News
Brockville Ontario Speedway
Release 10-2008
June 7, 2008
Zemken shows the boys the way around again
BROCKVILLE-Four weeks, four very different track surfaces at Brockville Ontario Speedway, which has left drivers scratching their heads when it comes to dealing with the Beast of the East. However, Jessica Zemken went where no one was running in the 30 lap 358 Modified feature and captured her second win of 2008 and padding her lead atop the points standings in the process.
Zemken started 12th in the field and had worked her way up to fourth when the race passed the 20 lap mark, with most drivers opting to run a low groove all the way around the track. That's when the 23 year old decided there had to be a better way. Just after a restart while Danny O Brien and Ryan Poole were having a good tussle for the second spot, Zemken opted for a higher groove in turns 1 and 2 and blasted around the outside to move into second spot behind Adam Moore. Moore was the next victim as again Jessica pulled up alongside on the outside lane, claimed the top spot for good and went onto victory. Moore did a great job in holding off O Brien for second with Poole coming home fourth in his best run of the season so far. Bill Gill came through the field to round out the fast five.
Modifieds 30 laps: Jessica Zemken, Adam Moore, Danny O Brien, Ryan Poole, Bill Gill, Kyle Dingwall, Todd Stewart, Mark Hitchcock, John Mulder, Andy Lloyd, Stephane LaFrance, Chris King, Skip McKenzie, Bryan Rogers, Steve Bilow, Jason Riddell, Paul Pekkonen, Bobby Herrington, Jeff Ciglich, Joe Banks
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Jessica Zemken Joins Lasalle Motorsports
Posted by Tom Ames | 04/07/08 (dirttrackdigest.com)
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Zemken shocks them again, wins Brockville Season Opener
BROCKVILLE-Jessica Zemken continues to put her mark on the history book at Brockville Ontario Speedway. She was the first woman to win a Sportsman race at the Beast of the East. Last year, the young lady became the first female to win a Sprint Car race at the fast quarter mile oval. Last night, in her first ever start at Brockville in a 358 Modified she did it again, grabbing the win in the 30 lap Season Opener at the reconfigured clay oval. Now, shes the only driver in Brockville track history to win a race in the Sportsman, Modified and Sprint Cars.
A heavy rain shower around 6:15 pm had officials wondering if they could even get the race card in. But mother nature co-operated the rest of the night resulting in a fast tacky track. Brian McDonald who was turning laps in the mid 14 second race during the night got past John Mulder in the early going to take the top spot in the Modified finale. As usual at Brockville, Danny O Brien was a factor, the defending track champ came flying through the field and wrestled the lead away from McDonald with Zemken not far behind. Zemken driving the LaSalle Motorsports entry that McDonald piloted a year ago, made a beautiful inside move going into turn one to take second. That proved to be the winning move, as O Brien's car started to smoke with 6 laps remaining. Zemken survived three late restarts including one on the final lap for her first Modified win. McDonald was second followed by Adam Moore, Mike Adderley and Lance Willix.
There was another teenager in victory lane after the 25 lap Sportsman feature. Shane Pecore showed patience beyond his years as he used lapped traffic to his advantage. Pecore split a opening between 3 cars coming through turn 3 to blast past leader Mike Mainse and went on to an impressive opening night win. Another youngster, Matt Billings made nifty late moves of his own to claim third in front of a fast closing Adam Turner and returning veteran Randy Gaudet.
Steve Billings led from start to finish taking a relatively easy triumph in the 20 lap Street Stock event. Billy Code, Dana Aikens, Danny Mocibob and Jack Code were second through fifth respectively. Josh Kane fought through an early battle with Steve Barber and pulled away for the checkered flag in the 16 lap Rookie race. Chris Bakker came across the line behind Barber in third, followed by Dwight Feltham and Josh Kirkland.
Brockville Ontario Speedway returns to action next Saturday night, May 24th with a regular program plus the first of many runs this season by the Vintage Cars. The green flag drops at 7pm.
