Tanner Claims $4,000 in ESS Outlaw Summer Nationals
By Curtis Berleue (Dundee, NY) | For the first time in 2024, Matt Tanner was victorious in Empire Super Sprints Action at the Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, NY. Leading all 25 laps, the Stephentown, NY driver picked up $4,000 for his efforts on Friday night.
Shawn Donath and Matt Tanner brought the field to the initial green flag. Utilizing the high side of the track, Tanner got the early advantage off turn four to lead lap one.
Behind Tanner, third starting Jason Barney quickly moved into second, with Donath not far behind in third. By lap 5, Tanner still held the lead over Barney and Donath, while Jonathan Preston, Alex Therrien and Billy VanInwegen all battled for positions 4-6.
On Lap 8, Tanner caught the back of the field and began navigating lap traffic. As Tanner and Barney sliced through the slower cars, VanInwegen used traffic to his advantage to take sole possession of third place.
With the laps clicking by, it looked as though nobody had anything for Tanner. On lap 18, Donath was able to get by Barney for second using the extreme high side of the track, but it was smooth sailing for Tanner as he crossed the line for his first victory of the season.
“At the beginning there I was a little nervous running around the top,” said Tanner in victory lane. “Toward the end it felt like the top was going away, I tried the bottom and then it kinda cleaned off down there and I wasn’t sure what to do at the end.”
Crossing the line second was Shawn Donath.
“He (Tanner) was good early and it took a little bit for the tires to fire,” said Donath. “We were just a little bit too late getting going.”
Coming from his 8th place starting spot, Billy VanInwegen rounded out the Ashley Lynn Winery podium in third.
“We really had a good car, I thought with maybe a yellow around half way we could have had something,” said VanInwegen. “We can’t hang our heads with third, we’re working hard at this deal and making strides for sure.”
24 cars signed into the pit area Friday night, splitting the field into three timed hot lap groups. Rifenburg Contracting fast time awards went to Matt Farnham, Alex Therrien and Matt Tanner. E&V Energy heat races were won by Jared Zimbardi, Alex Therrien and Jordan Thomas, while the Cobra Coaches dash presented by Lanes Yamaha was won by Jordan Poirier.
The next scheduled event for the Empire Super Sprints is Saturday July 27th 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), X (formerly 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, A-Verdi Storage Containers, 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 27 – Woodhull Raceway – Woodhull, NY ($2,000 to Win)
Friday, August 2 – Can-Am Speedway – LaFargeville, NY ($2,000 to Win)
Saturday, August 3 – Brockville Ontario Speedway – Brockville, ONT ($2,000 to Win)
Full Results:
A-Main: 1. 90-Matt Tanner[2]; 2. 53-Shawn Donath[1]; 3. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[8]; 4. #79-Jordan Thomas[10]; 5. 22-Jonathan Preston[4]; 6. 87-Jason Barney[3]; 7. 28-Jordan Poirier[13]; 8. 35-Jared Zimbardi[6]; 9. 21T-Alex Therrien[5]; 10. 98-Joe Trenca[12]; 11. 66-Jordan Hutton[7]; 12. #89-Robbie Stillwaggon[15]; 13. 2-Dave Axton[11]; 14. 28F-Davie Franek[9]; 15. #7NY-Matt Farnham[22]; 16. 10-Kelly Hebing[17]; 17. 21B-Blake Warner[14]; 18. 47-Kyle Drum[18]; 19. 13E-Evan Reynolds[23]; 20. 13T-Trevor Years[16]; 21. #25G-Tyler Graves[24]; 22. #18C-Dan Craun[20]; 23. X-Dan Bennett[21]; 24. #41-Dalton Rombough[19]
Lanes Yamaha Dash: 1. 28-Jordan Poirier[1]; 2. 21B-Blake Warner[3]; 3. #89-Robbie Stillwaggon[2]; 4. 13T-Trevor Years[6]; 5. 10-Kelly Hebing[5]; 6. 47-Kyle Drum[4]
E&V Energy Heat 1: 1. 35-Jared Zimbardi[4]; 2. 53-Shawn Donath[2]; 3. 66-Jordan Hutton[7]; 4. 28F-Davie Franek[3]; 5. 28-Jordan Poirier[6]; 6. 47-Kyle Drum[5]; 7. #41-Dalton Rombough[8]; 8. (DNS) #7NY-Matt Farnham
E&V Energy Heat 2: 1. 21T-Alex Therrien[1]; 2. 22-Jonathan Preston[2]; 3. 2-Dave Axton[4]; 4. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[6]; 5. #89-Robbie Stillwaggon[5]; 6. 10-Kelly Hebing[3]; 7. #18C-Dan Craun[8]; 8. 13E-Evan Reynolds[7]
E&V Energy Heat 3: 1. #79-Jordan Thomas[2]; 2. 90-Matt Tanner[1]; 3. 87-Jason Barney[4]; 4. 98-Joe Trenca[3]; 5. 21B-Blake Warner[6]; 6. 13T-Trevor Years[5]; 7. X-Dan Bennett[7]; 8. #25G-Tyler Graves[8]
Awards & Contingencies:
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time ($25 each): #7NY-Matt Farnham; #21T-Alex Therrien; #90-Matt Tanner
E&V Energy Heat Winners ($25 each): #35-Jared Zimbardi; #21T-Alex Therrien; #79-Jordan Thomas
Cobra Coaches / Lanes Yamaha Dash Winner ($125): #28-Jordan Poirier
Pinnacle Pole Draw Award ($25): #53-Shawn Donath
A-Verdi Storage Containers Hard Charger Award ($50): #7NY-Matt Farnham (+7)
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running ($30): #X-Dan Bennett
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place (5 gallons fuel): #66-Jordan Hutton
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish (bottle of wine): #90-Matt Tanner; #53-Shawn Donath; #10V-Billy VanInwegen
Hoosier Tire Award (RR Hoosier tire): #10H-Kelly Hebing
