By Dean Reynolds
SYRACUSE, NY – In one of the most look forward to trips on the schedule, it’s the first of two weekends to the French speaking province of Quebec, Canada. This Friday and Saturday the stars and cars from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) visits Autodrome’s Granby and Drummond.
It will be stops four and five of the 20 race full point events. Not only will these events carry points for the overall Lucas Oil title but will also the Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Series and the Fondations 4 Saisons Quebec Super-Star Series.
The man known as the “Cobra” Chuck Hebing heads north as the point leader by a very slim margin over Cory Sparks, Shawn Donath, Justin Barger and opening night winner and Canadian Series point leader in Alain Bergeron. Rounding out the top ten in points are defending champion Steve Poirier, last years rookie of the year Kevin Ward Jr., Lance Yonge, Matt Tanner and Jeff Cook. All these stars are expected to be in the pits looking to add to their strong early season starts.
Fans will also see Michael Parent, Mike Stelter, Tyler Rand, Dylan Swiernik, Anthony Cain, Brian McDonald, Paul Pekkonen, Devin Caron, Lee Ladouceur and Chris Jones. Looking to make their first ESS starts of 2011 will be Rick and April Wilson, Jim Porter, Dale Gosselin, Daniel Lampron, Normand Beaudreault, Jake Langlois, Curtis Bradshaw, Francois Bernier and more.
Granby and Drummond have now become traditional stops on the ESS trail every year since 1994 with the tracks holding 34 and 32 events respectively. Fans packed the grandstands each time the winged warriors invade and it has turned into a friendly rivalry between the teams from the United States and native Canada.
With the added tow money, they are also very lucrative with the 25 lap A-main paying $1,800 to win and $450 just to take the green. If you do not qualify for the A-Main you will receive at least $225 on each night.
The 28th Anniversary Season is off to a fast start with Granby and Drummond adding to the excitement… It will be excitement guaranteed French-Canadian style!!
For more information:
www.autodrome-granby.com
www.autodrome-drummond.com
www.empiresupersprints.com
Past Empire Super Sprint Winners at Autodrome Granby
June 17, 1994
Roger Horvath
June 23, 1995
Mike Woodring
Sept. 1, 1995
Craig Keel
June 21, 1996
Mike Woodring
June 20, 1997
Mike Woodring
Aug. 29, 1997
Bobby Parrow
June 19, 1998
Mike Woodring
Sept. 4, 1998
Lance Yonge
June 25, 1999
Mike Stelter
Sept. 3, 1999
Lance Yonge
June 23, 2000
Mike Wodoring
Sept. 1, 2000
Mike Stelter
June 21, 2002
Mike Woodring
Aug. 30, 2002
Mike Woodring
June 20, 2003
Mike Woodring
June 18, 2004
John Karklin Jr.
Sept. 3, 2004
John Karklin Jr.
July 29, 2005
Lance Yonge
June 16, 2006
Doug Emery
July 28, 2006
Steve Poirier
Sept. 1, 2006
Jeff VanDusen
June 15, 2007
Chuck Hebing
July 27, 2007
Jeff Cook
Aug. 31, 2007
June 13, 2008
Aug. 1, 2008
Steve Poirier
Steve Poirier
Alain Bergeron
Aug. 29, 2008
Steve Poirier
June 5, 2009
Steve Poirier
July 31, 2009
Sept. 4, 2009
June 4, 2010
Aug. 27, 2010
Justin Barger
Chuck Hebing
Jessica Zemken
Jeff Cook
Past Empire Super Sprint Winners at Autodrome Drummond
May 19, 1984
Gordy Button and Dave Leckonby
June 19, 1994
Tom Taber
June 24, 1995
Mike Woodring
Sept. 2, 1995
Mike Woodring
Aug. 30, 1997
Mike Woodring
June 20, 1998
Mike Woodring
Sept. 5, 1998
Tim Kelly
June 26, 1999
Mike Woodring
Sept. 4, 1999
Dan Kaszubinski
June 24, 2000
Mike Stelter
Sept. 1, 2001
Alain Bergeron
July 22, 2002
Dan Kaszubinski
Sept. 1, 2002
Bill Coffey
June 21, 2003
Lance Yonge
Aug. 30, 2003
Jeff VanDusen
June 19, 2004
Alain Bergeron
Sept. 4, 2004
June 18, 2005
Jeff Cook
Jeff VanDusen
July 30, 2005
Alain Bergeron
Sept. 3, 2005
Lance Yonge
June 17, 2006
July 29, 2006
Justin Barger
Nick Fratto
Sept. 2, 2006
June 16, 2007
Dan Kaszubinski
Jeff VanDusen
Sept. 1, 2007
June 14, 2008
Bubby Kerrick
Alain Bergeron
Aug. 30, 2008
Alain Bergeron
June 6, 2009
Chuck Hebing
Aug. 1, 2009
Lee Ladouceur
Aug. 15, 2009
Sept. 5, 2009
Aug. 14, 2010
Aug. 28, 2010
Aug. 28, 2010
Justin Barger
Justin Barger
Lance Yonge
Steve Poirier
Steve Poirier
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.