358 Modifieds 30 laps: Jessica Zemken, Brian McDonald, Adam Moore, Mike Adderley, Lance Willix, Kyle Dingwall, Bryan Rogers, Stephane LaFrance, Steve Bilow, Mark Hitchcock, Bobby Herrington, Todd Stewart, Jeff Ciglich, John Mulder, Chris King, Andy Lloyd, Skip McKenzie, Danny O Brien, Joe Banks, Kurtis Lee, Jason Riddell, Paul Pekkonen, Ryan Poole
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Cornwall On – This announcement was made during the Canadian DIRT Challenge promoters meeting that Jessica Zemken will be teaming up with Lasalle Motorsports for this series.
Even though she is still young, Jessica Zemken has already a lot of experience behind the wheel of a race car. She took part in dirt track go-karts, sportsman, modified, 360 and 410 sprint races. Zemken had a lot of success in sportsman. She was the first women to qualify in the big block feature race at Syracuse during Super DIRT week. She also raced at the famous Chili Bowl and has a few win in her short sprint car career.
Zemken, a well known and very popular driver, will be part of the 6 races of the series that take place in the months of July and August at Granby, Drummond, Mohawk, Edelweiss, Brockville and Cornwall. With her association with the Lasalle team, Jessica will have one of the best cars for the 6 races. This team finished second last year with Brian McDonald in the drivers seat.
Lasalle Motorsports who is owned by Mike and Lori Lasalle has always been one of the best team in competition at local tracks such as Edelweiss, Brockville and Cornwall. Lasalle who is also owner of Northwood 2 Construction is also involved in the racing world by there much sponsorship in modifieds and also with the Empire Super Sprints.
For 2008, Brian McDonald will concentrate on his sprint car program but he his still the main man with Lasalle Motorsports. He will be a regular with the team at Cornwall when the ESS will not be racing.
As for Zemken, along with the Canadian Series, she has many sprint car races planned ahead.
With her association a team like Lasalle Motorsports. Jessica Zemken is now a contender for the 2008 title and she will also be one of the attractions of the series.
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For Immediate Release:
Contact Info: Rich.Vleck@ASCSracing.com
Jessica Zemken to Help Carry ASCS Patriot Banner into Lucas Oil Chili Bowl
Rich Vleck, Rochester, NY (December 13, 2007)- The Northeast has a storied history at the Midwest's Chili Bowl, a tradition that Jessica Zemken hopes to continue next month in Tulsa.
Zemken, fresh off a season where she became the first female competitor to win an ASCS sanctioned event, is set to embark on her second run at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, January's largest race. She heads into the Tulsa Expo Center next month driving for a potent machine capable of winning at the end of the night.
The Sparkers, NY 21-year-old will pilot Jesse Denome's red No. 6 Spike Chassis, a ride that has seen Victory Lane a number of times with names such as Cory Krusemen and Damion Gardner behind the wheel. With such a successful background, “JZ” knows there are no excuses.
“I am honored to get the opportunity to drive for such a well established team with such great equipment,” said Zemken. “I feel very confident in my team and my ability.”
With Steve Watt of Maxwell Industries acting as Crew Chief, the ARP Fastners, Kaeding Performance, Advance Racing Shocks and Hoosier Racing Tires supported entry is expected to contend in a field that already has 300 entries. The entry list is comprised of competitors that not only come from every corner of the motorsports world, but are among the best at what they do.
“Yeah, the competition is pretty stout out in Tulsa, they are the best in the country and for myself to be considered a good racer I must be able to compete and be competitive with the best,” said Zemken when asked about her competition. “I know that because of the number of entries a lot of the week in Tulsa will be about luck. Being paired with this team, I feel there is no reason that we can't be a top contender in the 2008 Chili Bowl.”
In the 2007 Chili Bowl, Zemken was battling up near the front on her qualifying night when an on-track altercation resulted in a major crash. With the competition so intense, it all but ended the chance of the third year sprint car competitor to accomplish her goals. This time around, the focus has only intensified.
“After going out to the Chili Bowl in 2007 I feel like I have a better idea of what it's all about,” added the college student. “I know the competition I am up against and I feel as though I will be more prepared all around this year.”
Zemken is among three drivers familiar to the ASCS Patriot Region that were part of the first batch of entries that was released earlier this month. Coleman Gulick of Binghamton, NY and Glenn Styres of Ohsweken, Ontario are also making their second voyage out to the hometown of the American Sprint Car Series in pursuit of the Golden Driller Trophy.
