8.30.19 Empire Super Sprints Results
BREWERTON, NY– Jonathan Preston broke out the broom on Friday night at the Brewerton Speedway.
Preston set fast time in timed warm-ups, won his heat race then went on to win back-to-back 25-lap A-Main events presented by E & V Energy, NAPA Auto Parts and Mach1 Chassis. The Romulus, N.Y., driver took home over $4,000 while claiming his fourth and fifth career Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint victories.
“I don’t know what to say,” stated Preston after winning the second feature. “This car is on rails. The track is beautiful. It was my night. This is my little engine, my older car, but it seems to be old faithful.”
Preston started on the outside of the front row for the first 25-lap feature event. Preston won the race off of turn four at the green with Billy VanInwegen falling in line quickly behind him.
Preston had the lead on lap two when Kyle Moffitt flipped in turn one. Moffitt went end over end bringing out the red flag. Thankfully he was okay after the crash.
The ensuing double-file restart gave VanInwegen a shot at Preston again, but like the initial start, it was Preston powering out in front. He got to the cushion and pulled away as VanInwegen searched for something more. Eventually he also made his way to the top of the speedway.
Another red came on lap 12 just as Preston had caught traffic. Denny Peebles hit the wall and came to a stop on the front stretch. Flames erupted from his car. They were extinguished quickly with Peebles walking away uninjured in the incident.
One last double-file restart put Preston and VanInwegen side-by-side again. Preston maintained his perfection on restarts keeping everyone under control at the green.
Preston’s second foray into traffic came on lap 18. This time the traffic was a struggle for Preston. Several were running the same lane as him on the top-side of the speedway. Preston tried to battle his way through, but he was slowed enough that VanInwegen got to his bumper.
The final three laps of the race were a dogfight in traffic between Preston and VanInwegen. VanInwegen tried and tried to make the bottom lane go. It just didn’t have enough grip. He pulled even off of turn two on the final lap. Preston went to the top in turns three and four. The momentum gained was enough to propel him to the win.
“They were top and bottom,” mentioned Preston of traffic. “I was faster on the top. I sailed it in there a couple times, but it’s so hard to get a run.”
VanInwegen came up a half a car-length short of claiming victory. It was his best run at the Brewerton Speedway to date as he had to settle for second.
“I hate to give one way from the pole like that, but man he was dominant,” cited VanInwegen. “I got the wing back under that last caution. We got to him in lapped traffic. I gave him everything I had. I just couldn’t stick the bottom enough to pull it off.”
Danny Varin overcame several challenges to get a podium effort. Varin not only battled handling problems, he was also in a fight for much of the race with Jason Barney, Larry Wight and Davie Franek. He outlasted all of them to get third.
“The podiums are nice,” said Varin. “They pay the bills and keep us going. The car was no good tonight. We got some work to do. We’ve been working on it. We’ve been trying to figure something out, but right now I can’t stand this race car.”
Barney came from the 12th position to finish in fourth with Franek hanging on at the checkered to finish in fifth
Lucas Oil ESS/Mach 1 Chassis A-Main #1 Brewerton – Jonathan Preston ($2,110), Billy VanInwegen ($1,060), Danny Varin ($910), Jason Barney ($680), Davie Franek ($530), Larry Wight ($520), Chuck Hebing ($530), Sam Reakes IV ($420), Josh Pieniazek ($410), Ryan Harrison ($400), Matt Tanner ($435), Tommy Wickham ($320), Jeff Cook ($300), Brett Wright ($500), Paulie Colagiovanni ($325), Ryan Coniam ($300), Emily VanInwegen ($300), Josh Azzi ($350), Kelly Hebing ($350), Alex Bergeron ($300), Tyler Cartier ($300), Shawn Donath ($325), Denny Peebles ($325), Kyle Moffit ($325)
Did Not Qualify – Richardson
E3 Spark Plugs Fast Time – Preston, Varin, Wight $25
Car Mate Trailers Heats – Reston, Varin, Wight $25
Around Town Plumbing and Heating Halfway – Preston $50
Pinnacle Pole Award – VanInwegen $50
Fondations 55 Hard Charger – Barney (6 Pos), $50
Lacaillade Masonry B-Main – Azzi $50
87 Speed/Cobra Coaches Dash – C. Hebing ($100), Tanner ($75), K. Hebing ($50), Peebles ($25), Donath ($25), Moffit ($25)
Ground Control Last Car Lead Lap – Colagiovanni $25
Ground Control 11th Place Finisher – Tanner $25
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium – Preston, VanInwegen, Varin $10
Hoosier Tire – Wright $200
For more Information on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints:
Web: www.empiresupersprints.com
Twitter: @ESSprints
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpireSuperSprints
Instagram: empiresupersprints
The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are brought to you by: Lucas Oil, Mach 1 Chassis, NAPA Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Donath Motorworx, E3 Spark Plugs, Ground Control Lawn and Snow, Car Mate Trailers, Fondations 4 Saisons, Ohsweken Speedway/Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, Cobra Coaches, Fondations 55, E&V Energy, SUNY Canton, Pinnacle Employee Services, AroundTown Plumbing & Heating, Engler Machine and Tool, Kevin Nouse Design/K1 Racegear, Winters Performance, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Lacaillade Masonry, FX Caprara Ford/Chevy, ASI Racewear and many, many associate sponsors!!