Preston Leads Flag to Flag for Win at Freedom
By Curtis Berleue (Delevan, NY) | After a handful of top 5’s and overcoming some bad luck earlier in the season, Jonathan Preston finally was able to find the missing puzzle piece and pick up the Empire Super Sprints win on Friday night at Freedom Motorsports Park.
Drawing the Pinnacle Investments pole award, Preston would start on the front row alongside Kyle Drum for the 25-lap main event. Before a lap could be completed, however, the first red flag of the night was thrown for Dan Bennett after he took a tumble down the backstretch.
On the ensuing restart, Preston jumped out to an advantage over the field, with 3rd starting Jeff Cook getting by Drum for second. Another red, this time for Sammy Reakes IV flipping wildly out of the park in turns 1&2, set the field up for another early restart.
As the green flag waved again, it was Preston with the lead headed into turn 1, though this time Drum was able to get back by Cook for second. By the mid-point of the race, the top 2 remained unchanged, but 6th place starting Shawn Donath had quietly worked his way into the top 3.
A lap 18 restart would then allow Donath to slip by Drum for second. As the field came around for the two-to-go signal, Jeff Cook was able to get back by Drum for third. In the closing laps, it became apparent that nobody was going to have anything for Preston, and he sailed to his first victory of 2023.
Shawn Donath held on for a second place finish, and coming to the checkered Drum fought back on the outside and passed Cook for third, securing his first Ashley Lynn Winery podium finish of the season.
“As soon as I heard the 53 behind me, I knew it was go time,” said Preston in victory lane. “I was taking it easy on tires early, but as soon as I knew he was there I couldn’t hold anything back.
19 cars signed into the pits at Freedom, splitting the field into 3 timed hot lap groups. Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time awards went to Jason Barney, Shawn Donath, and Jacob Dykstra. The E&V Energy heat race wins went to Jason Barney, Shawn Donath, and Dylan Swiernik. Picking up the Mary Ennis sponsored Cobra Coaches Dash was Ryan Stillwaggon.
The next scheduled event for the Empire Super Sprints is tonight, Saturday July 15 at the Woodhull Raceway in Woodhull, NY. For the latest news, information, and schedule updates regarding the Empire Super Sprints be sure to check the series website (www.EmpireSuperSprints.com) and follow along on Facebook (Empire Super Sprints), Twitter (@ESSprints) and Instagram (@empiresupersprints).
The Empire Super Sprints would like to thank the following series sponsors for their continued support: Rifenburg Contracting Corp, PJC Spray Foam, Hoosier Racing Tire, Cobra Coaches, E&V Energy, Fondations 4 Saisons, Pinnacle Investments, LLC, Lacaillade Masonry, Inc., FX Caprara, ASI Racewear, Lanes Yamaha, Ashley Lynn Winery, Bicknell Racing Products, DirtTrackDigest.com and LC Design.
The ESS Road Ahead:
Saturday, July 15 – Woodhull Raceway – Woodhull, NY ($2,000 to Win)
Friday, July 21 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway – Malta, NY ($2,000 to Win)
Friday, July 28 – Outlaw Speedway – Dundee, NY ($3,500 to Win Summer Nationals)
Full Results:
A-Main (25 Laps): 1. #22-Jonathan Preston[1]; 2. #53-Shawn Donath[6]; 3. #47-Kyle Drum[2]; 4. #10-Jeff Cook[3]; 5. #87-Jason Barney[9]; 6. #7C-Dylan Swiernik[12]; 7. #35-Jared Zimbardi[7]; 8. #89-Robbie Stillwaggon[11]; 9. #36-Logan Crisafulli[10]; 10. #11-Ryan Stillwaggon[13]; 11. #13T-Trevor Years[4]; 12. #13-Keith Granholm[15]; 13. #18C-Dan Craun[18]; 14. #5D-Jacob Dykstra[5]; 15. 28-Jordan Poirier[8]; 16. #41-Dalton Rombough[16]; 17. #17-Sammy Reakes IV[14]; 18. #X-Dan Bennett[17]; 19. #25G-Tyler Graves[19]
Mary Ennis Dash (4 Laps): 1. #11-Ryan Stillwaggon[2]; 2. #17-Sammy Reakes IV[3]; 3. #13-Keith Granholm[1]; 4. #41-Dalton Rombough[4]; 5. #X-Dan Bennett[5]; 6. #18C-Dan Craun[6]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. #87-Jason Barney[2]; 2. #35-Jared Zimbardi[4]; 3. #89-Robbie Stillwaggon[1]; 4. #47-Kyle Drum[3]; 5. #13-Keith Granholm[7]; 6. #41-Dalton Rombough[5]; 7. #25G-Tyler Graves[6]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. #53-Shawn Donath[2]; 2. #36-Logan Crisafulli[1]; 3. #10-Jeff Cook[3]; 4. #13T-Trevor Years[4]; 5. #11-Ryan Stillwaggon[6]; 6. #X-Dan Bennett[5]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. #7C-Dylan Swiernik[1]; 2. #5D-Jacob Dykstra[2]; 3. #22-Jonathan Preston[4]; 4. 28-Jordan Poirier[3]; 5. #17-Sammy Reakes IV[5]; 6. #18C-Dan Craun[6]
Awards & Contingencies:
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time ($25 each): #87-Jason Barney; #53-Shawn Donath; #5D-Jacob Dykstra
E&V Energy Heat Winners ($25 each): #87-Jason Barney; #53-Shawn Donath; #7C-Dylan Swiernik
Cobra Coaches / Mary Ennis Dash Winner ($100): #11-Ryan Stillwaggon
Pinnacle Pole Draw Award ($25): #22-Jonathan Preston
PJC Spray Foam Hard Charger Award ($50): #7C-Dylan Swiernik (+6)
Reverse Hard Charger Award ($50): #13T-Trevor Years (-7)
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running ($35): #18C-Dan Craun
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place (5 gallons fuel): #13T-Trevor Years
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish (bottle of wine): #22-Jonathan Preston; #53-Shawn Donath; #47-Kyle Drum
