Steve Poirier Sweeps Quebec Invasion with Autodrome Drummond Win with Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints
Story By: MIKE MALLETT /ESS SERIES MEDIA Photos By:RANDY MALLETT / HAMMERDOWN PHOTO
DRUMMONDVILLE, QUE –June 5, 2016- Steve Poirier finished off the sweep on Saturday night at Autodrome Drummond with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS). The St. Mathieu de Beloeil, Que., driver took the lead in the late stages of the race and went on to win his second consecutive 25-lap A-Main in his home province.
It was the 56th time that Poirier has parked in Victory Lane with the ESS and his third of the 2016 season. Not only did he accumulate points in the overall chase for his seventh title but he earned points in the Einstein Construction Group Tour of Canada, the Fondation 4 Saisons Quebec Series as well as the Northwood 2 Construction Quebec/Ontario Sprint Car Challenge Weekend.
“This is feels super good,” stated Poirier after the win. “These two tracks have been really good to us the last few years. We haven’t had the chance to race much at Drummond but I was confident coming into the weekend. To get two wins is pretty amazing.”
A pair of 10 cars started on the front of the starting field on Saturday night with Paulie Colagiovanni and Jeff Cook leading the event to green. Colagiovanni got the jump on Cook by going to the outside of the speedway to blast around him for the lead at the exit of the second corner.
It didn’t take Colagiovanni long to catch the tail of the pack as he was working traffic with only five laps showing complete. As he navigated slower cars a new challenger emerged in Jordan Poirier. The younger Poirier followed Colagiovanni on the outside looking for an open door.
On lap seven Jordan saw an opening as Colagiovanni made a mistake in turns one and two. The bobble allowed Jordan to shoot around the outside of Colagiovanni to take the lead. Jordan held off Colagiovanni as he did all he could to get back to the lead including multiple slide job attempts.
Jordan showed strength as he was leading at halfway over Colagiovanni and Jason Barney. One lap later that running order changed as Colagiovanni found himself over the banking in turn two while battling with Barney to hold on to the second position.
Barney shot to the lead on the restart as he beat Jordan to turns one and two and got to the cushion first. Jordan then watched as Steve raced by him as well to move into the second position. The top two point men with the series remained the top two in the feature when a second caution was necessary on lap 16 for the spinning cars of Matt Tanner and Dylan Swiernik.
Barney’s selection of the outside lane for the restart proved to be his downfall. Barney caught a small rut off of turn four and the backend swung out opening the door for Steve to slide up front of him coming down the frontstretch. He then beat him to the cushion in turns one and two to complete the change for the lead.
“I had good drive on the inside so I knew I might be able to slide him a little bit in turn one,” stated Steve. “I didn’t know what to expect when he chose the outside but I would have done the same thing. Who knows it might have turned in my favor.”
A few laps later Yan Bilodeau caught the cushion wrong exiting turn four which caused him to get sideways and get into the outside wall. This gave Barney another shot at Steve to get back to the lead. It didn’t happen as Steve was strong as usual holding off Barney into the first turn.
Steve was fast in clean air which made it possible for him to keep Barney behind him. Barney was forced to try and keep pace on the cushion which proved to be a tough task with Steve quick on another one of his former home tracks.
One last caution was required as Brandon Kidd slowed on lap 23. Kidd coasted to a stop in the second corner. He was unable to clear the racing surface forcing the yellow flag.
“I was really good for two or three laps after the restarts,” Steve said. “Then the car started to act like it could be a little bit dangerous. I was pretty confident that my car was pretty good on the short run. All those restarts gave me an opportunity to tweak my car a little bit, move the wing, adjust the shocks and it was good at the end.”
Steve hit his mark perfectly on the ensuing green flag while Barney saw Paul Kinney shoot by him on the inside to take second away. Kinney slid up in front of him entering the first turn and looked to track down Steve. As is usually the case, no one was catching Steve as he went on to secure the win.
Kinney, who started back 10th went on to finish in the runner-up position one night after mechanical problems watched him lose a second place run.
