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Jordan Poirier Makes History at Orange County Fair Speedway

By Barbara Patterson

In the 39 year history of the Empire Super Sprints (ESS), Saturday night was their first ever appearance at the Orange County Fair Speedway. Local driver Brian Krummel, making his first start with ESS, drew the Pinnacle Pole. Starting on his outside was former modified stand out Jeff Trombley. At the green flag, Krummel took the lead with Trombley in tow. By lap two, Kyle Smith was up to 5th from his 9th starting spot. On lap three he moved into 3rd and passed Trombley on the next lap to take second. As the laps were ticking off, Krummel, Trombley and Smith started separating themselves from the rest of the field. The caution flew on lap 11 for Emily VanInwegen who had lost brakes. The restart produced a shake up in the top three with Smith taking the lead from his teammate Krummel. Meanwhile Jordan Poirier was making his way forward from his 7th starting spot. He moved into second on lap 12 and at the halfway mark, Poirier powered around on the outside to take the lead. The battle between Smith in the low groove and Poirier on the high side lasted several laps. With two to go, Poirier was able to distance himself from Smith. He crossed the finish line three seconds ahead of Smith and Krummel. Rounding out the top five were Danny Varin, driving for Brad Radivoy, and Shawn Donath from 10th. Poirier’s win will be in the record books as he is the first ESS driver to win at the “House of Power”. This second ESS win of the season for Poirier helped him to maintain the Lucas Oil Championship Tour points lead.

ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS 7/9/22
Empire Super Sprint A-Main (25 Laps) – JORDAN POIRIER, Brian Krummell, Danny Varin, Shawn Donath, Jason Barney, Jeff Trombley, Davie Franek, Chuck Hebing, Billy VanInwegen, Tyler Cartier, Joe Kata, Matt Tanner, Dylan Swiernik, Christian Rumsey, Chad Miller, Lacey Hanson, Dalton Herrick, Jeff Cook, Emily VanInwegen, Kyle Smith (DQ – no scales), Thomas Radivoy

Next three races for the Empire Super Sprints:
Freedom Speedway – Friday, July 15
Albany-Saratoga Speedway – Friday, July 22
Utica-Rome Speedway – Friday, August 5

Awards and Contingencies :
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award: Donath, B. VanInwegen, Poirier $25 each
Cobra Coaches / Dino’s Dash Winner: Swiernik $100
Pinnacle Pole Draw Award: Krummel $25
E & V Energy Heat Winners: Donath, Poirier, Barney $25 each
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish: Poirier, Smith, Krummel bottle of wine to each
Halfway Leader: Poirier $50
Hard Charger Award: Poirier $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running Award: Herrick $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish Award: Kata $25 fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie: Krummel $25
First Non-Feature Winner: Krummel $65
Hoosier Tire Award – Barney, free tire

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Franek closes out Speedweek with a win and the Championship

By BOB FINLEY

Fulton, New York – Wantage, New Jersey wheelman Davie Franek saved his best for the last night of the ESS / CNY Speedweek.  His dominating victory at Fulton on Saturday night earned him the $2,500 top prize and propelled him to the 2022 Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints / CNY Speedweek Championship.  
 
” This is unbelievable ” Franek stated in victory lane.  ” We have been chasing this thing for three or four years now and finally we got it “.  ” I can’t thank my guys enough, they work so hard on the cars, I gotta thank my sponsors and everyone who supports us, we couldn’t do it without them “.
 
Starting seventh on the grid, Franek used the high side of the Fulton high banks to get around early race leader Shawn Donath on lap ten and cruised to his first ESS victory of the year.  Donath was strong all night finishing second with Quebec’s Jordan Poirier finishing third.
 
