6.16.12 Empire Super Sprints Results
WEST LEBANON, NY – Chuck Hebing has been to the high banks of the Lebanon Valley Speedway on two occasions in his career and so far he has a perfect record. Hebing capped off Saturday night’s visit with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) with his second consecutive A-Main victory at the track.
Hebing took the lead from his outside front row starting position and never looked back in capturing the Universal American Stars and Stripes Tour, Herrington Farms, Camara Slate 25-lap A-Main win. The win didn’t come without challenges though as several drivers including Justin Barger, Jeff Cook and Steve Poirier all put pressure on Hebing throughout the affair.
“I love this place it’s been good to me,” said the driver of the Wilkins RV #45 in Victory Lane afterwards. “It is a fast track and it was nice to start up front. We had a real good car and it was nice to see Steve (Poirier) up here before he goes to get his surgery.”
Shawn Donath started on the pole with Hebing alongside. Hebing blasted to the top start at the start of the race throughout the early laps. Hebing paced the field over the first few circuits while Cook and Donath battled for the runner-up position which eventually fell to Cook.
Hebing and Cook ran one and two when the caution came out on lap 11 for Sammy Reakes IV as he got into the fourth turn wall. He was towed to the in field and action resumed right where it left off with Hebing in front.
Only four laps later a similar incident occurred as Donath caught the outside wall in turn four and rolled onto his side. He was uninjured in the crash but it ended his evening. At this point the running order remained Hebing, Cook and the 10th starter Poirier.
Hebing bolted away from both drivers on the next restart as they battled one another for a shot at the runner-up position. Cook worked out and Poirier worked low. Eventually Poirier was able to make the pass for second on lap 23 and as he did it took the air off the nose of the Cook #10 and he went crashing hard into the outside wall in turn four. He rolled over as well but like the other incidents on the night he walked away unharmed.
Hebing needed to be perfect on one final restart and he was. He held off Poirier over the final two laps to score his first series win of the 2012 season.
“When I see him (Poirier) there it was like déjà vu,” said Hebing. “I knew I had to start good and not lag. I start the race and I knew I had to get on it and we did.”
Poirier, of St. Mathieu de Beloeil, Que., finished second in what will be his last race for six to eight weeks as he plans to undergo knee surgery in the next few weeks. He was pleased with the effort.
“I told one of Cobra’s crew guys that at least it was him (Hebing) that I got to battle with in my last race,” stated Poirier. “I like racing with him and we were competitive tonight. It was a super race to come from tenth and finish in second.”
Poirier made his run to the front over the middle portions of the race which put him in position to challenge for the lead late.
“It was hard to pass in beginning until I found a lane on the outside,” commented the former three-time champion. “Once I got by a few cars my car was super fast and the track was fast and it was fun to race.”
Barger finished where he started the A-Main, in the third position. The Montrose, N.Y., driver was fortunate on a couple of restarts to gain positions to help him earn the podium finish even with a car that was less than ideal.
“Not bad considering we missed it tonight,” said Barger afterwards. “I couldn’t get off the corner and get the straightaway speed that we needed. I think we should come here a few more time a year because it’s only two hours for us. It feels good to come out with a top three.”
Patrick Vigneault, of Trios Rivieres, Que., crossed the line fourth in his first time at the speedway while Michael Parent came from the 16th starting position to complete the top five after running as high as third during the middle stages of the race.
ESS/Lebanon Valley Notes: Another solid field of 30 cars played host to a huge crowd at the high banked facility…Making first ESS starts of 2012 were Russ Bennett and Jared Fink, who made the A-Main and also Lacey Hanson and Dick Spadaro…A wild two car flip in the B-Main saw Kyle Dutcher and James Hanson going for wild rides on the front stretch. Both drivers were OK…Next up on the Lucas Oil trail will be non-point events at the Lincoln Speedway on Wed. for another Mach 1 Series event and then off to Ohsweken and South Buxton for the Northern Summer Nationals.
Lucas Oil/Universal American A-Main – Chuck Hebing ($1,750), Steve Poirier, Justin Barger, Patrick Vigneault, Michael Parent, Lance Yonge, Paul Kinney, Tommy Wickham, Alain Bergeron, Matt Tanner, Cory Sparks, Russ Bennett, Doug Emery, Mike Stelter, Etienne Girard, Kevin Ward Jr., Kory Gurney, Jared Fink, Warren Alexson, Jeff Cook, Jessica Zemken, Shawn Donath, Sammy Reakes IV, Paul Habeck.
Lap Leader – Hebing 1-25
Did Not Qualify – Kyle Dutcher, Lacey Hanson, James Hanson, Josh Pieniazek, Dick Spadaro, Joe Trenca
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 1 – Zemken, Wickham, Vigneault, Kinney, Reakes IV, Parent
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 2 – Hebing, Poirier, Bennett, Barger, Habeck, Stelter
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 3 – Donath, Cook, Bergeron, Ward Jr., Tanner, Yonge
Lander Inc./Cobra Coaches Dash – Poirier
B-Main – Emery, Sparks, Fink, Alexson
Provisionals – Girard, Gurney.
Bonuses:
Westward Painting Company Halfway – Hebing $100
North Eastern Pool and Spas Power Pick – Alexson, Emery $50
Lee’s Repair Auto and Truck Hard Charger – Yonge (12 pos.) $50
Ohsweken Speedway Winners Bonus – Hebing $50
Fondations 55 Pick 5 – Parent $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats – Zemken, Hebing, Donath $25