LAFARGEVILLE, NY � A couple of well placed cautions and a brand new race car propelled Justin Barger, of Montrose, N.Y., to his second win of the season in the SUNY Canton 25-lap A-Main for the Lucas Oil 25th Anniversary Tour for the Empire Super Sprints at the Can-Am Speedway on Saturday night.
�I�m not sure if I could have got him (Jeff Cook) without that last caution,� stated Barger after pocketing $2,000 for the win. �My other car got tweaked a little bit and it wasn�t reacting to the changes we were making so we put together a new Maxim this week and it worked really well.�
As racing action got started, Doug Emery jumped out in front with local favorite Jeff Cook falling in line in the runner-up position. The duo pulled away from the field until the first caution slowed the race on lap six when Normand Beaudreault slowed on the front straightaway.
On the restart, Emery again took the lead but it was short lived as Cook was able to shoot to the outside of turns three and four to lead the ninth circuit.
While Cook continued to lead, Barger utilized his Rider powered ride to work through traffic to get inside the top five. By the time the final caution came out on lap 22 for Bubby Kerrick, Barger had moved from the inside of the third row starting spot into the runner-up position.
When the green flag came back out, Barger looked to the outside in turns one two but he could not complete the pass for the lead. The two remained close on the back straightaway with Barger sliding low in three to take the lead for a moment.
Cook, using the outside lane, pulled even with Barger at the line on lap 23 to lead the lap. Barger gained a slight edge as they raced into turn one and when they exited the second turn Barger took his Ohsweken Speedway/AEM Filters sponsored ride to lead from bottom of the speedway and it ultimately earned him his 12th career series victory.
�I kept trying to run the outside to move him (Cook) up the racetrack so I could run the bottom,� said Barger. �It eventually worked. He opened up the bottom and I was able to get the lead.�
Cook, from nearby Antwerp, N.Y., was obviously disappointed after the event with his second runner-up finish of the season. He was hoping for a big victory in front of the hometown crowd.
�This is the best I�ve ever run with my family here,� commented Cook after the event. �I�ve had a couple of fifth place finishes but I�ve never been able to get a win. On that last restart I really didn�t know whether to go high or low and it figures I would choose the wrong line.�
Third place went to Emery, from South Onondaga, N.Y. Emery started on the pole of the event and was quick early on but once he moved off the bottom of the speedway he lost ground. He fell back as far as fifth before rebounding to get back into the top three.
�Jeff (Cook) passed me on the outside so I went up there because I thought it was quicker,� commented Emery. �Once guys started passing me on the bottom I went back down there and the car was much better.�
Jason Barney came from the eighth starting position to finish in fourth while current point leader, Steve Poirier, completed the top five.
ESS/Can-Am Notes: A total of 31 sprints played host to the one of the largest crowds in the Caprara Bros. rein of the north country facility�Modified regular Scott Parliament ran as a teammate to Jeff Cook and just missed the A-Main by one spot�.Cory Sparks had motor woes and was forced to run his back-up mount but he too just missed the A-Main starting grid�Sprint rookie Tim Devendorf impressed many with his fine 13th place finish after starting in 22nd to earn the Lane�s Yamaha Hard Charger bonus�With the success of the event, ESS and Can-Am officials will be looking a doing two events for the 2009 season.
RACE RESULTS (7/5/08)
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints SUNY Canton A-Main (25 laps): Justin Barger ($2,000 to win), Jeff Cook, Doug Emery, Jason Barney, Steve Poirier, Alain Bergeron, Rick Wilson, Tommy Wickham, Russ Bennett, Tim Kelly, Michael Parent, Brian McDonald, Tim Devendorf, Anthony Cain, Bubby Kerrick, Chuck Hebing, Lee Ladouceur, Robbie Shuttleworth, Jeff VanDusen, Gordy Button, Lance Yonge, Chris Jones, Normand Beaudreault.
Lap Leaders � Emery 1-9, Cook 10-23, Barger 24-25
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 (10 laps): Jason Barney, Justin Barger, Jeff Cook, Alain Bergeron, Jeff VanDusen, Robbie Shuttleworth
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 (10 laps): Tim Kelly, Gordy Button, Doug Emery, Lance Yonge, Rick Wilson, Chris Jones
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 (10 laps): Steve Poirier, Chuck Hebing, Anthony Cain, Brian McDonald, Normand Beaudreault, Russ Bennett
Rt. 37 Building Supply/Walt�s Hobby Dash � Steve Poirier.
Did Not Qualify � Doug Norrie, Cory Sparks, Andy Noto, April Wilson, Justin Harris, Scott Parliament, Blas� Regina, Brandon Warner.
KSE Racing Products B-Main (10 laps): Michael Parent, Lee Ladouceur, Tommy Wickham, Tim Devendorf.
Added Starter � Bubby Kerrick
Winner�s Contingencies: Justin Barger
Lucas Oil $115, Griffin Thermal Products $100, Design 500 $100, GME Steering $50, Hank�s Performance Products $50, Kreitz Oval Track Products $50, Saldana Racing Products $50, Racing Optics $30, Rod End Supply $30, Brake Man $25, Auto Racing News $25, Ultra Shield $10, MRE Productions $10. Pepsi Cola $5
Other Contingencies:
Weld Racing Hard Luck � Button $100
ATL � Emery $100
Penske Shocks � Kelly $100
Mangus Pumps � Emery $100
M&W Aluminum Products � Yonge $75
Leaf Racewear � Barney $75
Design 500 � Poirier $50, Cain $50
Keizer Wheels � R. Wilson $50
KSE Racing Products � Parent $50
Zemco Headers � Poirier $50
Joe Hunt Magnetos � Jones $50
Rod End Supply � Cook $30
VMAC Racing � R. Wilson $25
DMI � Beaudreault $25
Luther�s Way Out Grafix � Poirier $25
ISC Racers Tape � Kelly $10
Ultra Shield � Cook $10
Pepsi Cola � Poirier $10, Barney, Kelly, Parent $5.
Cash Bonuses:
SUNY Canton A-Main � Barger $400
Ohsweken Speedway Winner�s Bonus � Barger $100
National Parts Peddler Halfway � Cook $100
Les Constructions Ultra Blue Collar � Devendorf $100
Lane�s Yamaha Hard Charger � Wickham (13 pos.) $50
Cook�s Contracting Bridesmaid Bonus � Cook $50
AMB Moteurs Fast Time Award � Emery (17.669) $50
HG Associates Pole Award � Emery $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats � Barney, Kelly, Poirier $25.