Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – FONDA, NY – On Saturday night at Fonda Speedway, Danny Varin drove his #01 Empire Super Sprints machine from the rear of the field to the win the 25-lap A-Main.
In doing so, he remained perfect on the season for the traveling series. The victory was Danny’s third ESS win in a row and fifth career ESS “W” at the “Track of Champions.”
At the drop of the green a skirmish among a few cars resulted in left side wing damage on the Varin 01 ESS Sprint. Danny took the Sprint Car to the work area and the capable Varin crew easily replaced the wing and Danny rejoined the rear of the field.
What occurred next was an epic drive to the front of the pack and a convincing pass for the win.
The Lucas Oil 24 car ESS Field came down for the green with Steve Glover taking the lead over Jason Barney. The 1st yellow appeared for Kelly Hebing on the backstretch. Kelly retired with damaged to the 10h.
On the next restart as the field hit lap 1 there was a accident in turn 4 that collected several racers. 14 Wright, 28F Franek, 33 Hanson, 7c Swiernik, and the 23 of Cartier. In this accident the 01 of Danny Varin sustained wing damage. Danny went to the work area and replaced the wing and rejoined the rear of the field.
After the cleanup and reset of the field, The ESS Sprints powered under green and Jason Barney moved into the lead. Glover was 2nd as the top 2 stretched away from the field. Bobby Varin was already making a strong drive through the field as he was scored 9th from the rear. A lap later Varin was already breaking into the 7th.
Jason Barney was still your leader and was now into lapped traffic. Jordan Poirier was moving to the front from his 6th starting spot and was now 4th by lap 8. Danny Varin was now 5th.
The running order Barney 87, Hebing 87s, Colagiovanni 10c, Poirier 28p, and Varin in 5th.
As the field was under green Varin moved into 4th on lap 12. Colagiovanni moved into 2nd and Hebing was third.
On lap 15, Paulie Colagiovanni made his move for the lead heading into Turn 1, dropped Barney back to 2nd. Danny Varin quickly claimed 2nd from Barney and set his sights on the leader.
When the field crossed for lap 17, Varin was side by side with Colagiovanni for the lead. A lap later Varin was your sole leader.
At the 5 to go hand signals from Joey Criss, Varin was now enjoying a convincing lead with Colagiovanni in 2nd, Poirier was 3rd, Pieniazek 4th, and Jason Barney 5th.
Danny Varin cruised to the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Fonda Speedway Victory Lane. Paulie Colagiovanni finished 2nd, Jordan Poirier 3rd, Josh Pieniazek 4th, Jason Barney 5th, Chuck Hebing 6th, Jeff Trombley 7th, Steve Glover 8th, Joe Trenca 9th, Mike Kiser 10th.
Danny commented in victory lane “This car was on rails tonight” & “I just needed clean air” – “Wow, 3 in a row” – Danny thanked the team and crew for their efforts and the sponsors who help them get to victory lane – St. Lawrence Radiology & Supply Wagon Rentals.
DANNY VARIN, Jordan Poirier, Paulie Colagiovanni, Josh Pieniazek, Jason Barney, Chuck Hebing, Jeff Trombley, Steve Glover, Joe Trenca, Mike Kiser, Davie Franek, Cory Sparks, Jordan Thomas, Jeff Cook, Joe Kata, Dylan Swiernik, Matt Tanner, Tyler Cartier, Chad Miller, Mikey Kruchka, Lacey Hanson, Keith Granholm, Brett Wright, Kelly Hebing
3rd ESS win (in a row) of the 2022 season for Varin and the fourth of his career in the ESS series at Fonda
LAP LEADERS – 1-2 Glover, 3-14 Barney, 15-17 Colagiovanni, 18-25 Varin
HEAT RACE WINNERS – Kata, Wright, Poirier
DASH WINNER – Franek