Crédit photo :Don Simpson Steve Poirier - 30 years of Excellence in Racing
With the 2018 season in front of us, this will mark the 30th year since a young man from Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec, strapped on a helmet for the first time in competition. Steve Poirier, the seven-time Empire Super Sprint champion, has raced in just about ever dirt-racing class over the years, helping to define him as one of the best dirt-oval drivers currently racing today.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Steve began racing at the age of 16, in the now defunct off road dirt track racing series competing in the stock 4x4 class at Petite Manic Trail in Quebec. His father, Alain Poirier, was racing in the modified class at the track and Steve was so intrigued with the sport he decided to enter into racing in the spring of 1988. That first year, the young driver was so impressive among fellow drivers and fans that he was presented the 1988 Rookie of the Year.
In 1990, Steve moved up from the stock class to the 4x4-modified class. Once again, he proved that he had a winning style of driving and would dominate the class that year, picking up his first of many championships.
Photo credit : Francis Payeur
The following year, he would repeat his success, winning the 4x4-modified championship for a second time. Always adventurous, Steve then followed in the footsteps of some of Canada’s great road race drivers, like Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier, and attended the Spenard Racing School during the summer of 91. This would further enhance his driving skills but this time the driving would be on asphalt.
In 1992, Steve concentrated on asphalt road racing, competing in the Road and Track drivers search which proved very challenging, however, the long distance racing at Mosport and Mont-Tremblant speedways really exposed the young Quebecer to this type of sport. The experience would eventually guide him back to his true passion -- dirt track racing.
Photo credit : Christian 'Ti-Gaz' Genest
For the next few years, the young Quebecer continued to race in the Sportsman class, learning skills needed to succeed in the world of dirt track oval racing. He would pick up his first win in 1994 along with several more third place finishes in the championships at both Granby and Drummond.
Photo credit : Guy Corriveau
Photo credit : Christian 'Ti-Gaz' Genest
By 1998, Steve was now a dominant force in the Modified division, both at Granby and Drummond. That year he would capture the track Championship at the Autodrome Drummond along with the runner-up position at Granby. He would repeat his success the following year at both tracks with one more championship under his belt, by capturing the track championship at Drummond and once again the runner up at Granby.
Big Block. Photo credit : Guy Fortier
It was the 2000 season, in which Steve finally exhibited his dominance in the Quebec racing scene, capturing both the Drummond and Granby track championships.
The now polished driver would continue his success in 2001 with several victories along with the track championship at Drummond, That year Steve campaigned a small block along with the Big Block Modified through out the enter season.
Small Block. Photo credit : Guy Fortier
From 2002 to late 2005, Team Poirier would campaign the two cars, winning several more championships in the Big Block series at Autodrome Drummond. The Team also began travelling to Super Dirt Week where they competed in the 200-lap main event.
Photo credit : Patleck
Team 28 would continue to race in both the Big Block and Small Block Modified class, racking up 6 consecutive Big Block modified Championships at Autodrome Drummond, but as the 2005 season was unfolding, it was clear that the Big Block class was being phased out around the local tracks.
Photo credit : Christian 'Ti-Gaz' Genest
He was presented with the Outstanding Newcomer of the Year honors for 2006, vindicating his move to Sprint cars. For the next decade, Steve Poirier would dominate the Empire Super Sprint series, winning seven championships along with over seventy-six wins combined with the ESS Sprint car series and the Patriot Sprint series.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Steve Poirier is one of the most accomplished drivers with over 180 feature event wins in his last 30 years. A meticulous driver, Steve would document statistics at each race and the information would help in race preparation. Over the years that system, along with his driving ability, led to his great success on the track.
Another part of that success was keeping the team small and dedicated. His father, Alain, was not only the main influencing factor for Steve entering into racing, but from time to time he was his crewman. Steve’s brother, Yannick, and nephew, Jorden, would also help when they were not out racing themselves.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
In 2012, Steve invited Kevin Loveys to become the team’s crew chief, which was a great addition as Kevin brought a lot of experience on board the Team 28. But for the past 16 years, Steve’s main helper has been his long-time crewman and friend, Real Douville, who prepares the cars during the week and stocked the race hauler before each and every race. You can often see the two discussing the cars’ set-up before each race within the race hauler.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Last season, Steve, having accomplished so much over the years, finally took things a bit slower and spent more time with his family and work commitments. He still managed to capture six more features wins over the year. However there were a couple of downfalls over the 2017 season with two very severe crashes. The most serious occurred at the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. This incident put the veteran driver in the hospital for several days with two cracked vertebrae’s. It clearly was not the way Steve wanted to end the season.
This 46-year-old is clearly still having fun and his drive to continue racing is still there. You can see it in his driving; always showing his talent behind the wheel and putting a great show for the fans.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Again the 2018 season may be on a reduced schedule depending on various commitments, but he clearly is committed to racing the full schedule in the near future along with his goal of capturing his 200th career win.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Steve began racing at the age of 16, in the now defunct off road dirt track racing series competing in the stock 4x4 class at Petite Manic Trail in Quebec. His father, Alain Poirier, was racing in the modified class at the track and Steve was so intrigued with the sport he decided to enter into racing in the spring of 1988. That first year, the young driver was so impressive among fellow drivers and fans that he was presented the 1988 Rookie of the Year.