For more information, please visit www.ChiliBowl.com, or www.ASCSracing.com.
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Jessica Zemken Makes ASCS Patriot History at Brockville
 By Rich Vleck, June 2, 2007 (Brockville, Ontario)- The Canadian fans came to Brockville Saturday to see their local hero Rick Wilson race on Saturday, they walked away though with Jessica Zemken capturing a historic ASCS Patriot win.On an evening where heavy rains hit the Brockville Ontario Speedway, the show went on with an extremely tacky racing surface, leaving the fans, as well as Jessica Zemken, more than statisfied.
Jessica Zemken took back the lead with seven laps to go in the 25-Lap A-Main to win her first career ASCS Patriot Feature, becoming the first woman to accomplish such a feat.
“I just love coming here, this is definitely my favorite track,” said the Sprakers, NY driver about a track that most people aren’t as favorable towards. “I ran here with a sportsman-modified a few years ago and always make a point to make races here.”
Zemken earned the Engler Pole Position for the second $2,000-to-win show in ASCS Patriot history by virtue of her win in the Riverside Bar and Grill Pole Dash, but would see Bryan Howland jumped to the early lead from the outside of the front row at the drop of the initial green flag.
“We had a fuel pickup problem and Bryan was a lot faster on starts so I knew the only way to get him would be lapped traffic,” said the 21-year-old competitor.
Lapped traffic was a rarity for much of the 25-lap event, with a rash of evenly spaced cautions for single car incidents. On lap 18, however, “JZ” would get a long enough green flag run to allow her to swing around two lapped cars, as well as Howland, for the race lead in one set of corners.
“This track is so much about building up momentum and I knew once I had that opening that I had to get around everyone.”
Two late race cautions would force Zemken to hold off Howland, something she was able to do with ease coming down the stretch.
 Her wing dance in Victory Lane was met with the overwhelming appraisal of the near-capacity crowd that was on hand at the ¼-mile Brockville Ontario Speedway.
Zemken took home the top prize of $2,000, put up by Riverside Bar and Grill in Gananoque, Ontario, as well as Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing and Red Bear Hand Cleaner, something that she was very appreciative to have.
“We are a low-budget team this year and have to carefully pick and choose the events we want to run,” said the first-female to also win an ASCS Patriot Heat race. “We took Thunder Alley off to make sure we were good for tonight and to make it all work and pick up the money allows us to run next week.”
Zemken’s night started off adventurous as she and John Karklin came together coming to the start of the first heat of the night. A chain reaction would result in Rick Wilson flipping his No. 42w, bending his J&J chassis and ending the local favourite’s night.
Bryan Howland was bridesmaid for the second time this season, giving him four top-3 finishes in as many starts in 2007. The Auburn, NY driver won National Parts Peddler Heat No. 3 but was still dejected about losing the event at a track where he clinched the 2005 point championship.
“This track was tough to pass on tonight and we had things go our way for most of the night but I just couldn’t find my way around the lapped cars towards the end,” said the driver of the Palm Beach Grading No. 51.
Jared Zimbardi earned partial redemption for his near-win with a third place showing in his No. 35, making it the fourth straight race where he improved of his previous top-10 finish.
Ray Preston kept his Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing No. 22 clean for the balance of the feature, crossing for his best finish of the season in fourth.
Jeff Cook’s last ASCS Patriot start at Brockville resulting in his No. 10 flipping as high as the starter’s stand, thankfully for him he was able to bring it home in the top-five on Saturday.
Geoff Quackenbush nearly had the two-spin rule imposed on him but kept the car from stalling out and charged back up to cross in sixth.
Justin Barger would have finished fourth if not for his right front tie rod breaking on the final lap, relegating him back to seventh.
Point leader Chuck Hebing tried to stay out of harms way and did so for the most part, finishing in eighth at a track that has been unkind ot him in the past.
Rookie Daniel Lampron scored his best career ASCS Patriot finish in ninth, with Darrell Quackenbush completing the top-10.
Along with Howland, John Karklin and Rookie Sensation Normand Beaudreault also scored National Parts Peddler Heat Wins. The bad thing for Beaudreault was that as he was leading by 2/3 of a lap, his motor would grenade on the final lap. He coasted across for the win but would end his night.
