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Evans Mills, NY- Despite cloudy and rainy conditions early, race fans came out in droves to the Evans
Mills Raceway Park for the annual Kevin Ward Jr. Memorial Asphalt Spectacular with the Lucas Oil
Empire Super Sprints. The skies opened up just after Pre-Race ceremonies, delaying the event by 90
minutes. This proved to be the only slow times as all race cars turned some of the fastest laps and best
racing of the year. The parking lot was full to US Rt 11 as race fans stuck out the early rain and drove the
50/50 over $1300, the largest of the year. During intermission the stars and cars of the ESS greeted
everyone with the fan favorite autograph session on the frontstretch. EMRP also awarded the Kevin
Ward Jr. Legacy award to Ryan Larkins, from Lowville Academy and the Howard G. Sackett Technical
Center in Glenfield, NY.
The Excess Storage Pro Late Models kicked off the features for the evening as Chuck Meyer and Tyler
Papin made up the front row. Meyer would be the class of the field as he led all 15 caution free laps.
Rylee Gill quickly found himself in the second but could not chase down Meyer. Meyer won his first
feature of the year, followed by Gill and Tyler Papin.
Scott Dinzler and Kaden Rogers were the pole sitters for the 35-lap Caskinette Ford Sportsman Modified
feature. The front row would struggle on the start as Joel Hall found the low lane to lead the first lap.
Hall would be strong early, leading the first 17 laps before the first caution flew for a spinning Kevin
Warren. Hall would maintain his lead on the start as Rogers would keep pace until the second caution
flew on lap 20. On the restart, Hall and Rogers elected to start on the front row as Joe Papin started
third, up from his 8 th starting position. Papin would get by both leaders and take control of the race.
Kreig Heroth quietly worked his way into the second position, gaining eight spots from the initial start.
Papin turned in consecutive fast laps keeping Heroth behind him. The final caution slowed the field on
lap 32, setting up a 3-lap shootout. Heroth couldn’t get by Papin in the closing laps as Papin went on to
score his first career modified victory. Heroth crossed the line in second, followed by Bryce Bailey,
Andre Roggie and Jeff Pringle.
The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints took to the track to do battle for 25 laps and $4000. Dalton
Rombough and Kelly Hebing started on the front row for the only asphalt race on the ESS Schedule.
Rombough quickly showed his muscle and dominated the opening laps. The former INEX Legend race
winner at EMRP found the fast lane and quickly found lap traffic by lap 9. Hebing would do her best to
keep Rombough in her sight, as her dad, Chuck Hebing would settle into third. The field was slowed by
only one caution, as local favorite Jeff Cook and Tyler Cartier came together on the frontstretch, ending
the night for both drivers. On the restart, Kelly Hebing did her best to maintain Rombough’s pace, but it
wouldn’t be enough. Rombough cruised to his first ever 360 Sprint Car win. “This race is for a special
person, I couldn’t ask for a better car and better people around me,” said an emotional Rombough in
victory lane. “Before that final restart, I knew my car was nearly perfect, I couldn’t ask for a better car
and was just hoping to be able to hit my marks.” Kelly Hebing would have to settle for second, last
year’s winner Danny Varin finished third, followed by Chuck Hebing and Matt Farnham.
In one of the most exciting features of the evening, Brody Beckwith and Brayton Malbeuf started on the
front row for the Christman Fuel Service INEX Legend feature. Brayton Malbeuf would lead the first 6
laps after two early cautions and Breanne Gilligan would be in second. Last week’s winner, Camdin Cook
would pass the leaders on the restart and pace the field. By lap 8, Chris Malbeuf would find himself in
the second position. Exiting turn 4, Malbeuf would make contact with Cook, sending Cook to the back of
the field. Malbeuf would withstand pressure from Gilligan for the next 6 laps but would maintain his
lead. Gilligan would brought out the final caution on lap 14, with one lap remaining. Malbeuf would
start on the inside of row one with Kyle Hart to his outside and Camdin Cook had recovered to start
third. On the restart, Cook would try to get the jump on the inside of turn 4, making contact with
Malbeuf. Both drivers would be relegated to the back of the field. This allowed Kyle Hart to pick up his
first win of the season. Cody Draper finished a career-high second and Brayton Malbeuf finished third.
The final feature of the evening was the Sport Compacts and Thunderstocks with Chuck Powelczyk and
Jock Symonds leading the field to green. Nobody could catch Symonds as he quickly built up a healthy
lead over Joe Pettinelli, making his first start of the year. Pettinelli would bring out the only caution on
lap 7. On the restart, Symonds again built his lead back up to over 9 seconds on second place Justin
Coachman. Kevin Greenfield would find himself in third, looking to maintain his perfect streak. In the
closing laps, Greenfield would get by Coachman for second and Mike Greenfield would be sitting in
fourth. Exiting the final turn Coachman made contact with Kevin Greenfield, ending Greenfield chances
to win his 6 th in a row. Symonds would cruise to an easy victory, followed by Coachman and Powelczyk
in the Sport Compacts. Mike Greenfield would win his first Thunderstocks feature of the year, with
Francis White and David Liscum rounding out the top 3.
Next weekend EMRP celebrates the Class of 2023 with the New York State Superstocks. The Caskinette
Ford Modifieds, Excess Storage Pro Late Models, Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends and the Sport
Compacts and Thunderstocks will also be in action. Pit gates open at 3pm, General Admission at 5pm
and racing starts at 6:30pm. Pit pass $35, Adults $15, Military $13, Children 10-17 $10 and under 9 free
with paid Adult.
