By Rich Vleck
TULSA, Okla. (June 14, 2010) – The ASCS Patriot Region returns to New York State this weekend after a month spent skirting around it and return to some of the first tracks to every host an event for the series.
This Friday, the Patriots will return to the Ransomville Speedway after a year hiatus from the 4/10-mile oval north of Buffalo. For the first time, it will be an A-Verdi Storage Containers King of Upstate New York event. The track holds the unique status of being the only facility see each of the four ASCS Patriot Champions go to Victory Lane.
Known for its high speeds, narrow corners and front stretch moat, “The Big R” has a number of characteristics that make it one of the most unique on the tour. Its uniqueness also makes it a track in which a driver’s talent truly comes to light.
Jared Zimbardi, of Little Valley, NY, heads into Ransomville with the newly acquired point lead after his convincing victory Saturday at Brockville. “The Juice” won his second career Patriot Feature at Ransomville in 2007.
Bryan Howland, of Auburn, NY will look to rebound at one of his best speedways after a DNF last weekend. Howland pulled off an impressive feature win there in 2005.
Don Adamczyk, fresh off his fine runner-up finish, will need to travel just a few miles north from his Williamsville, NY residence. Adamczyk has never been in love with his most local track but feels that might change this time around.
Bubba Broderick, Tim Kelly and the Breen Brothers are some of the familiar Patriot faces that will be on hand. Ray Preston, Gary Troutman and Scott Bonnell are also looking forward to heading to Niagara County.
Stewart Friesen is set to make his Patriot debut as well, as he gets back behind the wheel of Doug Emery’s No. 33. Friesen has already driven the Patterson Motorsports machine this season at East Bay where he placed ninth in the Ronald Laney Memorial. Friesen has one career sprint start at his family-owned facility back in 2003, finishing 14th.
Among other locals making the short trip include Jeremy Barnard, T.J. Newton and Derek Jonathan.
Once the action is complete at Ransomville, the teams will head down I-90 to the Stateline Speedway for the first of two shows at the sight of the Inaugural Patriot Event. With the feature rained out at Woodhull, this will be the first feature in the Insinger Race Fuels King of the Southern Tier Series.
The race will be the first running of the Paul Johnson Memorial. “PJ” was a car owner and Patriot Sponsor from Jamestown who passed away this winter.
The high-banked 1/3-mile also hosted two events in 2009, with Jared Zimbardi and Bryan Howland, the top-two in the current point standings, picking up the wins. They may have the wins, but it is the three drivers just behind them in the standings that could be the ones to keep an eye on come Saturday.
Bubba Broderick, from Brookfield, CT, has come extremely close to winning at the facility just south of Jamestown. Broderick has already been strong on shorter tracks this season and should be solid once again.
Don Adamczyk has been in the top-five four out of the last five trips to the sight of his first sprint car start. He will surely take this opportunity to see if he can make it the sight of his first win.
Tim Kelly, from Rock Stream, NY, has been working actively to get back to his winning ways. The last two wins for the veteran were at Stateline.
Scott Bonnell, Gary Kriess, Brad Knab and Kyle Moffit will all get to keep the miles down on their haulers as they venture to familiar territory. None of them have won at Stateline, but have been in the top-five their recently.
Rookies Dylan Swiernik and Kevin Ward Jr. are some of the rookies that will visit these facilities for a first time.
For more information, visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.
ASCS Patriot History at Ransomville
Races: 7
7/11/2003- Billy Krull
9/17/2004- Chuck Hebing
7/1/2005- Bryan Howland
7/29/2006- Rick Wilson
6/29/2007- Jared Zimbardi
8/3/2007- George Suprick
6/27/2008- Chuck Hebing
ASCS Patriot History at Stateline
Races: 8
5/3/2003 Tom Taber
6/18/2005 George Suprick
5/27/2006 Rich Swarthout
6/16/2007 Chuck Hebing
8/23/2008 Bryan Howland- Make-up from 6/21
8/23/2008 Blake Breen
6/27/2009 Jared Zimbardi