FONDA, N.Y. � While most in the big crowd that attended the Fifth Annual Earl Halaquist Memorial Tuesday night for the 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints were rooting for the young girl in the #1Z. You just had a feeling that it was a matter of time before Justin Barger would get by and win his second Memorial in a row.
On lap 20, Barger did just that with an outside move of Jessica Zemken as the AEM Filters/Ohsweken Speedway #32 posted its fifth win of the 2008 season and 15th overall in ESS competition. The win was worth over $2,000 in cash and more importantly it puts him in the title fight even though he missed an event back in June.
�It�s no secret that I just love this place, it�s a great sprint car track. Big, fast, a lot of room to pass, I really look forward to coming here.� said Barger who has won four out of the last seven ESS events. �I was running down low but that was where Jessica was running so I went up high to see if that would work and the groove was really good there too.�
Zemken led the first 19 laps with her unsponsored Maxim but her charge to stay in front was tough on her tires and times fell off as the laps clicked on. �I was running hard but just trying to get by the lapped traffic and keeping everyone behind me was just too much for the tires. I had nothing at the end.� said the popular blonde who was making just her third ESS start of the year. �I really wanted this win, I want to get to more ESS races this year�but, oh well. Second is good, but man! I wanted that win!�
For Barger, it was patience that was the key. �I was just taking my time, she was fast, no doubt, but as long as I kept her in my sight and save tires I knew I had a good chance.� Barger noted on his late race strategy. �I just got the right chance and went around her, you can do that here as there�s so much room. I hope ESS gets more events here next year!�
At the finish, it was Barger ahead of Zemken with 16th place starting Jason Barney taking third. Not only did he earn the hard charger bonus from Lane�s Yamaha but also collected his second GSSI point fund title by capturing the I-90 Challenge and the lions share of the $1,000 point fund.
�We needed this, plain and simple. The team, my owner and me just for confidence and just for morale.� said by Barney who totaled two frames in two events out in Ohio. Barney then took the 25 lap 360 open that closed out the night�s activities.
Hard luck Jeff VanDusen finally posted a strong run to take home fourth with young 16 year old Jami Russell posting his first ever ESS top five in front of the hometown crowd.
On the first lap a caution that has now changed the outlook for a shootout for the Lucas Oil title as Chuck Hebing and Steve Poirier got together with Poirier�s mount tipping over ending his A-Main run. His 20th place finish allowed both Lance Yonge and Barger to close the gap for the overall points.
ESS/FONDA Notes: A nice field of 30 sprints came out on a Tuesday night in what was reported as Fonda�s largest crowd of the year�Making first ESS starts were Ryan Bohlke aboard the Guy Howie #19H, Bohlke took a fine sixth in the A-Main, Jared Fink also cracked the A-Main starting line up, with Andy Snider and Jeff Lutes in the pits as well�Cory Sparks flipped his regular mount in warm-ups. Good friend Matt Demitraszek scratched his entry for the night for Sparks to use�Just a horrible night for the Breen family as Blake lost a motor in the heats with younger brother Bobby doing the same in the dash after coming off a very impressive heat win. With the scratch, Kory Gurney was able to make the A-Main as an alternate�Hebing was aboard the back up mount of Jeff Cook and won the dash�Next up for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints will be the Riverside Bar and Grill Racing Weekend II. Three SMAC Magazine Canadian Invasion events at Edelweiss, Brockville and Cornwall, all $2,000 to win with a $1,000 point fund attached for the three events open to all competitors.
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints/Earl Halaquist Memorial – Justin Barger ($2,000), Jessica Zemken, Jason Barney, Jeff VanDusen, Jami Russell, Ryan Bohlke, Russ Bennett, Lance Yonge, Michael Parent, Alain Bergeron, Tommy Wickham, Tim Kelly, Jeff Cook, Bubby Kerrick, Jared Fink, Anthony Cain, Kory Gurney, Gordy Button, Chuck Hebing, Steve Poirier, Doug Emery, Mike Stelter, Cory Sparks.
Scratched – Bobby Breen
Added Starter – Kory Gurney
Provisional Starter – Cory Sparks
Did Not Qualify – Blake Breen, Andy Snider, Andy Noto, Bobby Magner, Jeff Lutes, Matt Demitraszek.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 – Lance Yonge, Michael Parent, Russ Bennett, Jessica Zemken, Doug Emery, Jason Barney
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 – Steve Poirier, Chuck Hebing, Justin Barger, Alain Bergeron, Bubby Kerrick, Jared Fink
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 – Bobby Breen, Jeff VanDusen, Ryan Bohlke, Jami Russell, Mike Stelter, Gordy Button
Gabriel’s IGA Markets/Walt’s Hobby Dash – Chuck Hebing
KSE Racing Products B-Main – Tim Kelly, Jeff Cook, Tommy Wickham, Anthony Cain.
Winner�s Contingencies:
Lucas Oil $115, Griffin Thermal Products $100, Design 500 $100, GME Steering $50, Rod End Supply $30, Brake Man $25, Auto Racing News $25, Pepsi Cola $5
Other Contingencies:
Weld Racing Hard Luck � Sparks $100
ATL � Barney $100
Mangus Pumps � Zemken $100
M&W Aluminum Products � Button $75
Leaf Racewear � VanDusen $75
Design 500 � Russell $50, Cain $50
Keizer Wheels � Sparks $50
Saldana Racing Products � Barney $50
Kreitz Oval Track Products � Barney $50
Hank�s Performance Products � Zemken $50
KSE Racing Products � Kelly $50
Zemco Headers � Russell $50
Joe Hunt Magnetos � Stelter $50
Rod End Supply � Zemken $30
VMAC Racing � Bennett $25
DMI � Sparks $25
Luther�s Way Out Grafix � Bennett $25
ISC Racers Tape � Bergeron $10
Ultra Shield � Cook $10, Fink $10
Pepsi Cola � Yonge, Poirier, Bobby Breen, Hebing, Kelly $5.