Donath and outside pole sitter Matt Tanner lead the 25 car field to the green flag with Donath surging into the lead followed closely by Tanner, Poirier, Jeff Cook and Matt Billings.  On lap four, Franek slipped by Cook for fourth and used the cushion to move around Tanner and Poirier by lap six.  By lap ten, Franek had closed the gap between himself and Donath and slipped underneath Donath as they entered turn one.  On the same lap, defending Speedweek Champion Jason Barney moved into the top five as well.  Franek stretched his lead to 10 car lengths as his car was flawless up top on the cushion.  At the halfway point of the race, Franek led Donath and Poirier with Barney and Dylan Swiernik now rounding out the top five.  Franek continued to maintain his lead through the remainder of the race using the high side to get around slower traffic enroute to the win.  The rest of the top five was Donath, Poirier, Swiernik, who slipped under Barney late in the race to grab fourth and Barney.  Danny Varin finished sixth, followed by Matt Tanner, Kelly Hebing, Jonathan Preston and Paulie Colagiovanni. 
 
Fast Times went to Franek, Chuck Hebing and Matt Tanner while Franek, Tanner and Larry Wight claimed heat race wins.  The B Main was won by Jonathan Preston and Joe Trenca visited victory lane after winning the Cobra Coaches / Walt’s Hobby Town Dash .
 
Speedweek Notes :
– Sammy Reakes endured qualifying struggles for all four races but he was the Hard Charger for three of those four races, finishing tenth overall in Speedweek points.
– Franek used consistent finishes of fourth, second, sixth and first to claim this year’s Speedweek title.
– Jordan Poirier, Matt Tanner and Shawn Donath were separated by one point in the final point standings with Poirier and Tanner tied for second.
 
Next three Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints tour dates:
Saturday, July 9th at Orange County Speedway
Friday, July 15th at Freedom Motorsports Park
Friday, July 22nd at Albany-Saratoga Speedway
 
LUCAS OIL EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS A Main results from Fulton Speedway:
DAVIE FRANEK, Shawn Donath, Jordan Poirier, Dylan Swiernik, Jason Barney, Danny Varin, Matt Tanner, Kelly Hebing, Jonathan Preston, Paulie Colagiovanni, Matt Billings, Sammy Reakes IV, Jeff Cook, Larry Wight, Joe Trenca, Tyler Cartier, Keith Granholm, Denny Peebles, Tommy Wickham, Dalton Rombough, Lacey Hanson, Jordan Hutton, Tyler Emmons, Chuck Hebing, Chad Miller
 
Awards and Contingencies:
Pinnacle Pole Award : Shawn Donath, $25
Halfway Leader : Davie Franek, $50
Hard Charger Award : Sammy Reakes IV, $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running : Tyler Emmons, $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish : Matt Billings, $25 in fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie : Dalton Rombough, $25
First Non-Qualifier : Blake Warner, $65
First Non-Feature Winner : Kelly Hebing, $65
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award : Franek, Hebing, Tanner, $25 each
E & V Energy Heat Race Award : Franek, Wight, Tanner, $25 each
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium : Franek, Donath, Poirier, bottle of wine
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Wight Makes it Three-in-a-Row at Brewerton with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints

By MIKE MALLETT

BREWERTON, NY – It might have been his first start of the year, but on Friday night it looked like Larry Wight had been in the seat of a Sprint Car all season long.

Wight dominated the 25-lap Don Gillette Memorial Central New York Speedweek A-Main at the Brewerton Speedway. It was his third consecutive win at track in Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint competition and it paid him $2,500.

“It’s been about a year since we’ve been in the car and everything fired off really good,” said Wight. “I had Anthony Knighten working on the car tonight. He’s my Sprint Car guru we call him because he knows all about these things. I really don’t get to mess around enough with them to know what changes to make. It’s kind of we throw something at it and see it if works. I let him do his thing and it was on point. I couldn’t really ask for much more than that.”

Wight started alongside Matt Tanner to start the feature on the outside of the front row. He immediately went to the top of turns one and two to take the lead on the opening lap. He remained on the high-side of the speedway during early go before the caution came out on lap four.  Shawn Donath got the jump on Wight on the restart taking the lead as the field darted into turn one. He kept Wight behind him for a handful of laps before Wight used a slide job on lap 10 to regain the first position in turns one and two.

“We were fast enough to get back by him,” commented Wight about the pass. “The rest of the race we were able to keep everyone behind us.”

Two laps later Wight was in traffic while action behind him picked up for third. Donath remained second while Jason Barney and Danny Varin wrestled for the third spot. Varin got by Barney on lap 15 to take the position.

