7.25.12 Empire Super Sprints Results
VERNON, N.Y. – Chuck Hebing continued his streak of top ten finishes on Wednesday night at the Utica-Rome Speedway as he went out and dominated the 25-lap A-Main for his series best fourth feature win of the season. The defending series champion picked up $1,700 for his efforts in the Universal American, SUNY Canton Racing feature event.
Since his 23rd place finish back on Memorial Day weekend, Hebing has been on a tear and has not finished outside the top ten in the last eight races aboard his No. 45. Wednesday’s win now gives the Ontario, N.Y., native six career wins at the Gene Cole owned oval and a total of 21 career wins on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint tour in his career.
“It’s always good to win,” said Hebing with a smile in Victory Lane. “Especially here at Utica-Rome.”
The non-stop A-Main got underway with Tim Kelly able to secure the lead at the green flag from his pole position while Hebing, who started fourth, immediately fell in line in the second spot.
Hebing chased Kelly over the opening laps before making his move for the lead on lap five. Kelly went to the outside allowing Hebing to drive in low and slide up in front of him to take the lead in turns one and two. On the same lap, Bobby Varin used the very same move in turns three and four to take second.
Varin, coming off his dash win, stayed with Hebing as they entered slower traffic on lap seven. Hebing on the top side with Varin electing to keep his car around the bottom of the speedway in turns one and two and then the outside on the opposite end of the speedway.
As the laps clicked off, Hebing’s lane on the top proved to be beneficial as he was able to navigate through traffic much quicker than Varin on the inside and he expanded his lead. His only hiccup came with less than five laps to go when he made contact with Justin Barger as he attempted to put him a lap down.
“I got to Justin (Barger) there and I was following him for a couple laps and thought he was going to run high in three and four,” stated Hebing. “He turned at the last second and got into the side of me. Luckily neither one of us got a flat. That was a tough deal with a lapped car because I didn’t know where he was going to go.”
With just two laps remaining, Hebing was checked out while Varin worked to hold off Sammy Reakes IV. Reakes, who started second, was all over Varin for second and it looked like he was going to be able to gain the position several times before Varin closed the door.
Hebing took the checkers over Varin by a half-straightaway which forced the Sharon Springs, N.Y., driver to settle for the runner-up finish in only his third Sprint Car start of the 2012 racing season. He was all smiles in Victory Lane after the strong run.
“It’s good to get out here and run some laps behind him,” said Varin of finishing second to his good friend Hebing. “I tried to do everything in my power to catch him. I just wasn’t picking the right lines or whatever. So I know I need a little more practice.”
Reakes, of Fulton, N.Y., was never able to make the move to get by Varin for third although he did all he could to put himself behind Hebing in the final rundown. He was close several times but never could muster the speed to make the pass for the position.
“Feels good to not go off the track,” joked Reakes afterwards. “We got beat tonight by two really good race car drivers. When he (Varin) was on the top there my car was good on the bottom and I caught him. I don’t know if he saw me out of the corner of his eye but I got a run on him once and then he moved back down to the bottom. He pulled me by a couple of cars and then I started searching. I think he was just catching the lapped cars a little bit better than I was.”
Local favorite Paul Kinney advanced from the ninth starting position to finish in fourth and Kelly, of Rock Stream, N.Y., faded backwards after starting on the front row and finished in fifth.
Rounding out the top ten were a hot Lance Yonge who has moved himself into the championship chase, Cory Sparks, Charlie Donk, Jason Barney and Mohawk winner Michael Parent.
ESS/UTICA NOTES: A field of 23 sprints were on card that was highlighted by the Lucas Oil Late Models National Tour…making first starts for 2012 were Tim Hogue and Geoff Quackenbush, who was aboard the Jay Sypinka owned #138…Missing from the field was Shawn Donath due to a bad back and Paul Habeck who lost in second car in three weeks…The Lucas Oil Tour will return for one more stop at Utica-Rome on Labor Day Weekend with a show on Sunday, Sept. 2nd.
Lucas Oil A-Main – Chuck Hebing ($1,700), Bobby Varin, Sammy Reakes IV, Paul Kinney, Tim Kelly, Lance Yonge, Cory Sparks, Charlie Donk, Jason Barney, Michael Parent, Larry Wight, Dylan Swiernik, Justin Barger, Patrick Vigneault, Mike Stelter, Joe Trenca, Jeff Cook, Kyle Dutcher, Kory Gurney, Kevin Ward Jr., Tim Hogue, Geoff Quackenbush, Matt Tanner.
Lap Leaders – Kelly 1-4. Hebing 5-25.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 – Hebing, Varin, Swiernik, Wight, Yonge, Parent
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 – Sparks, Vigneault, Kinney, Kelly, Donk, Cook
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 – Tanner, Barger, Reakes IV, Hogue, Barney, Gurney
Bhreac Corporation/Cobra Coaches Dash – Varin
B-Main – Stelter, Ward Jr., Trenca, Quackenbush
Added Starter – Dutcher
Bonuses:
Westward Painting Company Halfway – Hebing $100
Lee’s Repair Auto and Truck – Yonge (7 pos.) $50
Ohsweken Speedway Winners Bonus – Hebing $50
Fondations 55 Pick 5 – Kelly $50
North Eastern Pool and Spa Power Pick – Donk, Swiernik $50
Car Mate Trailers – Hebing, Sparks, Tanner $25