FONDA, N.Y. — Justin Barger claimed the Empire Super Sprints Earl Halaquist Memorial with a performance reminiscent of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame member Saturday night at Fonda Speedway.
The fastest in hot laps, his heat and the dash, Barger led Canadian Steve Poirier to the stripe by a full straightaway, with Corey Sparks, Jared Zimbardi, Mike Stelter, Jason Barney, Jeff VanDuesen and Doug Emery trailing. Barger pocketed $2,000 for the victory.
The “Earl of Sidney,” as Halaquist was known, had recorded similar sweeps in the Nesler Deuce during United Race Club visits in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Stelter and front-row companion Zimbardi battled early on, but the fifth-starting Barger was second to Stelter when Jeff Cook spun on lap four, giving Barger a chance to take control on the restart.
Two more cautions erased full-straight leads, but the victory was never in question. Poirier was the center of interest, making a steady run forward from 10th to slide under Sparks with 12 to go and set out after Barger, but it was too little too late.
Matt DeLorenzo recorded his seventh victory of the season in the modified feature, besting Jack Johnson, Ronnie Johnson, Bobby Varin and Craig Hansen.
The evening was marred by Dave Lape’s vicious series of snap rolls during qualifying.
Lape returned from the hospital before the final checkers after a series of tests.
The finish:
Justin Barger, Steve Poirier, Cory Sparks, Jared Zimbardi, Mike Stelter, Jason Barney, Jeff VanDusen, Doug Emery, Alain Bergeron, Tim Kelly, Michael Parent, Jeff Cook, Tommy Wickham, Russ Bennett, Warren Alexson, Anthony Cain, Normand Beaudreault, Lance Yonge, Blake Breen, Bobby Breen, Bubby Kerrick, Jessica Zemken.