A new Labor Day Tradition for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints: Visits to Can-Am and Utica-Rome

By Dean Reynolds

SYRACUSE, NY – After a wildly successful four race weekend in Quebec, the stars and cars from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) are back stateside for the Labor Day Weekend Holiday. New for 2010 will be a Friday night stop at the Can-Am Motorsports Park followed by the traditional visit to the Utica-Rome Speedway.

Over the past several seasons, the winged warriors traveled to Quebec for two events before heading down to the half-mile in Vernon, NY. With increased costs of traveling it was decided to switch the Labor Day Weekend schedule. This already proved to be successful with a record 30 teams starting what was a four race weekend in Canada.

Under the new ownership of Tiger Chapman, ESS is making three stops at the fast oval in LaFargeville, NY. Shootout Weekend was very popular on the July 4th holiday and now it’s time to close out the summer season once again.

The same is being held at Utica-Rome with three visits also. This weekend will be extra important as there will be just one more full point show to be held after. In a very exciting point fight, recently crowned Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Series and Fondations 4 Saisons Quebec Five Star Series champ Steve Poirier has a slim 17 point lead over defending champion Justin Barger with former two-time champ Lance Yonge still well within striking distance.

The talented trio will be in the pits over the weekend along with stars such as Dan Kaszubinski, Chuck Hebing, Jeff Cook, Kevin Ward Jr., Tommy Wickham, Michael Parent, Mike Stelter, Chris Jones, Zach Weigand, Devin Caron, Cory Sparks, Shawn Donath, Jason Barney, Russ Bennett, Don Sharp Jr., and others.

Some stars to be at Can-Am will be Tyler Rand and Lee Ladouceur with Bobby Varin, Stewart Friesen, Jami Russell, Warren Alexson, Kory Gurney, Josh Pieniazek, Mark Zemcik and others looking at the Sunday visit to Utica-Rome.

Fireworks will be in the sky and on the track both nights…It’s the stretch drive for the Lucas Oil Championship. Can-Am, Utica-Rome and the very best of “America’s Race Cars”. It will be excitement guaranteed!

For more information:

www.canammotorsports.com

www.uticaromespeedway.com

www.empiresupersprints.com

Past Empire Super Sprint Winners at Can-Am Motorsports Park.

July 30, 1987

John Brutcher

July 28, 1988

John Birosh

July 27, 1989

John Birosh

Aug. 2, 1990

Mal Lane

Aug. 1, 1991

Jeff Thomas

July 30, 1992

Tim Kelly

July 28, 1994

Mike Woodring

June 22, 1995

Craig Lane

June 19, 1996

Mike Woodring

June 19, 1997

George Suprick

June 18, 1998

Mike Woodring

June 24, 1999

Dan Kaszubinski

June 22, 2000

Dan Kaszubinski

June 21, 2001

Dan Kaszubinski

Aug. 25, 2001

Alain Bergeron

June 20, 2002

Ryan Coniam

Aug. 17, 2002

Dan Kaszubinski

May 29,2004

Rick Wilson

July 3, 2004

May 28,2005

Rick Wilson

Lance Yonge

July 2, 2005

Dan Kaszubinski

May 27, 2006

Jessica Zemken

July 1, 2006

Justin Barger

July 27, 2006

Jeff VanDusen

July 5, 2008

Justin Barger

July 4, 2009

Justin Barger

July 2, 2010

Justin Barger

July 3, 2010

Jessica Zemken

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

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, Mohawk Valley Community College, FX Chevy and many, many associate sponsors.