RPW Exclusive: Steve Bernier Looked Like A Veteran Friday Night; Wins Fonda 200 Qualifier Number Four

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – Steve Bernier may not have many laps, if any, around the Fonda Speedway heading into this year’s Fonda 200 Weekend.
However, after his qualifying event on Friday night, you’d never know it.
Bernier looked like a seasoned veteran in his second career start at the Track of Champions during the fourth and final qualifier as he fended off the challenges of Billy Decker and Matt DeLorenzo.
Both of those drivers know their way around the Track of Champions but Bernier was the man standing in victory lane when the race was over.
“I think we have a good car for this weekend,” Bernier said. “I have to thank Brandon Planck (DIG Race Products) and Randy Williamson (Bicknell Racing Products). They helped me this week to have a good set-up for this place and I’m very happy right now.”
On multiple restarts in the 15-lap event, Bernier chose the outside while having the veteran Decker on the bottom.
Was he certain his #25 could keep the top spot against the lower line challenges?
“I don’t know what’s the best line for restarts here,” he said. “I had a good start from the original green flag and I tried for the same result on each restart. Billy (Decker) is a clean racer and he ran me clean. This was fun.”
25-Steve Bernier[2]; 2. 91-Billy Decker[1]; 3. 3D-Matt Delorenzo[4]; 4. 34-Dave Constantino[5]; 5. 2RJ-Ronnie Johnson[8]; 6. 24P-Brian Pessolano[3]; 7. 35C-Chris Curtis[6]; 8. 4-Cody Clark[9]; 9. 19-Tim Fuller[7]; 10. 16S-Danny Varin[11]; 11. 27-Jason Reome[12]; 12. 66M-Matt Sobiech[10]