MACKEYVILLE, PA � The 25th Anniversary Tour for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints invaded Vern Wasson�s Clinton County Raceway for the first time ever on Friday evening with a familiar face ending the night in Victory Lane.
Justin Barger, of Montrose, N.Y., walked away with his third victory of the 2008 racing season after conquering the one-third mile oval. He earned $2,000 for winning the A-Main courtesy of Woodhull Raceway.
�I feel great,� stated Barger after the win. �This car normally doesn�t like the small little race tracks. We kept dialing her in and she got faster as the night went on.�
Racing action got underway with local favorite Blaine Heimbach taking the lead from the outside of the front row at the green flag. He was able to beat the pole-sitter, Adam Gordon, into turn one.
Barger, who started on the outside of the second row, jumped to middle off of the second corner and raced three wide down the back straightaway. As they entered the third turn, Barger took his Ryder powered Maxim into the runner-up position with Heimbach the leader.
On lap four the first caution came out when Tim Kelly and Jeff Cook came together in the second turn. On the restart, Heimbach, with his Goff Racing ride, was able to hold off Barger to maintain the top position.
The final caution of the race came out on lap eight when Kelly broke the front axle on his No.12 and spun off the top of the back straightaway.
Heimbach again took the lead when the green was displayed with Barger staying right with him as the raced into the turn. The duo were still battling when they reached slower traffic on lap 10.
On lap 14, Heimbach dove to the bottom as he attempted to race around a slower car opening a way around the top of the speedway. Barger saw the opening and drove by Heimbach by the time they raced off of turn two.
�It was a little interesting when we got to the lapped cars,� said Barger. �I was coming on him (Heimbach) in the beginning, but we kept having cautions. Once we got into the lapped cars I was finally able to get by him.�
Upon taking the lead, Barger navigated the lapped traffic flawlessly and went on to secure his 13th career ESS victory.
Bobby Howard, of Enola, Pa, started third in the event and was able to move one position forward to finish in second. Howard was able to close on Barger but he was never able to get enough of a run to take the lead.
�He (Barger) was good up there on the cushion,� stated Howard. �I was hoping he would go off the top. I got under him there a couple times and he raced me clean. He never came down on me or anything like.�
Colby Womer, of Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa., was the only driver in the field running the traditional 358-Sprint Car win atop of his ride. He raced from the fifth starting position to get by Heimbach for third at the checkered.
�It felt really good passing Blaine (Heimbach) there at the end,� said Womer. �Then I realized he had a flat tire. All in all it was good racing these guys and that was some good clean racing.�
Heimbach, due to the slow leak in his rear tire, faded late in the event forcing the driver from Selinsgrove, Pa. to settle for fourth. Local favorite and former track champion, George Suprick, moved all the way from the 13th starting position to finish in fifth.
ESS/CLINTON COUNTY PIT NOTES: Twenty-six cars entered into competition for first ever appearance of the Empire Super Sprints at the speedway�.They raced in front of a capacity crowd�.ESS regulars were greeted by nine track regulars plus Colby Wormer, Adam Gordan and veteran driver Roger Fickett�.Brian McDonald debuted a new Triple X Chassis. He had problems in the heat but qualified through the consolation and ended the night earning the Lane�s Yamaha Hard Charger�.After Clinton County, ESS has had 92 different drivers compete with the club this season setting a new record�.Vern Wasson has already secured a date for the 2009 racing season at the rejuvinated Pennsylvania fairgrounds oval.
RACE RESULTS (7/11/08)
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Woodhull Raceway A-Main (25 laps): Justin Barger ($2,000 to win), Bobby Howard, Colby Wormer, Blaine Heimbach, George Suprick, Lance Yonge, Adam Gordon, Steve Poirier, Matt Heimbach, Andy Haus, Anthony Cain, Alain Bergeron, Brian McDonald, Cory Sparks, Lee Ladouceur, Bubby Kerrick, Bill Schoffstall, Roger Fickett, Michael Parent, Matt Miller, Jeff Cook, Tim Kelly
Lap Leaders � B. Heimbach 1-13, Barger 14-25
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 (10 laps): Steve Poirier, Colby Wormer, Tim Kelly, Jeff Cook, George Suprick, Alain Bergeron
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 (10 laps): Lance Yonge, Justin Barger, Adam Gordon, Matt Heimbach, Lee Ladouceur, Michael Parent
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 (10 laps): Tim Kelly, Bobby Howard, Bill Schoffstall, Anthony Cain, Bubby Kerrick, Andy Haus
Dick Carbery/Walt�s Hobby Dash � Justin Barger
KSE Racing Products B-Main � Cory Sparks, Roger Fickett, Matt Miller, Brian McDonald
Did Not Qualify � John Smith III, Rich Brungard, Nick Weikel, Howard Singer.
Bonuses:
Woodhull Raceway � Barger $400
Ohsweken Speedway A-Main Winner�s Bonus � Barger $100
Les Constructions Ultra Blue Collar Award � Suprick $100
Lane�s Yamaha Hard Charger � McDonald (9 pos.) $50
HG Associates Pole Award � Barger $50
AMB Moteurs Fast Time Award � Cain $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats � Poirier, Yonge, Kelly $25.
Winner�s Contingencies: – Clinton County
Lucas Oil $115, Griffin Thermal Products $100, Design 500 $100, Penske Shocks $100, Saldana Racing Products $50, GME Steering $50, Hank�s Performance Products $50, Kreitz Oval Track Products $50, Racing Optics $30, Rod End Supply $30, Area Auto Racing News $25, Brake Man $25, MRE Productions $10, Ultra Shield $10, Pepsi Cola $10.
Other Contingencies
Weld Racing Hard Luck � Kelly $100
ATL � Suprick $100
Mangus Pumps � Suprick $100
M&W Aluminum Products � Barger $75
Leaf Racewear � Cain $75
Design 500 � Suprick $50, Ladouceur $50
Keizer Wheels � Sparks $50
KSE Racing Products � Sparks $50
Zemco Headers � Yonge $50
Joe Hunt Magnetos � Cook $50
Rod End Supply � Suprick $30
VMAC Racing � Yonge $25
DMI � Kelly $25
Luther�s Way Out Grafix � Bergeron $25
ISC Racers Tape � Cain $10
Ultra Shield � Suprick $10
Pepsi Cola � Poirier, Yonge. Kelly, Sparks. $5.