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Frenchman Poirier Captures ESS Sprint Spectacular At Canandaigua
Phelps claims first Big-Block Modified feature win of the season at 'Land of Legends'

Canandaigua, NY – August 10, 2013 – Dave Roberts, Canandaigua Motorsports Park PR Correspondent

The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints made their only appearance of the 2013 season at Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Saturday and current points leader Steve Poirier of St-Mathieu de Beloeil, Quebec took full advantage, winning the 25 lap “A” main event before a huge crowd on Cobra Motorhomes/Wilkins RV and Northeastern Pool and Spa night. Poirier led the entire distance.

A field of 33 sprinters attempted to qualify. Poirier also won his qualifying heat. It was his fourth win of the season. The feature field, prior to taking the green flag, honored legendary Sprint Car racer Kramer Williamson with the “Missing Man Formation” which is a single driver leading the field, that brought the crowd to it’s feet. Kramer lost his life in a racing accident the Saturday prior in Pennsylvania.

“In the first couple of laps when the track was slippery,” Poirier said in victory lane, “I was very cautious out here. After a few laps, I felt a lot better.”

Poirier’s major competitor in the event was Dylan Swiernik. Both drivers were one-two from the drop of the green. As the race passed it’s halfway mark, Swiernik started to reel in the fast running Poirier. On lap 19, the two came together resulting in Swiernik spinning and losing out on his chance for victory.

Poirier had few problems from there, going on for the win, his second-ever at CMP. Shawn Donath finished second followed by Cory Sparks in third. Rounding out the top-five were Matt Tanner and Jason Barney.

Heat race winners were Steve Poirier, Joe Trenca and Lance Yonge. The Danny Wilmes Enterprises/Cobra Homes Dash for Cash was won by Bryan Howland and the B-Main was taken by Patrick Vigneault.

Michael Parent of Granby, Quebec was involved in a wild flip in turn one on the opening lap of the first sprint qualifying heat. Track safety personnel were on hand immediately to help with Parent, who was later transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY with a back aligment. The entire staff at Canandaigua Motorsports Park wish Parent a speedy recovery.

Jimmy Phelps of Baldwinsville, New York took his first win of the season in the 35-lap Team Tiremasters Big-Block Modified feature.

Phelps started 13th when the green flag flew and took the lead on lap 29 when then leader Dave Marcuccilli experienced a flat tire. Billy Dunn, a feature winner from the previous week, was able to move up on Phelps yet ran out of time when the checkered flag flew.

In victory lane, Phelps talked about his night and the 2013 season.

“The car was really good tonight, especially on long runs. We’ve been struggling here all season long. It’s been frustrating. It feels good that we could do this tonight in front of such an awesome crowd. We’ve been searching for a way to win. Maybe we’re on to something here,” Phelps said.

Eldon Payne Jr. was the early leader, holding on until lap 20 when Marcuccilli slipped by into the lead. Marcuccilli, who took over the Mike Payne-owned ride a couple of months back, has definitely seen much improvement over that time period.

With Dunn finishing second , Peter Britten was third followed by Gary Tomkins and Mike Bowman. Matt Sheppard was sixth and currently holds a 23-point lead over Dunn with three point races left.

Heat winners were Eldon Payne Jr., Matt Fink and Tim Currier. The consolation event was won by Dave Rauscher.

Steve Gray of Middlesex, New York took his second win of the season at CMP in the 25-lap Safety Awareness Solutions Sportsman feature.

Gray took the lead on lap 12 and held off the on-coming Kevin Ridley at the finish. Gray and Ridley got themselves into lapped traffic near the end, which was an advantage to Ridley. Gray was certainly fast on the quick CMP half-mile racing surface.

With the win, Gray pulled to within 15 points of leader Ridley.

Third was Paul Guererri followed by Eric Giguere, who led the first 11 laps of the race. Giguere also had a different mount as Western New York Sportsman driver James Henry allowed him to use his race car. Fifth was Rob Bussey.

Heat race winners were Paul Guererri, Nick Guererri and Rob Bussey.

In the 15-;ap Parts Plus Street Stock feature, Adam DePuy won his first race in five years as the Macedon, New York driver turned the tide on 11-time CMP winner Mike Welch, who finished second on the night.

DePuy took the lead on lap two from Jack Terrell. Mike Welch pulled into second on lap six. Depuy had a substantial lead and Welch attempted to make up the deficit, but it wasn’t enough as DePuy celebrated in victory lane.

“This one feels good tonight,” DePuy said. “We’ve had some problems in the last four weeks. It feels good to finally get one after five years.

Third was Chris Guererri followed by Steve Pesarek and Jack Terrell.

In the 12-lap Pure Stock main event, Wayne Ellison took his fourth in a row.

It wasn’t easy for Ellison as he had to duck in the pits on lap two to fix a flat. Ellison returned to the track and took the lead on lap eight from Marc Minutolo, who would stay close to Ellison until the end of the race.

Finishing third was Mike Minutolo Sr. Fourth was Nick Dandino while Brad Steinruck was fifth.

In the Pure Stock points chase, Marc Minutolo holds an 18-point lead over his dad Mike.

In the 12-lap Community Car Care of Waterloo Legends Sportsman finale, Richard Petty Enterprises crew member Bobby Decker took the win, leading all 12 laps. Decker is a former Big-Block Modified driver at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York who now lives in North Carolina and was back in the region for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at nearby Watkins Glen Int’l Speedway.

Second was Kevin White followed by Bruce Batzel. Fourth was Jason Caldwell followed by Casey Wagner.

The final full month of racing at Canandaigua Motorsports Park continues on August 17 when Honeoye Auto Parts and Canandaigua Carpets present an exciting show of Team Tiremasters Big-Block Modified, Castner Performance 305 Sprint Car, Safety Awareness Solutions Sportsman, Parts Plus Street Stock, Pure Stock and Community Car Care of Waterloo New Legends Sportsman racing, plus a special appearance by the Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club. Pit gates unlock Saturday at 4pm, grandstands open at 5 o'clock and the first qualifying heat rolls off the line at 7pm.

As CMP's Golden Anniversary season nears its end, be sure to follow the point standings and breaking news everyday online by visiting www.CanandaiguaMotorsportsPark.com. Send along a note to speed@BigMotorMedia.com to join the e-mail list, or register with https://www.twitter.com/Canandaigua_MSP to keep up-to-date on-line and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter.

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