From Dean Reynolds
SYRACUSE, NY – After a week off from full point chasing, the stars and cars from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are back in action at two favorite stops…Can-Am Motorsports Park and Utica-Rome Speedway. It will mark the second time the winged warriors have visited each track for 2011.
Can-Am kicked off the 29th consecutive campaign for ESS back on April 30th in front of the biggest crowd of the season at the North Country oval and fans will be back in droves again for the second and final appearance.
On that night, St. Pie, Quebec’s Alain Bergeron started the 2011 tour in style by taking the $2,000 to win A-Main over defending champion Steve Poirier and reigning rookie of the year Kevin Ward Jr. All three will be on hand looking to repeat on their strong showings back in April.
However, the list of challengers looking for the $2,000 Riverside Bar and Grill A-Main prize are the likes of current ESS point leader Shawn Donath, Chuck Hebing, Cory Sparks, local favorite Jeff Cook, Michael Parent, Dylan Swiernik and Matt Tanner who all are currently in the top ten in points.
With Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series and SUNY Canton Series points also up for grabs fans will also see the likes of Lance Yonge, Mike Stelter, Tommy Wickham, Tyler Rand, Jason Barney, Devin Caron, Chris Jones, Lee Ladouceur, Brian McDonald and Brandon Warner.
With the legendary facility a mere 10 minutes from the Canadian border, also expected to be in the field is the first appearance of 2011 for the father/daughter combo of Rick and April Wilson, Paul Pekkonen, Dale Gosselin, Patrick Vigneault, Kyle Fraser and a few more.
After Can-Am on Friday, it’s off to Utica-Rome on Sunday for the second of four stops at the Vernon, NY half-mile. SUNY Canton points will also be paid here which will bring in all the point chasers on the tour.
Back on Memorial Weekend, Poirier picked up the first of his two wins so far this season. Hebing, Donath, Ward Jr. and Sparks followed the defending ESS champ which is part of the reason why all four are in the top five in the Lucas Oil point chase.
Entries expected at Utica-Rome are Bobby Varin, Anthony Cain, Jami Russell, Josh Pieniazek, Jared Fink, Warren Alexson, Kory Gurney, Charlie Donk, Tyler Rice, Paul Habeck, John Cunningham, Chad King and scheduled to appear is fan favorite, many-time ESS winner and now regular on the All-Star Circuit of Champions Jessica Zemken aboard her Tony Stewart Racing #1Z.
July 1st, Can-Am Motorsports Park, July 3rd Utica-Rome Speedway…”America’s Race Cars” on America’s birthday weekend. The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are set in invade and 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
Sept. 3, 2010 Steve Poirier
Apr. 30, 2011 Alain Bergeron
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
May 29, 2011
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, Riverside Bar and Grill, Coffrage Daniel Lampron, Jasmin Peloquin Sport, FX Chevy and many, many associate sponsors.