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$2,000 TO WIN EARL HALAQUIST MEMORIAL TO BE RUN AT FONDA THIS SATURDAY
By: Ron Szczerba
FONDA , NY – This Saturday night May 31 at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway there will be a celebration of a true sprint car Hall of Famer from Sidney , NY named Earl Halaquist.
The 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) will be showcasing the 5th annual Earl Halaquist Memorial event for the driver that was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2000.
The event is also the second leg of the GSSI I-90 Challenge where five drivers will be sharing a $1,000 point fund that was set up for the two events at Utica-Rome (which was run on May 25th and won by Jason Barney) and the Halaquist Memorial event at Fonda.
Leading the GSSI points coming into the Halaquist Memorial is Utica winner Jason Barney followed by Lance Yonge, Jeff Cook, Dan Kaszubinski and Justin Barger. All five drivers have a shot at the over all title with Barger looking to make the biggest move as he is the defending Memorial winner.
Along with all those stars, you can expect other top ESS chauffeurs such as defending champion Steve Poirier, the 2006 champ Alain Bergeron, local favorites Jeff VanDusen, Cory Sparks, Jessica Zemken, Jami Russell as well as Michael Parent, Tommy Wickham, Bubby Kerrick, Mike Stelter, Brian McDonald, Blake Breen, Chuck Hebing and many others battling for the $2000 win.
Barger claimed the opening event on the 2008 ESS schedule at Black Rock on April 12 followed up by Barney’s win on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend at Utica Rome. This event marks the second consecutive year that the ESS will visit “Track of Champions” after a 13 year absence and it will be a vital part of the 25th Anniversary ESS Tour.
Former winners of past ESS races at Fonda include John Brutcher (1987), Bobby Parrow (1991), Tom Taber (1992), Craig Lane (1994), and Barger (2008). The Empire Super Sprint event at Fonda on Saturday, May 31 will be the 5th Annual Earl Halaquist Memorial event with previous winners of the prestigious race being Blake Breen in 2004, George Suprick in 2005, and Hebing in 2006 and Barger (2008).
The 360 Sprint Open that was rained out back on April 26 will also be on the racing card this Saturday along with a regular show in all other divisions. Starting time on Saturday will be 6:00 p.m. The Fonda Futures Kid’s Club will also be holding a coloring contest with pictures and crayons available for the kids at the Fonda Futures table at the end of the grandstand going towards turn four.
Be sure to come to the Track of Champions in 2008 to “Feel the Thunder”. Fonda Speedway is located off of exit 28 of the New York State Thruway. For more information you can call (518) 382-3115 Monday through Friday, (518) 853-4235 on race day or you can go to their website at www.fondaspeedway.com. For more information on the Empire Super Sprints you can go to their website at www.empiresupersprints.com
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