HOGANSBURG, NY – The two-time defending champion of the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS), Steve Poirier, had a rough start to the 2009 racing season. A simple switch to a familiar chassis and the St. Mathieu del Beloeil, Quebec driver has claimed two of the last four events with the last victory coming this past Friday at the Mohawk International Raceway.
Taking the lead from Alain Bergeron on lap 15, Poirier never looked back to win the 25 lap SUNY Canton Series event which was worth $2,125. The victory was his 22nd of his now four-year ESS career.
“We decided to park the J&J and stay with this Eagle chassis” as Steve merely pointed to the chassis of choice. “I just feel a little bit more comfortable with this car and we are starting to get better.”
Poirier indeed struggled early on in the 2009 campaign and has not led the points at all thus far. “We just weren’t quite right all year, we needed to do a change and this car seems to be the best for us.” noted the 2007 and 08 champion. “Tonight the car was super, I could run it as hard as I wanted to and that’s what won us the race. I was able to pass Alain for the lead and get through the lap cars for the win.”
By virtue of the nightly pill draw, Bergeron found his Coffrage Daniel Lampron #8B on the pole and he quickly jumped out to a lead over Chris Jones. Poirier stayed where he started (fourth), until he found a new groove to make his passes.
“I thought the top was where the fast groove was going to be until I tried down low in turn one. My car just stuck down there and I was able to make my passes there.” said the driver of the FM Industries #28FM.
That’s where Poirier was making his moves, third on lap eight and then from third to first just after a lap 13 restart to officially take the lead when 15 laps were in the books. After that it was getting through lap cars and keeping his challengers behind.
Current ESS point leader Justin Barger was making his charge from his eighth place starting position to keep Poirier in his sights. On lap 20 he moved into second and was closing the gap on the leader.
“I had a good car, I was coming. Needed a few more laps, maybe another restart.” dead panned Barger. “We had to start behind Steve but I was trying to catch him there in the end. I think we were a little better but we ran out of laps.”
Barger also noted, “When the track is fast like it was tonight it makes it hard to pass and everyone is fast. We are happy, sure we wanted to win and this is good for the points.”
Bergeron faded to fifth and while third is a sold finish, he knew one might have gotten away. “I missed the set up, my cars was just too loose.” Bergeron simply noted. “I wanted to run the top but the track got slicker during the race and I was just not right. Finish third was good, starting on the pole and finishing third is not good.”
Jason Barney came home in fourth with Chuck Hebing finally shaking some of his rough luck taking fifth after starting in 12th. Rounding out the top ten were Tommy Wickham, Michael Parent, who started in second, Brian McDonald, Tim Kelly and Doug Emery.
ESS/Mohawk Notes: A field of 20 sprints were in the pits for the event that was rained out on June 26th…A standing room only crowd was on hand at the all-new modern facility that drew rave reviews from all sprint teams…Making his first ever sprint car start was modified pilot Tim Smythe who drove the Wickham back-up mount…Anthony Cain blew his engine during the heats and was done for the night…The heat win by James Hanson was his first ever in ESS competition…Good to have the founder of the National Speedway Directory, Allan Brown, on hand for his first ever visit to Mohawk Int’l.
SUNY Canton A-Main – Steve Poirier ($2,125), Justin Barger, Alain Bergeron, Jason Barney, Chuck Hebing, Tommy Wickham, Michael Parent, Brian McDonald, Tim Kelly, Doug Emery, Cory Sparks, Chris Jones, Lee Ladouceur, Lance Yonge, Jeff Cook, James Hanson, Tim Smythe, Paul Pekkonen, Donald Lemire. DNS – Anthony Cain.
Lap Leaders – Bergeron 1-14, Poirier 15-25.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 – Lance Yonge, Chris Jones, Jason Barney, Doug Emery, Tim Kelly, Lee Ladouceur, Tim Smythe.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 – James Hanson, Michael Parent, Justin Barger, Tommy Wickham, Cory Sparks, Paul Pekkonen, Anthony Cain.
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 – Steve Poirier, Alain Bergeron, Brian McDonald, Chuck Hebing, Jeff Cook, Donald Lemire.
C&B Enterprises/Cobra Coaches Dash – Alain Bergeron.
Cash Bonuses:
SUNY Canton A-Main – Poirier $400
Ohsweken Speedway Winner’s Bonus- Poirier $100
Les Constructions Ultra Halfway – Bergeron $100
WestFront Construction Hard Charger – Hebing $50 (7 pos.)
Cook’s Contracting Bridesmaid- Barger $50
HG Associates Fast Time- Bergeron $25
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats – Yonge, Hanson, Poirier $25.
Winner’s Contingencies: Lucas Oil $115, Design 500 $100, Saldana Racing Products $50, GME Steering $50, Hank’s Performance Products $50, Kreitz Oval Track Products $50, Racing Optics $30, Rod End Supply $30, Area Auto Racing News $25, Brake Man $25, S&W Awards $20, Ultra Shield $10.
Other Contingencies:
ATL – Bergeron $100
Leaf Racewear – Barney $75
Design 500 – Hebing $50, Sparks $50
Keizer Wheels – Parent $50
KSE Racing Products – Lemire $50
Zemco Headers – Hebing $50
Joe Hunt Magnetos – Bergeron $50
Babe Design – Sparks $50
M&W Aluminum Products – Poirier $40
Rod End Supply – Barger $30
Pancho’s – Hebing $25, Cook $25
DMI – Lemire $25
Red Bear Hand Cleaner – Emery $10
ISC Racers Tape – Ladouceur $10