By Curtis Berleue (LaFargeville, NY) | In a race that saw multiple lead changes due to mechanical failures, it was Davie Franek who came out on top with a last lap, last turn pass on Friday at Can-Am Speedway. Though the New Jersey driver only lead from turn four to the checkered, that was enough to earn him the $2,000 payday for his third win of the season.
Jordan Poirier and Shawn Donath led the field to green for 25 laps, with Poirier taking the lead into turn one. Behind him, Donath settled into second with Dalton Rombough third. Dylan Swiernik made quick work of Rombough, moving into third on lap two.
In front of the field, Poirier was setting a blistering pace, reaching lap traffic in five laps. As he worked on navigating lap cars, Shawn Donath was holding steady in his tracks.
Three laps later, Poirier's engine began to show smoke. Donath had just gotten past Poirier when the caution flew for fluid being laid on the track by Poirier.
Donath would choose the high side for the ensuing restart, with Swiernik lining up next to him having inherited second. Donath would fend off a slide job from Swiernik to maintain the lead into turn one. Davie Franek passed a handful of cars on the restart and slid into third.
Swiernik was unable to gain on Donath over the next handful of laps as they navigated lap traffic. On lap 19, however, Swiernik got a run into turn three, allowing him a chance at a slide job into turn one, which Donath would again fend off.
With just two laps to go, Donath would meet the same fate as Poirier when his engine expired off turn four.
As Swiernik inherited the lead, Davie Franek lined up alongside him for the restart, with Paulie Colagiovanni in third. Swiernik held the lead using the top side of the speedway, when another yellow flew.
When action resumed, Swiernik again assumed the lead. With one to go, Swiernik looked to have a win locked up until he fell off the pace in turn four, handing the lead and the victory to Davie Franek.
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"I was going down the backstretch thinking I had to try a slider here, he was pretty far out," said Franek in victory lane. "And then I saw him kind of slow up a little bit - I think he ran out of fuel or something."
"We had to build a new car a couple of weeks ago, and we've kinda been struggling a little bit, but then we caught on to it and Brian's been doing a great job. You've gotta have all of the pieces together."
Paulie Colagiovanni finished second, also leapfrogging Swiernik off turn four.
"The track was a little tricky, I was getting plowed on restarts," said Colagiovanni. "He (Franek) would just clear a whole row of cars and then it was follow the leader. On long runs we were, good, I think we were just as fast as him."
Alex Therrien would round out the Ashley Lynn Winery podium in third.
"I started eighth, so I tried my best but it was tough," said Therrien. "We had a lot of yellows, so we tried to play with my wing to have a better car, I tried my best."
22 cars signed into the pits on Friday night, dividing the field into three timed hot lap groups. Rifenburg Contracting fast time awards went to Shawn Donath, Jordan Hutton and Dalton Rombough, while Elab Smokers Boutique heats were won by Davie Franek, Jordan Hutton and Dalton Rombough. The Donath Motor Worx dash presented by Cook's Family Diner was won by Jordan Hutton.
For the latest news, information, and schedule updates regarding the Empire Super Sprints be sure to check the series website (www.EmpireSuperSprints.com) and follow along on Facebook (Empire Super Sprints), X (@ESSprints) and Instagram (@empiresupersprints).
The Empire Super Sprints would like to thank the following series sponsors for their continued support: Rifenburg Contracting Corp, Hoosier Racing Tire, E&V Energy, A-Verdi Storage Containers, Elab Smokers Boutique, Pinnacle Investments, LLC, Wilwood Disc Brakes, FX Caprara, Ashley Lynn Winery, Slade Shock Technology, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Bicknell Racing Products, Swagger Factory, PJC Sprayfoam, Donath Motor Worx, Transport Benoit Lafleur, All Star Performance, Stirling Lubricants, Trenca & Co. Realty, Speedway Press, Primal Tee, and Glenn Styres Racing.
