Canandaigua, NY – July 16, 2013 – Dave Roberts, Canandaigua Motorsports Park PR Correspondent
On an absolutely beautiful night for racing, Doug Emery captured the 360 Smoke Shootout featuring NASCAR Sprint Cup racing star Tony Stewart, taking his first checkered flag of the 2013 season by winning at the historic Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Tuesday night.
The night was interrupted on lap six of the 360 Sprint feature when several drivers were involved in an accident on the front straightaway off a restart. The CMP safety team was right on the situation and did a marvelous job in getting those needing medical assistance. Alysha Ruggles, who took the wildest ride of the entire field, was sent to the hospital with back issues. At last report, she was doing fine while getting additional assistance.
Canandaigua Motorsports Park Modified ace Vince Vitale was impressive at the start of the Sprint main event, leading the first four laps. Vitale, however, lost the lead on lap five and brought out the yellow on lap six as he came to a stop on the racing surface.
On the restart, the trouble began as the field attempted to avoid spinning traffic, which included Stewart. While the clean-up occurred, track officials decided to bring out the Crate Late Model division for that feature event while those involved in the Sprint Car accident had the opportunity to make repairs and return to the race.
Doug Emery was the leader and when the 360 Sprints returned to the track, and he was on fire. Emery led by as much as 3.5 seconds at the lap 15 mark. With five laps remaining, the advantage was shorted to a little over two seconds but that was as close as second-place finisher Bryan Howland could get to Emery by the time the checkered flag flew.
Third went to Jason Barney while Matt Tanner and Darryl Ruggles rounded out the top-five.
“The car was beautiful all night,” Emery said. “We could drive it anywhere on the track.”
Heat race winners in the 360 Sprints were Tony Stewart, Shawn Donath and Lance Yonge. Tony Stewart also won the Dash for Cash.
CMP NOTES: Tony Stewart spoke to the large crowd prior to the start of the 25-lap Smoke 360 Shootout and thanked everyone who came out and supported the event. Stewart will be back on Saturday, August 10th when the Empire Super Sprints sanction the event…A good number of Sprints on hand with 25 competitors signed in to race…
For more information, please contact Jeremie Corcoran via cell 315-374-2839 or e-mail jeremiecorcoran@yahoo.com. Joe Bailey (585-500-8852, jbailey0626@yahoo.com) can also be reached during the week to discuss marketing opportunities still available at the track in 2013.
Canandaigua Motorsports Park is located at the Ontario County Fairgrounds, east of the city on Town Line Road (County Road 10), with easy access off either Exit 43 (Manchester, Route 21 South) or Exit 44 (Farmington, Route 332 South) of the New York State Thruway, just ½-hour southeast of Rochester.
Event Summary – July 16, 2013
Regional International Truck & Trailer and Monroe Wheelchair present 360 Smoke Shootout
360 Sprint
*Feature (25 laps): DOUG EMERY, Bryan Howland, Jason Barney, Matt Tanner, Darryl Ruggles, Justin Barger, Charlie Donk, Paul Habeck, Blake Bleen, Mike Stelter, Don Adamczak, Lance Yonge, Shawn Donath, Vince Vitale, Tony Stewart, Sammy Reakes IV, Paul Kinney, Chuck Hebing, Jeff Cook, Alysha Ruggles, Joe Trenca, Kevin Ward Jr, Zach Weigent, Dave Axton, Dick Spadaro. Lap leaders: Vince Vitale 1-4, Doug Emery 5-25.
QUALIFYING RESULTS:
HEAT #1: Shawn Donath, Doug Emery, Bryan Howland, Sammy Reakes III, Darryl Ruggles, Charlie Donk, Joe Trenca, Zach Weigant, Dick Spadaro.
HEAT #2: Tony Stewart, Jason Barney, Justin Barger, Blake Breen, Paul Habeck, Alysha Ruggles, Kevin Ward Jr, Mike Stelter.
HEAT #3: Lance Yonge, Jeff Cook, Vince Vitale, Paul Kinney, Matt Tanner, Chuck Hebing, Dave Axton, Don Adamczak.
DASH FOR CASH: Tony Stewart, Shawn Donath, Lance Yonge, Chuck Hebing.