Varin Victorious at Albany-Saratoga with Empire Super Sprints
COLUMN BY: Curtis Berleue – EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS – MALTA, NY – For the first time in 2026, and second time at Albany-Saratoga, Danny Varin was victorious on Friday with the Empire Super Sprints. The Fonda, NY driver spent the majority of the race in the top three, and took advantage of a late-race restart to get to the lead and pick up $2,000 for his efforts.
Dylan Swiernik and Jason Barney led the field to green from the front row, with Swiernik taking the lead into turn one. Matt Tanner would immediately jump to second by utilizing the extreme high side of the speedway to get by Barney in turns one and two. Danny Varin settled into third, with Barney in fourth.
At the front of the field, Swiernik and Tanner were running completely opposite lines, with Swiernik on the extreme bottom and Tanner on the extreme top.
A caution on lap 6 for Kyle Smith bunched the field back up. On the ensuing restart, Swiernik again jumped to the lead, and Jason Barney Briefly claimed second via a slider in turn one, but was unable to hold pace and again fell to fourth.
On lap 10, Tanner had a head of steam off the top side of turn four and was able to get by Swiernik to take the lead.
Another caution with just 10 laps to go would set up a double file restart, with Tanner taking the lead briefly only for Swiernik to pass him using the same high line off four that afforded him the lead just a handful of laps prior.
As the laps dwindled, the top four were battling hard , leading to contact between Barney and Swiernik, with Swiernik coming to a stop in turn two.
On the restart with seven to go, it would be Danny Varin taking control of the field, after spending the majority of prior laps sitting in third. Tanner settled into second, with Jordan Poirier entering the top three.
With a clear track in front of him, it was Varin who crossed the line first, for his first victory of 2026.
“It was dicey – the track was technical tonight,” said Varin in victory lane. “Im super happy for this team – we’ve been struggling since we went to this tire, we’re just trying to work with it and do the best we can. It’s hard to get a good feel for it but we will keep plugging away.”
Matt Tanner came home second after leading through the middle of the A-Main.
“We didn’t lead the laps we needed to there at the end, said Tanner. “But from where we were during speed week, we really struggled but we put our heads together and put a good package together for tonight.”
“It definitely paid off, we went quick time, won the heat and I was just pretty happy to run with Dylan, as fast as he’s been.”
Jordan Poirier rounded out the Ashley Lynn Winery podium with a third-place finish.
“Every yellow I could play with my shock a little bit, try to get my car a little bit better,” said Poirier. “We were just a tiny bit too loose in the beginning of the race, but after that every yellow we got better and better. Sixth to third in these conditions, I will take it.”
With 23 cars, the field was split into three timed hot lap groups. Rifenburg Contracting fast time awards went to Jordan Thomas, Matt Tanner and Jason Barney. Elab Smokers Boutique heat races were won by Jordan Thomas, Matt Tanner and Jason Barney, while Shawn Donath won the Donath Motor Worx / We Know Tools – Paul Wehnau SnapOn dash.
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), X (@ESSprints) and Instagram (@empiresupersprints).
The ESS Road Ahead:
Friday, July 31 – Outlaw Speedway – Dundee, NY ($4,000 to Win Outlaw Summer Nationals)
Saturday, August 8 – Brockville Ontario Speedway – Brockville, ONT ($2,000 to Win)
Sunday, August 9 – Cornwall Motor Speedway – Cornwall, ONT ($2,000 to Win)
Full Results:
A-Main (25 Laps): 1. 01-Danny Varin[3]; 2. 90-Matt Tanner[4]; 3. 28-Jordan Poirier[6]; 4. 87-Jason Barney[2]; 5. 79-Jordan Thomas[9]; 6. 53-Shawn Donath[7]; 7. 38-Zach Sobotka[10]; 8. 96X-Chad Phelps[18]; 9. 4V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[11]; 10. 3A-Jeff Trombley[8]; 11. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni[5]; 12. 99K-Mike Kiser[17]; 13. 28F-Davie Franek[14]; 14. 8-Dillon Paddock[12]; 15. 33-Lacey Hanson[13]; 16. 12T-Tyler Chartrand[21]; 17. 17S-Kyle Smith[15]; 18. 19-Floyd Billington[23]; 19. 13T-Trevor Years[22]; 20. 88C-Chad Miller[19]; 21. 24-Jeremy Lafleur[16]; 22. 7C-Dylan Swiernik[1]; 23. 739-Nicholas Kruger[20]
We Know Tools – Paul Wehnau SnapOn Dash (4 Laps): 1. 53-Shawn Donath[3]; 2. 3A-Jeff Trombley[1]; 3. 79-Jordan Thomas[5]; 4. 38-Zach Sobotka[6]; 5. 4V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[4]; 6. 8-Dillon Paddock[2]