Varin then closed in rapidly on second place running Donath as he raced in traffic. Varin attempted to go three-wide in traffic with Donath and the slower car of Brett Wright. Contact was made that caused Varin and Wright to come together. Wright ended up sitting on top of Varin’s hood to bring out the yellow on lap 16. Both drivers continued.

Wight was true to form on the restart keeping everyone else behind him when action resumed. He again stretched his lead as the laps clicked off. As Wight maintained the lead, Dylan Swiernik began making tracks forward. Swiernik found his way by Barney on the bottom first before driving by Donath on lap 20 to get to second.

When the checkered flag fell it was Wight picking up the victory by over three seconds. Swiernik, who has had a tough start to CNY Speedweek, finished in the runner-up position which is his best run of the week. Swiernik powered his way forward by pedaling the car slowly around the bottom.

“We needed this run tonight,” stated Swiernik. “Playing around down on the bottom around the tractor tires is usually not my cup of tea. I’m usually up around the fence. You go to do what you got to do. We have a great handling Panther Frameworx chassis right now. I just want to ride this momentum.”

Barney ended the night in the third position. Barney admitted he didn’t make the right changes to his No. 87 for the slippery racing surface on the night.

“I’m happy to be here,” stated Barney. “I’m happy with third. We missed it a little bit which was completely my fault. We over tightened the car the last two nights, that was my fault too, and we didn’t want to do that tonight and we probably should have. That’s racing. You throw darts at it sometimes.”

Jordan Poirier drove from 11th to the fourth spot with Donath falling back at the end of the feature to complete the top five.

ESS Sprints – A Feature 1 (Results): 1-Wight.L 2-Swiernik.D 3-Barney.J 4-Poirier.J 5-Donath.S 6-Franek.D 7-Varin.D 8-Tanner.M 9-Rombough.D 10-Wickham.T 11-Hebing.C 12-Cartier.T 13-Cook.J 14-Trenca.J 15-VanInwegen.B(Jr) 16-Reakes.S(IV) 17-Preston.J 18-Trump.T 19-Emmons.T 20-Granholm.K 21-Wright.B 22-Hebing.K 23-Holcomb.S 24-Miller.C

Awards and Contingencies:
Pinnacle Pole Award : Matt Tanner, $25
Halfway Leader : Larry Wight, $50
Hard Charger Award : Dalton Rombough , $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running : Keith Granholm, $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish : Chuck Hebing, $25 in fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie : Dalton Rombough, $25
First Non-Qualifier : Jordan Hutton, $65
First Non-Feature Winner : Dalton Rombough, $65
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award : C. Hebing, Barney, Tanner $25 each
Hoosier Tire : Lacey Hanson
Lacaillade Masonry B Main Winner : Scott Holcomb, $50
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium : Wight, Swiernik, Barney, bottle of wine
 
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Tanner captures ESS Speedweek victory at Can Am

LaFargeville, New York – Stephentown, New York’s Matt Tanner used an early race restart to reclaim the lead from Jordan Poirier and never looked back to win the first race of the Empire Super Sprints / CNY Speedweek at Can-Am Speedway on Wednesday night.  Tanner and pole sitter Chad Miller lead the 21 car field down to the green flag with Tanner taking the top spot heading into turn one with Jordan Poirier close behind.  Poirier wrestled the lead from Tanner on lap number four but a lap five caution would force a double file restart.  Just like the original start, Tanner got the bite he needed to edge Poirier into turn one and exited turn two with a 2 car advantage.  While those two were battling for the lead, there was some great side by side racing action just behind them.  A pack of cars including Paulie Colagiovanni, Davie Franek, Danny Varin, Shawn Donath, Dylan Swiernik and Jason Barney provided the fans with great racing action with multiple position changes lap after lap.  On lap 16, reigning ESS Speedweek champion Jason Barney suffered a flat tire to bring out the caution and bunch the field together for what would be the final yellow flag for the night.  Another great restart by Tanner thrusted him in to the top spot where he remained uncontested winning the A Main by four car lengths over Poirier.  Colagiovanni held on for third, followed by Davie Franek and Shawn Donath rounded out the top five.  Danny Varin finished sixth with ESS rookie of the year candidate Dalton Rombough seventh, Denny Peebles, Matt Billings and Sammy Reakes IV completed the top ten.
 