“I got a couple cars each restart and I was happy with third,” commented Kinney. “I really didn’t want that last restart because I didn’t know if I was going to get passed or not. I felt good on top, which is unusual. I started on the bottom and I thought that was going to hurt me. I don’t know if Jason (Barney) spun his tires or what on the restart but I gave him a slider going into one and that was it. I thought we were going to be second last night but we were second tonight.”
Barney was disappointed with his third place finish after leading laps in the middle of the event. He was forced to second guess the decision to restart on the outside of the speedway.
“I made a stupid choice,” said Barney. “I talked myself more into using the outside and I should have used the bottom. Steve was in the right place at the right time. I would have been mad at myself if I took the bottom and Steve got me on the outside going into one and I lost the race there. It was a toss-up as to what to do. I was just worried on the bottom I wasn’t going to be able to clear him and get back to the outside.”
ESS/Drummond Notes – A total of 25 sprints made up the pit log…Shawn Donath and Alain Boisvert didn’t return from the night before…Swiernik had mechanical issues sideline him during his heat and he played catch up all night. Worked paid off with a top ten and hard charger honors…The final night at Cornwall fell victim to rain, a possible rain date is being sought.
Lucas Oil A-Main 25 Laps – Steve Poirier ($2,225), Paul Kinney ($1,225), Jason
Barney ($1,050), Lee Ladouceur ($855), Jeff Cook ($840), Paulie Colagiovanni
($885), Chris Jones ($655) Dylan Swiernik ($745), Jordan Poirier ($760), Dale
Gosselin ($625), Dave Axton ($660), Dan Douville ($545), Parker Evans ($775),
Denny Peebles ($515), Mike Stelter ($510), Tim Axton ($505), Alex Vigneault
($500), Chad Miller ($525), Kyle Fraser ($500), Brandon Kidd ($500), Yan
Bilodeau ($575), Matt Tanner ($500).
Did Not Qualify – Ray Sitterly, Paul Pekkonen, Guillaume Neiderer
Car Mate Trailers Heat 1 – Barney, D. Axton, Evans, Colagiovanni, Miller, Peebles
Car Mate Trailers Heat 2 – Cook, Kinney, J. Poirier, Gosselin, Stelter, Vigneault
Car Mate Trailers Heat 3 – Bilodeau, S. Poirier, Ladouceur, Jones, Tanner, T. Axton
Lacaillade Masonry B-Main -. Swiernik, Kidd, Douville, Fraser
BONUSES:
Insinger Fuels Hard Charger – Swiernik (11 pos.) $50
Engler Machine and Tool Halfway – J. Poirier $50
E&V Energy – Axton, Evans $50
Lacaillade Masonry – Swiernik $50
Ohsweken Speedway 21st Anniversary – Bilodeau $50
Fondations 55 Pick 5 – Cook $35
Beard Sewer and Drain Best Time – Miller, J. Poirier, S. Poirier $25
Car Mate Trailers Heats – Barney, Cook, Bilodeau $25
911 Restoration – J. Poirier, D. Axton $25
Lucas Oil ESS 7-12 Challenge – S. Poirier $200 – $100 at Mohawk June 10th .
Hoosier Tires – Evans $200
Vahlco Wheels – Colagiovanni $190.
For more Information on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints:
Web: www.empiresupersprints.com
Twitter: @ESSprints
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpireSuperSprints
Android App: Empire Super Sprints
The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are brought to you by: Lucas Oil, Mach 1 Chassis, Einstein Construction, SUNY Canton, NAPA Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Donath Motorworx, Insinger Performance, Car Mate Trailers, Fondations 4 Saisons, Beard Sewer and Drain, Cobra Coaches, Westward Painting Company, Fondations 55, E&V Energy, Panther Frameworx, YorkMont Auctions,, Engler Machine and Tool, Northwood 2 Construction,Brodix Cylinder Heads, Lacaillade Masonry, FX Chevy, ASI Racewear and many, many associate sponsors!!
