FULTON, N.Y. — Jason Barney grabbed a $2,000 victory in the season opener for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Friday night at Fulton Speedway.
Barney took the lead on lap six and never looked back.
For the 25-lap main event, Dylan Swiernik and Joe Trenca would lead the 25-car starting field to the green flag. Swiernik jumped out to the early lead on the initial start only to see an immediate caution for a spinning Jordan Thomas in turn one.
On the ensuing restart, Swiernik would again take command of the field and lead the first 6 laps until Jason Barney was able to sneak by him on the inside of the speedway and pull away. Through a handful of cautions, Barney never saw a serious challenge for the lead and held on for his first win of 2023 and 31st career ESS victory.
“I was happy to end up starting the season here (at Fulton) and get a little comfortable at a place your familiar with and confident in,” said Barney. “There’s a lot of good guys here, Dylan (Swiernik) was good, and on that last restart when the 01 (Danny Varin) rolls up next to you – he’s the man. I was just thankful to get a good start and get out front of him.”
Fifth-starting Danny Varin had slowly worked his way into the top 3 by lap 11 and moved into second on lap 20. With two laps remaining, Varin made a valiant effort on the high side of the track but was unable to get past Barney and ultimately settled for a runner-up finish.
Polesitter Dylan Swiernik completed the Ashley Lynn Winery podium in third. Jordan Poirier came home fourth and Shawn Donath rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps):
1) 87-Jason Barney (1), 2) 01-Danny Varin, 3) 7c-Dylan Swiernik. 4) 28-Jordan Poirier, 5) 53-Shawn Donath, 6) 98-Joe Trenca, 7) 28f-Davie Franek, 8) 23m-Max McLaughlin, 9) 22-Jonathan Preston, 10) 7ny-Matt Farnham, 11) 10-Jeff Cook, 12) 45-Chuck Hebing, 13) 4-Billy VanInwegen, 14) 90-Matt Tanner, 15) 3-Parker Evans, 16) 41-Dalton Rombough, 17) 90t-Travis Cunningham, 18) 3z-Johnny Smith, 19) 33-Lacey Hanson, 20) 10c-Paulie Colagiovanni, 21) 36-Logan Crisafulli, 22) 10k-Kelly Hebing, 23) 17-Sammy Reakes IV, 24) 21-Steve Glover, 25) 79-Jordan Thomas