Varin grabs ESS win #5 at Utica Rome
By Bob Finley
Vernon, New York – Danny Varin knows his way around the Utica Rome Speedway. Varin used a great early race restart on the way to his fifth Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints win of the year and his second at Utica Rome. On a lap two restart, the Fonda, New York chauffeur split the front row cars of Kelly Hebing and Jordan Poirier and emerged out of turn two with a lead he would never lose. Current point leader Jordan Poirier kept Varin in his sights and slowly began to reel Varin back in until lap 12 when Steve Glover slowed in turn two to bring out the caution. Varin chose the bottom lane for the restart and it paid off as he pulled two car lengths on the field as they exited turn two. As Varin opened up to a half straightaway lead and Poirier comfortably in second, the battle was for third the rest of the way as five cars each took turns running third until the checkered flag flew. At the line, Varin won by ten car lengths over Quebec’s Jordan Poirier with South Onondaga, New York pilot Shawn Donath rounding out the podium finish. Paulie Colagiovanni and Speedweek champ Davie Franek rounded out the top five.
Fast Times went to Varin, Josh Pieniazek and Donath while Varin, Franek and Colagiovanni captured heat wins. Sammy Reakes IV won the Dash.
Next three Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints tour dates:
Saturday, August 6th at Fonda Speedway
Friday, September 2nd at Brewerton Speedway
Saturday, September 3rd at Fulton Speedway
LUCAS OIL EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS A MAIN RESULTS from Utica Rome Speedway:
DANNY VARIN, Jordan Poirier, Shawn Donath, Paulie Colagiovanni, Davie Franek, Chuck Hebing, Dylan Swiernik, Matt Billings, Jason Barney, Dalton Rombough, Sammy Reakes IV, Jonathan Preston, Scott Holcomb, Scott Kreutter, Chris Jones, Lacey Hanson, Tyler Cartier, Kelly Hebing, Matt Tanner, Billy VanInwegen, Steve Glover, Blake Warner, Josh Pieniazek, Chad Miller
Awards and Contingencies:
Pinnacle Pole Award : Poirier, $25
Halfway Leader : Varin, $50
Hard Charger Award : Billings, $50
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running : Cartier, $50
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finish : Reakes IV, $25 in fuel
Highest Finishing ESS Rookie : Rombough, $25
First Non-Qualifier: Joe Trenca, $65
First Non-Feature Winner : Billings, $65
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time Award : Varin, Pieniazek, Donath, $25 each
E & V Energy Heat Race Award : Varin, Franek, Colagiovanni, $25 each
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium : Varin, Poirier, Donath, bottle of wine