NEW SMYRNA, FL – The day after the 50-lap Red Eye 50/50 race held on the New Smyrna Speedway oval, Jean-Philippe Bergeron said he was disappointed not with his performance, but rather with the way the car handled.
It was in the #15 Racecar Solutions (RCS) car that the driver took part in the first event of the 2022 season. Despite the team’s best efforts to correct an understeer problem reported during practice and qualifying sessions, the car’s condition deteriorated in the race.
Starting fifth, Bergeron lost his position around lap 40 and ended up sixth, a position he fought for until the end. He had to settle for 6th place, ahead of his two teammates Mathieu Kingsbury #99 and Cesar Bacarella #5 who finished 8th and 9th, respectively.
“My result is not representative of the effort I had to put in to stay in the race! Although I finished ahead of my teammates, who also had difficulties with their car, I would have liked to be in the top 3,” said the driver who put up quite a fight against Conner Jones #44.
The latter managed to take a slight lead over Jean-Philippe on the last lap, but the Quebecer’s perseverance allowed him to beat his competitor by 0.008 seconds at the finish line.
The Pro Late Model races at New Smyrna are known to be very competitive. The cars are fast and there are some great drivers fighting for the pole at every event. Yesterday’s race adds to the many laps Jean-Philippe Bergeron has completed at New Smyrna. “It’s experience in the bank. I’m learning, I’m getting better, but I’m due for a podium,” concluded Bergeron.
ABOUT RACE CAR SOLUTIONS: Race Car Solutions is a reputable racing team with state-of-the-art cars that specializes in driver development, track and shop services, manufacturing and car rentals. The owner, Jamie Skinner, himself a professional race driver, competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the age of 19, and then went on to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity series. He is the son of NASCAR champion Mike Skinner. The RCS team is well-known for winning numerous podium finishes each year at the World Series of Asphalt in New Smyrna, Florida.
ABOUT JP “BERGY” BERGERON: JP “Bergy” Bergeron first took to the track in karts at the age of 13. In 2015, he competed for the first time in the Cup Lites series on the ICar road course in Quebec where he was crowned Rookie of the Year. Thus began a promising career for the driver born in Saint-Donat in Lanaudière (Quebec). In 2017, he experienced a late model car in the ACT series. That’s all it took to convince the driver to continue in the late model and race in the CSCC series a year later. Once again, Bergeron finished with the Rookie of the Year award. In 2019, Marc Bergeron and Martin Perreault founded Prolon Racing Team. Surrounded by passionate people, Jean-Philippe attacked the 2020 season with a brand new car completely rebuilt with an updated chassis by renowned builder Dale Shaw. Despite the shortened season due to the events of COVID-19 in 2020, Bergeron still collected three podiums, one of which was on the top step. In 2021, Jean-Philippe took his first laps in Pro Late Model and Super Late Model at New Smyrna Speedway. He finished 5th in the World Series of Asphalt championship in Pro Late Model with the Race Car Solutions (RCS) team. After a Late Model season shared between Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée-Jonction and Montmagny, Jean-Philippe made his debut in the ARCA series in October. Three races at Salem, Indiana, Kansas City and Phoenix allowed him to score three top-10 finishes including two top-5s.
PARTNERS: Jean-Philippe Bergeron and Festidrag Development would like to thank their precious partners who make these opportunities possible: Prolon Controls, JCPerreault, Technoflex, NeuroVision, CTSR, Hamel Honda, Rousseau Métal, Silverwax, Hipertech, GBI, Globocam, Permatex and Festidrag.TV.
Fans can follow Quebecer JP “Bergy” Bergeron on Festidrag.TV at www.facebook.com/festidrag, on YouTube www.youtube.com/c/FestidragTV and on TéléMag. You can also follow JP and the Prolon Racing team on Facebook www.facebook.com/JPBRacing18, on Instagram @JPBergeronRacing and on the website www.prolonracing.com.
- From Martin D’Anjou / Festidrag Development
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