SYRACUSE, NY – The first green flag is just three weeks away and the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) officially announces the 2009 racing schedule with the 26th Anniversary Tour promising to be one of the most exciting ever. A total of 24 dates with 20 full point shows fill the docket with record point funds awaiting the teams that visit the ESS tour for the ’09 season.
Of course the main goal is the overall ESS championship and the battle for the Lucas Oil Cup which Steve Poirier currently holds possession of. For 2009 there will also be the lucrative and record setting Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Series and the first ever SUNY Canton Series where well over $30,000 in cash is up for grabs and that total will increase during the coarse of the season.
New tracks, special weekends and as tradition, ESS will be a part of two traditional high paying events and anchor a brand new first time endeavor in Quebec. The goal is to have each full point event $2,000 to win to go along with events that pay $3,000, $6,000 and $9,000 to win. No doubt that there will be a boat load of money to be had.
All the action kicks off on Memorial Day Weekend as the Fonda and Utica-Rome Speedways bring in the year with style with two $2,000 to win events. For the first time ever, the “Track of Champions” will kick off the point season and also they will decide the ESS champion as well in September. Gene Cole’s half-mile in Vernon, NY will again host three events and as years past they will help celebrate the big three summer holiday weekends. To make these events even more important, not only will there be $2,000 awaiting the A-Main winner but they will also be a part of the seven race SUNY Canton Series.
The very next weekend, western Ontario will see the invasion from the cars and stars of ESS and also kick off the Canadian Sprint Series. The Ohsweken Speedway will crank up the action on Friday and then the next evening it’s the return to the Bicknell family promoted Merrittville Speedway after a one year hiatus.
To bring in June, it’s the first of three weekend visits to Autodrome’s Granby and Drummond. Each year the trips up into Quebec prove to be one of the favorites on the ESS tour where fans great the teams by the thousands. All six events will be the richest full point events on the tour paying $2,000 to win and $450 to take the green. If a race team fails to qualify they will still take home at least $225 on each night.
Three Friday night events will fill out the month of June with a stop to the Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway for the first of two events at this wild and exciting 1/3rd mile oval on June 12. After nine years ESS is proud to make a return to the Friesen family owned and promoted Ransomville Speedway. The beautiful half-mile near Niagara Falls always showcased exciting ESS events and for 2009 it will be no different. One week later it’s to the Mohawk International Raceway and under the new management the sprinters will be greeted by the largest number of improvements any track has ever seen.
The Fourth of July Holiday Weekend will have three SUNY Canton Events and for the first time ever in ESS history there will be back to back full point events held at the same facility. The Can-Am Motorsports Park will run $2,000 to win events on Friday and then right back on Saturday. Fans will expect a huge field of cars for these events. Then it’s right down the road to Utica-Rome on Sunday.
Vern Wasson’s Woodhull Raceway will hold a $2,000 to win event on Sat. July 11th before its back into Canada at Edelweiss on July 17th and the second Granby/Drummond weekend on July 31/Aug. 1st.
A well deserved weekend off before teams will be geared up to be a part of the first annual Quebec Sprint Car Nationals which will see $6,000 up for grabs to the winner with a $30,000 total purse being offered. ESS will be the lead sanction for the open competition event that will see the largest sprint car field in Quebec sprint car history.
It's back to Granby and Drummond to start the Labor Day weekend with this visit having an added importance as they are the final full point shows for the Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series. On Sunday night it will be the final event at Utica-Rome.
The Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals at the Ohsweken Speedway will mark the fifth annual version and ESS has been a part of Canada’s biggest 360 sprint car event for all five years. ESS tour regulars have been a huge part of the Nationals history with Jeff VanDusen and Lance Yonge’s second and third place finishes in the inaugural event on to Steve Poirier’s triumphs years two and three. Sept. 18 and 19 will be the dates with Sunday the 20th as a rain date for the $9,000 to win Nationals.
