By Curtis Berleue (Fonda, NY) | For the 8th time in the last 9 trips to the Fonda Speedway for the Empire Super Sprints, it was Danny Varin sitting in victory lane at the end of the night. Leading 17 of 25 laps, Varin earned $2,000 for his victory Saturday night, which was also his third tour win in a row and fourth on the season.
Josh Pieniazek and Billy VanInwegen brought the field to green, with Pieniazek taking the lead off of turn two. That lead was short lived, however, as VanInwegen fought back on the outside in turns three and four to lead lap one.
A red flag for an incident in turn one on lap one put Pieniazek and VanInwegen side-by-side again on the ensuing restart, though this time it was Pieniazek who jumped out to the lead. Danny Varin made quick work of VanInwegen and moved into the second spot with two laps down.
For the next handful of laps, Varin stalked the #9 of Pieniazek, searching around the track for a little more speed. Working the bottom on lap 8, Varin was able to get alongside Pieniazek entering turn 3 and by the time the duo reached the flag stand, Varin was in sole possession of the lead.
With Varin checked out on the field, VanInwegen continued working on finding his way around Pieniazek for second place, and was successful on lap 15. Just one lap later, Jordan Thomas would also find his way by Pieniazek and take over third.
For the second time in two nights, Varin had completely checked out on the field and crossed the finish line first uncontested with a 6 second margin of victory.
“I tell you what, my arms are ready to fall off,” said Varin. “What a fun race track. It was touch and go on the bottom, but man that was fast.”
“This team has been firing on all cylinders. We feel really good, 87 Speed has got us really rolling. These guys are making all of the right adjustments in the pits. It’s easy to dial yourself out, but right now these guys are doing a really good job.”
Billy VanInwegen brought his #10V machine home in second place.
“Danny has dominated this place for so many years, so to run second to him, we can’t hang our head about that,” said VanInwegen. “I really wish we could have closed that one out, I think we had a great race car tonight.”
Finishing third was Harding, Pennsylvania’s Jordan Thomas.
“We’ve been pretty fast the last couple of weeks, Speedweek we were fast every night,” said Thomas. “Luck didn’t go our way that week, and here we are again, last night we were fast, and again tonight.”
“I think it would have been tonight to make any moves, Danny’s so fast and everyone kinda has this place figured out.”
The field was split into two timed hot lap groups to start the night, with Jordan Thomas and Danny Varin earning Rifenburg Fast Time awards. E&V Energy heat races were won by Jordan Thomas and Davie Franek, while Kyle Smith won the One Zee Tees dash.
The next scheduled event for the Empire Super Sprints is this coming Friday July 26th at the Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, NY. 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), Twitter (@ESSprints) and Instagram (@empiresupersprints).
The Empire Super Sprints would like to thank the following series sponsors for their continued support: Rifenburg Contracting Corp, PJC Spray Foam, Hoosier Racing Tire, Cobra Coaches, E&V Energy, A-Verdi Storage Containers, Fondations 4 Saisons, Pinnacle Investments, LLC, Lacaillade Masonry, Inc., FX Caprara, ASI Racewear, Lanes Yamaha, Ashley Lynn Winery, Bicknell Racing Products, DirtTrackDigest.com and LC Design.
The ESS Road Ahead:
Friday, July 26 – Outlaw Speedway - Dundee, NY ($4,000 to Win Outlaw Summer Nationals)
Saturday, July 27 – Woodhull Raceway – Woodhull, NY ($2,000 to Win)
Friday, August 2 – Can-Am Speedway – LaFargeville, NY ($2,000 to Win)
Full Results:
A-Main: 1. 01-Danny Varin[4]; 2. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[2]; 3. #79-Jordan Thomas[3]; 4. 28F-Davie Franek[7]; 5. 90-Matt Tanner[6]; 6. #9-Josh Pieniazek[1]; 7. 28-Jordan Poirier[5]; 8. #88C-Chad Miller[10]; 9. 17J-Kyle Smith[9]; 10. 87-Jason Barney[8]; 11. 13E-Evan Reynolds[16]; 12. 53-Shawn Donath[12]; 13. 19EM-Emily VanInwegen[15]; 14. 33-Lacey Hanson[13]; 15. 3A-Jeff Trombley[11]; 16. 6K-Kyle Dutcher[14]
One Zee Tees Dash: 1. 17J-Kyle Smith[2]; 2. #88C-Chad Miller[1]; 3. 3A-Jeff Trombley[3]; 4. 53-Shawn Donath[4]
E&V Energy Heat 1: 1. #79-Jordan Thomas[2]; 2. #9-Josh Pieniazek[1]; 3. 90-Matt Tanner[3]; 4. 87-Jason Barney[4]; 5. #88C-Chad Miller[5]; 6. 3A-Jeff Trombley[7]; 7. 33-Lacey Hanson[6]; 8. 19EM-Emily VanInwegen[8]
E&V Energy Heat 2: 1. 28F-Davie Franek[1]; 2. 01-Danny Varin[2]; 3. 28-Jordan Poirier[4]; 4. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[3]; 5. 17J-Kyle Smith[5]; 6. 53-Shawn Donath[6]; 7. 6K-Kyle Dutcher[7]; 8. 13E-Evan Reynolds[8]
Awards & Contingencies:
Rifenburg Contracting Fast Time ($25 each): #79-Jordan Thomas; #01-Danny Varin
E&V Energy Heat Winners ($25 each): #79-Jordan Thomas; #28F-Davie Franek
Cobra Coaches / One Zee Tees Dash Winner ($125): #17J-Kyle Smith
Pinnacle Pole Draw Award ($25): #9-Josh Pieniazek
A-Verdi Storage Containers Hard Charger Award ($50): #13E-Evan Reynolds
Pinnacle Investments Last Car Running ($30): #13E-Evan Reynolds
Pinnacle Investments 11th Place (5 gallons fuel): #13E-Evan Reynolds
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium Finish (bottle of wine): #01-Danny Varin; #10v-Billy VanInwegen; #79-Jordan Thomas
Hoosier Tire Award (RR Hoosier tire): #13E-Evan Reynolds
- Barbara Patterson on Jul 21, 2024
- Article Date: 7/21/2024 by Curtis Berleue