|
Poirier Wins Second of the Weekend, Takes ESS Checkers at Utica-Rome
By MIKE MALLETT
VERNON, N.Y. – Steve Poirier came out of the box strong winning four of the first seven races in the Lucas Oil 25th Anniversary Tour for the Empire Super Sprints.
Then he hit a cold spell where he did not win any races in the month of July. August has been a turning point for the driver out of St. Mathieu de Beloeil, Que. He has won half the races run this month and that includes four out of the last five events.
On Sunday night at the Utica-Rome Speedway, Poirier continued the hot streak and took his eighth win of the season in the SUNY Canton 25-lap main while walking away with $2,150.
“The car was super tonight,” commented Poirier about his new AMB Moteurs powered Eagle. “We are three for three with this car since we brought it out. I like when the track is slick like this and with the good starting position it helped us get the win tonight.”
The win was made even more special by the fact that Utica-Rome is the track where Poirier earned is first ever ESS win back in May of 2006.
“I always like coming here to this track,” said Poirier. “I got my first win here and the track usually fits my driving style.”
Poirier started on the front row of the event and took the lead at the drop of the green. Very early in the event he found himself in lapped traffic with Jason Barney challenging for the top position.
He held off Barney and then fought his way through slower traffic as well a couple of late race cautions to bring his Industries FM sponsored ride to Victory Lane.
Lance Yonge got yet another second place finish in 2008 after starting sixth. He was followed to the line by veteran driver, George Suprick.
Michael Parent earned the Hard Charger by moving from the 19th starting position to finish in fourth. Bobby Breen, of Savannah, N.Y., completed the top five.
*****
GOOD POSITION: Poirier started the race alongside Bryan Howland on the front row. The pair battled into turn one at the green with Poirier utilizing the high side of the speedway to take the lead.
TWO-TIME WINNER: Poirier was the leader while two-time Utica-Rome Speedway winner, Jason Barney, moved from his fifth starting position into second.
By lap six Poirier found himself in very heavy slower traffic with Barney closing in. Barney took several looks to the inside of Poirier but was unable to make the pass for the lead.
On lap nine everything changed when the caution came out for Barney. Barney made contact with inside marker and broke the front end on his No. 87 causing him to come spinning to a stop on the front straightaway.
A NEW CHALLENGE: Action got back underway with Poirier again pulling away from the field. He continued to lead with Lance Yonge moving in the second spot on lap 15.
Poirier encountered lapped traffic once again on lap 19 which he navigated flawlessly. He put several cars between himself and Yonge as the laps clicked off.
“The car was working everywhere,” stated Poirier. “Sometimes you can lose a race in lapped traffic. The car was good enough though that I could go to the top, middle or the bottom. It didn’t matter.”
NOT THE WING: The race was slowed by one final caution on lap 23 when Mike Stelter’s nose wing came off and sat in the middle of turn four.
“I thought I saw someone down on the inside of me before the caution,” said Poirier. “I wasn’t sure if I was in the right lane or not but when I saw that I had a couple of lapped cars between me and Lance (Yonge) I knew I was going to be ok.”
ANOTHER SECOND: On the restart Poirier again vaulted out in front to win his third career feature at Gene Cole’s half-mile oval.
Yonge, of Penn Yan, N.Y., drove his Johnson’s Farms/Lane’s Yamaha sponsored Maxim to a second place finish after working his way through the field from the outside of the third row.
“I was gaining on Steve (Poirier) there,” said Yonge. “I really didn’t need those cautions and the lapped traffic kind of got in the way once Steve got through them. They were racing side by side. I knew coming into the night that it was going to be tough with Steve starting up front.”
LONG NIGHT: Yonge’s second place finish was somewhat rewarding as the veteran driver stayed up all night bolting a new motor between the rails of his No. 17j.
“It’s definitely feels good to come back and run well,” said Yonge. “We got an hour and half drive home tonight and hopefully I can home without and problems and finally get some rest.”
HAVING SOME FUN: Suprick finished in third after starting ninth. Suprick, of Clarks Summit, Pa., was able to pass numerous cars on the bottom of the speedway.
“That was a lot of fun out there,” said Suprick. “Last year we struggled dearly up here and my guys did a great job getting the car setup tonight. I could roll the middle pretty well but my car was best on the bottom and I wasn’t giving that up.”
RACE RESULTS (08/31/08)
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints/SUNY Canton A-Main (25 laps): Steve Poirier ($2,150), Lance Yonge, George Suprick, Michael Parent, Bobby Breen, Bryan Howland, Cory Sparks, Chuck Hebing, Blake Breen, Jeff Cook, Alain Bergeron, Gordy Button, Tommy Wickham, Doug Emery, Jeff VanDusen, Mike Stelter, Anthony Cain, Brandon Warner, Jami Russell, Justin Harris, Jared Fink, Tim Kelly, Jason Barney.
Did Not Qualify: Curtis Bradshaw, Robbie Shuttleworth, Jeff Lutes, Justin Barger.
|
|
