MODIFIED: Autodrome Granby 1999-06-12

[Motorsport News International]

After two seasons without a victory

HUGUES MERCIER MAKES A COMEBACK IN
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE AT AUTODROME GRANBY

GRANBY, Que., June 12, 1999- It's with a perfect night that Hugues Mercier
from Victoriaville found himself in the winner's circle, last Friday night
at Autodrome Granby at the end of the 30-lap feature race for the Modified
division. The Labbe Auto Recyclage Teo Pro Car driver by winning his heat
and the feature on this Le Circuit Bar Racing night, put an end to an
absence of two seasons on the first step of the podium. After an exciting
battle for the first spot with Claude Brouillard, Mercier had the last
word on Dave Camara and Brouillard.

On the first row at the start, Alain Boisvert took the early lead followed
by Denis Labonte and Robert Ranger. Three laps later, Labonte was
responsible for the first caution flag after stopping on the track due to
mechanical problems. At the restart, Boisvert continued his lead with
Robert Ranger taking the second place and surprisingly Clement Therrien
who with a small block, had gained four positions in only three laps.
Meanwhile, Brouillard, Mercier and Camara were trying to catch up with the
leaders.

Then on lap 13, Brouillard was able to get by Boisvert to take the lead.
The Pointe Claire driver who was slowing his pace, was also passed by
Mercier three laps later. At this moment, an interesting battle between
Brouillard and Mercier intensified because those two veterans were looking
the victory. Using the inside line, Mercier had to work very hard to
achieve his goal, but after three laps his choice was the best one for the
success. Brouillard didn't give up easily and tried everything to get back
his first place. But with three laps remaining, Brouillard was surprised
by track champion Dave Camara and couldn't hold to his second place.
Camara finished second followed by Brouillard, Clement Therrien, Marco
Potvin and Steve Poirier. For Brouillard, it was his fourth appearance on
the third step of the podium so far this season.

Marco Potvin who hadat to take place at the end of the field on lap 9,
after a visit to his pit due to a flat tire, was able, with his fifth
place finish to remain in the first place of the Molson standings, with a
three point margin on Steve Poirier who crossed the finish line just
behind Potvin.

As for the small block division, with his overall fourth place finish,
Clement Therrien was able to put an end to the winning streak of Luke
Plante who so far, had five wins in the same amount of races. Also in a
Teo Pro Car, Therrien could have been the first small block driver to
finish in the first three but brakes problems at the end forced him to
slow down. Plante was second in the category followed by Gerry Patenaude,
Leon Gonyo and young Kayle Robidoux, son of Bert « Transmission »
Robidoux.

Always close

As always, the 20-lap feature race in the Sportsman class was spectacular
and Louis Bouthillier gave another demonstration of his skill to register
his fourth success of the season so far. Second on lap 5 after starting
twelfth on the grid, Bouthillier battled strongly with Robin David for the
honors. Two laps later, David made a little mistake but that was enough
for Bouthillier. After, David tried very hard to take back his place but
Bouthillier never gave up. Mario Moreau was the one who finished third
followed by Pierre Raymond and Alain Mathieu, the defending champion.

In the Late Model class, Stephane Michaud scored his fifth win of the
season by having the best on Marcel Godbout and Michel Tessier. The other
winners were Steve Denis (tourism class) and Etienne Graveline (4
cylinder).

Besides his regular stock-car program, promoter Bob Gatien will present
the 12th annual Defi-Vision, a special 10-lap race involving blind people
at the steering wheel guided by radio and television Quebec stars. 32 of
them will take the green flag in this spectacular race to raise money for
the Mira Fondation which trains dogs for blind people. Last year, an
amount of $95, 000 was raised.

MODIFIED (30 laps)
RESULTS

1- 50, Hugues Mercier 2- 26, Dave Camara 3- 3, Claude Brouillard 4- 39,
Clement Therrien 5- 25, Marco Potvin 6- 28, Steve Poirier 7- 27, Robert
Ranger 8- 66, Alain Boisvert 9- 24, Luke Plante 10- 44J, Gino Clair 11-
61, Marc Nadeau 12- 57, Gerry Patenaude 13- 4, Leon Gonyo 14- 46, Kayle
Robidoux 15- 85, Alain Langlois 16- 17, Patrick Labonte 17- 0, Craig
Ormsby 18- 23, Renald Daoust 19- 02, Mike Reyell 20- 16, Eric Sundborg 21-
9, Yves Dessureault 22- 71, Pierre Hebert 23- 7, Denis Labonte 24- 24L,
Carl Labonte.