BROCKVILLE, Ont. — For the second time in the last three seasons, Bobby Herrington finished off Brockville Ontario Speedway’s Fall Nationals with a trip to victory lane.
The Elginburg, Ont. driver inherited the lead from Jessica Power on lap 13 and drove to the $2,100 (Canadian) victory and his third DIRTcar Sportsman Series win.
“We had it tight enough to get to the front at the start,” Herrington said. “I was able to utilize the top and the middle, and it worked out for us.”
Power, the outside-polesitter, stormed to the lead on the race’s first lap, out-dueling Shane Stearns for the lead.
As Power pulled away, it wouldn’t be long before Herrington reached Stearns’ back bumper to challenge for the runner-up spot. The two battled for eight laps before Herrington snuck by Stearns’ No. 22S to take over second.
Herrington chased Power around Brockville’s three-eighths-mile oval until she stopped in turn four while leading on lap 13, handing the lead to the track champion.
Power’s misfortune was all Herrington needed as he cruised for the final 27 laps to earn the Fall Nationals win and his seventh victory at Brockville in 2024. It’s also the second time he’s swept both nights of the event.
Stearns settled for second and said he had nothing for Herrington in the race’s closing laps.
“When it’s rubbered up, it’s hard to pass anyone or make up any ground,” Stearns said. “Bobby’s dominant. It’s hard to make ground just trying to follow his lane.”
Behind the top two, Cody McPherson crossed the line fifth to earn his third DIRTcar Sportsman Series championship, beating Gavin Eisele, who finished third, by 37 points.
In victory lane, McPherson dedicated his championship to his grandfather.
“I lost my grandfather this past winter,” McPherson said. “One of the last things I said to him was I was going to go out and win absolutely everything for him. He got me started in this racing deal with my first go-kart and first Sportsman. That was my best way of honoring him.
“We won every championship we could this year. We won a ton of races, and it’s all for him.”
Shane Pecore, the 2016 series champion, finished fourth.
Feature Finish (40 Laps)
1. 88Z-Bobby Herrington[6]; 2. 22S-Shane Stearns[1]; 3. 18E-Gavin Eisele[4]; 4. 0-Shane Pecore[8]; 5. 7-Cody McPherson[5]; 6. 4-Emmett Waldron[7]; 7. 88K-Dylan Kirkland[9]; 8. 92T-Tristan Ladouceur[11]; 9. FOX28-Tyler Stevenson[3]; 10. 35B-Brennan Moore[12]; 11. 8KL-Karl Letendre[23]; 12. 38-Zach Sobotka[15]; 13. 2-Taylor Doxtater[21]; 14. 95JR-Jacob Nadeau[20]; 15. 51-Bryan Preville[22]; 16. 21T-Trey Ladouceur[29]; 17. 16B-Matt Barbour[30]; 18. 11J-Justin Saunders[13]; 19. 2X-Martin Lessard[27]; 20. 18-Jordan Wood[19]; 21. 21-Ryan Barrett[28]; 22. (DNF) 911-Nick Merkley[16]; 23. (DNF) 32-Tyler Stewart[18]; 24. (DNF) 03-Joshua Jock[24]; 25. (DNF) 98-Domonick Merkley[17]; 26. (DNF) 91-Kraig Handley[14]; 27. (DNF) 30-Nicholas Root[10]; 28. (DNF) 52-Jessica Power[2]; 29. (DNF) 16X-Savannah Laflair[26]; 30. (DNF) 35D-Dylan Moore[25]