LaFargeville NY… Chapman’s Can-Am Motorsports Park kicked off their 2013 season with a special appearance by the Empire Super Sprints. The 38 car field of sprint cars was also kicking off their season with a star studded field that featured some of the best sprint car drivers in the north east. The nights racing action, which was sponsored by KDM Kustoms and Audio Specialist also featured the Sportsman, Novice Sportsman, ProStreet, Late Models and Thunder Cars.

The 20 lap prostreet feature was the first to hit the track on a frigid April evening. The field was led to the green by David Rogers and Glen Forward, both drivers who have years of experience on the fast half mile. Glen Forward used the momentum on the outside of the speedway to rocket to the lead of lap number one over Mike Allen, Matt Parkhurst, David Rogers and Ryan Stabler. On lap six the yellow flag waved when Milt Combs was found stopped on the inside of turn number two. Glen Forward was able to maintain his lead as the field returned to green. Staying at the head of the field, Glen Forward was able to pick up the Thomas Trash half way bonus as was leading the way over Matt Parkhurst, David Rogers, Kenny Hamm, Mike Allen, Ryan Stabler, Josh Verne and Ken Hartshorn. The final caution came on lap 14 as Justin White slowed on the front stretch. Glen Forward proved to be the dominating force as he collected the win in the season opener for the prostreet division. David Rogers, Kenny Hamm, Roch Aubin and Josh Verne filled out the top five.

The Empire Super Sprints were next to lead the way. Their lightening fast laps during their heats, with some drivers reaching over 95mph, made for a heightened anticipation of what the 25 lap A-Main would bring. After running a limited schedule in 2012, Steve Poirier was a force to be reckon with right from the start as he jumped out to the lead over Matt Tanner, Michael Parent, Sammy Reakes and Bryan Howland. On lap two, the fastest lap of the night was laid by Poirier who ran a 17.6 second lap which equaled to 101.92mph. Poirier withstood multiple cautions while the rest of the field battled behind him for position. Dylan Swiernik made a late race charge battling with Kevin Ward and Michael Parent for many laps to stay locked in a top three position. Steve “Fire Ball” Poirier would be the dominating force as he collected the win over Dylan Swiernik, Kevin Ward, Michael Parent and Sammy Reakes IV.

Invader Mathieu Desjardins and hometown favorite Chris Thurston led the field over 27 sportsman cars to the green flag to kick off their 2013 campaign. Desjardins quickly slipped into the top spot over Thurston, Dylan Evoy, Brandon Hagan and Anthony Stockman. The yellow flag waived for Michael Prentice who had come to a stop on turn number two. On the restart, Desjardins kept control of the field as he led the way over Chris Thurston, Dylan Evoy, Brandon Hagan and Anthony Stockman. By lap 8, Brandon Hagan slid past Desjardins to take the lead of the field. Hagan led at the halfway mark earning him the Massey’s Furniture Barn halfway bonus. Hagan would show dominance as he started to pass through lap traffic but it wouldn’t be enough for his competitors as he went on to collect the win over Taylor Caprara, Mathieu Desjardins, Justin Thompson and Dylan Evoy.

(Hartford, OH)…After rough weather to begin the 84th anniversary racing season, Sharon Speedway was finally blessed with the nicest Saturday of 2013 with a sunny 70-degree day. A season high 105 cars filled the pit area.

Celebrating in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane were Rex King-Governor Insurance DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Mike Pegher, Jr.-Barris Supply RUSH Late Models, Alan Dellinger-Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds, Paul Davis-Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, Steve Burns, Jr.-HTMA/Precise Racing Products Econo Mods, and Scott Gilliland-Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks. Will Frantz of Vienna, Ohio and Gwen Reed of Brookfield, Ohio were the two winners of the bike giveaways courtesy of King Bros. and Sharon Speedway.

The King Family made it two-for-two in the DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds. On opening night, Rex King, Jr. led all 20 laps for the win. After a rainout and a special event, the big blocks were back for week two and this time it was the elder Rex King leading wire-to-wire in the 20-lap Governor Insurance feature adding to his all-time active-leading division win total.

“I didn’t want to listen to that this week,” joked the Bristolville, Ohio veteran about getting beat by his son the first week. “We touched right here then when I came around I saw him (Dave Murdick) up there so I don’t know what he broke or what happened. I hope it’s nothing too serious. I like racing with Davey. He and I have been doing it for the same time.”

