Although she was unable to qualify for either A-Main in the Sorokach #35 Sprint Car, she gained more seat time on one of the fastest a most challenging dirt tracks in North America.

On Friday night Jessica finished 7th in her heat race and 13th in the B-Main. On Saturday she would again drive to a 7th place finish in her heat, but was two spots shy of transfering to the B-Main after a 4th place finish in the C-Main.

Stay tuned for Jessica’s 2013 schedule and other news during the busy off-season. Jessica and the #1z team would like to thank Corr/Pak Merchandising, Maxim Racing, ButlerBuilt Seats, Randy’s Racing Filters, FK Rod Ends, ISC Racers Tape, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions and Weld Racing for their support in 2012.

At Williams Grove on Friday, Jessica drove to an 11th place finish despite having blown an engine in the heat race.

On Saturday night she capped off the weekend with a top ten, finishing 9th.

Jessica is looking forward to the upcoming World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte in North Carolina. The event takes place from November 1st to the 3rd.

Jessica lined up in heat four and drove to a second place finish behind Shane Stewart. The solid performance locked her into the A-Main.

Throughout the 35 lap main event the #77x stayed closed to the top five and finish the night with a 6th place finish. Steve Poirier of Quebec won his third Canadian Sprint Car Nationals over Shane Stewart and Jim Huppunen.

Jessica’s season continues at Fonda Speedway on Saturday, September 22nd as well as a return trip to Rolling Wheels on October 6th versus the World of Outlaws.

The following night she made the long trip south to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania where she competed in the National Open for 358/360′s. Jessica would win the B-Main and finish 15th in the A-Main.

On Sunday night it was a homecoming for ‘JZ’ as she returned to Utica-Rome Speedway to compete with the Empire Super Sprints. Although she would need to transfer through the B-Main, Jessica was able to drive to a 5th place finish.

The first two races came in Quebec with visits to Autdrome Granby and Autodrome Drummond. Jessica would finish 9th at Granby on Friday and 10th on Saturday at Drummond in Outlaw competition.

On Sunday, July 29th the #1z team visited the Cornwall Motor Speedway for the first ever World of Outlaws event at the high banked 1/4 mile oval. Jessica would struggle with motor problems in the early going and would never recover finishing in 19th.

After a long trip across Ontario and a switch to her 360 sprint engine, Jessica competed with the Corr/Pak Sprint Cars at Ohsweken Speedway. In 2011, she struggled at the 3/8 mile track, but looked to be back in full form on Monday night as she led much of the A-Main and finished third.

The following night it was back to the 410 motor as the World of Outlaws made their only visit to Ohsweken in 2012. Jessica captured the win in the 4th heat and drove to a 12th place finish in the A-Main.

In total, Jessica and the #1z team picked up three top tens during the five race stretch and made some positive gains on the car for her return to Ohsweken in September for the 8th Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals.

Stay logged on to www.JessicaZemken.com for all the latest results and news as Jessica continues to race across North America in 2012.

About Corr/Pak Merchandising: Founded in 1997, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc. is based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and is a designer and producer of Point of Purchase (POP) displays for retail. Strong emphasis on creative design and speed of response has seen Corr/Pak achieve great success in a very competitive industry. Their in-house capabilities and broad range of trusted suppliers enable them to develop any sort of effective solution for your retail display needs, no matter the materials used – whether corrugated, wood, boxboard, plastic, wire, steel, or any combination of those. Corr/Pak’s support of the Sprint Car division at Ohsweken continues for a fifth consecutive season in 2012. Please visit www.CorrPak.ca for more information.

The victory – Shaffer’s 47th with the UNOH All Stars – moves him to within striking distance of Dale Blaney for the series’ national points lead and Daryn Pittman for the $20,000 championship of the Eastern Region. While Shaffer posted a fifth place finish at Williams Grove and a seventh place finish at Lincoln to go with his win at Utica Rome over the weekend, Blaney, a three time series champion, struggled, not making the feature at Williams Grove, scoring an eighth place at Lincoln and dropping out of Sunday’s event while leading.

Once Blaney dropped out, Shaffer would drive into the lead and survived several late race cautions for the victory.

