Brett Hearn's 20th. Lap after lap Bernier tried to go up and down the track in order to pass Hearn's slower car.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonAs the remaining laps quickly decreased, you could clearly see that whenever Steve had an opening for Hearn well the late cars were preventing overtaking. Eventually, Hearn was forced into the pits just after halfway with car trouble, clearing the way for Bernier. By lap 70, Steve was now in 7th place and continuing to work hard, but the track and tire conditions changed significantly as more and more rubber coated the track, making overtaking more difficult. Two laps from the finish, the yellow flag came out, regrouping the peloton for a final sprint to victory. On the restart on lap 98, Steve tried to stop Carey Terrence 66 from passing him, but Bernier finished in 8th place just 0.5 seconds behind Terrance and 3.64 seconds behind race winner Danny Johnson. An excellent race result considering that six of the seven leading cars were fitted with big-block engines; further proof that Steve Bernier of Saint-Hyacinthe, QC can race with the best.
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