Information By: TIM BALTZ / CAN-AM SPEEDWAY – LAFARGEVILLE, NY – The Empire Super Sprints were making their first of two stops in 2024 at the Nasty Track of the North, the Can-Am Speedway, Friday on Sundance Leisure night.
Billy VanInwegen has been on the podium in the last few ESS races. On this night, Billy V took checkers for the first time this season in the Paulie Colagiovanni-owned car.
Sammy Reakes IV took the lead from the outside pole position and looked to be the driver to beat as he pulled away from the field, while Matt Tanner, Billy VanInwegen, Davie Franek and Jordan Poirier completed the top 5.
Reakes looked to be untouchable until lap 9 when the yellow flew for Chris Jones who slowed to a stop in turn 3. When the green flew VanInwegen took control of the race as he led the way over Reakes and Franek.
VanInwegen began to author a dominant performance as he built up a straight away lead and it appeared that nobody could catch him. As the laps wound down Davie Franek started to make a charge as he got by Jordan Poirier for third, then got around Sammy Reakes IV for the runner up spot and began his pursuit of the leader.
With two laps remaining Billy VanInwegen held a comfortable lead but Franek had narrowed the gap to five car lengths.
In the end it was not enough as Billy VanInwegen held off all challenges and scored an emotional first career Empire Super Sprint win.
Franek held on for 2nd with Jordan Poirier, Logan Crisafulli and Sammy Reakes IV.
A Feature 1: 1. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[4]; 2. 28F-Davie Franek[3]; 3. 28-Jordan Poirier[6]; 4. 36-Logan Crisafulli[5]; 5. #17-Sammy Reakes IV[2]; 6. 01-Danny Varin[8]; 7. 87-Jason Barney[10]; 8. 10-Kelly Hebing[7]; 9. 90-Matt Tanner[1]; 10. 84-Tyler Rand[12]; 11. 13T-Trevor Years[11]; 12. 63-Colton Donath[16]; 13. 53-Shawn Donath[9]; 14. 11J-Chris Jones[13]; 15. 13E-Evan Reynolds[15]; 16. Z28-Tucker Donath[14]
Dash 1: 1. 53-Shawn Donath[3]; 2. 87-Jason Barney[1]; 3. 13T-Trevor Years[4]; 4. 84-Tyler Rand[2]
Heat 1: 1. 28F-Davie Franek[1]; 2. 01-Danny Varin[3]; 3. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[2]; 4. #17-Sammy Reakes IV[4]; 5. 87-Jason Barney[5]; 6. 53-Shawn Donath[6]; 7. 11J-Chris Jones[7]; 8. 13E-Evan Reynolds[8]
Heat 2: 1. 90-Matt Tanner[2]; 2. 36-Logan Crisafulli[1]; 3. 28-Jordan Poirier[3]; 4. 10-Kelly Hebing[4]; 5. 84-Tyler Rand[6]; 6. 13T-Trevor Years[5]; 7. Z28-Tucker Donath[7]; 8. 63-Colton Donath[8]
Qualifying 1: 1. 28F-Davie Franek[2]; 2. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[3]; 3. 01-Danny Varin[6]; 4. #17-Sammy Reakes IV[8]; 5. 87-Jason Barney[7]; 6. 53-Shawn Donath[5]; 7. 11J-Chris Jones[4]; 8. 13E-Evan Reynolds[1]
Qualifying 2: 1. 36-Logan Crisafulli[6]; 2. 90-Matt Tanner[7]; 3. 28-Jordan Poirier[4]; 4. 10-Kelly Hebing[1]; 5. 13T-Trevor Years[3]; 6. 84-Tyler Rand[5]; 7. Z28-Tucker Donath[2]; 8. 63-Colton Donath[8]
Special 1: 1. 90-Matt Tanner[2]; 2. #17-Sammy Reakes IV[7]; 3. 28F-Davie Franek[1]; 4. 10V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[5]; 5. 36-Logan Crisafulli[4]; 6. 28-Jordan Poirier[6]; 7. 10-Kelly Hebing[8]; 8. 01-Danny Varin[3]