By Dean Reynolds
SYRACUSE, NY – It’s been a month since the 2011 season for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) started off successfully at the Can-Am Motorsports Park. Now, the 28th Anniversary campaign will start rolling full bore this Memorial Weekend with the annual stops at the Fonda and Utica-Rome Speedways.
Both New York half-miles produce some of the most exciting winged sprint car action and with all the stars and cars of ESS to be on hand, the fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats on both nights.
Quebec’s Alain Bergeron made a huge statement in his return to the tour fulltime for the first time since 2007 by taking the opener in LaFargeville over defending champ Steve Poirier and reining rookie of the year Kevin Ward Jr. A talented field came out for the opener but numbers will even be larger this weekend.
The “Track of Champions” will hold the eighth annual Earl Halaquist Memorial on Saturday night and a big field of winged warriors is expected to be on hand at the historic oval in Fonda, NY. A special car show at the Winners Circle Restaurant located right around the corner from the track will kick off the action from noon to three. The Winners Circle is also sponsoring the Cobra Coaches Dash Series event for the evening.
After Fonda, it’s the first of four visits to Utica-Rome and with all the horrible weather in the Vernon, NY area during the spring this event will also kick off the 50th Anniversary Season for the popular half-mile. It’s a special Victoria 200 Weekend holding special events in both Sunday and Monday with the stars and cars from ESS kicking off the festivities. Dover Brake and Clutch is back sponsoring the Cobra Dash event.
Joining the three stars mentioned earlier, tour travelers Lance Yonge, Cory Sparks, Shawn Donath, Chuck Hebing, Justin Barger, Matt Tanner, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Tommy Wickham, Dylan Swiernik, Devin Caron, Lee Ladouceur, Mike Stelter, Jason Barney, Tyler Rand and Chris Jones will be on hand.
Make their first starts and following all or most of the tour from here on will be Anthony Cain, Jami Russell, Tyler Rice, James Hanson, and Mark Zemcik. Also looking to run both events will be multi-time modified champion Bobby Varin, Kory Gurney, Warren Alexson and Josh Pieniazek. Modified chauffeurs Danny Varin and Luke Monroe are expected to make their ESS debut at Fonda with defending SCONE champion Dan Douville appearing at Utica-Rome.
Both events not only will carry points for the overall Lucas Cup, but also are SUNY Canton events as well. With the opening event at Can-Am also a SUNY Canton event, Bergeron leads those points as well.
Memorial Weekend, the weekend where we honor those that have given the ultimate price so we can live the way we do. America’s true race cars, Fonda and Utica-Rome…It will be excitement guaranteed!
For more information:
www.fondaspeedway.net
www.uticaromespeedway.com
www.empiresupersprints.com
Past Empire Super Sprint Winners at Fonda Speedway
July 18, 1987
John Brutcher
Sept. 14, 1991
Bobby Parrow
Aug. 2, 1992
Tom Taber
Oct. 15, 1994
Craig Lane
July 21, 2007
Justin Barger
Aug. 5, 2008
Justin Barger
May 24, 2009
Doug Emery
Sept. 26. 2009
Lance Yonge
May 29, 2010
Justin Barger
Sept. 25, 2010
Justin Barger
Past Empire Super Sprint Winners at Utica Rome Speedway
May26, 1986
Dave Kelly
July 27, 1986
Bill Peri
May 25, 1987
Gordy Button
Oct. 3, 1987
Mike VanDusen
June 11, 1989
George Sifo
July 9, 1989
Rob Hart
Aug. 20, 1989
Mal Lane
July 8, 1990
Bob Podolak
Aug. 11, 1990
Jeff Thomas
Aug. 9, 1992
Lance Yonge
May 29, 1994
Bobby Parrow
May 26, 1996
Mike Woodring
Sept. 1, 1996
Mike Woodring
Sept. 2, 2001
Steve Dow
Sept. 1, 2002
Dan Kaszubinski
Oct. 9, 2002
Doug Emery
May 25, 2003
Mike Lutz
July 6, 2003
Justin Barger
Aug. 31, 2003
Justin Barger
May 30, 2004
Jeff VanDusen
July 4, 2004
Dan Kaszubinski
Sept. 5, 2004
Lance Yonge
May 29, 2005
Dan Kaszubinski
July 3, 2005
Mike Stelter
Sept. 4, 2005
Lance Yonge
May 28, 2006
Steve Poirier
July 23, 2006
Chuck Hebing
Sept. 3, 2006
Jeff VanDusen
May 27, 2007
Justin Barger
July 1, 2007
Chuck Hebing
Sept. 2, 2007
Steve Poirier
May 25, 2008
Jason Barney
July 6, 2008
Jason Barney
Aug. 31, 2008
Steve Poirier
May 24, 2009
Jessica Zemken
July 6, 2009
Dan Kaszubinski
Sept. 6, 2009
Jason Barney
May 30, 2010
Jessica Zemken
July 4, 2010
Jessica Zemken
Sept. 4, 2010
Chuck Hebing
The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are brought to you by: Lucas Oil, Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports, SUNY Canton, 730 Truck Stop, Hoosier Racing Tires, Les Constructions Ultra, Cooks Contracting Services, Fondations 4 Saisons, Car Mate Trailers, The National Parts Peddler Newspaper, WestFront Construction, Cobra Coaches, The Ohsweken Speedway, Mohawk Racing Parts, Engine Research, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Total Race Supply, Riverside Bar and Grill, Coffrage Daniel Lampron, Jasmin Peloquin Sport, FX Chevy and many, many associate sponsors.