VERNON, NY � On Sunday night at the Utica-Rome Speedway Jason Barney attributed his dominate performance to one thing, �hard work.�
�We struggled so much here the last few years I can�t believe how well we�ve done this year,� stated Barney. �It�s all the hard work my crew put in to get this car ready tonight. We made small changes all night and the car was great in the feature.�
Barney�s win was his second Lucas Oil 25th Anniversary Empire Super Sprint tour win of the season with his first win coming Memorial Day weekend at Utica-Rome.
The 25-lap event paid him $2,000 for his efforts courtesy of SUNY Canton. He also picked up the weekend championship which earned him some extra cash courtesy of Global Safety Sources Inc.
Barney, of Constantia, N.Y., started along-side Tim Kelly on the front row for the feature. At the start, Barney jumped to the top of turns one and two and took the lead.
While in front, Barney was quickly able to open up an advantage on the field. By lap six he was in heavy lapped traffic at the back of the field. Barney was able to work high and low in his HG Associates powered Maxim to navigate his way through.
�I made sure I never left a lane open,� commented Barney about his run through slower traffic. �I didn�t know who was behind me; I kept waiting for Cobra (Chuck Hebing) to catch me or someone else. The lapped traffic was good tonight though; none of them were blocking and holding me up.�
At the halfway point, Barney had the lead by almost a straightaway with Lance Yonge in the runner-up position.
In the closing laps Barney easily maneuvered through the slower traffic lapping all but nine cars in the 24-car starting field to secure his third career ESS victory.
Yonge finished second yet again with his Castner Performance powered Maxim ride. For Yonge it was a good way to end the weekend after being unable to finish the Saturday night show.
�I wish we could�ve had a caution,� said Yonge. �I would have liked a chance to race with him, but I�ll take a second. It was a good way to end the weekend.�
Chuck Hebing, of Ontario, N.Y., drove Bud Burlew�s No.28 for the evening after suffering terminal motor problems in his own car the night before at the Can-Am Speedway. He raced home in third.
�I wish I had started in front of him (Barney),� said Hebing. �I didn�t see him all night long.�
Cory Sparks, of Edinburg, N.Y., ran his best race of the season is his Schnee Chassis mount and he finished in fourth. For the second consecutive night, Steve Poirier, of St. Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Que., raced home in fifth.
ESS/Utica-Rome Notes: Another fine field of 29 sprints in the pit area to carry on the holiday tradition at the half-mile oval�The special GSSI point fund saw Barney take home $350 for being the weekend point leader, Barger, Poirier, Emery and Hebing shared the $1,000. For Barney his cash take over the weekend topped $3,000�The A-Main was the third in the last five events that went from green to checker. If it wasn�t for a Mike Stelter/Chuck Hebing tangle in the dash it would have been a caution free evening�A surprise entry found Jessica Zemken aboard the April Wilson mount�Next up for the Lucas Oil tour will be the first ever visit to the Clinton County Raceway on Friday and then off to the Woodhull Raceway for two $2,000 to win events.
SUNY Canton A-Main � Jason Barney ($2,000 to win), Lance Yonge, Chuck Hebing, Cory Sparks, Steve Poirier, Mike Stelter, Jeff VanDusen, Doug Emery, Justin Barger, Tim Kelly, Bubby Kerrick, Jessica Zemken, Tommy Wickham, Doug Norrie, Alain Bergeron, Brian McDonald, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Brandon Warner, Russ Bennett, Lee Ladouceur, Gordy Button, Anthony Cain, Normand Beaudreault.
Lap Leader � Barney 1-25.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 � Bubby Kerrick, Jason Barney, Cory Sparks, Justin Barger, Brandon Warner, Lee Ladouceur.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 � Mike Stelter, Tim Kelly, Alain Bergeron, Doug Norrie, Michael Parent, Tommy Wickham
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 � Chuck Hebing, Doug Emery, Lance Yonge, Jessica Zemken, Steve Poirier, Brian McDonald
Candid Creations/TNT Trucking/Walt�s Hobby Dash � Bubby Kerrick.
KSE Racing Products B-Main � Jeff VanDusen, Jeff Cook, Russ Bennett, Anthony Cain.
Added Starters � Gordy Button, Normand Beaudreault.
Did Not Qualify � Jami Russell, Andy Noto, Blas� Regina, Justin Harris, Chris Jones.
Winner�s Contingencies: Jason Barney
Lucas Oil $115, Griffin Thermal Products $100, Design 500 $100, Penske Shocks $100, GME Steering $80, 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 � Russell $100
ATL � Hebing $100
Mangus Pumps � Sparks $100
M&W Aluminum Products � Sparks $75
Leaf Racewear � Sparks $75
Design 500 � Poirier $50, Barger $50
Keizer Wheels � Barney $50
KSE Racing Products � VanDusen $50
Zemco Headers � Poirier $50
Joe Hunt Magnetos � Cain $50
Rod End Supply � Yonge $30
VMAC Racing � VanDusen $25
DMI � Beaudreault $25
Luther�s Way Out Grafix � Sparks $25
ISC Racers Tape � Kelly $10
Ultra Shield � Yonge $10
Pepsi Cola � Kerrick $10, Hebing, Stelter $5.
Cash Bonuses:
SUNY Canton A-Main � Barney $400
Ohsweken Speedway Winner�s Bonus � Barney $100
National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus � Barney $100
Les Constructions Ultra Blue Collar � Sparks $100
Lane�s Yamaha Hard Charger Bonus � VanDusen (12 pos.)
Cook�s Contract Services Bridesmaid Bonus � Yonge $50
AMB Moteurs Fast Time Award � Barney (18.310) $50
HG Associates Pole Award � Kelly $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats � Kerrick, Stelter, Hebing $25.