BROCKVILLE, ONT � The 25th Anniversary Tour for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints visited the Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday night with Justin Barger finding his way to Victory Lane for the fourth time in 2008.
The pilot from Montrose, N.Y, took home a total of $2,550 for his efforts courtesy of Northwood 2 Construction/Lasalle Motorsports and the Riverside Bar and Grill weekend point fund which was held given for one event after Friday night�s event at Autodrome Edelweiss was cancelled due to rain.
�This feels really good,� said Barger after his 14th series win. �It�s tough being the leader here because you never know where second place is. I needed a caution there at there at the end to clear some of the lapped cars. The car worked great and I have to thank my guys for their hard work.�
Lance Yonge and Barger started alongside one another on the front row of the 25-lap A-Main. At the drop of the green Yonge beat Barger into turn one to take the advantage but it was negated when the caution came out.
At the tail of the field several cars came together including Daniel Lampron, April Wilson, Mike Stelter, Brian McDonald and Chris Jones. All drivers were able to continue except Wilson and Lampron.
When the race resumed, Barger was able to get the jump on Yonge in his Rider powered Maxim to take the race lead as they entered turn one. Barger took the top lane while Yonge shot low.
�On the first start he (Yonge) came up on me a little bit and I got out towards the wall,� said Barger. �I was glad we got the second one there because I was able to get by him.�
By lap five, Barger opened up a large advantage with his Ohsweken Speedway/Cortland Auto Body sponsored ride putting him in heavy lapped traffic. He was able to work both the top and bottom lanes, preferable the top, to work his way through.
�A lot of the cars were out of my way,� commented Barger. �Most of them ran half to three-quarters of the way up the track which really helped me because I was on the top.�
While Barger led, Rick Wilson and Yonge battled for the runner-up position with the two swapping the position several times during the first part of the event.
With less than 10 laps remaining, Barger continued to lead but he was mired in heavy slower traffic. Wilson and Yonge were able to close the gap slightly as Barger carefully navigated the slower cars.
At the checkered it was Barger for the win with Wilson, of Joyceville, Ont., coming home in the second position in his Jereco powered J&J Auto Racing ride.
�I�m happy with second,� stated the 50-year-old. �I probably could have used a bit little more gear.�
After starting on the pole in his Johnson Farms/Lanes Yamaha Maxim, Yonge came home in third for his eighth top five of the season after a good battle with Wilson for second.
�I should have gone to the outside once Justin (Barger) passed me for the lead,� commented the driver from Penn Yan, N.Y. �It�s tough starting on the pole here because the outside is the place be on the starts. I knew it was going to be tough to beat Justin (Barger) on the start.�
Doug Emery, of South Onondaga, N.Y., came home fourth after starting fifth. Steve Poirier, who was scheduled to start on the front row, started at the tail of the field after going to a back-up mount. He worked his way up through the field in the caution free event to complete the top five
ESS/Brockville Notes: A field of 21 sprints were on hand which played host to an absolute
packed house at the newly lengthened and widened oval�All ESS teams raved about the track with the speed (90 m.p.h. plus) and availability to pass anywhere�With the rainout the night before at Edelweiss, the Riverside Bar and Grill $1,000 point fund came down to this one event�With the victory, Barger took home $2,550 in cash�The flip by Poirier in the dash was the first in ESS competition since Drummond on June 14th�.The Lucas Oil sponsored series will now take a weekend off before it�s the second visit to Autodromes Granby and Drummond for two more SMAC Magazine Canadian Invasion Series events followed the make-up of the annual Earl Halaquist Memorial on Tuesday, Aug. 5th at the famed Fonda Speedway.
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints/Northwood 2 Construction A-Main � Justin Barger ($2,550), Rick Wilson, Lance Yonge, Doug Emery, Steve Poirier, Jared Zimbardi, Alain Bergeron, Jeff Cook, Tommy Wickham, Bubby Kerrick, Tim Kelly, Mike Stelter, Normand Beaudreault, Lee Ladouceur, Michael Parent, Anthony Cain, Justin Harris, Chris Jones, Brian McDonald, April Wilson, Daniel Lampron.
Lap Leader � Justin Barger 1-25.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 1 � Lance Yonge, Justin Barger, Jared Zimbardi, Jeff Cook, Michael Parent, April Wilson, Chris Jones
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 2 � Steve Poirier, Doug Emery, Normand Beaudreault, Tim Kelly, Anthony Cain, Justin Harris, Brian McDonald
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 3 � Rick Wilson, Bubby Kerrick, Alain Bergeron, Tommy Wickham, Lee Ladouceur, Mike Stelter, Daniel Lampron.
Jones Automotive/Walt�s Hobby Dash � Lance Yonge.
Cash Bonuses:
Northwood 2 Construction A-Main � Barger $400
Ohsweken Speedway Winner�s Bonus � Barger $100
National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus � Barger $100
Les Construction Ultra Blue Collar Award � Stelter $100
Lane�s Yamaha Hard Charger � Poirier (15 pos.) $50
AMB Moteurs Fast Time � Barger (14.206) $50
Cook�s Contracting Bridesmaid Bonus � R. Wilson $50
HG Associates Pole Award � Yonge $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers � Yonge, Poirier, R. Wilson $25
Winner�s Contingencies:
Lucas Oil $115, Griffin Thermal Products $100, Design 500 $100, GME Steering $50, Hank�s Performance Products $50, Racing Optics $30, Rod End Supply $30, Ultra Shield $10, Pepsi Cola $5.
Other Contingencies:
Weld Racing Hard Luck � McDonald $100
ATL � Yonge $100
Mangus Pumps � R. Wilson $100
M&W Aluminum Products � Bergeron $75
Leaf Racewear � Emery $75
Design 500 � Poirier $50, Stelter $50
Keizer Wheels � Beaudreault $50
Saldana Race Products � R. Wilson $50
Kreitz Oval Track Products � R. Wilson $50
KSE Racing Products � Jones $50
Zemco Headers � Poirier $50
Joe Hunt Magnetos � A. Wilson $50
Rod End Supply � Yonge $30
Area Auto Racing News � R. Wilson $25
Brake Man � R. Wilson $25
VMAC Racing � Bergeron $25
DMI � Lampron $25
Luther�s Way Out Grafix � Poirier $25
ISC Racers Tape � Kerrick $10
Ultra Shield � R. Wilson $10
Pepsi Cola � Yonge $10, Poirier, R. Wilson $5.