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Times were set by Barney, Swiernik and Franek while E & V Energy heat races were won by Barney, Swiernik and Colagiovanni.  Dalton Rombough won the Cobra Coaches / Cook’s Plumbing, Heating and Hardware Dash.
 
For his efforts, Tanner collected the $2,500 winners share and, as he stated, hopes he has turned his 2022 season around.  ” We struggled at the beginning of the year but we had a good run at Evans Mills and followed it up with a victory tonight “
 
The next three races for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints will be:
Thursday, June 30th at Thunder Mountain – Second night of ESS / CNY Speedweek
Friday, July 1st at Brewerton Speedway – Third night of ESS / CNY Speedweek
Saturday, July 2nd at Fulton Speedway – Fourth and Final night of ESS / CNY Speedweek
 
LUCAS OIL EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS A Main results from Can-Am Speedway:
MATT TANNER, Jordan Poirier, Paulie Colagiovanni, Davie Franek, Shawn Donath, Danny Varin, Dalton Rombough, Denny Peebles, Matt Billings, Sammy Reakes IV, Kelly Hebing, Jeff Cook, Tyler Cartier, Chris Jones, Chad Miller, Lacey Hanson, Keith Granholm, Dylan Swiernik, Jason Barney, Brett Wright, Scott Holcomb
 
Awards and Contingencies:
Pinnacle Pole Award : Chad Miller, $25
Halfway Leader : Matt Tanner, $50
Hard Charger Award : Sammy Reakes IV, $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running : Keith Granholm, $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish : Kelly Hebing, $25 in fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie : Dalton Rombough, $25
First Non-Feature Winner : Dalton Rombough, $65
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award : Barney, Swiernik, Franek, $25 each
Hoosier Tire : Billings, free tire
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium : Tanner, Poirier, Colagiovanni bottle of wine
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Danny Varin captures ESS / Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial at Evans Mills

Evans Mills, New York – Fonda, New York’s Danny Varin won the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints / Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial Asphalt Spectacular in front of a packed house at Evans Mills Raceway Park on Saturday night.  Varin used a lap 15 restart to wrestle the lead from Dylan Swiernik enroute to his fourth Empire Super Sprints win of the 2022 season and collected the $4,000 winner’s share of the purse.  Swiernik and Antwerp, New York’s Jeff Cook led the field to the green flag with Swiernik inching out to the early lead, followed by Cook, Varin, Matt Tanner and Kelly Hebing.  The top five put up some impressive lap times as the field started to stretch out.  At the halfway mark, the top five remained unchanged with Swiernik opening up a 10 car lead.  One lap later Varin slipped under Jeff Cook for second.  Even with Varin sliding into second, Swiernik’s lead was large and the question was, did Varin have enough time to catch the 7C of Swiernik ?   The answer came to light one lap later when Josh Verne Jr. slowed in turn four, bringing out the caution and bringing the rest of the field to Swiernik’s bumper.  On the ensuing restart, Chuck Hebing slowed in turn two bringing out the caution again and forcing the field into a single file restart.  The top five at this time consisted of Swiernik, Varin, Cook, Tanner and Kelly Hebing.  On the third attempt to start lap 15, Varin, with a strong move to the outside, out dragged Swiernik out of turn two to lead by half a car length going into turn three.  Swiernik, still tucked to the inside of Varin heading to the apex of turns three and four, got the 7C up on its right side tires and even had the car standing alone on the right rear for a second as his momentum pushed him up the track, bringing out the caution for the third time.  Another attempt at a single file restart saw Varin pull out to a sizable lead as Matt Tanner and Kelly Hebing were able to get by Jeff Cook in later stages of the race to improve their positions.  As the checkered flag flew over Varin’s front bumper, he was followed by Tanner and Kelly Hebing.  Tyler Cartier made a late race move to get by Jeff Cook for fourth.  Swiernik recovered to finish sixth, followed by 2021 winner Tommy Wickham, Matt Billings (in the Mike Stelter 36), Dalton Rombough and Denny Peebles.  Heat races were won by Varin and Swiernik.
 
