|
Steve Poirier Crowned Empire Super Sprint Champion: A Record $74,175 handed out at Annual Awards Banquet.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The site was the Comfort Inn and Suites in Liverpool, N.Y. The final checkered flag of the 2007 season for the Empire Super Sprints (ESS) and the tour brought to you by Jacobs Motorsports was waved with the crowning of new champion Steve Poirier. Over $34,000 in cash was handed out with the total of the evening hitting an all-time record of $74,175.
The second year driver from St. Mathieu del Beloeil, Quebec put together an incredible year of consistency and victories in holding off Jeff VanDusen for his first ever ESS championship. It also marked the second year in a row that the sanctioning body that showcases “America’s Race Cars” has crowned a champion from the French speaking province. Poirier and crew were honored at the gala affair with his take home totaling $8,815.
Not only was Poirier crowned ESS champ., he also claimed the first ever Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger title, runner-up finishes in the Walt’s Hobby Dash Series and Gater News Lap Leader standings as well as third place in the Lucas Oil Canadian Invasion Series.
For VanDusen, it marked the third year in a row that the young driver from Otego, N.Y. took second in the final point standings. Ironically, it was a feat also done by his legendary dad Mike. While he just missed on the over all title, VanDusen did claim the Lucas Oil Series title and the $1,500 cash prize that goes with it as well.
Many special awards were given out during the night which included the crowning of the Walt’s Hobby Series champ Alain Bergeron and his $800 cash prize. The Jereco Competition Engines Rookie of the Year was another driver from Quebec in Normand Beaudreault where he took home $500 in cash. In keeping with the Canadian theme, Brian McDonald was named the ESS Outstanding New Comer for ’07 and it was a prize of $500. The Don Ott Racing Engines Most Improved driver was Tommy Wickham with the young driver from New York collecting $500 for that award along with another $300 for the Gater News Lap Leader title. Another $500 cash prize went to Russ Bennett for earning the Brodix Cylinder Heads Hard Luck Award.
The annual John Zentner Memorial Award went to Carl Schultz who was very instrumental in the first annual “Lucky 21 Giveaway” Program as well as owner of the VanDusen #56D. Schultz has shown incredible dedication to the club and it was a well deserved award. A big ovation went up through the crowd when Sylvain Mercier’s named was announced as the winner of the Malcolm Lane Award of Excellence. ESS’ Canadian friend has been so vital in booking of shows along securing sponsorship dollars for the race teams.
The award voted on by the race teams is the ESS Mechanic of the Year award and that went to “LD”, Dale Beach who wrench’s on the VanDusen/Schultz #56D. Also honored during the evening were many members of the media and sponsors which included tour sponsor Ryan Jacobs who was the biggest factor in the $34,000 cash payout.
Cash and product awards were provided by Jacobs Motorsports, Lucas Oil, Hoosier Racing Tires, Walt’s Hobby, Lane’s Yamaha, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Gater Racing News, Finish Line Racewear, M&W Aluminum Products, Maxim Racing, Racing Optics, J&J Auto Racing, Design 500, KSE Racing Products, Don Ott Racing Engines, GME/Nields Steering, JE Pistons, Jereco Competition Engines, Intense Fabrication and Design, DMI, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse/Mechanix Wear, Hank’s Performance Products, Simpson Safety, ATL Racing Cells, DSR Fuel Systems, Babe Design, Guy Fortier Photography, Sway-A-Way, Usherwood Copy Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Winters Performance Products, Kreitz Oval Track Parts, Area Auto Racing News, Wings Unlimited, Pancho’s Racing Products, Leaf Racewear, Motorsports Safety Systems, Rod End Supply, MRE Productions, Castner’s Performance Systems, Weld Racing, Barnes Oil Systems, Joe Hunt Magnetos, Randy’s Racing Filters, Fast Axle, Earl’s Indy, MSD Ignition, Zemco Headers, Ultra-Shield, Brake Man, Mangus Precision Pumps, Penske Shocks, Fast Wings, The Joie of Seating, Griffin Thermal Products and Pro Shocks. Other sponsors honored were Car Mate Trailers, Fondations 4 Saisons, Les Constructions Ultra, Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, National Parts Peddler, HG Associates, Northwood 2 Construction/Lasalle Motorsports, Cook’s Contracting Services, FX Caprara, WestFront Construction, Ingles Performance and Pepsi Cola.
The rules meeting preceded the banquet with the biggest change for 2008 is a new open draw format for all ESS full point shows. All cockpit adjustables will be outlawed with the exception of the wing slider and the use of transponders from AMB will be mandatory.
The celebration of the 25th Anniversary Tour is already underway for ’08 which sees many bookings already firmed up with the opener being Saturday, April 12th at the Black Rock Speedway which is ready for their 50th Anniversary season. ESS will also be visiting Utica-Rome Speedway, Autodromes Granby and Drummond, Brockville Ontario Speedway, Fonda Speedway, Woodhull Raceway, Clinton County Speedway, Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway, Can-Am Motorsports Park, Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Ohsweken Speedway, Cornwall Motor Speedway and Frogtown Int’l Speedway. Many other tracks are in the works which will see the 25th Anniversary for ESS as a big celebration.
Empire Super Sprint 2007 Awards Banquet Totals
Steve Poirier
$8,815
Jeff VanDusen
7,795
Lance Yonge
5,550
Jeff Cook
4,300
Alain Bergeron
7,115
Michael Parent
4,085
Tommy Wickham
4.790
Bubby Kerrick
4,595
Mike Stelter
2,890
Justin Barger
2,685
Cory Sparks
2,615
Jared Zimbardi
3,030
Brian McDonald
3,440
Jessica Zemken
2.410
Russ Bennett
3,320
Normand Beaudreault
4,010
Chuck Hebing
390
Tim Kelly
590
Anthony Cain
390
Jason Barney
340
Chris Jones
340
Glenn Styres
340
Lucky 21 Giveaway Program
Alain Bergeron – GME/Nields Steering unit.
Bubby Kerrick – Set of heads from Brodix Cylinder Heads
Brian McDonald – Racing suit from Finish Line
Tommy Wickham – Racing helmet from Simpson Racing
Normand Beaudreault – Set of pistons from JE Pistons
Jessica Zemken – Magneto from Joe Hunt Magnetos
Bubby Kerrick – M&W Aluminum prize package
Mike Stelter – Filter assembly from Randy’s Racing Filers
Alain Bergeron – Racing suit from Leaf Racewear
Jeff Cook – Right rear wheel from Weld Racing
Jared Zimbardi - $500 from Maxim Racing
Russ Bennett - $500 from Pro Shocks
Lance Yonge – Four stage pump from Barnes Systems
Michael Parent – Top wing from Fast Wings
Justin Barger – Top wing from Wings Unlimited
Cory Sparks – Safety package from Design 500, Motorsports Safety Systems and Area Auto Racing News
Brian McDonald - $500 from MSD Ignitions
Steve Poirier – Package from Sway-A-Way, Brake Man and Fast Axle
Jeff VanDusen – Package from Griffin Thermal Products, Schoenfeld Headers and Fast Axle
Michael Parent – Package from Penske Shocks, Zemco Headers, Rod End Supply and Griffin Thermal Products.
Russ Bennett – Free set of autograph/hero cards from Big Guy Fortier Photography
Jared Zimbardi – Two-way wing slider from Intense Fabrication and Design.
Normand Beaudreault – Free day of dyno testing from Castner Performance Systems.
|
|
