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MACKEYVILLE, PA – The 25th Anniversary Tour for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints invaded Vern Wasson’s Clinton County Raceway for the first time ever on Friday evening with a familiar face ending the night in Victory Lane.
Justin Barger, of Montrose, N.Y., walked away with his third victory of the 2008 racing season after conquering the one-third mile oval. He earned $2,000 for winning the A-Main courtesy of Woodhull Raceway.
“I feel great,” stated Barger after the win. “This car normally doesn’t like the small little race tracks. We kept dialing her in and she got faster as the night went on.”
Barger’s win was the 13th win of career with the Empire Super Sprints and it came in his first ever visit to the Keystone state oval.
Barger lined up on the outside of the second row for the main event. He quickly moved into second behind Blaine Heimbach. Heimbach led the first half of the event before Barger was able to get by him on lap 14.
Once in front, Barger held off the late race charges of local favorite Bobby Howard to secure the victory at the Clinton County Fairgrounds oval.
Howard, a weekly competitor at the speedway, beat out the ESS regulars to cross the line in second. Colby Womer, of Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa., came home in third.
Heimbach, due to the slow leak in his rear tire, faded late in the event forcing the driver from Selinsgrove, Pa. to settle for fourth. Local favorite and former track champion, George Suprick, moved all the way from the 13th starting position to finish in fifth.
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FROM THE POLE: Racing action got underway with Selingrove, Pa., driver, Blaine Heimbach taking the lead from the outside of the front row at the green flag. He was able to beat the pole-sitter, Adam Gordon, into turn one.
GETTING TO SECOND: Barger jumped to middle off of the second corner and raced three wide down the back straightaway on the very first lap. As they entered the third turn, Barger took his Ryder powered Maxim into the runner-up position with Heimbach maintaining the lead.
THE FIRST CAUTION: On lap four the first caution came out when Tim Kelly and Jeff Cook came together in the second turn. Kelly continued while Cook had to go the work area with a flat tire on his No.10. On the restart, Heimbach, with his Goff Racing ride, was able to hold off Barger to maintain the top position.
TOUGH NIGHT: Four laps the later the final caution of the night came out when Kelly again had problems. The driver out of Rock Stream, N.Y. broke the front axle on his No.12 and it sent him spinning of the outside of the speedway on the backstretch.
HOLDING ON: Heimbach raced out in front again when the green was displayed with Barger staying right with him as the raced into the turn. The duo continued to battle when they reached slower traffic on lap 10.
THE TOP IS OPEN: On lap 14, Heimbach dove to the bottom as he attempted to race around a slower car. This opened the top lane of the speedway for Barger. Barger saw the opening and drove by Heimbach by the time they raced off of turn two.
“It was a little interesting when we got to the lapped cars,” said Barger. “I was coming on him (Heimbach) in the beginning, but we kept having cautions. Once we got into the lapped cars I was finally able to get by him.”
NOT OVER YET: Barger was now the leader and Howard used the traffic to get by Heimbach as well. In the closing laps, Barger worked the outside lane while Howard took full advantage of the inside lane. With less than five to go Howard pulled even with Barger but the lapped cars on the bottom slowed him enough that he could not overtake Barger.
A STRONG SECOND: Howard, of Enola, Pa, started third in the event and was able to move one position forward to finish in second. He challenged Barger in the waning laps but slower cars impeded his progress.
“He (Barger) was good up there on the cushion,” stated Howard. “I was hoping he would go off the top. I got under him there a couple times and he raced me clean. He never came down on me or anything like.”
USING TRAFFIC: Had it not been for slower traffic Howard may have been able to put his Kriner powered J&J Auto Racing ride in Victory Lane. Although the lapped cars help him get in a position to battle for the lead, if not for them he may have not bee in second.
“The lapped cars were the reason why I got to second,” said Howard. “It was a good race. I was a little better in three and four than he (Barger) was but he was better in one and two. It was a lot of fun.”
GOOD CLEAN RACING: Colby Womer, of Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa., was the only driver in the field running the traditional 358-Sprint Car win atop of his ride. He raced from the fifth starting position to get by Heimbach for third at the checkered.
“It felt really good passing Blaine (Heimbach) there at the end,” said Womer. “Then I realized he had a flat tire. All in all it was good racing these guys and that was some good clean racing.”
QUALIFYING: Three heats were held for the 26 cars in attendance with ESS regulars Steve Poirier, Lance Yonge and Kelly winning the races. Barger won the dash while Cory Sparks won the B-Main.
ESS/CLINTON COUNTY PIT NOTES: Twenty-six cars entered into competition for first ever appearance of the Empire Super Sprints at the speedway….They raced in front of a capacity crowd….ESS regulars were greeted nine track regulars plus Colby Wormer, Adam Gordan and veteran driver Roger Fickett….Brian McDonald debuted a new Triple X Chassis. He had problems in the heat but qualified through the consolation and ended the night earning the Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger….After Clinton County, ESS has had 92 different drivers compete with the club this season setting a new record….Vern Wasson has already secured a date for the 2009 racing season.
RACE RESULTS (7/11/08)
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Woodhull Raceway A-Main (25 laps): Justin Barger ($2,000 to win), Bobby Howard, Colby Wormer, Blaine Heimbach, George Suprick, Lance Yonge, Adam Gordon, Steve Poirier, Matt Heimbach, Andy Haus, Anthony Cain, Alain Bergeron, Brian McDonald, Cory Sparks, Lee Ladouceur, Bubby Kerrick, Bill Schoffstall, Roger Fickett, Michael Parent, Matt Miller, Jeff Cook, Tim Kelly
Lap Leaders – B. Heimbach 1-13, Barger 14-25
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