Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints: Poirier sweeps ESS weekend

By Dean Reynolds

Cornwall, Ont. – Two totally different tracks, different locations and different race cars. It didn’t matter as defending Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) champion Steve Poirier made a clean sweep of the SMAC Magazine Canadian Invasion weekend by capturing the 25 lap WestFront Construction A-Main Sunday night at the Cornwall Motor Speedway.

Taking the lead on lap 15 from Lance Yonge, the St. Mathieu del Beloeil, Quebec star went on to win in front of Cornwall’s biggest crowd in history taking home ESS’ biggest full point pay day ever in a total of $2,800 in cash. The victory was his second of the weekend and fourth in the last five ESS events establishing him as the title favorite for the 25th Anniversary Tour.

On Friday, Poirier used last years Eagle chassis sprinter for the win, on Sunday it was back to his J&J that he has been using most of the season. “I’m just lucky to have such a good crew that gives me two good cars.” Said a satisfied Poirier. “We used the Eagle on Friday because I knew the car would be fast at Ohsweken (the same car that he won the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals), but we wanted to get back into the J&J tonight and it worked.

But, the Eagle was indeed unloaded out of Poirier’s trailer early on and nearly put to use. “The car (J&J) just wouldn’t start, we didn’t know what was wrong at first but then we found that it was a fuel pump problem, we got it fixed and then everything was good from there.” noted the driver of the FM Industries #28FM. “We just worked on the set up and when I went out for the A-Main I knew we had a good car.”

Local hero and former Cornwall modified champion Rick Wilson was on the pole by the luck of the draw and he led the first four laps before Yonge ducked under in looking for his first win since the 2006 season. Yonge was fast and content to stay on the bottom, that was the lane that was working for him…but little did he know that the outside was faster.

“When your out front you run where you think your comfortable and I was good in the low groove.” said the two-time ESS champ.” I passed Ricky that way and was getting through the slower traffic that way as well. But, in racing, you know being second is always an advantage and Steve had a better lane.”

On lap 15, Poirier went by Yonge using the very outside lane of the fast quarter-mile oval and that was the end of this story. “I tried some lanes in the dash and the car felt really good way up top.” Poirier mentioned on his lane choice. “We came up with a little bit different set up and it worked, I didn’t think I was driving that hard but the crew said we were the fastest car in the race.”

For Yonge, it was his third runner-up finish of 2008 and second behind Poirier. “He’s good you have to give him all the credit. It’s starting to look like Woodring (Mike Woodring, ESS’ 8-time champion) where we are running for second.” exclaimed the Penn Yan, N.Y. star. “But, we’re not giving up, we have been good too. We just need a break here or there and we’ll get him.” All was not lost, Yonge took home $1650 for his efforts.

2006 champion Alain Bergeron came in third for another strong outing and his turn around season is credited to his F5 chassis… Simply put by Bergeron. “I just feel more comfortable in the car, were fast again.”

Tim Kelly’s strong return to the ESS tour netted him another top five finish with fourth ahead of Cornwall native and very popular Brian McDonald who finally shook off some back luck with a very well deserved fifth.

After two consecutive non-stop A-Mains, only one caution (for a spun Bobby Magner on lap 13) slowed the pace with Ron Morin’s prepared oval producing many grooves to choose.

ESS/Cornwall Notes: The Lucas Oil sponsored series was a part of the first ever Triple Crown of Racing where the sprints shared the card with the World of Outlaw Late Models and Cornwall’s own 358 modifieds. A record crowd of nearly 6,000 people was on hand…The special 730 Truck Stop backed dash carried a big $600 purse, Poirier took home $200 for his four lap victory…With a weekend off, Poirier is current leading the overall points as well as the SMAC Magazine sponsored Canadian points…Next up of ESS will be a special July 4th weekend visits to Can-Am and Utica-Rome. Both events will be $2,000 to win and also be a GSSI sponsored weekend where there will be a $1,000 point fund up for grabs for the two events and that point fund is open to all competitors.

WestFront Construction A-Main – Steve Poirier, Lance Yonge, Alain Bergeron, Tim Kelly, Brian McDonald, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Rick Wilson, Bubby Kerrick, Chris Jones, Anthony Cain, Lee Ladouceur, Kayle Robidoux, Normand Beaudreault, Bobby Magner, Justin Harris, Daniel Lampron, April Wilson.

Lap Leaders - R. Wilson 1-4, Yonge 5-14, Poirier 15-25.

730 Truck Stop/Walt’s Hobby Dash – Poirier

Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 – Steve Poirier, Jeff Cook, Rick Wilson, Michael Parent, Justin Harris, Daniel Lampron.

Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 – Alain Bergeron, Lance Yonge, Chris Jones, Bobby Magner, Normand Beaudreault, April Wilson.

Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 – Lee Ladouceur, Tim Kelly, Bubby Kerrick, Brian McDonald, Anthony Cain, Kayle Robidoux.

Cash Bonuses:
WestFront Construction A-Main Bonus – Poirier $900
Ohsweken Speedway Winner’s Bonus – Poirier $100
National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus – Yonge $100
Les Constructions Ultra Blue Collar Award – Parent $100
Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger – McDonald (7 pos.) $50
Cook’s Contracting Bridesmaid Bonus – Yonge $50
AMB Moteurs Fast Time – Poirier (13.053) $50
HG Associates Pole Award – Wilson $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats – Poirier, Bergeron, Ladouceur $25.

Lucas Oil ESS Points as 6/22/08
1. Steve Poirier 762
2. Lance Yonge 715
3. Alain Bergeron 612
4. Justin Barger 573
5. Michael Parent 567
6. Jeff Cook 557
7. Tim Kelly 536
8. Lee Ladouceur 451
9. Brian McDonald 410
10. Tommy Wickham 388

MEDIA NOTE: Due to a recent scheduling conflict, the June 28th ESS Assault on the Asphalt at the Oswego Speedway has been postponed. More information on the event will be coming shortly.