“It’s been awhile…we’ve got one win so far this year…they keep getting harder and harder to get. Everyone just keeps getting faster and faster and making us work harder. What a great job by my crew, Dave Lawrence, James Chambers and Craig Stephens…they’re all new on this team but one guy. We’re trying to gel together with new people and it’s starting to click,” said Shaffer beside his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned machine.

“Dale was pretty good tonight. I don’t know if we had anything for him later in the feature. He was gone. I thought I was still chasing him and the yellow came out and I looked on the board and thought ‘hey, we’re leading it.’ On those late cautions, you’re always concerned if someone is coming or not and you’re trying to pay attention to lapped cars where they are running in case rubber gets down. But, we were really good. Hats off to my guys, they gave me a great car. Aaron Call is doing a great job back at home. He’s getting this thing ready during the week for us to come out and play. Janet Holbrook giving us everything we need. I can’t thank everyone enough who has helped us through this…it’s been a tough season,” added Shaffer of his Kistler Engines/VRP Shocks backed machine.

Blaney and Shaffer would bring the field to the green Sunday, with Blaney seizing the top spot while third place starter Jessica Zemken drove into second, bringing fourth place starter Shawn Donath into third. Donath would grab second on the second circuit and would move past Blaney a lap later for the lead.

Shaffer would drive by Zemken into third on lap eight and a circuit later Blaney would do the same to Donath to take the lead. But, Blaney would coast to a stop on lap 11 with mechanical issues. On the restart, Shaffer would drive by Donath for the lead. Donath would bobble on lap 13, with Zemken, Stevie Smith and David Gravel getting by. The car on the move was 10th place starter Greg Hodnett as he would move into the top five by the half-way point.

Shaffer would continue to lead Zemken, who, before her sprint car days was a winner and champion at Utica-Rome Speedway in the dirt sportsman ranks. Smith ran third with Hodnett getting around Gravel for fourth on lap 16. The battle for fourth through 10th was a good one throughout the race as Cap Henry, Tony Stewart (who posted a third place finish with NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series earlier in the day at Pocono, Pa.), Paul McMahan, Fred Rahmer and Daryn Pittman joined the fun.

With 10 laps to go, the running order was Shaffer, Zemken, Smith, Hodnett, Gravel, Henry, Stewart, Rahmer, McMahan and Donath. The top nine would stay in that order until lap 25 when Gravel was able to get around Hodnett for fourth. Hodnett would return the favor with three to go.

Shaffer would drive away to the win over Zemken, Smith, Hodnett and Stewart who made a last lap pass to take fifth and the feature’s hard-charger honor after starting 19th.

Zemken, who has three 360 sprint wins at Utica-Rome Speedway, was thrilled with her runner-up finish.

“I’ll take second to Tim Shaffer any day. He’s a hell of a race car driver and I’ve learned a lot from him. And, he’s a really nice guy…kind of like a big brother to me. He’s the first guy I’d go to to ask for help when we’re struggling…he’s always one of the first guys to help out,” said Zemken. “I have to thank Corr-Pak Merchandising for sticking with me and the crew…the guys worked so hard tonight on tires…it was so hot. We had a really good car. We definitely didn’t have anything for Tim, that’s for sure. This is like a home track to me with my family and friends here so it’s great to run good here with the 410…my best finish with a 410.”

For Smith, the good weekend with the UNOH All Stars continued with his podium finish.

“We’re happy with third after starting 11th. Jessica did a good job…she never made a mistake and Tim took off and left us all,” said Smith beside his CL Motorsports/CJB Motorsports/DDNi backed machine. “I’m just happy with the way everything is going. We’re making progress and we’re going to keep working. I have to thank my car owners Chad and Jen and my crew. We started the season off pretty good and then went into a little bit of a slump. We made some changes with the personnel…it’s just been a kind of up and down so far. But I’m really proud of the guys working on the car. We’ve got Shane and Sparky who’s actually from New York and of course Brian Bloomfield and probably one of the best video guys in Kyle (Luetters). I really appreciate what everyone has done for me…they have assembled a great team here.”

