The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are set to continue their 2015 season this Sunday night at the Weedsport Speedway. It is the first time since July of 2011 that the series has visited the historic facility. On that night four years ago it was Empire Super Sprint legend Lance Yonge picking up the victory. Yonge has yet to compete this season opening the door for a new driver to be victorious on this Night of Legends.
Sunday’s event is presented by Pit Stop Convenience Stores and will be run in conjunction with the Empire Super Sprint Hall of Fame induction that takes place at 3pm in the afternoon at the Dirt Hall of Fame located directly in front of the speedway. The organization is inducting Kenny Townsand. Townsand was an original member of the Empire Super Sprints and often times served as the voice of reason in the early days of the club.
As his Hall of Fame plaque reads, “While chasing and enjoying his passion, the popular, quiet and always smiling Townsand became the driving force in plotting the course of the new organization. Payoff, rules, procedures, handicap and point systems all were either conceived, tweaked, finalized by or through his efforts.”
“He was with us from the start,” said current ESS Vice-President Dean Reynolds. “If it wasn’t for Kenny’s leadership ESS probably wouldn’t have survived the early years.”
Townsand joins a select group of past drivers and supporters of the Empire Super Sprints that have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame including the inaugural class of Gordy Button, Mal Lane and Mike Woodring as well as 2014 inductees Walter (Walt) Throne and Johnny Brutcher.
Later in the day the past stars of the Empire Super Sprints will be on hand to sign autographs at the speedway from 5:30 to 6pm. Those scheduled to be in attendance include Hall of Famers Lane, Brutcher and Towsand as well as Empire Super Sprint legends John Birosh, Jeff Taylor, Adrian Flath, Mike Lauterborn and more.
Coming into the event, Steve Poirier is the current point leader with the series as he continues his chase toward the all-time wins record and a sixth championship with the traveling winged warriors. Poirier has 52 career wins with his last win coming this past Saturday night at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Poirier is chasing ESS Hall of Famer Mike Woodring for the top spot on the list. Woodring has 59 wins and currently serves as car owner for Tiffin, OH., driver Paige Polyak.
Chasing Poirier in the point standings is 2014 runner-up Jason Barney of Brewerton, N.Y. Barney is still searching for his first win of the 2015 as is the driver directly behind him in the points, Matt Tanner. Chuck Hebing currently has four wins on the season and sits fourth in the overall chase for the title with Paul Kinney behind him in the fifth position.
Also on the card Sunday evening is the Crate Sportsman. The most recent event held at the speedway saw Dave Marcuccilli once again park his car in Victory Lane. The popular driver is the current point leader in the division with two wins and three top five finishes in three events. Ron Davis III sits second in the points as he looks to secure his first win at the speedway. Earl Rudy advanced to third after his strong finish at the Hall of Fame. Steve Gray sits forth with one win to his credit in 2015. Expect a wide range of Crate Sportsman drivers from several other Central New York facilities to be in attendance.
Pit gates for Sunday’s Night of Legends for the Empire Super Sprints and Crate Sportsman open at 4pm with General Admission gates opening at 5pm. Racing is scheduled to get underway at 7pm.
General Admission tickets cost $15 for adults; $5 for students ages 11-17 and is free for children 10 and under. Pit admission is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased online at weedsportspeedway.com/tickets/.
Weedsport Speedway is located at 1 Speedway Drive in Weedsport, N.Y. For more information, contact (315) 834-3067 or visit weedsportspeedway.com.