Backstretch Motorsports

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – As the Empire Super Sprints (ESS) get ready to embark and celebrate their 25th Anniversary Tour, on January 26th came the most noteworthy sponsorship announcement in the 25 years for one of the most successful 360 sprint car sanctioning bodies in the nation.  Lucas Oil has signed on to be the official tour sponsor for ESS in 2008 and with the announcement comes the official title of the 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints.

  In a special press conference held at the Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Lucas Oil Canada’s Steve Snowden made the special announcement of the tour sponsorship for ESS.  The gathering was held by the officials of DirtTrackDigest.com with the announcement made shortly after Lucas Oil’s announcing of title sponsorship of the Shootouts for DIRTCar 358 modifieds and sportsman for the third strait year.

  “We were very excited to have Steve and Lucas Oil involved last season as title sponsor for our Canadian Invasion Tour.  We both thought the year went very well and a proposal was set up for Lucas to possibly sponsor the entire tour.” noted ESS President Chuck Miller.  “We sat down with Steve and his wife, talked briefly and handed him what we hope was an enticing program.  It was just a short three weeks later when we got the call that Steve and Lucas wanted to sponsor our 25th Anniversary Season.  This is our biggest sponsorship announcement ever, to have such a prestigious company like Lucas aboard puts ESS to another level and we are proud that our teams will benefit for this major contribution.”

  “To be sponsoring the ESS series is a big announcement for us at Lucas Oil as well.  Dirt track sprint car racing is so popular in both Canada and the Untied States.  ESS hits so many markets on each side of the border and it’s a great way to get our name and products out to the customer.” stated Snowden during the Saturday afternoon gathering.  “We were very pleased with the exposure ESS gave us last season and we are now excited to make the next step forward.”

  Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem-solving additives .Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.  The very successful company was formed by Forrest Lucas in 1999 and for more information you can log on to www.lucasoil.ca

  The Lucas Oil logo will be up front at every ESS event with logos on all cars, ESS officials fitted in Lucas Oil colors, special giveaways will be provided to the fans at each event and also there will be Lucas Oil displays set up at many of the races on the 2008 tour.  Not only will the ESS tour following teams be rewarded with a major point fund at seasons end, there will be several Lucas Oil product giveaways during the season to each A-Main winner.

  The 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints tour has already 29 dates filled for the 2008 season with talks going on to several other area speedways.  The celebration is set to begin Saturday night, April 12th at the Black Rock Speedway where the Yates County Oval is celebrating their 50th Anniversary season.  It’s been since August of 2003 that ESS has run a full point show at the fast 4/10ths mile oval and it will be history restored as ESS annually kicked off their tour at Black Rock for several seasons.  The tour will come to an end on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18th at the Brockville Ontario Speedway with the first ever Can-Am Challenge with ESS taking on the stars of the Southern Ontario Sprints.

  All of the full-time teams from 2007 are back to take on the 2008 racing season.  Heading the list is defending champion Steve Poirier and his sharp FM Industries #28FM will be out in force looking to defend his championship.  Many top ESS stars will be out in force hoping to knock the champ from his title and they include: Three-time runner-up in points and defending Lucas Oil Canadian Invasion champion Jeff VanDusen, two-time ESS champ Lance Yonge, Jeff Cook, 2006 champion Alain Bergeron, 2006 rookie of the year Michael Parent, veterans Bubby Kerrick and Mike Stelter along with young guns Tommy Wickham, Cory Sparks and 50 year old, 2007 rookie of the year Normand Beaudreault.  Come 2008 will be the return of Dan Kaszubinski and Doug Emery along with tour hopefuls in Brian McDonald, Anthony Cain, Justin Harris, Lee Ladouceur and Chris Jones.  Fans can also expect to see Justin Barger and Russ Bennett at many of the ESS events along with rookie hopefuls; asphalt stars Andy Noto and Bobby Magner as well as Quebec’s Jake Langlois.  Also, with ESS’ new open draw format for 2008, fans and race tracks alike can expect to see a few surprises in the pits.

  Since 1983, 25 years of winged sprint car excitement has become tradition.  Come and join us in the anniversary celebration, it’s the 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints and it will once again be excitement guaranteed!  For the latest up to date information, please log on to www.empresupersprints.com .