Photo credit: Don SimpsonOne last "Sprint" for Steve Poirier!
Steve Poirier - 30 years of racing excellence La
version française ici With the 2018 season fast approaching, it will mark the 30th year since a young man from Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec, donned a helmet for the first time competing. Steve Poirier, the seven-time Empire Super Sprints series champion, has raced in all categories of dirt racing over the past few years, helping to define him as one of the best clay oval riders currently active. today. 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonSteve started racing at the age of 16, in the now defunct dirt off-road series, competing in a 4x4 à la petite Manic in Quebec. His father, Alain Poirier, raced in the Modified category at this track and Steve was so intrigued by the sport that he decided to compete in the spring of 1988. In that first year, the young driver was so impressive among fellow riders and supporters that he won Rookie of the Year 1988. In 1990 Steve moved up from the Stock class to the Modified 4x4 class. Again he proved he had a winning driving style and would dominate the class that year, winning his first of many championships.
Photo credit: Francis PayeurThe following year, he repeated his success by winning the Modified 4x4 championship for the second time. Always adventurous, Steve followed in the footsteps of some of Canada's great asphalt racers, such as Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier, and attended Spenard Racing School in the summer of 91. This would further improve his driving skills, but this time- here on the asphalt. In 1992, Steve focused on asphalt racing, taking part in the "Road and Track drivers search" which proved very difficult, but the long distance races at the Mosport and Mont-Tremblant circuits really exposed the youngster. Quebecers to this type of sport. The experience eventually guided him to his true passion: dirt racing.
Photo credit: Christian 'Ti-Gaz' GenestOver the next few years, the young Quebecer continued to race in the Sportsman class, learning the skills needed to succeed in the world of oval dirt track racing. He won his first victory in 1994 and obtained third place several times at the Granby and Drummond championships. 
Photo credit: Guy Corriveau
Photo credit: Christian 'Ti-Gaz' GenestBy 1998 Steve was now a dominant force in the Modified class, both in Granby and Drummond. That year, he won the track championship at Autodrome Drummond along with second place at Granby. He repeated his success the following year on both circuits with another championship to his credit, winning the track championship at Drummond and once again second place at Granby. 
Big Block. Photo credit: Guy FortierIt was in the 2000 season when Steve finally demonstrated his dominance in the racing world in Quebec, winning the track championships in Drummond and Granby. The accomplished driver would continue his success in 2001 with several wins as well as the track championship at Drummond. That year, Steve raced against the big blocks with his small block all season. 
Small Block. Photo credit: Guy FortierFrom 2002 until the end of 2005, the Poirier team campaigned on both cars winning several more championships in the big block series at Autodrome Drummond. The team also began traveling to Super DIRT Week where they competed in the 200 lap main event. 
Photo credit: PatleckThe #28 team would go on to race in both Modified classes, accumulating six consecutive big block championships at Autodrome Drummond, but as the 2005 season unfolded, it was clear that the big block class was on the rise. be eliminated from local tracks.
Photo credit: Christian 'Ti-Gaz' GenestHe was awarded the title of best newcomer of the year 2006, confirming his move to Sprints. Over the next decade, Steve Poirier would dominate the Empire Super Sprints series, winning seven championships with over seventy-six wins combined with the Empire Super Sprints and Patriot Sprint Tour series.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonSteve Poirier is one of the most accomplished pilots with more than 180 victories in his last 30 years. A meticulous driver, Steve documents the statistics for each of the races and this information helps him when preparing for the races. Over the years, this system, along with its driving capabilities, has led to its great success on the track. Another part of this success has been keeping the team small and dedicated. His father, Alain, was not only Steve's main influence when he started racing, but he was his teammate from time to time. Steve's brother, Yannick, and his nephew, Jordan, also helped him when they weren't racing themselves. 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn 2012 Steve invited Kevin Loveys to become the crew chief, which was a great addition as Kevin brought a lot of experience on board the #28 crew. But for 16 years, Steve's main assistant has been his longtime teammate, friend, Réal Douville, who prepares the cars during the week and takes care of the trailer before and after each race. You can often see the two discussing the preparation of the cars before each race in the race trailer. 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonLast season Steve, having achieved so much over the years, finally took things a little slower and spent more time with his family and work commitments. He still managed to pick up six more wins over the years. However, there were some mishaps during the 2017 season with two very serious accidents. The most serious happened during the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. This incident sent the veteran pilot to the hospital for several days with two cracked vertebrae. This was clearly not the way Steve wanted to end the season. This 46-year-old man is still having fun and his desire to keep running is still there. You can see it in his conduct; 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonAgain, his schedule for the 2018 season may be reduced depending on various commitments, but he is clearly committed to racing full time in the near future with his goal of securing his 200th career win.