By Rich Vleck
TULSA, Okla. (May 11, 2010)- Since 2003, the ASCS Patriot Sprints have been thrilling sprint car fans across the Northeast at all sorts of racetracks; in that time though, only one speedway has made sure to host a full-point race each and every season- Canandaigua.
Canandaigua Speedway, the fast ½-mile oval located on the Ontario County Fairgrounds, will host their 12th Patriot event in series history this Friday in the second leg of the A-Verdi Storage Containers King of Upstate New York Series.
Known as “The Land of Legends”, Canandaigua has helped to build Patriot legends, including past champions George Suprick, Chuck Hebing and Bryan Howland, who have each won Patriot events at Canandaigua in seasons in which they brought home a championship.
“Cobra” Chuck Hebing scored his first career win in shocking fashion back in 2003. The Ontario, NY driver that considers Canandaigua “Home” is now coming off his record 31st win at Black Rock two weeks ago and is unquestionably among the favorites at a track he has tamed four times.
George Suprick also scored his first career Patriot A-Main Win at Canandaigua, coming back in his championship season of 2004. Suprick also swept Patriot action at “LOL” in 2005 and will be making the trip up from Clarks Summit, PA on Saturday.
Arguably the best race of all the Patriot shows at Canandaigua came last June when Bryan Howland completed a bonsai moved around the outside of Bobby Been in the final corner. Howland had a solid third place showing at Black Rock to kick off 2010 and has always been a frontrunner at Canandaigua.
Jason Barney is a two-time winner at Canandaigua. Despite off-season changes to his team, look for Barney to contend in his first race of the season. The Constantia, NY competitor won his first race of 2009 when he picked up the Patriot Opener at Albany-Saratoga.
Tim Kelly knows he is close to breaking through a long wingless drought after a solid second-place showing at Black Rock. The Rock Stream Rocket had two wins there in 1993.
Don Adamczyk comes off a sixth in the season opener, his best finish ever at Black Rock, and has always faired well at Canandaigua. The same could be said for fellow Patriot Regulars such as Jared Zimbardi, Bubba Broderick and the Breen Brothers.
Look for a host of top competitors to travel in to the Northern Finger Lakes, including Scott Bonnell, Jeff Cook and Alain Bergeron. They are likely to be greeted by locals Lance Yonge, Bruce DeWick and Ray Preston.
Once again, this A-Verdi Storage Containers King of Upstate New York event will be filmed by the Hot Wings TV Cameras for an air date over the summer on Time Warner Cable Sportsnet.
For more information, visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.
ASCS Patriot History at Canandaigua:
Races: 11
7/5/2003- Tim Barnard
8/23/2003- Chuck Hebing
5/29/2004- George Suprick
7/3/2004- Chuck Hebing
5/28/2005- George Suprick
7/2/2005- George Suprick
5/20/2006- Chuck Hebing
6/30/2007- Jason Barney
8/18/2007- Chuck Hebing
6/7/2008- Jason Barney
6/13/2009- Bryan Howland