Yan Bussière promoter of Autodrome Drummond and veteran Clément Therrien were on the top row for the start of Botown Night Club 100 with a field of 32 cars taking the initial green. Therrien took the early lead followed by Bussière and Steve Bernard in third spot. Therrien led the first lap when Denis Labonté brought the first caution. Therrien had a great start over Bussière as David Hébert took third. Hébert was now challenging Bussière for second with 4 laps down.
Bussière was able to take some distance over the 1H car. Michel Dusseault brought the second caution on lap 7. Therrien still on top with the same order for the top 3 with Bussière and Hébert behind the leader; Steve Bernard was on the backbumber of Hébert with a dozen laps done. Clément Therrien got into slower traffic with 17 laps in the books as Hébert was now side by side with Bussière for the second spot. Hébert passed Bussière and Bernard did the same thing on lap 18. Starting 13th on the grid François Bernier made his into the top 5 and passed Bussière for fourth place on the 24th lap.
The leaders were involved in heavy traffic with 35 laps now in the books as François Bernier who was running in the top 5 slowed down and the yellow was out on lap 36. Therrien retained the lead over Hébert and Bernard with Mario Clair now fourth and Claude Brouillard in fifth. The #39 car of Therrien quickly got a sizeable lead over the field with 40 laps completed. Fifth place runner, Claude Brouillard stopped in turn 3 and the field was slowed down on lap 42. On the restart, Therrien got another stellar start over Hébert. Pierre Dagenais who started 22nd was now 9th with 45 laps done. Eric Bessette and Sébastien Gougeon brought the caution on lap 47.
On the green flag, Therrien stayed first with Steve Bernard taking second over Hébert when Mario Clair stopped on the backstretch and caution came out on the 48th lap. Therrien in first on the green as they hit the halfway point, your top 5 was Therrien, Bernard, Hébert, Dominic Dufault and Bussière as Dagenais and Lazore got together and the yellow was out on this lap.
The caution laps started to count and the green light were back on lap 57 as Therrien still first with Hébert back in second; Stéphane Lafrance was now in the top 5 after starting in 14th spot. Bernard charged back and regained second with 41 laps to go. Bernard was getting closer to the leader with 65 laps in the record books. Bernard was able to pass Therrien as Dagenais and Sébastien Gougeon got together in turn 4 and caution was back out on lap 66, this ended the night for both drivers. The feature started back on lap 72, Bernard the leader over Therrien and Hébert with Dufault and Kayle Robidoux rounding out the top 5.
Yan Bussière slowed in the backshoot and the yellow was out with 23 laps to go. The feature started back on lap 82 with Bernard and Therrien racing side by side, Bernard got the advantage. Gino Clair who started 25th seemed to be the fastest car on the track and took fourth spot on lap 84. Clair was using the top lane to try and pass Dufault for third with only 10 laps to go, both drivers were now racing together and Clair got the spot secured 2 laps later. Bernard got into traffic with 95 laps in as he a comfortable lead over Therrien in second spot. Bernard led the final laps to win the Botown Night Club 100 over Clement Therrien, Gino Clair, Dominic Dufault and Kayle Robidoux rounded out the top 5.
The series will now take a 5-week break before heading out west for a 2-night battle at Autodrome Edelweiss on August 27 and August 28 at Brockville Ontario Speedway where the champion will be crowned.
Release Prepared By Martin Bélanger
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