After a beautiful afternoon spent by most ASCS Patriot teams working on their cars at Jeff Cook’s shop in Evans Mills, NY, the rains moved in late in the afternoon. Speedway Promoter Paul Kirkland and crew had to thrash to get the track race ready after heavy rains hit the area. Even though hot laps were less than favorable, the feature was optimal conditions for lap times that were as quick as 11.97 seconds.
The ASCS Patriots return to Brockville in six weeks on July 14 for another $2,000-to-win show. The Immediate focus now shifts to Penn Can for this Friday when the Patriots join forces with their ASCS brethren from the Mid-Atlantic Region for the inaugural North-South Shootout at the Penn Can Speedway. That event will also be $2,000-to-win. For more information, visit www.ASCSracing.com.
ASCS Patriots Results: 6/2/07, Brockville Ontario Speedway, Brockville, Ontario
A-Main (25 Laps)- 1. Jessica Zemken (1z), 2. Bryan Howland (51), 3. Jared Zimbardi (35), 4. Ray Preston (22), 5. Jeff Cook (10), 6. Geoff Quackenbush (25), 7. Justin Barger (32), 8. Chuck Hebing (45) 9. Daniel Lampron (52), 10. Darrell Quackenbush (25x), 11. Scott Kreutter (52), 12. John Karklin Jr. (69), 13. April Wilson (15A), 14. Tim Kelly (12), 15. Don Adamczyk (21), 16. Rick Wilson (42w), 17. Tim Barnard (45x), 18. Normand Beaudreault (50).
Lap Leaders- Howland 1-17, Zemken 18-25.
Riverside Bar and Grill Dash (4 Laps)- 1. Jessica Zemken (1z), 2. Bryan Howland (51), 3. Jared Zimbardi (35), 4. John Karklin (69), 5. Daniel Lampron (52L).
National Parts Peddler Heats (8 Laps Each)-
Race 1: 1. John Karklin (69), 2. Jessica Zemken (1z), 3. Jared Zimbardi (35), 4. Chuck Hebing (45), 5. Jeff Cook (10), 6. Rick Wilson (42w).
Race 2: 1. Normand Beaudreault (50), 2. Daniel Lampron (52L), 3. Ray Preston (22), 4. Don Adamczyk (21), 5. Darrell Quackenbush (25x), 6. April Wilson (15A),
Race 3: 1. Bryan Howland (51), 2. Scott Kreutter (52), 3. Geoff Quackenbush (25), 4. Tim Kelly (12), 5. Justin Barger (32), 6. Tim Barnard (45x).
Winner’s Awards-
Gananoque Riverside Bar and Grill Northern Bonus
Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing Sealing the Deal Award
Red Bear Hand Cleaner Clean Finish, Clean Hands Award
Mangus Precision Pumps Pumped Up Award
Contingency Awards-
Saldana Racing Products Half Way Leader- Howland
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger of the Night- Cook (+7)
ASI Sportswear Sharpest Move of the Race- Kreutter
Engler Machine and Tool Pole Award- Zemken
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Passing Points Award- Karklin
Kinser Air Filters Hard Luck Award- R. Wilson
ISC Racer’s Tape Keeping Things Rolling Award- Zemken, Barger, Kreutter
DMI Rear End Award- R. Wilson
M&W Aluminum Products Top-5 Award- Zimbardi
Big Toob Bleeders Lucky 7th Award- Barger
Pancho’s Racing Products J&J of the Race- Kreutter
Rod End Supply 19th Anniversary Award- Beaudreault
Ultra-Shield Race Products Top-10 Award- Cook
Leaf Racewear 11th Place Award- Kreutter
Leaf Racewear Well-Suited Finish- Preston
Dri Wash ‘n’ Guard Waterless Car Best Appear Car Award- Lampron
Pro Syn Oil Technology Cleanest Weekend- Zimbardi
Gater Racing News Hard Charger of the Season Standings presented by Red Bear Hand Cleaner- 1. Geoff Quackenbush (18), 2. Ray Preston (11), T-3. Josh Weller, Rick Wilson, Darrell Quackenbush, Jeff Cook (9).
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