PHOTO: Pierre Berthiaume carries the checkered flag as rain drops fall at Airborne Speedway Saturday night. (Alan Ward photo)

–by Ricky St. Clair

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Joliette, Quebec’s Pierre Berthiaume picked up career victory number two in a rain-shortened version of the Ernie’s Discount Tools DIRTcar Modified feature Saturday night at Airborne Speedway.

After the race saw its fifth caution period on lap 17, heavy rains caused the feature event to be made official by race control. The entire field crossed the start/finish line single-file under the yellow and checkered flags.

The race was originally scheduled to be 30 laps.

Berthiaume took advantage of his fourth-place starting position in the 30-car field and passed race leader Maxime Viens on lap 8 off of turn two on the top side of the speedway. Once Berthiaume solidified himself in the top spot, he never looked back and led the remainder of the race.

Due to Berthiaume’s broken English, Vermont Motorsports Magazine had fellow competitor and second-place finisher Viens translate Berthiaume’s comments on the race.

“I had a very fast car and we were in pretty good shape,” Berthiaume said. “This isn’t the first time we’ve won here, but I’m happy. The track was very slippery, but we were just happy to race. The car was working good on the outside.”

After leading the first seven laps, Viens, of St-Cesaire, Que., went on to finish second. Saranac Lake, N.Y., driver George Foley climbed from his 18th starting position and claimed the third spot. Chazy, N.Y.’s Leon Gonyo and Kingsbury, N.Y., driver Kris Vernold rounded out the top five.

Defending champion Patrick Dupree of Saranac Lake finished sixth while Martin Roy of Napierville, Que., Pat McGrail of Candiac, Que., Jimmy Ryan of Shoreham, and Chris Cayea of Mooers Forks, N.Y., rounded out the unofficial top ten.

As has become customary, fans were treated to an entertaining finish in the 25-lap Versatile Trailer Sales Renegade feature.

Milton’s Robert Gordon used a lap 19 restart to race side-by-side with Kevin Boutin on the outside for the remaining six laps of the event. Despite Boutin getting the bite off of turn two, it was Gordon who had the edge as the two came out of the fourth turn.

After battling tooth-and-nail with one another, it was Gordon who would collect his third checkered flag of 2011 by defeating Boutin by a mere 0.046 seconds at the finish line on the outside.

Boutin, of Swanton, finished second while Don Franklin of Milton, Morrisonville, N.Y.’s Josh Terry, and Fairfax driver Lance Rabtoy — who worked his way from his 17th starting position — rounded out the top five.

Positions sixth through tenth went to Joe Warren, Curtis Seymour, Joe Daniels, Dave Drake, and Robbie Favreau.

The Sportsman, Mini-Modified, and Bomber features were not attempted after the postponement of the event was made. Announcement of a possible double feature for those respective divisions will come from the track later this week.

Airborne continues weekly racing next Saturday night when Warren Electric, Atkins Logging, Kim’s Carpets, and Mulligan Water Technologies will sponsor the racing card which, will feature a 25-lap, $250-to-win Mini-Modified race. Post time is slated for 6:00pm.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Aaron’s/Taylor Rental/X-Plo Night
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Saturday, June 11, 2011

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

Ernie’s Discount Tools DIRTcar Modified (Completed 17 of 30 laps)
1. Pierre Berthiaume, Berthiaume, Que.
2. Maxime Viens, St-Cesaire, Que.
3. George Foley, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
4. Leon Gonyo, Chazy, N.Y.
5. Kris Vernold, Kingsbury, N.Y.
6. Patrick Dupree, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
7. Martin Roy, Napierville, Que.
8. Patrice McGrail, Candiac, Que.
9. Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
10. Chris Cayea, Mooers Forks, N.Y.

Versatile Trailer Sales Renegade (25 laps)
1. Robert Gordon, Milton, Vt.
2. Kevin Boutin, Swanton, Vt.
3. Don Franklin, Milton, Vt.
4. Josh Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
5. Lance Rabtoy, Fairfax, Vt.
6. Joe Warren, West Chazy, N.Y.
7. Curtis Seymour, Jr., Plattsburgh, N.Y.
8. Joe Daniels, Saranac, N.Y.
9. David Drake, AuSable Forks, N.Y.
10. Robbie Favreau, Peru, N.Y.