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints / Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial Asphalt Spectacular A Main Results :
DANNY VARIN, Matt Tanner, Kelly Hebing, Tyler Cartier, Jeff Cook, Dylan Swiernik, Tommy Wickham, Matt Billings, Dalton Rombough, Denny Peebles, Lacey Hanson, Chase Moran, Blake Warner, Chuck Hebing, Josh Verne Jr, Ken Klinkowsky
 
 
Next 4 Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Races:
 
Wednesday, June 29th – Can Am Speedway for the first race of ESS / CNY Speedweek
Thursday, June 30th – Thunder Mountain Speedway for Speedweek race # 2
Friday, July 1st – Brewerton Speedway for Speedweek race #3
Saturday, July 2nd – Fulton Speedway for Speedweek Finale
***Each race pays $2,500 to win and $300 to start the A Main.
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Swiernik’s winless drought ends with ESS victory at Genesee

Batavia, N.Y. – Dylan Swiernik ended a nine year winless drought after winning the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints 25 lap A Main at the Genesee Speedway on Saturday night.  The Port Leyden, New York driver led all 25 laps but he had plenty of company to deal with throughout the race.  Swiernik and Lacey Hanson brought the field to the green flag as Matt Tanner and Chuck Hebing tailed closely behind.  Out of turn two Swiernik grabbed the lead as Hebing powered into second.  A lap two caution ended Shawn Donath’s night with front end damage and sent Matt Tanner to the pits for repairs.  Tanner was able to continue.  Swiernik won the drag race to turn one with The Cobra right on his right rear.  Sammy Reakes IV and Matt Farnham made their first appearances in the top five pushing outside pole sitter Lacey Hanson back to fifth.  Swiernik built a 3 car lead over Hebing when a caution for a spinning Blake Warner brought the caution out on lap 5.   The top 5 remained the same until Jason Barney brought out the caution on lap 9 bunching the field together once again.  Again, Swiernik got that extra bite low out of turn four to beat Hebing to turn one, with Reakes, Farnham and Joe Trenca entering the top five.  Swiernik inched out to a 5 car length lead until lap 21 when Hebing suffered a right rear flat and stopped in turn two while running second.  The caution moved Matt Farnham up to second, followed by Reakes, Trenca and now Jordan Poirier entered the picture from his 10th place starting spot.   On the lap 21 restart, Lacey Hanson and the Lil’ Cobra Kelly Hebing tangled in turn three resulting with Kelly upside down.  She was not injured but the car was done for the night.  Hanson was able to continue.  Matt Farnham, who inherited second place during the Hebing flat tire, reported that he was running low on fuel and debated on whether to come in or not.  He elected to stay out.  On the ensuing single file restart, Swiernik followed the low line to perfection and motored off of turn two with a two car advantage and was never challenged from that point.  Matt Farnham slowed coming out of turn two but managed to keep enough fuel in the lines to cross the finish line in eleventh.  Sammy Reakes IV and Joe Trenca jumped on Farnham’s misfortune, cashing in for second and third while Jordan Poirier and Jeff Cook rounded out the top five.  Matt Tanner ( all the way back from his lap 2 mishap ) crossed the line in sixth, followed by Brett Wright, Denny Peebles, Jason Barney ( all the way back from his lap 9 mishap ) and Lacey Hanson completed the top ten.  A post race inspection found an illegal tire on the Trenca 98 and he was scored in the 18th position moving everyone from third on back, up a spot in the order of finish.
 
A jubilant Dylan Swiernik after pulling into victory lane for the first time as a winner in nine years, ” I can’t believe it, I was wondering if this day was going to come.  I was checking the (score)board, I could hear Chuck behind me, I could feel him near the right rear.  Awesome car tonight, worked really good down low again off the turns.”
 
Heat races were won and fast times were set by Trenca, C. Hebing and Farnham.  Brett Wright won the Cobra Coaches / Indy Kart Raceway Dash.
 
