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Bold Move Pays Dividends for Poirier
By MIKE MALLETT
HOGANSBURG, N.Y – It was a little less than a year ago Steve Poirier lost a race in the closing laps because he was too cautious in slower traffic. He vowed to never let that happen again.
On Saturday night at the Mohawk International Raceway, Poirier threw caution to the wind and made a bold move to score the victory in the 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint SUNY Canton 25-lap A-Main
“Sometimes you have a good night and everything goes your way,” stated Poirier. “We had a good starting spot and then when Lance (Yonge) had to slow up I was there to make the pass.
“It was a move that could have ended up with me on my roof but I had to take the chance.”
Poirier struggled at Utica-Rome Speedway, the last race for the Empire Super Sprints. Because of that he went to Brockville Ontario Speedway to run with the Southern Ontario Sprints last weekend where he made several changes to his car in hopes of making it better and it paid off.
“We tried a bunch of things that didn’t work with our other car,” commented Poirier. “They were things we normally don’t try but they worked so we went with those adjustments tonight and the car was very good.”
Poirier ran much of the race in the third spot and it wasn’t until there were ten laps to go that he began making his moves. He first got past Tommy Wickham for the runner up position then he passed Lance Yonge with less than five laps remaining to score his tenth career ESS win and the $2,000 payday.
Yonge finished in the runner-up position for the second time this season while adding to his overall point lead. Wickham had his best run of the season with his No.75 as he came home in third.
Alain Bergeron, of St. Pie, Que, started sixth and finished fourth with his Don Ott powered ride. Perry Francis, of Akwesasne, N.Y., finished in fifth in his first ever Sprint Car start piloting a back-up Poirier car.
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GETTING UPSIDE DOWN: Racing started with Yonge and Wickham leading the field to the initial green which quickly turned to red. As the field raced off of turn two for the first time, Justin Barger got sideways and ended up getting his No.32 upside causing the red lights to come on.
THE FINAL CAUTION: On the restart, Yonge took the lead with Wickham and Poirier falling in line behind him. The three remained in that running order when the caution came out for the second and final time on lap 10 as Anthony Cain spun in turn four.
RACING INTO SECOND: When action resumed, Yonge held the top spot while Poirier applied pressure to Wickham for second. On lap 17, Wickham bobbled and Poirier drove by to the inside to take the runner-up position away.
RACE WINNING MOVE: Once in second, Poirier began closing in on Yonge as he caught the tail of the field. Then, on lap 22, Yonge slowed up and left a lane open on the bottom allowing Poirier to sneak his AMB powered J&J Auto Racing chassis by for the lead and ultimately the victory.
“It’s easier to be the guy in second in that situation,” said Poirier. “I have the choice to pick which lane I want to go to. If the leader picks a good lane I can follow him and if he picks the wrong lane you can choose the other one.
“He (Yonge) left me just enough room on the bottom and I decided not to lift. It could have ended very differently but it worked out.”
ANOTHER SECOND: For the second consecutive race, Yonge, of Penn Yan, N.Y., scored a runner-up finish in the final run down.
“I don’t know what it is but I’m having problems with my wings,” commented Yonge about the nose wing on his Maxim. “I broke the brackets off just after half way. The car changed and I couldn’t roll through the corners like I wanted to.
“If the wing didn’t break I wouldn’t have had to slow up in the slower traffic.”
SURPRISING PASS: Yonge did all he could to protect the bottom of the racing surface late in the event and he was surprised when Poirier was able to sneak his way by down low.
“I didn’t think anyone could get underneath me,” said Yonge. “I made sure I protected the bottom but Steve (Poirier) took advantage of me slowing up and he made a good pass to get by.”
FINALLY RUNNING WELL: Wickham, of Canstantia, N.Y, finished in third after he briefly closed the gap on Yonge when he was in the runner-up position. A bobble in turn four midway through the race cost him second and a chance at the win.
“The car felt really good tonight, the best it’s felt all year,” said the 21-year-old of his J&J Auto Racing mount. “I thought I had something for Lance (Yonge) but I got into a rut on the outside off turn four and that allowed Poirier to pass me.
“I’m happy though, we finally had a good run.”
ESS/Mohawk Notes: Making first ever ESS starts were local hero in Francis, who impressed all with a stout fifth place finish and that was despite a broken front wing and left rear shock, and former Oswego Speedway super modified regular Andy Noto…Chris Jones also made his first ESS start of 2008…Brandon Warner destroyed his sprinter during the second heat when he climbed a wheel and flipped down the front stretch. Unfortunately, he was ESS’ first flip victim of the 25th Anniversary Tour…Next week it’s the first of three weekend visits to Autodromes Granby and Drummond, the events will be $2,000 tow win and $450 to start…Also, the Earl Halaquist Memorial is going to be made up on Tuesday. August 5th at the Fonda Speedway.
MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY RACE RESULTS (6/7/08)
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints SUNY Canton A-Main (25 laps): Steve Poirier, Lance Yonge, Tommy Wickham, Alain Bergeron, Perry Francis, Brian McDonald, Tim Kelly, Jeff Cook, Michael Parent, Chris Jones, Lee Ladouceur, Bubby Kerrick, Gordy Button, Anthony Cain, James Hanson, Cory Sparks, Andy Noto, Normand Beaudreault, Justin Barger, DNS – Brandon Warner.
Lap Leaders – Yonge 1-21, Poirier 22-25
C&B Enterprise/Walt’s Hobby Dash – Alain Bergeron
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 1 – Alain Bergeron, Normand Beaudreault, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Tim Kelly, Bubby Kerrick, James Hanson
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 2 – Steve Poirier, Tommy Wickham, Perry Francis, Brian McDonald, Gordy Button, Andy Noto, Brandon Warner
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heat 3 – Justin Barger, Lance Yonge, Cory Sparks, Anthony Cain, Chris Jones, Lee Ladouceur
Cash Bonuses:
SUNY Canton – Poirier $400
Ohsweken Speedway Winner’s Bonus – Poirier $100
National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus – Yonge $100
Les Constructions Ultra Blue Collar Award – Yonge $100
Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger – Ladouceur $50
AMB Moteurs Fast Time Award – Kelly (15.012) $50
HG Associates Pole Award – Yonge $50
Car Mate Custom Built Trailers Heats – Bergeron, Poirier, Barger $25
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