By Dean Reynolds
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – It was a night to celebrate and also a night where it was a trip down memory lane. The 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints season came to a successful close with the crowning of the champion Steve Poirier. The Quebec native took home over $10,000 in cash and bonuses from a banquet total that topped $60,000 which was held at the Holiday Inn at Carrier Circle in Syracuse, N.Y.
Not only was it a time to celebrate 15 of the best drivers in the ESS ranks from the 2008 season, it was also to honor many of the pioneers of the club which started in 1983. Many special quests were invited to the sold out affair which included Joe Cali and Don McGee who started the club in August of 1983.
For the driver from St. Mathieu del Beloeil, Quebec it was a special evening as not only did he win the overall Lucas Oil title, but also the SMAC Magazine Canadian Invasion title, the Walt’s Hobby Series Dash Championship, the Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger title and also the Gater News Lap Leader Award making a clean sweep of all five point categories. This was a first in ESS history.
Poirier was given accolades from all his peers and was also given the prestigious Mal Lane Award of Excellence from ESS great Mal Lane and his wife Cindy. It was to honor a record making year and also for his dedication to the entire ESS community from himself and his family. Steve took to the stage several times to receive all awards and then told the crowd that he will be back looking for his third title in a row.
Many others special awards were given out during the night. Lee Ladouceur was crowned the Jereco Competition Engines Outstanding New Comer award of $500 cash. Lee came from the 358 modified ranks and promptly put his #51 sprinter in victory lane once in 2008 and also placed 10th in points.
The likeable Anthony Cain was given the Don Ott Racing Engine Most Improved Driver award which is also $500 cash. The Fairfax, Vt. chauffeur piloted the Lonnie Lacaillade owned #15C to every ESS event but one and placed in the top ten five times during the year. He greeted the crowd with a smile and is getting ready in the off-season for another assault on the full tour.
Cornwall, Ontario’s Brian McDonald was given the Brodix Cylinder Heads hard luck award. Even though the driver known as “Slim” finished seventh in the final points run down, numerous bad breaks during the year not only kept him from more A-Main victories but also from a possible top five finish in the points.
The ESS Mechanic of the Year award for the first time ever went to a driver in Lance Yonge. The award is voted on by the teams in ESS and was well received by the crowd. Lance and his wife Christine travel to many races by themselves with Lance doing most of the wrenching as his wife is busy with ESS secretarial duties.
The annual John Zentner Memorial Award was presented to another two-person team in driver Tim Kelly and crewman Ed Vickio. Both have been around ESS since the early 90’s and came back to run the tour fulltime in 2008. Their dedication in helping the club and others was honored in an award that was well deserved.
Just before the point fund awards were handed out, a special presentation was made to many drivers, sponsors and officials that help create and build ESS to the special organization that it is today. Receiving a standing ovation from the crowd and honored were: Joe Cali, Don McGee, Gordy Button, Jeff Taylor, John Brutcher, Alan Lane, Ken Townsand, Adrian Flath, Mal Lane, Walt Throne, Bobby Parrow, Mike Lauterborn, Tim Kelly, Doug Emery, Mike Stelter, Lance Yonge, Dan Kaszubinski, Alain Bergeron, Steve Poirier, Dick Carbery and current ESS President Chuck Miller. They each were given a special 25th Anniversary gold medallion and embroidered hat. Former ESS President Dick Carbery then took to the podium and thanked Miller for all his dedication to the club which spans over 700 events and he also got a well deserved standing ovation.
Lucas Oil Canada’s Steve Snowden then stepped up to the mike to thank the crowd for a great season and told Poirier that he had to run the 2009 season wingless which drew a big laugh. But, the big announcement then came that Lucas Oil will be back as the title sponsor of the tour for both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
During the festivities it was also announced that Lori and Mike Lasalle and their Northwood 2 Construction will be the title sponsor of the Canadian Invasion Series for 2009. With their help, there is already a record point fund put together for all events held north of the border with a special announcement coming shortly.
Other sponsors on hand were Gilles Parent and the Parent family from Les Constructions Ultra, Brian McDonald from WestFront Construction, Mal and Cindy Lane from Lane’s Yamaha, Walt and Jan Throne from Walt’s Hobby, Jeff Cook from Cook’s Contracting Services, the Poirier family from Fondations 4 Saisons and Michel Pepin from AMB Moteurs.
Sponsors contributing cash and bonus awards at the banquet which included the Lucky 21 Giveaway Program were: Lucas Oil, SMAC Magazine, Walt’s Hobby, Lane’s Yamaha, Hoosier Racing Tires/Bicknell Racing Products, Jereco Competition Engines, Don Ott Racing Engines, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Gater Racing News, JE Piston, Barnes Systems, Simpson Racing, Joe Hunt Magnetos, Wings Unlimited, Randy’s Racing Filters, Leaf Racewear, Weld Racing, KSE Steering, Maxim Racing, Pro Shocks, Motorsports Safety Systems, Fast Axle, Design 500 Racewear, Area Auto Racing News, Sway-A-Way, Schoenfeld Headers, M&W Aluminum Products, Kinsler Fuel Injection Systems, Zemco Headers, XXX Racing, Griffin Radiators, Penske Shocks, AMB Moteurs, Ultra-Shield, GME Steering, Saldana Race Products, The Brake Man, Hank’s Performance Products, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, ATL Fuel Cells, VMAC Racing, Rod End Supply, Racing Optics, DMI, Winter’s Performance Products, Earl’s Indy, J&J Racing, The Joie of Seating, DSR Fuel Systems, Impact Racing, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Luther’s Way Out Grafix, MSD Ignition, ISC Racers Tape, MRE Productions and Red Bear Hand Cleaner. ESS would like to welcome Kinsler Fuel Injection Systems and Red Bear Hand Cleaner to the sponsorship fold.
The annual rules meeting was held before the banquet where many of the ESS teams were on hand to vote on possible changes foe the upcoming season. Rule changes for 2009 include: The winner of the previous A-Main can start no better than 12th. The weight rule will now be 1475 only instead of a choice, all cockpit adjustables will now be allowed for 2009 and Hoosier Tire was voted in for another three years with the rule being the same as the previous three years.
A special video and photo shoot was held right after the rules meeting done by Mickey Ellis and George Smith. As was done last year, a special promotional advertisement will be prepared and sent to all tracks that book ESS events to help promote the visit of the winged wonders.
DJ Pat LaPage kept the gang entertained well past midnight making the 25th Anniversary banquet a truly memorable evening. For the latest up to date information on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints please log on to www.empiresupersprints.com
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