Throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Advance Auto Parts is spotlighting a series of Home Track Heroes from NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks around the country. Each Home Track Hero, nominated by his or her peers as a result of contributions made to the race track, will have his or her name appear on the C-Post of Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang in a Cup Series Playoff race. André Boissonneault, who’s in charge of the tow crew as well as an important annual charity race at Autodrome Granby, is the Home Track Hero whose name will appear on Blaney’s car during the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
André Boissonneault is a staple at Autodrome Granby, the NASCAR Home Track located in Quebec, Canada.
His impact at the facility began 35 years ago.
Boissonneault was behind the start of what’s now known as the Défi-Vision, a race at Autodrome Granby in which blind drivers, aided by co-pilots in their cars, compete for 10 laps around the dirt track.
The Défi-Vision is a fundraising race that supports the MIRA Foundation, an organization that provides guide dogs for blind children. The MIRA Foundation also provides seminars for families of blind children with reference to daily living skills, psychology of blindness and what to emphasize in orientation.
In the 35 years Boissonneault and Autodrome Granby have been hosting the Défi-Vision, they have raised more than $1.5 million for the MIRA Foundation.
Boissonneault since the beginning has found and prepared the cars for the Défi-Vision.
In addition to his help with the charity race, Boissonneault aids Autodrome Granby through the towing company he founded in 1979.
Boissonneault and his employees are in charge of the towing crew at the race track; he’s worked countless volunteer hours over the years making drivers feel safer thanks to his presence. The track refers to Boissonneault and his crew as the best in the business when it comes to the dirt racing world.
At this point, it’s a family business. Both Boissonneault’s son and grandson have joined the fold through the years.
Boissonneault has been a pioneer at his local track. To Autodrome Granby, he’s the definition of a Home Track Hero.