On Sept 26th the Fonda Speedway will crown the overall Lucas Oil/ESS champion and also the SUNY Canton Series champ. To make this event even sweeter, ESS and SUNY Canton has set out a challenge to all outsiders. If a non-ESS regular wins the 25 lap A-Main a $1,000 bonus will be paid making the finale $3,000 to win.
Friday, October 9th the annual NY Sprint Car Challenge for Super DIRT Week will be held for the first time at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway and bring a close to the 2009 season. ESS will once again work side by side with the United Racing Company for the $3,000 to win affair.
Steve Poirier is the defending and now two-tome ESS champion. But the challengers is a long list…Lance Yonge, Alain Bergeron, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Justin Barger, Chuck Hebing, Tim Kelly, Brian McDonald, Lee Ladouceur, Tommy Wickham, Mike Stelter, Anthony Cain, Bubby Kerrick, Doug Emery, Normand Beaudreault, Cory Sparks and many, many more will be at a host of the ESS events for 2009.
For more information feel free to log on to the newly redesigned www.empiresupersprints.com where the tradition of excitement guaranteed is carried on for over 26 years!
The LUCAS OIL Empire Super Sprints Tour 2009!!!
Sat. May 23 – Fonda Speedway, Fonda, NY - $2,000 to win!
A-Main sponsored by Herrington Farms, Heats $100 to win! By Herrington Farms.
Sun. May 24 – Utica-Rome Speedway, Vernon, NY - $2,000 to win!
SUNY Canton Series
Fri. May 29 – Ohsweken Speedway, Ohsweken, Ont.
Sat. May 30 – Merrittville Speedway, Thorold, Ont.
Fri. June 5 – Autodrome Granby, Granby, Que. - $2,000 to win!
Fondations 4 Saisons A-Main
Sat. June 6 – Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que. - $2,000 to win!
Fondations 4 Saisons A-Main
Fri. June 12 – Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway, Cantley, Que.
Fri. June 19 – Ransomville Speedway, Ransomville, NY
Fri. June 26 – Mohawk Int’l Raceway, Hogansburg, NY - $2,000 to win!
SUNY Canton Series
Fri. July 3 – Can-Am Motorsports Park, LaFargeville, NY - $2,000 to win!
SUNY Canton Series
Sat. July 4 – Can-Am Motorsports Park, LaFargeville, NY - $2,000 to win!
SUNY Canton Series
Sun. July 5 – Utica-Rome Speedway, Vernon, NY - $2,000 to win!
SUNY Canton Series
Sat. July 11 – Woodhull Raceway, Woodhull, NY - $2,000 to win!
Fri. July 17 – Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway, Cantley, Que.
Fri. July 31 – Autodrome Granby, Granby, Que. - $2,000 to win!
Fondations 4 Saisons A-Main
Sat. Aug. 1 – Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que. - $2,000 to win!
Fondations 4 Saisons A-Main
Sat. Aug. 15 – Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que. - $6,000 to win!
1st Annual Quebec Sprint Car Nationals by Fondations 4 Saisons
Fri. Sept. 4 – Autodrome Granby, Granby, Que. - $2,000 to win!
Fondations 4 Sasions A-Main
Sat. Sept. 5 – Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, Que - $2,000 to win!
Fondations 4 Saisons A-Main
Sun. Sept. 6 – Utica-Rome Speedway, Vernon, NY - $2,000 to win!
SUNY Canton Series
Fri. Sept. 18 – Ohsweken Speedway, Ohsweken, Ont.
The Night Before the Nationals
Sat. Sept. 19 – Ohsweken Speedway, Ohsweken, Ont. - $9,000 to win!
Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals
Sat. Sept. 26 – Fonda Speedway, Fonda, NY - $2,000 to win!
SUNY Canton Series, $1,000 ESS Challenge!
Fri. Oct. 9 – Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Weedsport, NY - $3,000 to win!
NY Sprint Car Challenge.
From Dean Reynolds