For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com

She won her heat race, the four lap dash and then she went out and won the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Earl Halaquist Memorial 25-lap main-event as part of the SUNY Canton Series and the Universal American Stars and Stripes tour. The victory netted her $2,125

“I had to work for that one but this feels awesome,” said Zemken afterwards in Victory Lane. “I definitely didn’t have the best car tonight. We went with a really hard tire and I don’t think it was the way to go but ultimately we had to go slower to go faster here at Fonda and it paid off.”

Zemken, from Sprakers, N.Y., started the race from the inside of the second row and she watched as Cory Sparks vault out to the early race lead at the green flag.

Sparks paced the field in the early going with Zemken in tow aboard her own No. 1z Corr-Pak backed machine. She began to close once Sparks encountered slower traffic on the ninth circuit.

That traffic ultimately opened the door for Zemken as she made a pass for the lead, but before the lap could be completed Alain Bergeron had slowed in the second turn bringing out the caution forcing Zemken back to the runner-up position on lap 13.

When racing resumed, Sparks went to the outside lane for the restart and drove away from Zemken initially. She tried to follow him on the top lane but it wasn’t working. On lap 17 she moved to the bottom lane which eventually paid off.

As Sparks worked the high-side of the speedway Zemken went to low groove and on lap 19 she made the move to take the top spot away in turns three and four on the inside.

“I was terrible up on the top so I had to try something,” said Zemken. “Traffic had helped me out and I really didn’t need that restart there with him (Sparks) on the outside that really killed me and I knew I had to try something so I went to the bottom and tried to be smooth and consistent and it worked out.”

Once she found the bottom, Zemken was able to drive away from Sparks to eventually go on to earn the victory at the Track of Champions.

Like Zemken, Lance Yonge, of Penn Yan, N.Y., found the bottom in the closing laps and moved from fourth to second in the final corner as he passed Sparks and Fonda Speedway Modified regular Bobby Varin.

“Once we got back going after that restart we got back to the bottom and it was faster,” said Yonge. “These guys are so good here with Jessica (Zemken) starting up front. I wish we could draw a good number and start up with them guys and it might be a good race.”

Sparks, of Edinburg, N.Y., ended up fading back to third at the final checkered. He was happy with the outcome at the end after suffering a broken spindle.

“I was lucky to finish that race at all,” stated Sparks who debuted a new sponsor Adirondack Harley Davidson. “We broke a spindle at the end and we were just fortunate to make it to the checkered flag.”

Varin ended up finishing in fourth after starting 14th and Justin Barger, of Montrose, N.Y., completed the top five.

ESS/FONDA NOTES: A solid field of 32 sprints played host to Fonda’s biggest crowd of the year…Making first starts of the 2012 season were Zemken, Varin, Warren Alexson, who was impressive with his heat win, Mark Zemcik, Luke Munroe, Jami Russell, Charlie Donk, Robbie Stillwaggon and Josh Pieniazek who rolled his sprint over during his heat but came back in the B-Main only to miss by one spot…Kevin Loveys was subbing for the injured Steve Poirier and he missed the A-Main by two spots…The Lucas Oil Tour will return to Fonda on Sat. Sept. 22 as a part of McDonalds Weekend.

Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints – Fonda Speedway Earl Halaquist Memorial.

A-Main – Jessica Zemken ($2,125), Lance Yonge, Cory Sparks, Bobby Varin, Justin Barger, Chuck Hebing, Sammy Reakes IV, Jeff Cook, Dan Kaszubinski, Warren Alexson, Jason Barney, Shawn Donath, Mike Stelter, Michael Parent, Charlie Donk, Matt Tanner, Paul Habeck, Paul Kinney, Jami Russell, Robbie Stillwaggon, James Hanson, Etienne Girard, Alain Bergeron. DNS Kevin Ward Jr.

Lap Leaders – Sparks 1-18, Zemken 19-25.

Did Not Qualify – Kory Gurney, Josh Pieniazek, Luke Munroe, Mark Zemcik, Kevin Loveys, Patrick Vigneault, Kyle Dutcher, Joe Trenca.

Oswego Speedway announced today that dirt Sprint Car ace Jessica Zemken will join Indy Car veteran Davey Hamilton as guest stars in the opening day Novelis Supermodified line-up presented by Gater Racing News and The Palladium-Times.

