10.6.15 Empire Super Sprints Results
VERNON, NY-This past Tuesday, October 6, the Utica-Rome Speedway closed out it 2015 racing season with a special Tuesday Night Thunder that saw the Stampede Steakhouse Modifieds, 360 Sprints, and the Mod Lites tackle an ultra-fast surface. When everything was settled, it was Stewart Friesen claiming another win in the 360 Sprints exciting action.
The start of the 360 Sprint A-Main was marred by multi car crash which started when front row starters Paul Habeck and Paul Kinney touched with Habeck flipping several times with the field taking evasive action behind him. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to make it through unscathed as a total of eight cars were involved with Habeck, Jeff Cook, Dave Just, and Lee Sanders done for the evening..
With the field realigned for another attempt at an original start, Kinney won the drag race to turn one at the drop of the green to grab the early lead over Stewart Friesen, who had restarted on the outside front row. Friesen immediately began to pressure Kinney for the top spot and as the pair entered each set of turns, Friesen was alongside Kinney lap after lap. For the next seven laps, the battle for the lead raged on while third place starter Justin Barger chased the duo after passing Kevin Albert for the positon on lap two.
As the leaders were entering turns three and four to complete lap eight, Friesen threw a slide job at Kinney and was able to make it stick as he won the race out of turn four to lead the lap. That lead was short lived however, as Kinney was able to return the favor to regain the lead on lap nine. Friesen wasn’t going to go away though as he made another run at Kinney for the lead and was again the leader as the duo completed lap 10. Kinney again tried to regain the point but Friesen was able to fend him off. As the field took the halfway signal in the non-stop event, Friesen was setting the pace over Kinney, Barger, Albert, and Mike Mahaney.
After losing the lead for the second time, Kinney was able to keep pace with Friesen initially but as the laps clicked off, Friesen began to stretch his advantage as he began to lap some very stout cars. Friesen held on to collect his third 360 Sprint win of the season at the Utica-Rome Speedway with Kinney in second while Barger, Mahaney, and Matt Tanner rounded out the top five. Filling out the top ten spots was Danny Varin, last place starter Chuck Hebing, Jason Schultz, Albert, and Cory Sparks.
360 SPRINT CARS A-MAIN FINISH (25 LAPS)-STEWART FRIESEN, Paul Kinney, Justin Barger, Mike Mahaney, Matt Turner, Danny Varin, Chuck Hebing, Jason Schultz, Kevin Albert, Cory Sparks, Mike Stelter, Dave Axton, Joe Trenca, Charlie Donk, Shawn Donath, Ryan Susice, Paul Habeck, Jeff Cook, Dave Just, Jason Barney, Lee Sanders, and Pete Richardson. DNS- Kelly Hebing.