LIVING THE DREAM: Paul St. Sauveur In Final Season Of Living Out Childhood Dream
After running the tour for two seasons, the Canadian driver prepares for Mathieu Desjardins to take the wheel behind his car next season
MALTA, NEW YORK (SEPT. 16) – Paul St. Sauveur has traveled tens of thousands of miles, spent hours in his garage working on his car, and fulfilled significant financial commitments all for one reason: to live out his dream of racing a Big Block Modified against the best of the best.
However, when the season concludes, he’s decided to also bring that dream to an end.
St. Sauveur grew up around racing, working on the cars of other Big Block Modified drivers starting when he was 12 years old. When he saw his idols Jimmy Horton and Alan Johnson competing, he never thought he could be out there doing the same the same thing.
“When I saw Jimmy Horton and Alan Johnson, Danny Johnson, I didn’t think one day I could drive with those guys,” St. Sauveur said.
The Saint-Hyacinthe, QC driver started his racing career in the Street Stock division in 1983 at various tracks around his hometown, including Autodrome Drummond. After gaining valuable training and experience honing his driving skills, he decided it was time to take on a new challenge by moving to the Big Block division.
“It was the next class for me,” St. Sauveur said. “It was my dream to go drive with the best drivers.”
He shows his commitment to living out his dream by the schedule that he keeps, working a full-time job during the day and working on his car at night seven days a week. His employer owns the vehicle and the business, Les Equipements Harjo, and is also his main sponsor.
Though he has had the time of his life competing for two seasons on the Series tour, this year’s World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 2-5, will be St. Sauveur’s final event. Next year, if all details fall into place, a new “young gun” will be sitting behind the wheel of the #37 – Mathieu Desjardins.
Desjardins started racing in the Sportsman division in 2010 and competed until 2015, notching four track championships at three different tracks around Quebec. He moved into the DIRTcar 358 Modified division in 2016, capturing the Autodrome Drummond track championship in 2018 and 2020.
“Paul and Harold from Les Equipements Harjo sponsored me since 2017,” Desjardins said. “In 2019, I was supposed to quit racing due to lack of money. Harold and Paul decided to give me a ride in 2020 and I won the championship that year. After three seasons together, Paul decided to retire from racing. So, they asked me if I wanted to continue racing with them. We talked about a crazy year in 2023 doing the Big Block Super DIRTcar Series and a lot of 358 races too. I said yes without any hesitation.”
The Sorel, QC resident is already beginning to give shape to what he wants to accomplish next year if all the details fall into place, and he is able to make the jump to driving the Big Block.
“For the 2023 season, I see this season as a learning year in the Big Block Modified,” Desjardins said. “I want to be out of trouble and finish the races first. The good result will come, I am sure. We have a good team and good equipment. We know we can be the Rookie of the Year and have success throughout the year.”
As for what St. Sauveur plans to do after retiring from racing, he plans to keep it simple.
“I will do bike rides with my wife to see good places, and winter Ski-Doo,” he said.
St. Sauveur’s next race with the Super DIRTcar Series will be at Albany-Saratoga Speedway for the Malta Massive Weekend, Saturday, Sept. 24. Then, he’ll run his final NAPA Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway, Oct. 3-9.
For tickets to the 50th Running of NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week and other Super DIRTcar Series events, CLICK HERE.
If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every Super DIRTcar Series race, including the entire week of NAPA Super DIRT Week, live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
The Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Case Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game) and NAPA Auto Parts. Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), ASI Race Wear, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Fox Factory, MSD, My Place Hotels, Swift Springs, and Wrisco-Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: FIREBULL, Intercomp, and Racing Electronics.
Sources: Michelina Friss, Super DIRTcar Series PR
Photo: Tom Morris