Jordan Poirier Slides to Win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Jordan Poirier executed clean slide jobs to win Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. By adding another ESS win to his season, Poirier, from Quebec, Canada, still leads the ESS Lucas Oil Championship Tour points and the ESS Rifenburg Contracting Corp. Fast Time points. It also moved him up to the top five in the National 360 Wing Sprint Car Win list.
Danny Varin drew the Pinnacle Pole to lead the field to the green flag with Davie Franek starting on the outside. Paulie Colagiovanni spun in the high side of turn four to bring out the caution before lap one was completed. On the restart, Tyler Cartier spun in the middle of turn four which collected Colagiovanni and Floyd Billington. All three cars were able to restart. When the green flag waved, Varin walked away from the field to lead 19 of the 25 laps. On lap nine, Scott Duell, former Sportsman driver at Albany-Saratoga, slowed to a stop in turn four and was unable to continue. Davie Franek started to pressure leader Varin and tried a slide job in turn four but Varin was able to motor around. On lap ten Poirier took over second from Franek and set his sights on Varin. The yellow flag flew on lap twelve for Brett Wright who jumped the right rear of Jason Barney’s car on the backstretch. Wright was unable to continue. On the restart, Lacey Hanson pulled into the infield due to mechanical issues that have plagued her the last two races. With five to go, Poirier went low in four to set up his slide job. He took the lead but it wasn’t a done deal. In turn one, Varin retook the lead. The two raced down the backstretch and in turn four Poirier dove low again to slide Varin for the lead. Varin dove into turn one to retake the lead but Poirier changed his line to motor around Varin on the cushion. Poirier then shook off Varin to take his third checkered flag of the season. After the race, Poirier said, “I loved racing with Varin. It was close but fair.” The Ashley Lynn Winery Podium was Poirier, Varin and Franek.
The rest of the top five, in the Lucas Oil feature, were Shawn Donath, last week’s winner at Freedom Motorsports Park, and Dylan Swiernik. Sixth through tenth were Colagiovanni, who ran the cushion to work his way back from the tail of the field, Scott Holcomb, with his first top ten of the season, Chuck Hebing, Matt Tanner and Jason Barney. Heats were won by Jeff Cook, Colagiovanni, and Varin. Tyler Cartier passed six cars to earn the Hard Charger award and Chad Miller won the Cobra Coaches/J & D Waste Equipment Dash.
ALBANY-SARATOGA MOTORSPORTS PARK SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS 7/22/22
Empire Super Sprint A-Main (25 Laps) – JORDAN POIRIER, Danny Varin, Davie Franek, Shawn Donath, Dylan Swiernik, Paulie Colagiovanni, Scott Holcomb, Chuck Hebing, Matt Tanner, Jason Barney, Tyler Cartier, Chad Miller, Josh Pieniazek, Jeff Cook, Floyd Billington, Jeff Trombley, Chase Moran, Brett Wright, Lacey Hanson, Scott Duell
Next three races for the Empire Super Sprints:
Utica-Rome Speedway – Friday, August 5
Fonda Speedway – Saturday, August 6
Brewerton Speedway – Friday, September 2
Awards and Contingencies :
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award: Cook, Donath, Varin $25 each
Cobra Coaches / Mary Ennis Dash Winner: Miller $100
Pinnacle Pole Draw Award: Varin $25
E & V Energy Heat Winners: Cook, Colagiovanni, Varin $25 each
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish: Poirier, Varin, Franek bottle of wine to each
Halfway Leader: Varin $50
Hard Charger Award: Cartier $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running Award: Moran $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish Award: Cartier $25 fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie: Duell $25
First Non-Feature Winner: Cartier $65
Hoosier Tire Award: Wright, RR tire