SUSQUEHANNA, PA -April 27, 2013- Penn Can Speedway opened the gates for the first time in 2013 on a brisk Friday night in front of a large crowd for the “Can Opener”. The Modified main event saw Grant Hilfiger of Canadensis, PA hold off challenges from both Mike Schane and Joey Colsten to take his second career Modified win on MXM Motorsports Night. Paul Rooney led wire to wire for the 602 Sportsman win while Steve Deinhardt outdistance the Street Stock field. Nick Mady (Xcel Modifieds) George Brown (Factory Stocks) and Kenny Underwood (4 Cylinders) also parked in victory lane on opening night.

Bobby Trapper Jr. and Grant Hilfiger led the 25 Modifieds to the green flag with Hilfiger snagging the lead ahead of Mike Schane and Trapper. Schane quickly closed on Hilfiger and on lap three the leaders raced side by side. Schane moved to the point past Hilfiger with Kyle Rohner, Trapper and Steve Babicek then front five. The first caution flew on lap six for Ken Titus when racing resumed Schane led Hilfiger, Rohner, Babicek and Nick Rochinski. Schane was pulling away when the caution flew as fourth running Babicek stopped with rear end issues. The caution came back out for a multi-car tangle that started when Trapper Jr ran into a yuke tire and collected four other cars.

Schane got warned by race officials for setting too slow of a pace and on the restart Hilfiger used the outside lane to take the lead on lap 13. Hilfiger and Schane raced side by side for four laps with Rochinski, ninth starter Joey Colsten and Alan Rudalavage then top five. Eleventh starter Billy Thornton cracked the top five on lap 19 while the top three raced closely. Schane pitched it deep into turn three and was about to spun when the oncoming Rochinski who was also committed to the inside shoot through the infield ditch to avoid Schane. The caution never waved as the incident saw Schane drop to fourth and Rochinski to eighth. The top five now was Hilfiger, Colsten, Thornton, Schane and Rudalavage.

With ten laps to go Colsten and Thornton were reeling in leader Hilfiger when the caution flew for Christine Martin. Hilfiger pulled away in the final five laps to take his second Modified win and first in his own Walker Plumbing/Thornton Graphix Morgantini powered No.78 Bicknell. Joey Colsten of Binghamton, NY in the Gary’s U-Pull-It No.151 Troyer placed second with Billy Thornton in his Bill Thornton powered No.11 Teo finishing third. Alan Rudalavage of Newton Lake, PA was fourth while Schane of Lake Ariel, PA completed the top five. The rest of the top ten were Bob Trapper, Kyle Rohner who made his first ever Modified start, Kevin Hartnett, Bob Hamm and Dan Pompey.

“This is cool I won the opener the last three years in the 602 Sportsman but this is way cooler.” said Hilfiger “Schane was hurting me on those restarts but once I got going this Bicknell car was good. I put it to the floor on that final restart and it stuck to the track you couldn’t ask for a better track it had bite and a little character.”

Canandaigua, NY – April 27, 2013 – Dave Roberts, Canandaigua Motorsports Park PR Correspondent

A beautiful night greeted race fans Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park as the fast Ontario County Fairgrounds based half-mile oval escaped the rainy and cold weather that has hampered the facility for the previous two weeks.

Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y. made his presence on the evening known, winning his first of the 2013 campaign. Sheppard took the lead off a lap 27 restart and went on for the 35 lap Team Tiremaster Big-Block Modified victory. Sheppard started 11th on the grid and moved himself through the field.

Sheppard got himself into second on lap 19 and pressured then leader Vic Coffey. Another caution period later on proved to be to his advantage.

“Starting 11th in this field is tough enough. You knew if you could get by these guys, you car was running well,” Sheppard said in victory lane.

It has been a tough go for Sheppard. Saturday night’s win was his first of the 2013 season.

“I’ll tell you, the car has been good, then not good. Tonight, we were really on our game.”

Coffey held on for second-place followed by Vince Vitale, who led the first eleven laps of the feature. Fourth was Danny Johnson, who accidentally hit the outside wall off turn two in the late stages of the event but was able to continue on. Rounding out the top-five was Jimmy Phelps.

Steve Paine was also running in the top-five until lap 32 when he started to slow on the back straight, exiting to the infield.

Heat race winners were Chad Homan, Ron Cartright, Vic Coffey and Vince Vitale. The consi was won by Tyler Siri.

Kevin Ridley took the lead on lap three of the scheduled 25 lap Safety Awareness Solutions main event and captured his first of the 2013 season at Canandaigua. Ridley was strongest off the restarts and was better than three seconds ahead of Dan Wiesner when the duo crossed the finish line.

“This car was so good tonight,” said Ridley in victory lane. “You can go wide-open in three and four while you have to take your foot off the gas just a little in one and two.”