Next three Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints races :
Saturday, June 18th at Evans Mills – The Kevin Ward Jr Memorial Asphalt Spectacular
Wednesday, June 29th at Can-Am Speedway – First race of 2022 ESS / CNY Speedweek
Thursday, June 30th at Thunder Mountain – Second race of 2022 ESS / CNY Speedweek
 
LUCAS OIL EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS A Main results from Genesee Speedway :
DYLAN SWIERNIK, Sammy Reakes IV, Jordan Poirier, Jeff Cook, Matt Tanner, Brett Wright, Denny Peebles, Jason Barney, Lacey Hanson, Matt Farnham, Keith Granholm, Blake Warner, Jeremy Barnard, Chuck Hebing, Kelly Hebing, Mike Stelter, Shawn Donath, Joe Trenca (DQ)
 
Awards and Contingencies:
Pinnacle Pole Award : Dylan Swiernik, $25
Halfway Leader : Dylan Swiernik, $50
Hard Charger Award : Jeff Cook, $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running : Jeremy Barnard, $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish : Keith Granholm, $25 in fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie : Blake Warner, $25
First Non-Feature Winner : Brett Wright, $65
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award : Trenca, Hebing, Farnham
Hoosier Tire : Swiernik, free tire
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium : Swiernik, Reakes IV, Trenca, bottle of wine
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Farnham Wins ESS show at Ransomville

Ransomville, New York – To say Matt Farnham’s Friday night ” went pretty well ” would be an understatement but that’s how he described the night after capturing the Empire Super Sprints Ron Lux Memorial A Main at the Ransomville Speedway.  Farnham held off late race charges by Dylan Swiernik and Shawn Donath to win his first ESS tour race of the year.  Starting fourth, Farnham watched the front row of Jason Barney and Paulie Colagiovanni motor out to an early lead.  Colagiovanni stretched an early lead to 5 car lengths before the first caution on lap 11 when D.J. Christie, Keith Granholm and Tyler Cartier got together coming out of turn two.  All were able to continue.  On the restart, Barney pulled Colagiovanni out of turn two to regain the lead.  Colagiovanni stayed glued to 87’s rear nerf bar and dove under Barney coming out of two.  Contact was made resulting in Colagiovanni flipping and Barney with front end damage.  Both were done for the night.  The restart would bring Shawn Donath and Matt Farnham to the front row with Dylan Swiernik and Chuck Hebing in tow.  Farnham got the bite he needed off of turn two and was uncontested for the rest of the race.  Swiernik got by Donath for second and was closing on Farnham at the end.  Davie Franek from the 12th starting spot and Jordan Poirier from 13th, completed the top five.
 
In victory lane, Swiernik added ” this is a new car and new motor for us, after last week we really needed a good run.  My car was coming off of two and four really good down low.”
 
For Farnham, he made a clean sweep of his race night, grabbing fast time in his group, winning his heat and claiming the 25 lap A Main.  ”  It was a good night, the car was fast all night “.
 
Heat races were won by Farnham, Colagiovanni and Chuck Hebing.  Fast times were posted by Farnham, Franek and Hebing as well.  Jordan Poirier won the Cobra Coaches Dash.
 
Next three Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints races :
 
Saturday, June 11 at Genesee Speedway
Saturday, June 18 at Evans Mills Speedway
Wednesday, June 29 at Can-Am Speedway
 
A Main Results from Ransomville:
MATT FARNHAM, Dylan Swiernik, Shawn Donath, Davie Franek, Jordan Poirier, Chuck Hebing, Brett Wright, Kelly Hebing, Keith Granholm, Matt Tanner, Jeff Cook, Tyler Cartier, D.J. Christie, Lacey Hanson, Jeremy Barnard, Jason Barney, Paulie Colagiovanni, Mikey Kruchka, Denny Peebles
 
Awards and Contingencies:
Pinnacle Pole Award : Jason Barney, $25
Halfway Leader : Jason Barney, $50
Hard Charger Award : Dylan Swiernik, $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running : Lacey Hanson, $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish : Jeff Cook, $25 in fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie : D.J Christie, $25
First Non-Feature Winner : Brett Wright, $65
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award : Farnham, Franek, C. Hebing 
Hoosier Tire : Granholm, free tire
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium : Farnham, Swiernik, Donath, bottle of wine
 
