By MIKE MALLETT
LAFARGEVILLE, NY – Coming into the Friday night the two prior SUNY Canton Central New York Speedweek presented by Einstein Construction Group features came down to the final few laps for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints. On Friday night it was more of the same at the Can-Am Motorsports Park as the race wasn’t decided until the final corner with the lead being exchanged twice on the final circuit. Ultimately it was Steve Poirier rolling into Victory Lane for his second win of the season and the 49th of his career.
Poirier earned over $2,050 for outlasting the talented Stewart Friesen in the NAPA Auto Parts Tour of the U.S./SUNY Canton Series feature. He also increased his point lead in the overall chase for his sixth title while closing in on his good friend Chuck Hebing in the drive for his first Speedweek championship.
“That was a lot of fun, especially when you got a better car,” Poirier said. “We’ve been struggling a little bit with setup this year. I could not battle with Hebing, he’s been super good. Tonight my car was better and racing with Stewart Friesen, we all know how good he is. Just to get out on top of this with the win, I’m really happy with that.”
For the third night in a row Dylan Swiernik drew the front row of the feature and he used this position to lead the first lap. It was short-lived as Friesen used a slide-job in turns three and four to take it away from him on lap two. The race for the lead wasn’t over as the pair stayed glued to together for the next several laps.
A scary incident occurred on lap seven as Jeff Cook got together with another car which sent his No. 10 straight off the speedway in turns three and four. Ultimately his car made hard contact with a retaining wall at the entrance of the pit area. He was transported to a local hospital where it was reported he has neck and rib injuries. He currently is in good spirits and should be back behind the wheel shortly.
After a delay racing resumed with Friesen at the front and Chuck Hebing now taking second as he looked for his third win of the week. His run in second didn’t last long as Poirier powered by him at the halfway point. He then set his sights on Friesen.
Lap 15 saw a pair of cautions. The first came when Cory Sparks caught an implement tire on the backstretch and spun into the infield. On the next restart the red flag was displayed when Paulie Colagiovanni spun and flipped onto his side as the field raced into the first turn. He walked away from the crash unharmed.
Once racing resumed it was a battle between Friesen and Poirier for supremacy. Friesen led the first few laps before Poirier used a slide job in turns three and four to take the lead for the first time. From there the St. Mathieu de Beloeil, Que., driver worked the outside while Friesen stayed low on the racing surface.
One the final lap Friesen made his move on the bottom of turns one and two. He drove by Poirier on the backstretch to take the lead. Poirier wasn’t done; he battled back as they raced down the backstretch. Friesen made one mistake and Poirier took advantage. Friesen left the bottom lane open which allowed Poirier to sneak underneath as they raced into turn three. He slid up the bank in front of Friesen at the exit to the fourth turn to take the win.
“My car was really good on the outside and Stewy (Friesen) was on the bottom,” commented the defending champion. “I thought if I made my move on the outside I would be okay. Then the outside started to move a little bit. Before that I was cutting through the middle to the outside. The race went for so long the track changed a lot. Racing with Stewart Friesen and Chuck Hebing for the lead is the best we’ve been all year.”
Friesen, of Sprakers, N.Y., ended up finishing in the second spot. He was upset with himself after the feature for allowing Poirier to get by in the final lap by leaving the door open.
“It was good, but we gave that one away,” commented a frustrated Friesen. “I should have parked that thing on the bottom on the last lap. Second definitely sucks. He (Poirier) found a good line there. It was an interesting track. Every time the caution came out the moisture would sneak back up through it. He found a nice line on the top but after a couple laps it went away and we were able to sneak back by him on the bottom. I just made a mistake down here. To run with them guys is good. This is probably the worst second place I’ve ever had. We’ll try again Sunday at Utica.”
Hebing continued his torrid pace to Speedweek as he came home in the third position. The Ontario, N.Y., driver was in the mix throughout the early portions of the event before fading late. He continues to lead the Speedweek point standings.
“We had a good car but we weren’t any match for them guys,” stated Hebing after the feature. “We didn’t have exactly what we needed. We needed a little more gear. This is still another good run and that was a good race. I was close enough to watch most of it.”
Mark Smith, of Sunbury, Pa., came from tenth to cross the line in fourth for his second top five of the week with Bryan Howland making moves of his own to race from 13th to the fifth spot.
ESS Speedweek Notes Night #3 – Another good field of 29 sprints in the pits…New entries for Speedweek were Cory Sparks, Paul Pekkonen, Alain Bergeron, Doug Emery and making his first ever ESS start was Charlie Sandercock…The sprints played host to one of the largest crowds that Can-Am has had in years…Management has already reserved their slot for Speedweek next year.
A-Main – Steve Poirier ($2,050), Stewart Friesen ($1,050), Chuck Hebing ($800), Mark Smith ($655), Bryan Howland ($665), Dylan Swiernik ($710), Paul Kinney ($480), Cory Sparks ($420), Joe Trenca ($435), Tommy Wickham ($500), Jason Barney ($385), Alain Bergeron ($345), Etienne Girard ($300), Matt Tanner ($340), Rob Dietrick ($285), Dave Axton ($280), Yan Bilodeau ($325), Paul Pekkonen ($270), Shawn Donath ($340), Paulie Colagiovanni ($310), Doug Emery ($280), Jeff Cook ($250), Parker Evans ($275), Davie Franek ($275).
Did Not Qualify – Kory Gurney, Zach Weigand, Keith Prutzman, Charlie Sandercock, Denny Peebles.
Lap Leaders – Swiernik 1, Friesen 2-19, Poirier 20-25.
Car Mate Trailers $25 to win Heats – Smith, Bergeron, Poirier.
Lacaillade Masonry $50 to win B-Main – Tanner
L&J Landscaping/Cobra Coaches Dash – Howland $100
Bonuses:
Insinger Fuels Hard Charger – Wickham (13 pos.) $50
Engler Machine and Tool Halfway – Friesen $50
Ohsweken Speedway 20th Anniversary – Colagiovanni $50
SUNY Canton Smart Move – Swiernik $50
Beard Sewer and Drain Determination Award – Bilodeau $50
Fondations 55 Pick 5 – Howland $35
Bitner Automotive Blistering Fast Time – Poirier (17.840) $25
9/11 Restoration – Trenca and Barney $25
Hoosier Tire – Wickham $200
Vahlco Wheels – Swiernik $190