Alex Therrien Dominates Autodrome Granby for First Career Empire Super Sprints Victory

Story By: CURTIS BERLEUE / EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS – GRANBY, QC – For Alex Therrien, the two-race weekend in Quebec at Autodromes Granby and Drummond is always circled on his calendar as a weekend racing close to home. Friday night, it was not only a home game for the Victoriaville, Quebec driver, but it also marked his first Empire Super Sprints victory in front of a home crowd.

By virtue of drawing the Pinnacle Pole Award, Mathieu Bardier brought the field to green alongside of Alex Therrien. Bardier led the field into turn one, but by the exit of turn two, Therrien had taken command of the field.

A red flag with just one lap complete set the field up for a restart, and Therrien again jumped out to a lead, but this time with Joe Trenca in tow as he was able to get by Bardier for second.

With 10 laps complete, Therrien had opened up over a straightaway lead and began working lap traffic. Trenca remained second, and Jason Barney had worked his way into a podium position. Just one lap later, Barney got by Trenca using the low side of the speedway to take possession of second.

Dylan Swiernik, who had started 9th, was slowly making his way through the field. With 12 laps complete, he had made his way into the top ten, and four laps later he slipped by Trenca for third. With 9 laps remaining, he got by Barney for second and set his sights on Therrien.

Therrien’s lead, which had opened up to over three seconds, began shrinking, but Swiernik ran out of time and Therrien held on to pick up his first Empire Super Sprints victory.
Behind Therrien, Dylan Swiernik crossed the line in second, and Jordan Poirier rounded out the Ashley Lynn Winery podium in third, as he got by Barney with just a handful of laps remaining.

21 cars signed in for action on Friday at Granby, splitting the field into three timed hot lap groups. Dale Curran, Dylan Swiernik, and Shawn Donath earned Rifenburg Contracting fast time awards. In Elab Smokers Boutique heat race action, Matt Tanner, Dylan Swiernik and Davie Franek all picked up victories.

The ESS Road Ahead:

Saturday, August 23 – Autodrome Drummond – Drummondville, QC ($3,000 to Win)

Friday, August 29 – Brewerton Speedway – Brewerton, NY ($2,000 to Win)

Saturday, August 30 – Fulton Speedway – Fulton, NY ($2,000 to Win)

Full Results:
A-Main (28 Laps): 1. 21-Alex Therrien[2]; 2. 7C-Dylan Swiernik[9]; 3. 28-Jordan Poirier[8]; 4. 87-Jason Barney[5]; 5. 98-Joe Trenca[3]; 6. 90-Matt Tanner[4]; 7. 28F-Davie Franek[12]; 8. 31C-Dale Curran[13]; 9. 93-Bryan Cloutier[16]; 10. 3G-Dale Gosselin[11]; 11. 24-Jeremy Lafleur[7]; 12. 84-Tyler Rand[14]; 13. 33-Lacey Hanson[17]; 14. 81-Tyler Reynolds[19]; 15. 19KC-Mathieu Bardier[1]; 16. 13E-Evan Reynolds[6]; 17. 53-Shawn Donath[21]; 18. 01-Danny Varin[10]; 19. 93L-Guy Gosselin[15]; 20. 13T-Trevor Years[20]; 21. 55-Kaven Poliquin[18]

Elab Smokers Boutique Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 90-Matt Tanner[2]; 2. 87-Jason Barney[5]; 3. 24-Jeremy Lafleur[3]; 4. 21-Alex Therrien[6]; 5. 31C-Dale Curran[1]; 6. 93-Bryan Cloutier[4]; 7. 81-Tyler Reynolds[7]

Elab Smokers Boutique Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 7C-Dylan Swiernik[1]; 2. 28-Jordan Poirier[2]; 3. 98-Joe Trenca[4]; 4. 19KC-Mathieu Bardier[5]; 5. 84-Tyler Rand[3]; 6. 33-Lacey Hanson[6]; 7. 13T-Trevor Years[7]

Elab Smokers Boutique Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 28F-Davie Franek[3]; 2. 01-Danny Varin[2]; 3. 3G-Dale Gosselin[4]; 4. 13E-Evan Reynolds[5]; 5. 93L-Guy Gosselin[6]; 6. 55-Kaven Poliquin[7]; 7. 53-Shawn Donath[1]

Awards & Contingencies:

Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time ($25 each): #31C-Dale Curran; #7C-Dylan Swiernik; #53-Shawn Donath

Elab Smokers Boutique Heat Winners ($25 each): #90-Matt Tanner; #7C-Dylan Swiernik; #28F-Davie Franek

Pinnacle Pole Draw Award ($25): #19KC-Mathieu Bardier

Keizer Wheels 5th Place Finisher ($50 Certificate): #98-Joe Trenca

King Motorsports 10th Place Finisher ($25 Certificate): #3G-Dale Gosselin

Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finisher (5 Gal Fuel): #24-Jeremy Lafleur

Wilwood Disc Brakes 13th Place Finisher ($50 Certificate): #33-Lacey Hanson

All-Star Performance 15th Place Finisher ($50 Certificate): #19KC-Mathieu Bardier

A-Verdi Storage Containers Hard Charger Award ($50): #7C-Dylan Swiernik (+7)

Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running ($30): #13E-Evan Reynolds

Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish (bottle of wine): #21-Alex Therrien; #7C-Dylan Swiernik; #28-Jordan Poirier

Hoosier Tire Award (RR Hoosier tire): #33-Lacey Hanson

Slade Shock Tech ($50 Certificate): #98-Joe Trenca