Ron Lux Memorial Payout:
Last Car : Denny Peebles, $100
Lap Leader 1-11 : Paulie Colagiovanni $220
Lap Leader 12-17 : Jason Barney $120
Lap Leader 18 – 25 :  Matt Farnham $ 160
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Poirier Dominates for First Empire Super Sprint Win of Season

By Barbara Patterson
 

PLATTSBURGH, NY – Jordan Poirier has finished in the top five in the last four races. Tonight, he stepped to the top of the podium and won his first Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints race of the season.

Poirier started on the outside pole and grabbed the lead on the start. There was a caution on the initial lap when Paulie Colagiovanni spun in turn three. On the restart, Poirier again took the lead and went on to dominate the race by leading all 25 laps. “I’m grateful that I could win in front of my many friends and family members who were able to attend tonight,” said Jordan in victory lane. Since Poirier lives in Beloeil, Quebec, Airborne Speedway is the closest ESS race to his home.

After winning his heat race, Shawn Donath redrew the Pinnacle pole. He ran second the entire race to earn his first podium of the year. Jason Barney took third and found something this weekend to stand on the podium twice. Jeff Cook finished fourth and added another heat race win to his stats. Matt Tanner rounded out the top five which makes this his fourth top ten of the season. Brett Wright rebounded from a crash in the heat race to finish sixth and earn hard charger of the race. After his spin, Colagiovanni tagged the end of the field and passed eight cars on the top to finish seventh. Dylan Swiernik crossed the line eighth after fixing his car from a crash the night before. Chris Jones, another one of our Canadian racers, joined us this weekend and finished ninth. Davie Franek crossed the line tenth and was the S & S Lawn Care dash winner. After struggling with an overheating issue the last few races, Lacey Hanson raced to 11th. In twelfth was Mikey Kurchka who added more points in his pursuit of the Cobra Dash Series title. In Caleb Lamson’s first race with ESS, he earned Rookie of the race due to his 13th place finish. Next across the line was Floyd Billington, whose new puppy Diesel agreed it was a good finish. Rounding out the field was Keith Granholm, who has been making forward strides the last few races.

AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS 6/4/22

Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints – (25 Laps): Jordan Poirier, Shawn Donath, Jason Barney, Jeff Cook, Matt Tanner, Brett Wright, Paulie Colagiovanni, Dylan Swiernik, Chris Jones, Davie Franek, Lacey Hanson, Mikey Kruchka, Caleb Lamson, Floyd Billington, Keith Granholm

 

Next three races for the Empire Super Sprints:

Ransomville Speedway – Friday, June 10

Genesee Speedway – Saturday, June 11

Evans Mills – Saturday, June 18

 

Awards and Contingencies:

Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award:  Poirier, Franek $25 each

Cobra Coaches / S & S Lawn Care Dash Winner:  Franek $100      

Pinnacle Pole Draw Award:  Donath $25

E & V Energy Heat Winners:  Cook, Donath $25 each

Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish:  Poirier, Donath, Barney bottle of wine to each

Halfway Leader:  Poirier $50

Hard Charger Award:  Wright $50

Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running Award:  Granholm $50

Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish Award:  Hanson $25 fuel

Highest Finishing ESS Rookie: Lamson $25

First Non-Feature Winner:  Wright $65

Hoosier Tire Award: Cook free tire

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Barney Busts Out at Albany-Saratoga Speedway for First Empire Super Sprint Win of Season

By Mike Mallett
 

MALTA, NY – Jason Barney has always been fast at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, but he’s never been able to find his way to victory lane at ‘The Great Race Place’ with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints.

Until now.

Barney dominated Friday night’s 25-lap A-Main leading everything except the first three laps while on his way to his first win of the 2022 season and the 28 th of his career with the club. Barney earned $2,000 for the feature win.

