Jason Barney goes Back to Back in Lucas Oil ESS Wins by Taking Checkers at Fulton
FULTON, NY – Still disappointed with his effort on the Lucas Oil ESS 2021 Tour opener at Genesee, Brewerton, NY’s Jason Barney made sure it’s becoming a distant memory with his second NAPA Auto Parts A-Main win in a row by winning at the Fulton Speedway Saturday night. This time he did lead all laps in route to his $2,110 payday.
Just like last week’s 25 lap event at Thunder Mountain, even though Barney was out front it was still and “go all-out” affair as the final 24 laps were run under green. Barney had to endure heavy lapped traffic and competitors know in that in traffic being behind the leader is the advantage.
“It was a lot like last week. Starting position meant so much but when you get all those green flag laps you have to do such a balance,” Jason went on with how he needed to race, “You try to go as hard as you could cause you have no idea where anyone is behind you. But you also don’t want to go too hard and get into the slower cars. It can be tricky.”
On the original start, several cars got together coming of turn four that ended the night for Matt Tanner, Parker Evans and Keith Granholm. On the next restart, only one lap got in the books when Chuck Hebing slowed ending his race as well. After that, the next green flag was the last.
“it was a little tough getting going there at the beginning, but I had such a good car, it was nice to get in your rhythm soon after that,” Barney went on about his team. “We have such a good team and such a good program; the driver just has to do his job. Tonight, it felt good to win again, felt good to do it here and in front of all these fans.”
With the 87 Speed backed X-1 that Barney assembles himself opened up a slight lead over Shawn Donath in his Pather FrameWorx mount that he also assembled in the first half of the evet. Donath tried to keep Barney in sight, but the same lapped traffic hindered him as well.
In the closing stages, 2019 ESS champ Paulie Colagiovanni gained some speed to swing by Donath and pick up the chase of Barney. While it was looking like an easy victory, Colagiovanni’s #10 was making up ground at a rapid rate. With two to go he was a full strait behind Barney. Coming for the checkered he was just a few car lengths.
“We had a real good car. After starting in ninth we had to pass some real good cars and once we got into second I tried to catch him,” said the 20 year old Champion, “We ran out of laps but it was a good run for us. We got a good finish and we hope maybe to get some wins here soon.”
For Donath, it was more relief than anything else. Pretty much wiping out his frame at Genesee and the very subpar performance at Thunder Mtn. with an ill-handling car. A podium finish is what the doctor ordered.
“We needed this!” Donath exclaimed, “It has been such a bad start to our year, but the car was handling. The team really rallied together and I felt good out there. It was totally different that last week where I just couldn’t drive it at all. Tonight it was fast when we unloaded it.”
Local favorite Larry Wight backed up his fast time in his timed group and heat win with a fourth-place finish, Jonathan Preston came from 18th to place fifth and collect the hard charger bonus. Rounding out the top ten were Danny Varin, Sammy Reakes IV, Dylan Swiernik for his third top ten in as many races, Kelly Hebing and Joe Trenca.
Next weekened’s planned trip to Canada has been cancelled due to the border still being closed. The weekend back up in August is still being planned. The June 11th event scheduled for Mohawk is being postponed to a weekend in August as well. Next up will be the annual Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial Asphalt Spectacular held at the Evans Mills Motorsports Park on June 19th.
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints A-Main – Fulton Speedway – May 29th, 2021 – 1. Jason Barney ($2,110), Paulie Colagiovanni ($1,010), Shawn Donath ($860), Larry Wight ($680), Jonathan Preston ($605), Danny Varin ($470), Sammy Reakes IV ($430), Dylan Swiernik ($495), Kelly Hebing ($620), Joe Trenca ($400), Jeff Cook ($360), Tommy Wickham ($345), Davie Franek ($350), Jake Karklin ($350), Denny Peebles ($300), Chad Miller ($350), Joe Kata ($300), Nick Fratto ($325), Lacey Hanson ($100), Tyler Cartier ($300), Scott Holcomb ($300), Chuck Hebing ($350), Matt Tanner ($300), Parker Evans ($300), Keith Granholm ($300)
DNS – Billy VanInwegen
DNQ – Dallas Schott, Zack Burd
Bonuses:
PJC Spray Foam Hard Charger – Preston ($50 – 13 Pos.)
Rifenburg Contracting Halfway – Jason Barney ($50).
Pinnacle Pole Award – Jason Barney ($50).
Lacaillade Masonry B-Main – Jake Karklin ($50).
E&V Energy Heats – Wight, Franek, Donath ($25)
ESS Media Team Fast Time – Franek, Donath, Wight. ($25).
Larkin Mowing/Cobra Coaches Dash – C. Hebing ($100), Swiernik ($75), Miller ($50), Wickham ($25), Fratto ($25), Preston ($25).
Ashley Lynn Winery Podium – Barney, Colagiovanni, Donath – $10
Hoosier Tire – K. Hebing ($210)
For more Information on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints:
Web: www.empiresupersprints.com
Twitter: @ESSprints
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpireSuperSprints
The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are brought to you by: Lucas Oil, NAPA Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, PJC Spray Foam, Fondations 4 Saisons, Ohsweken Speedway/Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, Cobra Coaches, Fondations 55, E&V Energy Pinnacle Employee Services, Rifenburg Contracting, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Lacaillade Masonry, FX Caprara Ford/Chevy, ASI Racewear and many, many associate sponsors!!
Sources: Dean Reynolds/Empire Super Sprints PR