In 1990, Steve moved up from the stock class to the 4x4-modified class. Once again, he proved that he had a winning style of driving and would dominate the class that year, picking up his first of many championships.
Photo credit : Francis Payeur
The following year, he would repeat his success, winning the 4x4-modified championship for a second time. Always adventurous, Steve then followed in the footsteps of some of Canada’s great road race drivers, like Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier, and attended the Spenard Racing School during the summer of 91. This would further enhance his driving skills but this time the driving would be on asphalt.
In 1992, Steve concentrated on asphalt road racing, competing in the Road and Track drivers search which proved very challenging, however, the long distance racing at Mosport and Mont-Tremblant speedways really exposed the young Quebecer to this type of sport. The experience would eventually guide him back to his true passion -- dirt track racing.
Back to the sources
In 1993, Steve returned back to his roots and began racing in the Dirt Sportsman class at both Autodrome Granby and Drummond. This move back to dirt track racing proved that this was his true calling, finishing second in points for the championship at Granby and third at Autodrome Drummond. That year. Steve was also presented with the Rookie of the Year honours at both tracks.Photo credit : Christian 'Ti-Gaz' Genest
For the next few years, the young Quebecer continued to race in the Sportsman class, learning skills needed to succeed in the world of dirt track oval racing. He would pick up his first win in 1994 along with several more third place finishes in the championships at both Granby and Drummond.
Photo credit : Guy Corriveau
A dominant force in the Modified
In early 1996, Steve came to the conclusion that he had accomplished all he could in the Sportsman division and decided to move up to the Modified class. The following year, he picked up his first win in the Modified class at Autodrome Montmagny which at the time was a half-mile dirt oval. He would also finish fourth in the track Championship at Autodrome Granby.Photo credit : Christian 'Ti-Gaz' Genest
By 1998, Steve was now a dominant force in the Modified division, both at Granby and Drummond. That year he would capture the track Championship at the Autodrome Drummond along with the runner-up position at Granby. He would repeat his success the following year at both tracks with one more championship under his belt, by capturing the track championship at Drummond and once again the runner up at Granby.
Big Block. Photo credit : Guy Fortier
It was the 2000 season, in which Steve finally exhibited his dominance in the Quebec racing scene, capturing both the Drummond and Granby track championships.
The now polished driver would continue his success in 2001 with several victories along with the track championship at Drummond, That year Steve campaigned a small block along with the Big Block Modified through out the enter season.
Small Block. Photo credit : Guy Fortier
From 2002 to late 2005, Team Poirier would campaign the two cars, winning several more championships in the Big Block series at Autodrome Drummond. The Team also began travelling to Super Dirt Week where they competed in the 200-lap main event.
Photo credit : Patleck
Team 28 would continue to race in both the Big Block and Small Block Modified class, racking up 6 consecutive Big Block modified Championships at Autodrome Drummond, but as the 2005 season was unfolding, it was clear that the Big Block class was being phased out around the local tracks.
A domination in Sprint
Steve was always attracted to shear speed and decided to move up to the 360 Sprint Car series, competing with the Empire Super Sprints series fulltime in 2006. Early in the season, he would pick up his first win along with his 100th career win a few weeks later that season. He would go on to get five wins that year finishing fourth overall in the ESS Sprint car series championship.Photo credit : Christian 'Ti-Gaz' Genest
He was presented with the Outstanding Newcomer of the Year honors for 2006, vindicating his move to Sprint cars. For the next decade, Steve Poirier would dominate the Empire Super Sprint series, winning seven championships along with over seventy-six wins combined with the ESS Sprint car series and the Patriot Sprint series.
One of the most accomplished drivers
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Steve Poirier is one of the most accomplished drivers with over 180 feature event wins in his last 30 years. A meticulous driver, Steve would document statistics at each race and the information would help in race preparation. Over the years that system, along with his driving ability, led to his great success on the track.
Another part of that success was keeping the team small and dedicated. His father, Alain, was not only the main influencing factor for Steve entering into racing, but from time to time he was his crewman. Steve’s brother, Yannick, and nephew, Jorden, would also help when they were not out racing themselves.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
In 2012, Steve invited Kevin Loveys to become the team’s crew chief, which was a great addition as Kevin brought a lot of experience on board the Team 28. But for the past 16 years, Steve’s main helper has been his long-time crewman and friend, Real Douville, who prepares the cars during the week and stocked the race hauler before each and every race. You can often see the two discussing the cars’ set-up before each race within the race hauler.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Last season, Steve, having accomplished so much over the years, finally took things a bit slower and spent more time with his family and work commitments. He still managed to capture six more features wins over the year. However there were a couple of downfalls over the 2017 season with two very severe crashes. The most serious occurred at the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. This incident put the veteran driver in the hospital for several days with two cracked vertebrae’s. It clearly was not the way Steve wanted to end the season.
This 46-year-old is clearly still having fun and his drive to continue racing is still there. You can see it in his driving; always showing his talent behind the wheel and putting a great show for the fans.
Photo credit : Don Simpson
Again the 2018 season may be on a reduced schedule depending on various commitments, but he clearly is committed to racing the full schedule in the near future along with his goal of capturing his 200th career win.