“Last time we were here we hit on something when we came from the back to fifth,” said Barney. “We felt like this place owed us something. We looked forward to it all winter. We came back and I can’t believe we pulled it off. I’m so proud of my guys. They made good calls. We’ve been a touch off this season, but we are still here and there is a lot of season left.”

Tommy Wickham and Brett Wright redrew the front row of the start of the main. Wickham was best off the green flag leading into the opening corner as Chuck Hebing immediately grabbed second with Barney jumping up to third after starting fifth.

Hebing wrestled the top spot away from Wickham before a lap was complete at the exit of turn four. A lap later, Barney did the same to Wickham to put himself in the runner-up position.

It took Barney until lap four to put his No. 87 out in front. Barney went low entering turns three and four before sliding up in front of Hebing for the race lead.

Barney was the leader when the red flag was necessary on lap 12. Wickham and Dylan Swiernik were battling hard for the third position. The pair came together exiting turn four causing Wickham to clip the wall and get over on his side while doing extensive damage to his mount. Both drivers were uninjured, but done for the night.

Barney went to the bottom in turns one and two when the race resumed. He then worked the top of the speedway in turns three and four. Hebing was working the top all the way around the speedway attempting to find his way by Barney.

“I know Chuck was up there and Danny was up there so I had to block any kind of momentum and speed that I could,” stated Barney. “I felt more comfortable on the bottom of turns one and two then driving up to the top and riding the top down the frontstretch to try and break any air or momentum they were getting behind us.”

As the laps clicked off, Barney’s gap over the field began to expand. He was able to put distance between himself and Hebing and third running Danny Varin by continuing to work the inner lane in turns one and two.

Barney’s pace allowed him to find traffic with five laps left in the main. He was flawless over the last handful of circuits allowing him to score his first win of the year.

After starting third, Hebing maintained his second spot in the running order to the conclusion. Varin tried to mirror Barney by running the bottom of turns one and two, but Hebing was too strong on the top of the race track.

Varin, a three-time winner this season, came from the 15 th spot in the order the complete the podium. Varin utilized every lane on the speedway to make his way on to the podium. He got to Hebing late in the go a couple times. He just didn’t have enough to power his way around Hebing for the position.

Wright held on to finish in the fourth position while Jordan Poirier advanced from 14 th spot to complete the top five.

Pit Notes
Varin was the quickest car in timed warm-ups with a lap of 13.851. He was the only driver to break into the 13 second bracket of the 26 cars in attendance.

Heat races were won by Jeff Cook, Billy VanInwegen and Josh Pieniazek while Jonathan Preston won the dash before Tyler Cartier captured the B-Main.

ALBANY-SARATOGA SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS 6/3/22
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints – (25 Laps): Jason Barney, Chuck Hebing, Danny Varin, Brett Wright, Jordan Poirier, Matt Tanner, Jeff Cook, Davie Franek, Paulie Colagiovanni, Josh Pieniazak, Chad Miller, Billy VanInwegen, Jonathan Preston, Scott Holcomb, Kyle Smith, Tyler Cartier, Jeff Trombley, Mikey Kruchka, Chris Jones, Keith Granholm, Chase
Moran, Lacey Hanson, Tommy Wickham, Dylan Swiernik, Shawn Donath DNQ: Blake Warner

Next three races for the Empire Super Sprints :
Airborne Park Speedway – Saturday, June 4
Ransomville Speedway – Friday, June 10
Genesee Speedway – Saturday, June 11

Awards and Contingencies :
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award : Trombley, Varin, Swiernik $25 each

Cobra Coaches / We Know Tools Dash Winner : Preston $100

Pinnacle Pole Draw Award : Wickham $25

E & V Energy Heat Winners : Cook, B. VanInwegen, Pieniazak $25 each

Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish : Barney, C. Hebing, Varin bottle of wine to each

Halfway Leader : Barney $50

Hard Charger Award – Varin $50

Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running Award : Moran $50

Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish Award – Miller $25 fuel

Highest Finishing ESS Rookie : Smith $25

First Non-Qualifier – Warner $65

First Non-Feature Winner : Wright $65

Lacaillade Masonry B Main Winner – Cartier, $50 each

Hoosier Tire Award – Colagiovanni, free tire

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