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in three qualifying heats for a spot on 26-car starting lineup. When all was said and done, Fred Broussard (#76) of Sydney stood triumphant in the winner’s circle thanks to a well-calculated late race maneuver leading to a photo finish. (see video)
Heat winners included Rick Cashol (#54) of Saint John, N.B., Broussard, and 2008 CFS points champion Gérard Doiron (#15) of Haute Aboujagane. Cashol and Broussard therefore started on the front row while Doiron and Doug McEwen (#40) of Charlottetown, PEI held the third and fourth starting slots for the 75-lap feature. Cashol set the pace throughout the event beating back numerous challenges from Broussard who was literally parked on his back bumper. As the two front-runners battled, there were numerous other battles for positions throughout the field. On lap #17, McEwen saw his day come to an abrupt end as he spun in turn #3 before being hit hard from behind.
By lap #67, former CFS champion Rémi Gaudet (#75) of Grand Barachois had methodically made his way back from the tail end of the field into fourth position after an earlier spin and looked poised to challenge for the lead. The turning point of the race came as leader Cashol and Broussard battled through lap traffic with only five laps remaining. As they approached turn #4, Cashol decided to take the high line around a lap car while Broussard dipped down low and emerged as the new leader down the front straightaway. A final caution flew with only three laps remaining setting up a green-white-checkered shootout to the finish.
Broussard and Cashol raced side-by-side for the remainder of the event crossing the finish line at almost the same time. Upon review, it was determined that Broussard had edged out the veteran driver from Saint John for the win.
As he celebrated in victory lane with a significant contingent of family and friends from Cape Breton, Broussard was almost speechless. “This is absolutely awesome,” he kept repeating. “Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be standing here with this trophy in my hands,” indicated Broussard who resumed his racing career in 2006 after raising his family. Ironically, Broussard also edged out Cashol in an on-line fan vote for the 2008 Driver of the Year in Atlantic Canada, held annually by the racing website ‘The Racing Spectator’ at www.racingspectator.ca
In four-cylinder action, another Cape Bretoner visited victory lane in the under 100-horspower Thundercat 35-lap feature. Chris Drover (#48) also of Sydney, N.S. took advantage of a few openings early on to capture the Atlantic Thundercat title ahead of James Doucettte (#58) of Miscouche, PEI and last year’s Atlantic champion, Derrick MacCallum (#16) of Lower Sackville, N.S. Heat winners included Drover, MacCallum, and Matthew Palmer (#5) of Miscouche, PEI.
In the over 100-hosepower TigerCat 35-lap feature, Jean-Guy Chiasson (#35) of Allardville, N.B. ended his racing career on a high note by claiming his third consecutive Atlantic TigerCat championship after wins in 2006 & 2007. Chiasson showed early that he was still the one to beat with a win in the second heat, which gave him the second starting slot for the 35-lap finale. Pole sitter Rob Hallihan (#15) of Miramichi, N.B. and Bob Prosser (#5x) of Turtle Creek, N.B. also claimed heat wins. Chiasson took first spot away from Halihan early in the 35-lap main event and never looked back crossing the finish line ahead of Martin Landry (#00), the 17-year old driver from Grand Barachois, N.B. and Gaetan Boudreau (#71x) from Shediac.
In the Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) modified division, Mark Price (#9) of Rothesay, N.B. successfully defended his 2007 title in style by claiming the win in the 35-lap feature ahead of Joy Hoyt (#17) of Wassis, N.B. and Mike Raeburn (#98) of Hampton, N.B. Price, Ken Deveau (#3) and Steve Halpin (#18) both of Saint John along with Jamie Weston (#81) of St. Martin’s, N.B. each claimed wins in their respective 10-lap heats and semi-finals.
Finally, the 30-lap Legends feature was captured by Geoff DeCoffe (#3) of Bedford, N.S. who outdistanced Bruce Johnson (#61) of Truro, N.S. and veteran Cy Harvey (#37) of Elmsdale, N.S. at the finish line. DeCoffe had earlier claimed a win in the heat while Ray Cox Jr. (#55) of Porters Lake, N.S. took the checkered in the semi-final.
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