Sam Reakes IV 2012 Season in Review; Early Season Win and Several Great Finishes Highlight 2012 Rookie Season With Empire Super Sprints

When Sam Reakes made the move to a 360 Sprint Car full time in 2012, he really didn’t know what to expect as far as on track results.  There are many tough competitors that have been racing many years with the Empire Super Sprints, and he figured he was in for a great challenge.  He went into the first ESS race of the season at Can Am Motorsports Park, and dominated the night’s A-main, and holding off a multi-time series champion in the process.  Throughout the course of the season there were several other strong runs, and some struggles along the way, but overall, 2012 was a great success.

After winning that first race at Can Am on the opening night for the Empire Super Sprints back in April, Sam went on to race in another 16 events.  He finished 10^th overall in ESS points, fifth in the Universal American Stars & Stripes Series, sixth in the SUNY Canton Series, and fourth in the AKS Firearms Top Gun Central New York Tour. In addition to the win, he also posted a strong second place finish back at Can Am on July 7^th and reached the podium again at Utica Rome Speedway on July 25^th.  He finished the year with four top five finishes, and seven top ten finishes and was second overall in the battle for the Empire Super Sprints Rookie of the Year.

“We had a great season really, considering it was our first year in the division”, says Reakes.  “The Empire Super Sprints are one of the toughest forms of sprint car racing in the country and to go and win with 38 cars in the pits on opening night was pretty special for us.  We had some ups and downs throughout the season but overall we are pretty happy with it”.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

“We are really looking forward to the 2013 season with the Empire Super Sprints.  We have our car apart now and are changing our engine program next year to Port City in Oswego who are known for the engine work with the Super Modifieds”, says Reakes.  “We may also be making other changes to our program, but nothing is set in stone yet. 

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes IV Gets Top 10 Finish in Empire Super Sprint Finale at Fonda Speedway on Sunday Afternoon; Brockville Speedway Coming up Next

It was a very successful rookie campaign for Sam Reakes IV with the Empire Super Sprints.  He picked up a feature win, and numerous top five and top 10 finishes.  He finished the year inside the top ten in the ESS points standings and was top five in the ESS American Series.  He closed out the 2012 ESS season this past weekend at Fonda Speedway.

The rain held off on Saturday at Fonda just long enough to get the qualifying races in.  The A-main would be postponed until Sunday afternoon.  Reakes finished his qualifying heat in fourth place, and started Sunday’s feature event from ninth place.  It was a bit of a struggle throughout the race, but Sam finished the 25 lap A-main with an eighth place finish.

“We tightened the car up too much before the feature, expecting the track to be really dry and slick, but it ended up taking some rubber down, and we were just lucky to stay inside the top 10”, says Reakes.  “It was a good rookie year for us, finishing inside the top 10 in points, and top five in the American Series”.

Just one more event remains on the schedule in 2012 for Sam Reakes IV.  He will travel to Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday, October 13^th for their Sprint Car open event in conjunction with the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals.

“We are really looking forward to getting back up to Brockville next month”, says Reakes.  “We have run well there in the past, and we have some great friends up at that track.  It will be a great weekend for sure”.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes IV Looking for Success as He Makes First Ever Appearance at the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals at Ohsweken Speedway

With his rookie season winding down on the Empire Super Sprint tour, Sam Reakes IV will embark on his first ever appearance at the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals this coming weekend at Ohsweken Speedway.  Friday night is the Ohsweken Shootout and the appropriately named “Night Before the Nationals”. Saturday night will be the 8^th Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals.

After an 11^th place finish last weekend in his fourth and final visit to Utica Rome Speedway, Reakes has been busy preparing for this weekend’s event.  Ohsweken Speedway is located between Hamilton and London, Ontario approximately 5 hours from Reakes’ Fulton, NY home.   

“I have heard a lot about the Ohsweken track and how nice it is, so we are pretty excited about making our first trip to the track”, says Reakes.  “There is going to be a lot of great race teams on hand, and I look forward to seeing where we stack up against some of the best Sprint Car teams between the two countries”.

