ESS: Edelweiss results 2006-07-14

New Car Does the Trick for Lance Yonge as he Collects First ESS win of 2006 with Victory at Edelweiss.

CANTLEY, QC -- Going into Friday night's Empire Super Sprint (ESS) event at Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway, eight different drivers has graced victory lane on the nativepoker.com Tour. Ironically, one of the drivers was not defending champion Lance Yonge. All that changed as he passed John Karklin Jr. on lap 18 to win the Spectro Oils Canadian Invasion event at front of the largest crowd in the history of the 1/3rd mile oval.

While having the two-time champion in the winners circle shouldn't make big headlines, seeing one of ESS' best struggling and going winless deep into the 23rd Anniversary Tour is. The week off was put to good use as Yonge traveled to Ohio to pick up a new Eagle chassis and he promptly put all doubts from his critics and himself to rest.

"Do you think I'm happy? Actually relieved probably would put it best." noted the driver who just collected career win #32. "I'll tell you, I needed this just to prove to myself that I still have it. It really gets into your head especially how strong we have been in the last two years. I have struggled so much this year but I just didn't know if it's the car or you. To win tonight just takes so much weight off. I guess this new car is helping!"

Doug Norrie's Spectro Oils #92M jumped off the pole to lead the first six laps until Karklin Jr. took his JCK Timber mount to the front and he opened up a good sized lead shortly after. Yonge was making his move to the front early as well and it wasn't long before he made this a two horse race. Just in keeping with his line and pace, Yonge was able to close in and make his move.

I was watching John (Karklin) getting a little loose coming off of four and that was where I was best This car just has good forward bite, I mean when they.said that this car is a tight car and they were right, I could really drive off the corners and that helped in getting under for the pass." Yonge said in a relived voice. "I just wasn't comfortable with the Maxim and with the off week we decided that we needed a change. Who knows, lets hope it's a change for the best.

Coming down to score lap 18, Yonge did slip under Karklin Jr. for the lead and eventually the win. After the pass for the lead, it was an all out war between five cars for second which

lasted right to the checkered flag. With a late charge, Quebec's own Steve Poirier continued his torrid rookie season with a fine runner-up finish. Jessica Zemken came from her 14th place starting spot to finish third and collect the Lane's Yamaha hard charger bonus with Karklin taking fourth. Alain Bergeron took fifth with the next five made up of Billy White, Bubby Kerrick, Norrie Dan Kaszubinski and former Edelweiss modified champion Rick Wilson.

A total of five cautions and one red did slow the pace on the multi-grooved surface. Randy Years spun around on lap six, Kyle Wilson did the same on lap seven. Luke Eriksen stopped on lap 12 as did Kyle Moffit on lap 14. On lap 16 the complexion of the race changed when Jeff Cook spun around his #10, Cook was trying to pass Yonge for second at the time. The red lights came were on with 19 laps in the book when Eriksen spun around and collected Cook and Moffit with Moffit doing a series of flips.

Taking the Car Mate Trailers heat events were Justin Barger, Karklin Jr., and White. The Royal LaPage/Walt's Hobby dash was won by White with the KSE Racing Products B-Main taken by Russ Bennett.

ESS/EDELWEISS NOTES: A total of 26 sprints in the pits at the track located just North of Canada's capital of Ottawa--Ron Zagata made his first ever ESS start with his father's #014. Zagata was to be the bubble car but when Michael Parent had engine problems on the A-Main pace lap he did take the green flag--A special drivers introduction proved popular for the fans which filled every heat in the house--All in ESS would like to thank promoter Serge Legace for doing a tasty pig roast after the nights activities for the sprint car drivers and crews--Edelweiss will hold another Spectro Oils event on Friday night Aug. 18th.

RESULTS:

Heat 1 -- Justin Barger, Doug Norrie, Steve Poirier, Nick Fratto, Randy Years, Bubby Kerrick

Heat 2 -- John Karklin Jr., Jessica Zemken, Jeff Cook, Alain Bergeron, Luke Eriksen, Doug Emery

Heat 3 -- Billy White, Lance Yonge, Rick Wilson, Dan Kaszubinski, Matt Norrie, Michael Parent

Royal LaPage/Walt's Hobby Dash -- Billy White

B-Main -- Russ Bennett, Don Sharp Jr., Kyle Wilson, Kyle Moffit.

Did not start -- Parent, Added starter -- Ron Zagata

Did not qualify -- Jeff VanDusen, April Wilson, Bobby Podolak.

A-MAIN -- LANCE YONGE, Steve Poirier, Jessica Zemken, John Karklin Jr., Alain Bergeron, Billy White, Bubby Kerrick, Doug Norrie, Dan Kaszubinski, Rick Wilson, Doug Emery, Nick Fratto, Justin Barger, Don Sharp Jr., Kyle Wilson, Russ Bennett, Matt Norrie, Ron Zagata, Luke Eriksen, Kyle Moffit, Jeff Cook, Randy Years.

-ess