From Mike Mallett
Canadaigua, NY — (September 3, 2011) — Jason Barney hadn’t been to Victory Lane with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints since Labor Day weekend of 2009 when he captured a win at the Utica-Rome Speedway. The talented Brewerton, N.Y., driver started his own team last season and things finally seem to be coming together as he’s earned a pair of thirds and now a win in the last three events.
Saturday night at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park Barney used his knowledge of the track and a late race restart to pass current series point leader and good friend Chuck Hebing to drive to the victory in the 25-lap affair. It was his third win at the Ontario County oval in 360 Sprint Car competition.
“I’m overwhelmed right now this feels so good,” said an emotional Barney after the win. “It’s totally different feeling. We’ve been working really hard to be out on our own and doing our own thing with our own chassis and our own motor. We are a group of people that like to go racing and this feels amazing.”
Shawn Donath and Kevin Ward Jr. started on the front row of the race with Donath taking the early advantage. Donath set the pace while Hebing was busy moving forward from his fifth starting position. By the fifth circuit he made his way into the runner-up position.
With seven laps complete, Donath began navigating slower traffic and this caused his half straightaway lead to dissipate as Hebing closed in. It took ten more laps before Hebing would be able to make his move.
Hebing caught Donath in turn one using the outside. He tried to power by him on the backstretch but couldn’t complete the pass. Then he went to the middle groove in turns three and four and was able to get by Donath for the top spot on lap 17.
A lap later the caution flag was displayed when Steve Poirier blew a right rear tire. Ward, Donath and Bobby Breen were also involved in an incident in turn one forcing all four drivers to fall to the tail of the field for the next restart.
The double-file restart put Hebing on the pole with Barney now on the outside. They took the green together with Hebing immediately going to the outside and Barney diving low in turn one. They both continued to work the same groove as laps began clicking off.
On lap 22 Barney made his bid for the lead. He again went low and stayed low exiting the second turn while Hebing was on the extreme outside. Barney drove by and completed the pass entering the third turn. He went on to lead the final three laps for his seventh career ESS A-Main win.
“I didn’t drive the car right at the beginning and Chuck (Hebing) beat me at my own game,” said Barney. “I didn’t think the bottom was going to be good enough. He got by me and drove away a little bit. I had to settle down and pull the wing back and get to the line I knew works here. I got underneath him there on that last restart and the car was great from there.”
Hebing, of Ontario, N.Y., settled for the runner-up finishing position. He was disappointed at the end of the night because he felt like he over adjusted the car under the last caution and wasn’t able to run the bottom like he should have.
“I couldn’t hold the bottom like I needed to because I over adjusted during the caution,” stated Hebing afterwards. “I screwed myself. I thought he was running the top so I went up there to protect. Second isn’t bad but I don’t like going backwards after I have the lead.”
On a positive note for Hebing, he helped increase his point lead over three-time series champion Poirier. The two came into the event with less than 15 points separating them atop the standings. He got a little bit more breathing room with three full point shows still remaining on the schedule.
“Me and him both know that it will come down to who doesn’t have trouble,” said Hebing of Poirier and the chase for the championship. “We still got three more point shows to go so there is a lot that can happen between now and then.”
Lance Yonge made a late race charge and battled with Jared Zimbardi after the final restart to secure a third place finish. The Penn Yan, N.Y., driver has turned lots of laps at the half-mile facility and he was happy to walk away with a podium finish.
“I was gaining Jared (Zimbardi) before the caution and I knew once things got sorted out after that caution we were going to be okay,” said Yonge. “He wanted the top and I wanted the bottom. Once I got to my groove and he got to his groove we were able to get by him. It feels good to be back out here on the front stretch at the end of the night.”
Zimbardi, of Little Valley, N.Y., crossed the line in fourth while Bryan Howland drove his Filtrec No. 51 from the 11th starting position to complete the top five. Rounding out the top ten were local favorite Charlie Donk, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, who earned the WestFront Construction Hard Charger bonus, Donath and Poirier.
ESS/Canandaigua Notes: A total of 20 teams came back to run the A-Main that was postponed back on Aug. 13…Not returning were Tony Stewart, Glenn Styres, Dain Naida, Jamie Collard, Shayne Ely, Blake Breen and Alain Bergeron…Added to the field were Paul Habeck, Tim Kelly, and Mike Stelter from the B-Main…The make-up date was performed in front of an SRO crowd at the Ontario Fairgrounds…First year promoter Jeremie Corcoran has already welcomed the Lucas Oil ESS back for 2012.
Lucas Oil A-Main: Jason Barney, Chuck Hebing, Lance Yonge, Jared Zimbardi, Bryan Howland, Charlie Donk, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Shawn Donath, Steve Poirier, Kevin Ward Jr, Tim Kelly, George Suprick, Matt Tanner, Tommy Wickham, Mike Stelter, Bobby Breen, Paul Habeck, Cory Sparks, Billy Dunn.
DNS – Tony Stewart, Glenn Styres, Dain Naida, Jamie Collard, Blake Breen, Shayne Ely, Tyler Rand, Chris Jones, Alain Bergeron, Curtis Bradshaw, Devin Caron.
Lap Leaders – Donath 1-16, Hebing 17-22, Barney 23-25.
Westward Painting Corp Halfway – Donath $100
WestFront Construction Hard Charger – Cook (10 pos.) $50
Mohawk Racing Parts Pick 5 – Howland $50
Ohsweken Speedway Winner’s Bonus – $50
Engine Research B-Main – Dunn $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers – Ward Jr., Hebing, Stewart $25
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 Corporation, 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.