The ESS Road Ahead: Friday, September 18 - Ohsweken Speedway - Ohsweken, ONT (Night Before the Nationals) Friday, September 18 - Ohsweken Speedway - Ohsweken, ONT (Northern Sprint Car the Nationals) Friday, September 25 - Outlaw Speedway - Dundee, NY ($4,000 to Win Outlaw Fall Nationals) Full Results: A-Main (25 Laps): 1. 28F-Davie Franek[9]; 2. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni[6]; 3. 79-Jordan Thomas[15]; 4. 7C-Dylan Swiernik[3]; 5. 3-Denny Peebles[5]; 6. 41-Dalton Rombough[4]; 7. 38-Zach Sobotka[10]; 8. 90-Matt Tanner[16]; 9. 87H-Andrew Hennessy[19]; 10. 24-Jeremy Lafleur[11]; 11. 33-Lacey Hanson[14]; 12. 27W-Nick Webb[21]; 13. 13T-Trevor Years[18]; 14. (DNF) 53-Shawn Donath[2]; 15. (DNF) 87-Jason Barney[13]; 16. (DNF) 66-Jordan Hutton[7]; 17. (DNF) 25-George Sanford[22]; 18. (DNF) Z28-Tucker Donath[17]; 19. (DNF) 14W-Kyle Wilson[20]; 20. (DNF) 28-Jordan Poirier[1]; 21. (DNF) 17-Sammy Reakes IV[12]; 22. (DQ) 21-Alex Therrien[8] Cooks Family Diner Dash (4 Laps): 1. 66-Jordan Hutton[2]; 2. 21-Alex Therrien[6]; 3. 28F-Davie Franek[5]; 4. 38-Zach Sobotka[1]; 5. 24-Jeremy Lafleur[3]; 6. 17-Sammy Reakes IV[4] Elab Smokers Boutique Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 28F-Davie Franek[2]; 2. 53-Shawn Donath[1]; 3. 21-Alex Therrien[4]; 4. 28-Jordan Poirier[5]; 5. 87-Jason Barney[6]; 6. 90-Matt Tanner[3]; 7. 87H-Andrew Hennessy[7]; 8. (DNF) 25-George Sanford[8] Elab Smokers Boutique Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 66-Jordan Hutton[1]; 2. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni[4]; 3. 24-Jeremy Lafleur[2]; 4. 17-Sammy Reakes IV[3]; 5. 33-Lacey Hanson[5]; 6. Z28-Tucker Donath[6]; 7. 14W-Kyle Wilson[7] Elab Smokers Boutique Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Dalton Rombough[1]; 2. 38-Zach Sobotka[3]; 3. 7C-Dylan Swiernik[4]; 4. 3-Denny Peebles[2]; 5. 79-Jordan Thomas[5]; 6. 13T-Trevor Years[6]; 7. 27W-Nick Webb[7] Rifenburg Contracting Qualifying 1 (2 Laps): 1. 53-Shawn Donath, 16.311[7]; 2. 28F-Davie Franek, 16.392[3]; 3. 90-Matt Tanner, 16.482[2]; 4. 21-Alex Therrien, 16.557[5]; 5. 28-Jordan Poirier, 16.602[4]; 6. 87-Jason Barney, 16.738[6]; 7. 87H-Andrew Hennessy, 17.240[8]; 8. 25-George Sanford, 18.199[1] Rifenburg Contracting Qualifying 2 (1 Laps): 1. 66-Jordan Hutton, 16.579[7]; 2. 24-Jeremy Lafleur, 16.716[4]; 3. 17-Sammy Reakes IV, 16.787[6]; 4. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni, 16.887[2]; 5. 33-Lacey Hanson, 17.146[1]; 6. Z28-Tucker Donath, 17.812[5]; 7. 14W-Kyle Wilson, 18.327[3] Rifenburg Contracting Qualifying 3 (1 Laps): 1. 41-Dalton Rombough, 16.223[3]; 2. 3-Denny Peebles, 16.574[1]; 3. 38-Zach Sobotka, 16.625[7]; 4. 7C-Dylan Swiernik, 16.871[5]; 5. 79-Jordan Thomas, 16.906[2]; 6. 13T-Trevor Years, 17.290[4]; 7. 27W-Nick Webb, 17.450[6] Awards & Contingencies (full members only eligible for payout): Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time ($25 each): #53-Shawn Donath; #66-Jordan Hutton; #41-Dalton Rombough Elab Smokers Boutique Heat Winners ($25 each): #28F-Davie Franek; #66-Jordan Hutton; #41-Dalton Rombough Donath Motor Worx / Cooks Family Diner Dash Winner ($125): #66-Jordan Hutton Keizer Wheels 5th Place Finisher ($50 Certificate): #3-Denny Peebles King Motorsports 10th Place Finisher ($25 Certificate): #24-Jeremy Lafleur Pinnacle Investments 11th Place Finisher (5 Gal Fuel): #33-Lacey Hanson Swagger Factory 12th Place Finisher ($50 Certificate): #27W-Nick Webb Wilwood Disc Brakes 13th Place Finisher ($50 Certificate): #13T-Trevor Years All-Star Performance 15th Place Finisher ($50 Certificate): #87-Jason Barney A-Verdi Storage Containers Hard Charger Award ($50): #79-Jordan Thomas (+12) PJC Sprayfoam Reverse Hard Charger ($100): #28-Jordan Poirier (-19) Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish (bottle of wine): #28F-Davie Franek; #10C-Paulie Colagiovanni; #21-Alex Therrien Hoosier Tire Award (RR Hoosier tire): #33-Lacey Hanson Slade Shock Tech ($50 Certificate): #24-Jeremy Lafleur
