VERNON, N.Y. – Jessica Zemken took little time getting back on track with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints. The Sprakers, N.Y., pilot had some troubles on Saturday night at Fonda Speedway but Sunday night her luck changed as she cruised to Victory Lane for her first win of the season and her third career series win.
“I love this place,” stated Zemken. “You just need to stay forward and straight and run it around the bottom. I knew top and middle would go away and there was a little bit of bite on the bottom.”
After the event, Zemken dedicated the victory to the memory of her crew chief’s good friend Jesse Hockett who tragically lost his life early in the week.
“I want to dedicate this victory to Jesse Hockett,” said Zemken. “He was a great a racer and a class guy. He was very close to my crew chief Kevin Loveys and that makes this win even more special.”
Justin Barger and Mike Stelter led the 24-car field down to the green flag for the SUNY Canton Series event. It was Stelter that won the dash to the first turn to take the lead.
Stelter showed the way for the first three circuits before Steve Poirier dove to the bottom of turn one and slid up in front of him for the top spot.
Poirier was the leader on lap 10 when the first caution was displayed for the No. 27 of Jami Russell as he spun and stopped in turn two.
At this point in the race Poirier was the leader with Chuck Hebing and Zemken rounded out the top three spots. The three remained in the same positions for the next four laps before Zemken began making her move.
Zemken passed Hebing on the inside of turn four on lap 17 then three laps later she used the very same move to take the lead.
Poirier attempted to protect the bottom but he slid high and Zemken drove by as they exited the second turn.
“It takes a lot of patience here to sit and run the bottom,” commented Zemken. “I knew that those guys would burn off their tires on the high side because it was a little abrasive up there. I was just stayed smooth and consist on the bottom and it came to us.”
Over the next five laps Zemken pulled away to a full straightaway advantage. At the checkered flag she was over seven seconds in front of the second place finishing Hebing.
Hebing, of Ontario, N.Y., earned his second podium finish as he crossed the line in second after a torrid battle with Poirier. Hebing attempted to run the bottom multiple times to get by Poirier for the lead in the early laps and then went back to the high-side which allowed Zemken to get by.
“Not a bad night but I had to get beat again by Jessica (Zemken) on the bottom,” laughed Hebing. “We took a lot of gear out of our car to run the top and it was the place to be early but not at the end.”
Dan Kaszubinski, of Syracuse, N.Y., started 14th on the field and earned the hard charger award for his efforts. He had a tough night on Saturday night at Fonda Speedway and Sunday made the weekend much better for the No. 20 team.
“I have to thank my crew for their hard work,” commented Kaszubinski. “I was ready to give up on this thing. We were ready to go my other car that Zak (Weigand) was driving. It was dry slick in the heat and we were horrible but then they put the water on it and we were able to come to the front again.”
Poirier, of St. Mathieu de Beloeil, PQ., faded back to finish in fourth while Lance Yonge, of Penn Yan, N.Y., came home in fifth.
Pit Notes: For the second night in the row a solid field of 34 cars filled the pit area…New cars included Blake and Bobby Breen and Scott Davis….Tommy Wickham broke a frame in his heat race and drove Dave Wickham’s car in the B-Main. He did not qualify….Justin Barger finished seventh after blowing a head gasket in his No. 32….After the first weekend Hebing in your series point leader….Several teams ran decals in memory of Jesse Hockett that were provided by Anthony Cain and the Lacaillade Masonry team…Next weekend the teams head north of the border for their first trip to Autodrome Granby and Drummond.
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints – SUNY Canton A-Main – Jessica Zemken, Chuck Hebing, Dan Kaszubinski, Steve Poirier, Lance Yonge, Dylan Swiernik, Justin Barger, Jeff Cook, Mike Stelter, Jason Barney, Shawn Donath, Cory Sparks, Michael Parent, Blake Breen, Rick Wilson, Matt Tanner, Devin Caron, Tyler Rand, Kevin Ward, Chris Jones, Jami Russell, Warren Alexson, Kyle Dutcher, Bobby Breen.
Lap Leaders – Stelter 1-3, Poirier 4-19, Poirier 20-25.
Did Not Qualify – Josh Pieniazek, Anthony Cain, Tommy Wickham, Dave Wickham, James Hanson, April Wilson, Shane Ely, Zach Weigand, Mark Zemcik, Scott Davis.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1- Chuck Hebing, Steve Poirier, Bobby Breen, Lance Yonge, Blake Breen, Warren Alexson
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 – Jessica Zemken, Mike Stelter, Cory Sparks, Shawn Donath, Dan Kaszubinski, Jason Barney
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 – Dylan Swiernik, Justin Barger, Chris Jones, Tyler Rand, Michael Parent, Devin Caron
Dover Brake/Cobra Coaches Dash – Jessica Zemken
KSE Racing Products B-Main – Jeff Cook, Jami Russell, Rick Wilson, Matt Tanner
Provisional Starters – Kyle Ducther, Kevin Ward.
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Point Standings: 1. Chuck Hebing 228, 2. Steve Poirier 222, 3. Justin Barger 217, 4. Dan Kaszubinski 197, 5. Lance Yonge 196, 6. Jessica Zemken 172, 7. Dylan Swiernik 165, 8. Jason Barney 158, 9. Rick Wilson 156, 10. Shawn Donath 144.