VERNON, N.Y. – For the second time in 2013 with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Steve Poirier parked his No. 28FM in Victory Lane. The former three-time series champion passed Jessica Zemken in the closing laps to score the win in the 25-lap A-Main event at the Utica-Rome Speedway as part of the SUNY Canton/Today’s Options Series events.
Poirier, of St. Mathieu de Beloeil, Que., came in as the point leader and he extended that advantage over the competition with the win. After a slight hiccup at Selinsgrove Speedway, Poirier was back on his game as he won his fifth Utica-Rome Speedway feature and his first since 2011.
“We are concentrating a lot on this season,” stated Poirier. “After losing last season we are trying all we can to make this car fast. I have to thank my crew they delivered tonight. My car was a rocket ship and I needed to run with these good people tonight.”
The race got off to a rocky start as on the opening lap Kevin Ward Jr., got off the outside of turn one and got upside down. He wasn’t hurt in the crash but he was sidelined for the rest of the night.
On the next attempt at the start, Michael Parent assumed the lead from his pole starting position. Parent held onto that position until lap four when Chuck Hebing motored by him on the outside of turns three and four.
Hebing maintained to top spot while Poirier advanced from the sixth position to fourth at the halfway point. He remained in that position until lap 16 when the caution came out for Parent as he spun in turn three after contact with an implement tire.
With nine laps remaining Hebing led Shawn Donath and Poirier. Hebing held the lead to the first turn until Donath used the high-line to motor by for the lead.
Donath stayed out in front as Poirier worked by Hebing and then raced with Zemken for second. Poirier worked high with Zemken down low. Zemken eventually got by him and moved into second as Donath led.
“My car was very tight and I thought I was just going to go backwards,” commented Poirier. “I knew the good cars were coming and I thought I was in trouble.”
Donath car came up limp with just two circuits remaining as he broke a U-Joint on his No. 53 giving the lead to Zemken for the restart.
Zemken stayed to the inside, the lane that got her to the front after she started 20th, and Poirier continued on the extreme outside of the speedway at the green and the pair raced side-by-side down to the two to go signal.
On the final lap, Poirier got just enough of a run off the top of turn two to pull away from Zemken. He held on for the final turn for the $1,600 victory.
“I had that restart at the end where I was on the outside and I was able to find just enough grip to get by Jessica (Zemken),” said Poirier. “Her car was super good on the inside and I was surprised she was that good on the bottom.”
Zemken, of Sprakers, N.Y., came home in second. It was a strong effort as she started deep in the field and ended up running the bottom even after setting up the car to run the outside.
“I didn’t have enough gear to come off the bottom,” commented Zemken. “You really had to slow down to hit it. The bottom worked to my advantage tonight. I had to slow down to go fast. I was worried after the heat race. I’m either really good here or really bad and I have to thank my crew because we changed the car completely after the heat race.”
Stewart Friesen, driving Doug Emery’s No. 33, made a rare Sprint Car start and finished in third. Friesen started 12th in the field and was solid all race long using his Modified knowledge of the track to get to the front of the field.
“I had a great time tonight and I had the best seat in the house for the final lap,” said Friesen. “I was hoping she (Zemken) was going to get another run off the bottom. We didn’t need that last caution but it helped me get third. As least she beat me so I don’t have to sleep on the couch tonight.”
Chuck Hebing crossed the line in fourth while Danny Varin is his first ESS start of the season to finish in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Dylan Swiernik, local favorite Paul Kinney, New Jersey’s Robbie Stillwaggon, Jeff Cook and Cory Sparks
ESS/Utica Notes: 29 sprints played host to a big crowd on the Memorial Day Weekend…joining Friesen and Varin in his first ESS start of 2013 were Josh Pieniazek and Larry Wight, who suffered motor woes during his warm up session…Next weekend the Lucas Oil Tour heads north to Quebec with visits to Autodrome’s Granby and Drummond for two $1800 to win and $450 to start events.
Lucas Oil A-Main – Steve Poirier ($1,600), Jessica Zemken, Stewart Friesen, Chuck Hebing, Danny Varin, Dylan Swiernik, Paul Kinney, Robbie Stillwaggon, Jeff Cook, Cory Sparks, Lance Yonge, Jason Barney, Joe Trenca, Patrick Vigneault, Paul Habeck, Josh Pieniazek, James Hanson, Chris Jones, Shawn Donath, Michael Parent, Mike Stelter, Charlie Donk, Matt Tanner, Kevin Ward Jr.
Did Not Qualify – Kyle Dutcher, Larry Wight, Vinnie Vitale, Zach Weigand, Jordan Thomas
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 – Friesen, Sparks, Parent, Poirier, Barney, Jones.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 – Hebing, Donath, Tanner, Swiernik, Habeck, Donk.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 – Varin, Stillwaggon, Yonge, Trenca, Ward Jr., Pieniazek.
Kountry Kafe/Cobra Coaches Dash – Stillwaggon
Lacaillade Masonry B-Main – Kinney, Zemken, Stelter, Cook
Provisionals – Vigneault, Hanson.
Bonuses:
Westward Painting Company Halfway – Hebing $100
Ohsweken Speedway Winners Bonus – Poirier $100
Fondations 4 Saisons Hard Charger – Zemken $50
North Eastern Pool and Spa Power Pick – Swiernik, Ward Jr. $50
Fondations 55 Pick 5 – Varin $50
Lacaillade Masonry B-Main – Kinney $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats – Friesen, Hebing, Varin $25.
Go Nuclear Late Models Go Fast – Hebing $25
Jimmy D’s Speed and Machine Fast Time of the Night – Hebing $25
The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are brought to you by: Lucas Oil, Le Groupe Ultra, SUNY Canton, Mach 1 Chassis, Today’s Options, Hoosier Racing Tires, Fondations 4 Saisons, Cobra Coaches, Westward Painting Company, Fondations 55, Camara Slate, North Eastern Pool and Spa, Car Mate Trailers, Lacaillade Masonry, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Ohsweken Speedway, Dover Brake and Clutch, FX Chevy and many, many associate sponsors!!