Franek Bags First ESS Win in Canada at Brockville Ontario
By Curtis Berleue (Brockville, ON) | For the first time since 2019, the Empire Super Sprints invaded the Brockville Ontario Speedway this Saturday night. At the end of the evening, it was ‘No Panic’ Davie Franek who was sitting in victory lane at the 3/8 mile oval.
Starting from the Pinnacle Pole, Danny Varin took the early race lead over Davie Franek and Alex Therrien. A caution on lap 8 erased Varin’s lead, and on the ensuing restart Franek was able to make his way past the #01 to take the lead.
Through a few cautions, Franek was able to maintain his lead over the rest of the field. Behind Franek, Varin maintained second through the balance of the event, while Therrien and Billy VanInwegen would swap positions regularly while racing for the final podium spot.
At the end of 25 laps, however, nobody had anything for the Wantage, NJ driver and Franek picked up his first Canadian Empire Super Sprints win of the season, and third tour win of 2024.
“Last night we were really good late in the race,” said Franek. “We kind of applied what we did last night to tonight.”
“Literally from the drop of the green, the car was good. Danny got out there a little bit the first five or six laps; I knew we were going to get to lap traffic, so I was just pacing myself. He kind of just slipped up on the restart.”
“If he went high, I was going low, and vice versa. Its my first win in Canada, so this is pretty bad ass.”
Rounding out the Ashley Lynn Winery podium was Danny Varin in second, and Alex Therrien in third. Jordan Poirier earned the A-Verdi Hard Charger award passing 6 cars to finish fourth, and Friday nights winner Billy VanInwegen completed the top five.
With 18 cars in the pits, the field was split into three timed hot lap groups. Picking up Rifenburg Contracting fast time awards were Shawn Donath, Davie Franek and Jason Barney. E&V Energy heat races were won by Matt Tanner, Davie Franek and Joe Trenca, and Logan Crisafulli won the Cobra Coaches dash.
The next scheduled event for the Empire Super Sprints is Saturday May 17th at the Utica Rome Speedway in Vernon, 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, August 17 – Utica Rome Speedway – Vernon, NY ($5,000 to Win Cole Cup)
Friday, August 23 – Autodrome Granby – Granby, QC ($3,000 to Win)
Saturday, August 24 – Autodrome Drummond – Drummondville, QC ($3,000 to Win)
Full Results:
A-Main (25 Laps): 1. 28F-Davie Franek[3]; 2. 01-Danny Varin[1]; 3. 21T-Alex Therrien[2]; 4. 28-Jordan Poirier[10]; 5. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[5]; 6. 90-Matt Tanner[6]; 7. 87-Jason Barney[11]; 8. 36-Logan Crisafulli[13]; 9. 98-Joe Trenca[7]; 10. 13E-Evan Reynolds[14]; 11. 13T-Trevor Years[15]; 12. 42W-Rick Wilson[16]; 13. 23-Eric Cartier[12]; 14. 19KC-Mathieu Bardier[8]; 15. 10P-Vince Chicklets[17]; 16. 53-Shawn Donath[9]; 17. 77T-Tyeller Powless[4]; 18. 84-Tyler Rand[18]
Cobra Coaches Dash: 1. 36-Logan Crisafulli[1]; 2. 13E-Evan Reynolds[2]; 3. 13T-Trevor Years[3]; 4. 42W-Rick Wilson[4]; 5. 10P-Vince Chicklets[5]; 6. 84-Tyler Rand[6]
E&V Energy Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 90-Matt Tanner[1]; 2. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[3]; 3. 28-Jordan Poirier[4]; 4. 53-Shawn Donath[5]; 5. 36-Logan Crisafulli[2]; 6. (DNS) 84-Tyler Rand
E&V Energy Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 28F-Davie Franek[6]; 2. 77T-Tyeller Powless[2]; 3. 21T-Alex Therrien[4]; 4. 01-Danny Varin[5]; 5. 13E-Evan Reynolds[3]; 6. 42W-Rick Wilson[1]
E&V Energy Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 98-Joe Trenca[4]; 2. 87-Jason Barney[5]; 3. 19KC-Mathieu Bardier[1]; 4. 23-Eric Cartier[2]; 5. 13T-Trevor Years[3]; 6. 10P-Vince Chicklets[6]
Awards & Contingencies:
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time ($25 each): #53-Shawn Donath; #28F-Davie Franek; #87-Jason Barney
E&V Energy Heat Winners ($25 each): #90-Matt Tanner; #28F-Davie Franek; #98-Joe Trenca
Cobra Coaches Dash Winner ($125): #36-Logan Crisfafulli
Pinnacle Pole Draw Award ($25): #01-Danny Varin
A-Verdi Storage Containers Hard Charger Award ($50): #28-Jordan Poirier (+6)
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running ($30): #19KC-Mathieu Bardier
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place (5 gallons fuel): #13T-Trevor Years
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish (bottle of wine): #28F-Davie Franek; #01-Danny Varin; #21T-Alex Therrien
Hoosier Tire Award (RR Hoosier tire): #10V-Billy VanInwegen