Zemken, who will turn 26 the day she attempts to qualify for her first Oswego feature, will be behind the wheel of the Graham Racing No. 12 machine fielded by 2-time Mr. Novelis Supermodified Champion Ray Graham. The Sprakers, NY native will become only the third woman to turn competitive laps in a Supermodified at Oswego joining Sheila Hayes and Jennifer Chesbro. If Zemken qualifies for the opening night main event she will join only Chesbro as women to take a feature event green flag in a Supermodified at ‘The Steel Palace.’

Hayes attempted to qualify for the International Classic in 1970 and 1971, but did not make the cut.

“I’m really excited to get some laps behind the wheel again,” said Zemken, who tested with a wing in October at Oswego but does not have any laps in a Supermodified without a wing. “I have a lot to learn. It is going to be a totally different experience than what I am used to, but I am really looking forward to it. This is something that I have been interested in doing and my Corr-Pak sponsors, John and Wendy Brush, are really into Supermodifieds so we came to see my first race at Oswego last season.”

Even though Zemken has never run a Supermodified without a wing, she will still be in familiar territory, as the No. 12 Graham Racing car she will climb into on Saturday, May 5 is the same car she tested at Oswego back in October. However, Zemken anticipates quite a difference in feel from behind the wheel.

“I’m expecting the car to be a lot looser without the wing and without the down force which is a little more like what I am used to,” said Zemken. “It’ll be a little more out of control and not so stable, which I am expecting, so I think I’ll be prepared for it and be able to adjust to it. I’ve got some good teachers in Ray Graham and I live about five miles from Otto (Sitterly), so I’ve got some good mentors and really good people supporting me in this.”

Zemken is no doubt a tenacious competitor and has racked up quite the resume in dirt Sprint Car racing, both on the 360 and 410 levels. In 2010 Zemken won seven 360 Sprint Car A-mains in less than 12 starts and in 2011 qualified 4th fastest at the prestigious Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, IA while taking 8th in the national All-Star Circuit of Champions standings.

The young driver looks at her pending Supermodified career in the same fashion as her dirt racing exploits.

“Obviously I don’t plan on going out there and riding around,” Zemken said, while being fitted in her Oswego opening day Supermodified ride. “I have a lot of goals set for myself, maybe a little bit too high, but that is part of being competitive and being a racer. I’m there to be competitive and I hope I learn quick, that’s for sure.”

Other than the May 5 opener at Oswego, Zemken plans on attempting another four events during the season, potentially even the Budweiser International Classic on Labor Day Weekend. If Zemken were to qualify for the most prestigious Supermodified race in the world, she would become the first female to do so.

“We’re going to take things slow and see how it all goes,” said Zemken, who will not be at Oswego for the April 28 test session but instead will run her 410 sprint car at Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania. “If I’m prepared and capable and everything goes good than I hope to (run Classic).”

While Zemken is eager to leave her mark on Oswego Speedway, don’t expect to see a full-time shift to asphalt racing in the near future.

“I have hardly any asphalt experience,” said Zemken. “A go-kart maybe twice and a Late Model that was older than me for maybe 20-laps. It’s going to be a totally different experience and I have no plans right now to completely leave the dirt or do anything other than this, but you never know, we’ll see where things go.”

Oswego Speedway events run May through September on most Saturday nights, culminating with the Fall Championship 75 on September 15th.

The annual Speedway open practice is scheduled for April 28th.

Advertising opportunities with the Speedway are still readily available. If you or your business would be interested in marketing with the Speedway please e-mail dbond@oswegospeedway.com.

For more information on Oswego Speedway be sure to visit www.oswegospeedway.com. You can also LIKE the (Official) Oswego Speedway page at facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway, or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway. To purchase tickets or order merchandise please call the Speedway box office at (315) 342-0646.
About Oswego Speedway: Oswego Speedway, a sports entertainment company, is a 5/8 mile semi-banked pavement racing oval located off the shores of Lake Ontario in scenic Oswego, NY. Oswego Speedway has been a continuously run weekly racing venue since August, 1951. The premier open-wheel pavement short track cars in the world, Supermodifieds, run weekly at Oswego Speedway making Oswego the only weekly Supermodified racing venue in the world. The Small Block Supermodifieds accompany the full blown Supers on a weekly Saturday night schedule which runs from May through September. Oswego Speedway is mentioned in racing circles as the “Indy of the East,” as no fewer than a dozen past and present competitors have competed at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway including Mario Andretti, arguably the greatest driver of all time, two-time Indy 500 champion Gordon Johncock, along with former International Classic Champions Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, and Davey Hamilton.

