By Dean Reynolds
SYRACUSE, NY – After a very successful 4th of July weekend, the stars and cars from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) are set for another Friday/Sunday double-header this weekend. Two tracks rich in ESS history is set to host the winged warriors, the Black Rock and New Cayuga County Speedways.
Since 1984, the Black Rock Speedway has hosted 62 ESS events and this Friday will mark the first time since April of ’08 where the Dundee, NY oval is hosting a full point event. Back in May, ESS’ teams battled the best of the United Racing Company and the Patriot Sprint Tour in the Spring Nationals but now the traveling faithful will be looking for valuable points towards the overall Lucas Oil Championship.
On Sunday, the 3/8ths mile oval in Weedsport, NY will host its 27th ESS event since 1985. Under the new promotional team headed by Eric Kingsley, who has been a big supporter of ESS over the years, the New Cayuga County Speedway has seen new life in 2011. Last year ESS hosted its first full point show in over five years which was extremely successful and both are looking to build off that event.
Coming into the weekend is one of the closest and most exciting point battles in the 29 year history of the club with six teams under a blanket looking for the 2011 title. With the point battle ready to resume this weekend fans will be in for a treat.
Shawn Donath continues to be the man to beat right now with the Doug Emery Motorsports #33. The South Onondaga star has been atop the points for a month now but his challengers are some of the best in the Northeast and Canada. The “Cobra” Chuck Hebing is coming off a win last Sunday at Utica-Rome and will looking to take over the top spot. 2010 Rookie of the Year Kevin Ward Jr. sits in third in points with Steve Poirier, Cory Sparks and Alain Bergeron all close behind.
Joining these six chauffeurs in the field on both nights will be Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Lance Yonge, Dylan Swiernik, Matt Tanner, Mike Stelter, Tyler Rand, Patrick Vigneault, Tim Kelly, Jared Zimbardi, Bryan Howland and others.
As the hot Summer nights of July sets in, the action on the dirt heats up as well. The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints, two of the original Central New York stomping grounds, the Black Rock and New Cayuga County Speedways…it will be a continuation of the ESS tradition of excitement guaranteed!
For more information:
www.blockrockspeedway.com
www.newcayugacountyspeedway.com
www.empiresupersprints.com
Past Empire Super Sprint Winners at Black Rock Speedway.
Aug. 3, 1984
Lenny Krautheim III
May 5, 1985
Gordy Button
July 17, 1987
Mal Lane
Sept. 11, 1987
John Zentner
July 22, 1988
Mal Lane
Aug. 19, 1988
Gordy Button
Sept. 9, 1988
John Brutcher
June 2, 1989
Rick Crane
July 14, 1989
Tom Taber
Aug. 11, 1989
Rob Hart
Sept. 8, 1989
Mal Lane
May 6, 1990
Mal Lane
July 29, 1990
Jeff Thomas
July 5, 1991
Mal Lane
Aug. 9, 1991
Kim Gagliardi
Aug. 30, 1991
Tom Taber
Sept. 20, 1991
Jeff Thomas
May 10, 1992
Jeff Thomas
July 3, 1992
Bobby Parrow
Aug. 7, 1992
Bobby Parrow
Sept. 4, 1992
Bobby Parrow
May 9, 1993
Mal Lane
July 2, 1993
Tom Taber
Aug. 6, 1993
Craig Lane
May 30, 1994
Kramer Williamson
July 3, 1994
Craig Lane
Sept. 4, 1994
Craig Keel
Sept. 8, 1995
Craig Lane
April 20, 1996
Craig Lane
Sept. 6, 1996
Scott Holcomb
Sept. 5, 1997
Tim Kelly
April 18, 1998
Mike Woodring
Sept. 11, 1998
Bobby Parrow
April 30, 1999
Mike Woodring
July 14, 1999
Bobby Parrow
Sept. 10, 1999
Greg Coverdale
Rob Dietrick
Dan Kaszubinski
Sept. 11, 1999
Craig Keel
April 15, 2000
Dan Kaszubinski
July 3, 2000
Mike Woodring
Sept. 8, 2000
Scott Holcomb
Tom Taber
George Suprick
Sept. 9, 2000
George Suprick
July 6, 2001
John Karklin Jr.
Aug. 10, 2001
Randy Years
Sept. 7, 2001
Phil Mott
Sept. 8, 2001
George Suprick
July 5, 2002
Brian Dumigan
Aug. 9, 2002
Mike Lutz
Sept. 6, 2002
Chris Coyle
Dave McGough
Erin Crocker
Sept. 7, 2002
Mike Woodring
April 12, 2003
Mike Lutz
July 4, 2003
John Karklin Jr.
Aug. 8, 2003
Lance Yonge
Sept. 5, 2003
Mike Lutz
Kevin Welsh
Chris Coyle
Sept. 6, 2003
Scott Bonnell
Aug. 14, 2004
Blake Breen
Sept. 10, 2004
Midge Miller
Dave McGough
Curt Michael
Sept. 11, 2004
Trevor Lewis
Aug. 19, 2005
George Suprick
Sept. 10, 2005
Sept. 9, 2006
Apr. 12, 2008
May 7, 2011
Trevor Lewis
Curt Michael
Justin Barger
JJ Grasso
Past Empire Super Sprint winners at New Cayuga County Speedway
July 7, 1985
John Brutcher
Aug. 18, 1985
Gordy Button
July 6, 1986
Bill Peri
Aug. 2, 1986
Gordy Button
Aug. 24, 1986
Kenny Adams
July 5, 1987
Bob Cain
Sept. 6, 1987
Mike VanDusen
Aug. 27, 1989
Mal Lane
July 1, 1990
Mal Lane
Aug. 26, 1990
Adrian Flath
June 30, 1991
Tom Taber
Aug. 25, 1991
John Birosh
July 5, 1992
Bobby Parrow
Aug. 30, 1992
Jeff Thomas
July 18, 1993
Roger Horvath
July 2, 1995
Greg Hixson
June 30, 1996
Lance Yonge
July 6, 1997
Craig Keel
July 5, 1998
Mike Woodring
July 5, 1999
Bill Coffey
July 2, 2000
Bobby Podolak
July 1, 2001
George Ely
July 7, 2002
Rob Dietrick
May 8, 2005
Ray Preston
July 11, 2010
Jessica Zemken
Oct. 8, 2010
Randy Hannagan
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, Westward Painting Corp., 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.