Crédit photo :Don Simpson Steve Bernard Defending a Championship
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Recently I spent time with Steve Bernard as he was racing to defend his 2017 358 Modified series title during the 100-lap 358 series race at Autodrome Granby.
With 38 modifieds in the pits this fast half-mile oval is always a challenge for the local racers as well as the out-of-town challengers. Steve, a veteran of this track, never takes things for granted. “A lot of good drivers will compete tonight and 100 laps can prove challenging,” Steve explained. “We will do our best to win but in the end, time will tell.”
Steve's dad, Jocelyn, also explained, “Racing is never a given. Sometimes everything falls into place, but other times, no matter how hard you work at it, there are always stumbling blocks in the road.”
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
Last year was a storybook finish for the 37-year-old veteran driver who captured the DIRTcar 358 Modified series title at the final race of the season at the Brockville Speedway’s Fall Nationals. He also captured the track championship at both Le RPM Speedway and Autodrome Drummond.
Currently, Steve is sitting in third place in the DIRTcar 358 Modified series, but there are eight races left in the 2018 series scheduled, therefore, the standings will change over time.
The Race at Autodrome Granby started off with a round of hot laps. Steve came out in group number three, getting his best time on lap two, with the fourth best time over-all.
After a few adjustments, Steve made some gains and finishing second during his time trial just behind Maxime Plante in car 79.
It was now onto the heat races. Bernard would start second and once again his main competition was David Hébert in car ONE and Maxime Plante in car 79. Steve would hold onto second through most of the race until Hébert, with two to go, got underneath Steve and would come home second, leaving the Steve with a third-place finish.
With close to an hour break before the feature race, team 54 went to work on the car, adjusting suspensions and scuffing the tires.
As the team worked on the car, Steve prepped his helmet and discussed the race plan with his father, Jocelyn. The two then walked over to the redraw area where Steve drew the 8th place starting position on the grid.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
With the call to the line by DIRTcar officials, it was now time for Bernard to get behind the wheel and prepare himself for the feature race.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
As he sat in the car waiting to go racing, you could see Steve quietly zoning into the task that was upon him. Eyes closed, he waited for the last call to the line. You could hear the last blast of the horn by race officials as Steve opened his eyes and started the motor. It was now time for the 37-year veteran and his car to race one hundred laps as hard as he could from his 8th-place starting position.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
With the drop of the green flag, Steve started moving forward in the field.
By lap fifteen, Steve who was on the charge, moved into second place behind Carey Terrance in car 66 as the caution flag came out.
With the caution over, and the green flag shown, the field was back racing as Terrance fended off the challenge by Steve in the number 54 car.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
Within ten laps the field was once under a caution and Steve had now dropped back to third, but still in a challenging position.
This, unfortunately, would be short-lived as the race continued to unfold, and after a series of cautions, the tires on car 54 were fading.
Lap after lap, Steve's car was slowing even though you could see that he was working hard to maintain his place in the field.
In the end, Steve Bernard would have to settle for a 7th place finish. Still, it was a good run for team 54. Yes, it would have been nice to finish first, but at least they came home in the points and this is just one race of many in the long season of racing left this year.
The next race in the DIRTcar 358 Modified series is scheduled for September 14 at the Mohawk Intl. Raceway. Steve and his team 54 are hoping for a better result and some much-needed points as they continue on to uphold their championship.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
Last year was a storybook finish for the 37-year-old veteran driver who captured the DIRTcar 358 Modified series title at the final race of the season at the Brockville Speedway’s Fall Nationals. He also captured the track championship at both Le RPM Speedway and Autodrome Drummond.
Currently, Steve is sitting in third place in the DIRTcar 358 Modified series, but there are eight races left in the 2018 series scheduled, therefore, the standings will change over time.
The Race at Autodrome Granby started off with a round of hot laps. Steve came out in group number three, getting his best time on lap two, with the fourth best time over-all.
After a few adjustments, Steve made some gains and finishing second during his time trial just behind Maxime Plante in car 79.
It was now onto the heat races. Bernard would start second and once again his main competition was David Hébert in car ONE and Maxime Plante in car 79. Steve would hold onto second through most of the race until Hébert, with two to go, got underneath Steve and would come home second, leaving the Steve with a third-place finish.
With close to an hour break before the feature race, team 54 went to work on the car, adjusting suspensions and scuffing the tires.
As the team worked on the car, Steve prepped his helmet and discussed the race plan with his father, Jocelyn. The two then walked over to the redraw area where Steve drew the 8th place starting position on the grid.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
With the call to the line by DIRTcar officials, it was now time for Bernard to get behind the wheel and prepare himself for the feature race.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
As he sat in the car waiting to go racing, you could see Steve quietly zoning into the task that was upon him. Eyes closed, he waited for the last call to the line. You could hear the last blast of the horn by race officials as Steve opened his eyes and started the motor. It was now time for the 37-year veteran and his car to race one hundred laps as hard as he could from his 8th-place starting position.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
With the drop of the green flag, Steve started moving forward in the field.
By lap fifteen, Steve who was on the charge, moved into second place behind Carey Terrance in car 66 as the caution flag came out.
With the caution over, and the green flag shown, the field was back racing as Terrance fended off the challenge by Steve in the number 54 car.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
Within ten laps the field was once under a caution and Steve had now dropped back to third, but still in a challenging position.
This, unfortunately, would be short-lived as the race continued to unfold, and after a series of cautions, the tires on car 54 were fading.
Lap after lap, Steve's car was slowing even though you could see that he was working hard to maintain his place in the field.
In the end, Steve Bernard would have to settle for a 7th place finish. Still, it was a good run for team 54. Yes, it would have been nice to finish first, but at least they came home in the points and this is just one race of many in the long season of racing left this year.
The next race in the DIRTcar 358 Modified series is scheduled for September 14 at the Mohawk Intl. Raceway. Steve and his team 54 are hoping for a better result and some much-needed points as they continue on to uphold their championship.