Wight claws back for Granby victory
Outduels Hearn before packed house for 2nd Super DIRTcar career win
GRANBY, QC – Larry Wight finished what he started at Autodrome Granby and left town with the 2nd Super DIRTcar Series win of his career and $6,000.
The 22-year-old driver of the Gypsum Express No. 99L set a new track record during time trials, won his qualifying heat, drew the pole and sealed the deal in a 100-lap thriller despite a big-time test from Brett Hearn.
Wight met with little resistance in the early going although Danny Johnson and Billy Decker kept him in sight, but by lap 25 Hearn came calling after making short work of Mario Clair, Rich Scagliotta and Decker on a restart.
The “Jersey Jet” reeled in Johnson a few laps later. He began to pressure Wight from the low lane and passed him for the first time exiting turn four, 55 laps in.
“Lightning Larry”, working the high side, got ahead of Hearn multiple times in the next several laps only to find himself back in second place by the time he passed the flagstand.
He finally got a wheel in front at the line on lap 62. A full straightaway behind, Johnson, still in third, had his hands full with a resurgent Matt Sheppard. The points leader pitted early to remedy a bad push and then stormed back up through the field.
“I got a good lead again and I was trying to save the tires when the yellow came out again (Pat Ward came to a stop on lap 78),” Wight said.
Hearn muscled under Wight in the fourth turn to lead lap 80, gave way on lap 81 and nearly led on lap 84 before Wight took control for keeps.
“He showed me the bottom and he raced me clean,” Wight said. “I kept it out there, still trying not to burn off the tire and hoping it would stick, which it did.”
“It was an exciting race from my seat,” Hearn said. “It was a nice win for Larry. He had a good car the whole race.”
Sheppard got home third, well ahead of Johnson, with Decker a nearby fifth. Gary Tomkins, very strong over the second half of the race, was sixth. Steve Bernard, who did a lot of side by side racing with both Decker and Tomkins placed seventh.
Positions 8-10 went to Peter Britten, Tim Fuller and Jimmy Phelps.
Wight’s earlier Super DIRTcar Series win came at Weedsport in 2010. He became the ninth different points-race winner in 18 events this season.
The next Super DIRTcar Series event is at Brewerton Speedway September 19.
Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series Statistical Report.
A-Main (100 laps): start in (*)
1. 99L Larry Wight- Phoenix, N.Y. (1)
2. 20 Brett Hearn – Sussex, NJ (12)
3. 9h Matt Sheppard – Waterloo, N.Y. (5)
4. 27j Danny Johnson – Rochester, N.Y. (2)
5. 91 Billy Decker – Unadilla, N.Y. (6)
6. 84 Gary Tomkins – Clifton Springs, N. Y. (25)
7. 54 Steve Bernard – Granby, QC (13)
8. 21a Peter Britten – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (10)
9. 19 Tim Fuller – Edwards, N.Y. (15)
10. 98h Jimmy Phelps – Baldwinsville, N.Y. (21)
11. 43 Keith Flach – Ravena, N.Y. (20)
12. 25 Steve Bernier – Granby, QC (9)
13. 3 Claude Brouillard – Sorel, QC (16)
14. 8 Rich Scagliotta – Bound Brook, N. J. (3)
15. 47 Simon Perreault – Granby, QC (24)
16. 25m Maxime Viens – Ste. Cesaire, QC (26)
17. 42p Pat Ward – Genoa, N.Y. (17)
18. 46 Kyle Robidoux – St. Constant, QC (4)
19. 64 Daniel Nadeau – Mayville, QC (22)
20. 22c Mario Clair – St. Edmond, QC (8)
21. 96 J-F Corriveau – Montreal, QC (7)
22. 21 Yan Bussiere – Drummondville, QC (14)
23. 25P Michael Parent – Granby, QC (23)
24. 73 Alain Boisvert – Dorval, QC (18)
25. 79 Rejean Plante – Ste. Hyacinthe, QC (27)
26. ONE David Hebert – St. Damase, QC (11)
27. 75 Maxime Michon – Granby, QC (28)
28. 22j Gino Clair – St, Edmond, QC (19)
Qualifying Heats (8 laps, top 5 transfer, top 3 redraw)
Heat 1: Wight, Hearn, Johnson, Bernard, Ward, Phelps, Tomkins
Heat 2: M Clair, Scagliotta, Corriveau, Bussiere, Boisvert, Nadeau, Viens
Heat 3: Decker, Britten, Hebert, Fuller, G Clair, Plante, Parent
Heat 4: Sheppard, Bernier, Robidoux, Brouillard, Flach, Perreault, Michon
CONTINGENCY AWARDS:
VP Race Fuels – Peter Britten ($50 cash)
ASI Racewear – Steve Bernard ($50 cash)
Pole Position Raceway Fast Qualifier Award – Larry Wight ($100 cash)
Bilstein Shocks – Rich Scagliotta ($50 cash)
Bicknell Racing Products – Larry Wight ($100 product certificate)
Cometic Gasket – Rich Scagliotta ($50 cash)
Comp Cams – Jimmy Phelps ($50 cash), Larry Wight ($50 product certificate)
Edelbrock – Rich Scagliotta ($50 cash)
Fox Shox – Gary Tomkins ($50 cash)
JE Pistons – Gary Tomkins ($50 cash), Pat Ward, Daniel Nadeau (product valued at appr. $285)
JRI Shocks – Daniel Nadeau ($50 cash)
KSE – Gary Tomkins ($50 product certificate)
MSD – Rejean Plante ($50 cash), Gary Tomkins ($25 cash)
Mobil 1 – Danny Johnson ($50 cash), Rejean Plante (20% product discount)
SuperFlow – Rich Scagliotta ($50 cash)
Wrisco Aluminum – Larry Wight (product valued at appr. $200)
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, Pole Position Raceway and Dig Safely New York. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, FX Caprara, Fox Shox, Impact Race Products, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mobil 1, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSDPerformance, Racing Electronics, Superflow, TNT Rescue and Wrisco Aluminum.
