Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints: Big Weekend on Tap for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints

By Dean Reynolds

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – It’s been two weeks since the stars and cars from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) have roamed at a dirt track in the United States or Canada.  This coming Labor Day Weekend all that will change with three big events, two in Quebec and the finale’ held in Central New York.

It will be the final weekend visit to the Autodromes Granby and Drummond for two more Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series events.  The $2,000 to win Fondations 4 Saisons A-Mains will be a vital part of two point series where over $30,000 will be awaiting the top point teams come November.

At Granby, two-time defending champion Steve Poirier and current overall Lucas Oil point leader Justin Barger picked up victories thus far on the 2009 campaign.  They will lead the strong contingent of sprints which will also include Lance Yonge, Michael Parent, Jessica Zemken, Brian McDonald, Anthony Cain, Doug Emery, Jim Porter and many others.

After the Friday night stop at Granby, its off to Quebec’s oldest running dirt track in Drummondville.  The “Cobra” Chuck Hebing, Lee Ladouceur and Barger, who won the first annual Quebec Sprint Car Nationals, have picked up wins so far at the 3/8ths mile oval.  Those top stars along with Tommy Wickham, Jeff Cook, Alain Bergeron, Tim Kelly, Justin Harris, Daniel Lampron, James Hanson, Sylvain Erickson, Kayle Robidoux, Donald Lemire, Dale Gosselin and others will be in the field.

In a special Cobra Coaches Dash for Cash, Normand Beaudreault and his Construction Normand Beaudreault business will be the sponsor of the four lap event.  Normand was seriously injured in an ESS event at Autodrome Edelweiss in June but is on his way to a full recovery and has attended many events since.  Normand always enjoys his friends with ESS and is proud to sponsor the event.

The big holiday weekend will see (ESS) pull off the hat trick with the third and final visit to the Utica-Rome Speedway for a very important SUNY Canton Series event which also pays $2,000 to win.  Zemken and Dan Kaszubinski thrilled the sold out crowds in the other two events with their victories.  Another solid field of winged machines will be on hand with the likes of Jason Barney, George Suprick, Bubby Kerrick, Glenn Styres, Jared Fink, Joe August, Tim Devendorf, Bruce DeWick and others will be on hand looking for the top prize.

Justin Barger currently leads the overall ESS points with Steve Poirier, Lance Yonge, Michael Parent, Tommy Wickham and Jeff Cook still having a shot at the overall Lucas Oil crown.   Poirier leads Barger, Alain Bergeron, Cook and Parent in the Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series with Barger holding a slim advantage over Yonge, Poirier, Tim Kelly and Parent in the SUNY Canton Series.

Autodrome Granby, Autodrome Drummond and the Utica-Rome Speedway.  Three big events, three important point series.  It what has become tradition for over 26 years…it will be excitement guaranteed!