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonSteve started racing at the age of 16, in the now defunct dirt off-road series, competing in a 4x4 à la petite Manic in Quebec. His father, Alain Poirier, raced in the Modified category at this track and Steve was so intrigued by the sport that he decided to compete in the spring of 1988. In that first year, the young driver was so impressive among fellow riders and supporters that he won Rookie of the Year 1988. In 1990 Steve moved up from the Stock class to the Modified 4x4 class. Again he proved he had a winning driving style and would dominate the class that year, winning his first of many championships.Photo credit: Francis PayeurThe following year, he repeated his success by winning the Modified 4x4 championship for the second time. Always adventurous, Steve followed in the footsteps of some of Canada's great asphalt racers, such as Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier, and attended Spenard Racing School in the summer of 91. This would further improve his driving skills, but this time- here on the asphalt. In 1992, Steve focused on asphalt racing, taking part in the "Road and Track drivers search" which proved very difficult, but the long distance races at the Mosport and Mont-Tremblant circuits really exposed the youngster. Quebecers to this type of sport. The experience eventually guided him to his true passion: dirt racing.Back to basics
In 1993 Steve returned to his roots and started racing in the DIRT Sportsman class at Granby and Drummond autodromes. This return to clay proved that it was his true calling, finishing second in the championship at Autodrome Granby and third at Autodrome Drummond. Steve was also awarded Rookie of the Year on both tours.Photo credit: Christian 'Ti-Gaz' GenestOver the next few years, the young Quebecer continued to race in the Sportsman class, learning the skills needed to succeed in the world of oval dirt track racing. He won his first victory in 1994 and obtained third place several times at the Granby and Drummond championships. Photo credit: Guy Corriveau
A dominant force in Modified
In early 1996, Steve came to the conclusion that he had done all he could accomplish in the Sportsman class and decided to upgrade to the Modified class. The following year, he took his first Modified victory at the Autodrome Montmagny, which at the time was a half-mile dirt oval. He will also finish fourth in the track championship at Autodrome Granby.Photo credit: Christian 'Ti-Gaz' GenestBy 1998 Steve was now a dominant force in the Modified class, both in Granby and Drummond. That year, he won the track championship at Autodrome Drummond along with second place at Granby. He repeated his success the following year on both circuits with another championship to his credit, winning the track championship at Drummond and once again second place at Granby. Big Block. Photo credit: Guy FortierIt was in the 2000 season when Steve finally demonstrated his dominance in the racing world in Quebec, winning the track championships in Drummond and Granby. The accomplished driver would continue his success in 2001 with several wins as well as the track championship at Drummond. That year, Steve raced against the big blocks with his small block all season. Small Block. Photo credit: Guy FortierFrom 2002 until the end of 2005, the Poirier team campaigned on both cars winning several more championships in the big block series at Autodrome Drummond. The team also began traveling to Super DIRT Week where they competed in the 200 lap main event. Photo credit: PatleckThe #28 team would go on to race in both Modified classes, accumulating six consecutive big block championships at Autodrome Drummond, but as the 2005 season unfolded, it was clear that the big block class was on the rise. be eliminated from local tracks.Domination in Sprint
Steve was always drawn to shear speed and decided to switch to 360 Sprints, competing with the full-time Empire Super Sprints series in 2006. At the start of the season, he would take his first victory and his 100th victory a few weeks later. He would get five wins this year finishing fourth in the ESS Championship.Photo credit: Christian 'Ti-Gaz' GenestHe was awarded the title of best newcomer of the year 2006, confirming his move to Sprints. Over the next decade, Steve Poirier would dominate the Empire Super Sprints series, winning seven championships with over seventy-six wins combined with the Empire Super Sprints and Patriot Sprint Tour series.One of the most accomplished pilots
Photo credit: Don SimpsonSteve Poirier is one of the most accomplished pilots with more than 180 victories in his last 30 years. A meticulous driver, Steve documents the statistics for each of the races and this information helps him when preparing for the races. Over the years, this system, along with its driving capabilities, has led to its great success on the track. Another part of this success has been keeping the team small and dedicated. His father, Alain, was not only Steve's main influence when he started racing, but he was his teammate from time to time. Steve's brother, Yannick, and his nephew, Jordan, also helped him when they weren't racing themselves. Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn 2012 Steve invited Kevin Loveys to become the crew chief, which was a great addition as Kevin brought a lot of experience on board the #28 crew. But for 16 years, Steve's main assistant has been his longtime teammate, friend, Réal Douville, who prepares the cars during the week and takes care of the trailer before and after each race. You can often see the two discussing the preparation of the cars before each race in the race trailer. Photo credit: Don SimpsonLast season Steve, having achieved so much over the years, finally took things a little slower and spent more time with his family and work commitments. He still managed to pick up six more wins over the years. However, there were some mishaps during the 2017 season with two very serious accidents. The most serious happened during the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. This incident sent the veteran pilot to the hospital for several days with two cracked vertebrae. This was clearly not the way Steve wanted to end the season. This 46-year-old man is still having fun and his desire to keep running is still there. You can see it in his conduct; Photo credit: Don SimpsonAgain, his schedule for the 2018 season may be reduced depending on various commitments, but he is clearly committed to racing full time in the near future with his goal of securing his 200th career win.
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