ELBRIDGE, N.Y. – Michael Parent has been riding high since a win at the Lebanon Valley Speedway two weeks ago. Parent rode that confidence on Wednesday night to a win on opening night of SUNY Canton Speedway at the Rolling Wheels Raceway.
Parent utilized a front row starting position and he stalked Paul Habeck the early leader until he eventually found and opening and powered by to take the lead just prior to the halfway point. Parent scored over $2,100 in the victory courtesy of Around Town Plumbing and Heating as well as and it came as part of the overall tour point chase and the Today’s Options Stars and Stripes Tour.
“That car was awesome,” said Parent. “I didn’t expect my second win so early in the year. I’m so proud of my whole team. I’m very proud.”
Habeck started on the pole and jumped out to the early lead as he looked for his second victory of the night after winning the 305 Sprint Car portion of the event. He set a torrid pace early on opening up several car lengths on Parent.
By lap eight Habeck was battling slower traffic allowing Parent and fifth starter Jessica Zemken to close in. With ten laps complete the three were battling for the lead while navigating their way through traffic.
On lap 12 Parent saw his opening. Habeck tucked low going through turns three and four and Parent put his AMB Moteurs powered No. 25 on the cushion and blasted by him for the lead.
“This car was tight early on,” commented Parent. “I found the bottom lane in one and two and Paul (Habeck) followed the lapped car a little bit, I found the high-side and I was able to pass him in three and four.”
Only two more circuits were complete before the first caution of the race eased the pace. Kyle Moffit spun in the second turn forcing the yellow. On the restart, the red flag came out as Mike Stelter flipped in turn one after a jingle in front of the field bottled everyone up. Stelter walked away from the incident.
Three more laps clicked off before red was displayed a second time when several cars got off the speedway in the first turn. The heavy rains in Central New York created lots of mud around the speedway. Safety crews had to work patiently to remove cars from the area so they didn’t get stuck in the mud taking several laps.
The race finally resumed with Parent holding off Habeck at the green. Parent checked out over the course of the final eight laps to score his fourth career series victory.
“I saw Paul (Habeck) was still there and we passed him earlier in the race that meant we were a little faster,” stated Parent. “I wasn’t worried about Paul (Habeck) there at the end.”
Habeck, a year removed from a crash that cost him four days in the hospital, earned a career best second place finish. The Fairport, N.Y., driver smiled from ear to ear afterwards.
“Yeah last year I was in the hospital for four days my arm was all busted up and my ribs and I was lucky it wasn’t a lot worse,” commented Habeck. “I’ve only raced two 360 races this season this year and last year my season was cut short. To be back here and earn a second place finish in only my third 360 race I can’t tell you how excited I am.”
Etienne Girard also finished a career best third. The St. Germain, Que., driver worked hard to fend off Bryan Howland in the final laps to finish third. “I had some trouble with my restarts,” said Girard. “We worked hard and we had a fast car and I’m very happy about it.”
Bryan Howland, from nearby Union Springs, N.Y., finished in fourth after staring ninth and Justin Barger raced from the 11th starting spot to finish in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Robbie Stillwaggon, who earned hard charger honors, Jared Zimbardi, Blake Breen, Dave Ely and Delaware’s Curt Michael.
ESS/Speedweek Night #1 Notes – A big field of 39 sprints came out for the first leg…Matt Tanner and Kyle Dutcher had motor woes and were scratched after the heats…Joining Stillwaggon, Ely and Michael from down south was Tim Hogue as well…Speedweek night #2 moves to Brewerton.
SUNY Canton Speedweek A-Main – Michael Parent ($2,100), Paul Habeck, Etienne Girard, Bryan Howland, Justin Barger, Robbie Stillwaggon, Jared Zimbardi, Blake Breen, Dave Ely, Curt Michael, Tommy Wickham, Steve Poirier, Lance Yonge, Doug Emery, Kevin Ward Jr., Kyle Moffit, Dylan Swiernik, Jeff Cook, Steve Collins, Chuck Hebing, Jessica Zemken, Jason Barney, Paul Kinney, Patrick Vigneault, Mike Stelter, Jordan Thomas.
Did Not Qualify – Larry Wight, Charlie Donk, Jared Fink, Sam Reakes IV, Tim Hogue, Joe Trenca, Steve Hutchinson, Shawn Donath, Dave Axton, Kyle Dutcher, Matt Tanner, Zach Weigand, Vinnie Vitale.
Lap Leader – Habeck 1-12, Parent 13-25
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 1 – Zemken, Ely, Girard, Kinney, Vigneault.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 2 – Barger, Thomas, Howland, Breen, Barney
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 3 – Wickham, Habeck, Moffit, Zimbardi, Emery
Car Mate Custom Built Trailer Heat 4 – Michael, Parent, Hebing, Yonge, Collins.
Filtrec Corp./Cobra Coaches Dash – Zemken
Lacaillade Masonry B-Main – Poirier, Stillwaggon, Ward Jr., Swiernik
Provisionals – Cook, Stelter.
Bonuses:
Westward Painting Company Halfway – Parent $100
Ohsweken Speedway Winner’s Bonus – Parent $100
Fondations 4 Saisons Hard Charger – Stillwaggon (16 pos.) $50
Fondations 55 Pick 5 – Barger $50
North Eastern Pool and Spa Power Pick – Poirier, Barney $50
Lacaillade Masonry B-Main – Poirier $50
Go Nuclear Late Models Go Fast Award – Parent (17.877) $25
Jimmy D’s Speed and Machine Fast Time – Zemken (17.336) $25
Dirt Track Digest Hard Luck Award – Stelter $25
Mike Emhof Motorsports – Barger, Wickham $25
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The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are brought to you by: Lucas Oil, Le Groupe Ultra, SUNY Canton, Mach 1 Chassis, Today’s Options, Hoosier Racing Tires, Fondations 4 Saisons, Cobra Coaches, Westward Painting Company, Fondations 55, Camara Slate, North Eastern Pool and Spa, Lacaillade Masonry, Car Mate Trailers, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Ohsweken Speedway, Dover Brake and Clutch, FX Chevy and many, many associate sponsors!!