Oswego Speedway is honored to recognize several sponsors and corporate partners that help to bring the racing action to you each Saturday night (listed alphabetically): All Seasons Inn, Alliance Bank, Best Western/Quality Inn, Blue Bowl Sanitation, Bonded Motor Sales, Bosco & Geers, Bracy’s Transmission Services, Bridge Street Jewelers, Brioschi Pharmaceuticals International LLC, Burke’s Home Centers, Burritt Motors, Butler Disposal, Canales Restaurant, Canales Insurance, Century 21 Galloway Realty, Chris Nelson Insurance, City Electric, CNY CPR, Coca-Cola, Compass Federal Credit Union, Constellation Energy, Corr-Pak, CPS Electric, C’s Beverage Center, Davis Bros. Meats, Days Inn/Travelodge, Dufore’s Jewelers, Dunkin Donuts, Eagle Beverage, Ellsworth Heating and Cooling, Entergy Northeast, Ferris Industries, Gater Racing News, Green & Seifter CPA, G&I Homes, H. Lee White Marine Museum, Hawk Performance, Hofmann’s, GMAC Insurance, Gioia Signs, Hoosier Racing Tire, Hudson Dairy, Jerome Fire Equipment, Johnston’s Propane, John Costello & Associates, K&G Lodge, Lighthouse Lanes, Longley Dodge, Marollo Racing Engines, May’s Country Store, McCaffrey Chiropractic, Mickey’s Magical Vacation, Munski’s Auto and Marine, Novelis, Ontario Orchards, Oswego County Federal Credit Union, Oswego Health, Oswego Inn, OTB/Western Region, The Palladium-Times, Par-K Enterprises, Pathfinder Bank, Outdoor Power West, Performance Harley Davidson, Pizza Villa, The Post-Standard, Precision Balancing, Press Box, Price Chopper, Pullen’s Plumbing, RE Davis and Son, RJ Caruso Tax & Accounting, Rudy’s Lakeside, S&S Tractor, Scriba Electric, Scriba Meats, Shapiro Motor Sales, Sharon’s Hair Gallery, Speedway Press, Steve Abt Auto, Stop DWI – Oswego County, Sunset RV Park, Supercuts, Terrell’s Potato Chips, Thunder Road Bar and Grill, Universal Metal Works, Vashaw’s Collision Service, Yogi Bear’s Jelly Stone Park

Visit Jessica’s GEAR page to order your shirt today and show your support for Jessica at the race track this summer!

With Corr/Pak Merchandising returning as the team’s primary sponsor, Jessica has been able to set an ambitious and well-round schedule for 2012. She will once again compete in both 410 and 360 Sprint Car events at tracks including Williams Grove, Port Royal and Charlotte. Jessica will race on a limited basis with both the World of Outlaws and All-Star Circuit of Champions as well as a more regular appearance with the Empire Super Sprints. Her travels will take her to many of the tracks throughout Central New York and Canada that she grew up racing on. With a solid program in place and a host of familiar tracks to compete on the 2012 season should be an exciting one for Jessica and her fans.

[VIEW JESSICA'S 2012 SCHEDULE HERE]

In addition to announcing her schedule, Jessica also unveiled her new website at www.JessicaZemken.com. Designed and maintained by ImageFactor.ca Motorsport Designs, the new website offers fans a chance to stay up to date on the latest results and news surrounding the #1z team. Fans are encouraged to visit the website often and follow Jessica through social outlets Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The Zemken Racing Team would like to thank Corr/Pak Merchandising, Maxim Chassis, ButlerBuilt, Randy’s Racing Filters, FK Rod Ends, ISC Racers Tape, ATL Fuel Cells, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions and Weld Racing for the support of Jessica’s racing efforts in 2012. Without the support of such great partners the upcoming season would not be possible.

For more information visit www.JessicaZemken.com.