The following weekend will be the Empire Super Sprints season finale at the famed Fonda Speedway on Saturday, September 22^nd.  Reakes will be looking to improve on his seventh place finish in his first ever start at Fonda Speedway earlier this season.  Following the Fonda event, Reakes will return to action on Saturday, October 13^th at the Brockville Ontario Speedway for the DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals to conclude the 2012 racing season.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes Has Outstanding Top Five Finish on Friday Night at Brewerton Speedway With Empire Super Sprints; Wins Dash for Cash

Running with the Empire Super Sprints typically requires a lot of travel time, and Sam Reakes IV and his team have done plenty of traveling this season with the popular Sprint Car club, but there is nothing better when a home track hosts the nights events and traveling time is a mere 15 minutes up the road. Reakes faced that this week as Brewerton Speedway hosted the Empire Super Sprints this past Friday night.

Reakes began the night by posting the sixth fastest speed in opening practice, and then took advantage of a front row starting spot in his qualifying heat race to pick up the win. By winning the heat, he earned a spot in the Dash for Cash, and brought home the win, earning his first Apex X-1 Race Cars/Cobra Coaches Dash for Cash. He started the A-main for from third place, and battled amongst the top five for the entire distance, finishing with a very strong fourth place result.

“It is always fun racing here close to home”, says Reakes after the race. “We have a great local fan base, and it is nice to be running near the front with such a competitive field of cars here”.

The next race on the schedule for Reakes will come on Labor Day Weekend as the Empire Super Sprints make their final visit of 2012 to Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday, September 2nd.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints. These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes Gets Sixth Place Finish in Front of a Packed Crowd at Canandaigua Motorsports Park With the Empire Super Sprints

After a couple weeks off, Sam Reakes was looking forward to getting back into the Sprint Car with a pair of events lined up.  The first race on the schedule was Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, New York, and then off to Canandaigua Motorsports Park for their night with the stars, as NASCAR star Tony Stewart, and JJ Yeley were both in competition with the Empire Super Sprints.

A steady rain forced track officials to cancel Albany-Saratoga’s Empire Super Sprints event on Friday.  After being off for a while, Sam was disappointed that the event was canceled, as he was looking forward to his first trip to the track.  Attention soon shifted to Saturday night, with a much better forecast expected for Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

After finishing third in his qualifier, and locking himself into the redraw for a top 12 starting spot in the A-man, Reakes was ready for the 25 lap feature race.  By luck of the draw, he started up front, and held the lead for the first seven laps of the race, with a strong contingent of former ESS champions and Tony Stewart in hot pursuit.  The handling started to go away on the car as the race progressed, and Reakes finished with a strong sixth place run.

“I’m not sure if the tires started to glaze over or what, but we were really good through the first few laps, and the handling started to go”, says Reakes after the race.  “Overall, it was a good night, finishing behind four ESS champions, and Tony Stewart, who has won just about everything”.

Coming up next for Reakes will be the Empire Super Sprints return to Brewerton Speedway this coming Friday night, August 17^th.  Brewerton is a home track for Reakes, and would like nothing more then to have a strong run in front of his local fans, and advance up the standings from his current ninth place position.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes Gets Strong Third Place Finish at Utica Rome Speedway; Will Return to Action August 10th and 11th at Albany-Saratoga and Canandaigua

Although Sammy Reakes and the rest of the Empire Super Sprints don’t have a home track, Utica Rome Speedway is the closest thing to it, as they are on the schedule four times throughout the 2012 season.  Reakes has been fast on two prior visits to the track this season, but has struggled to get the results they had deserved. Sammy was looking forward to getting back to the track for a third time this season, and hoping for better results.

On Wednesday night at Utica Rome Speedway, Reakes finished third in his qualifying heat, making the redraw for the A-Main.  Sam would start on the outside of the front row for the 25 lap event, but fell to fourth at the start of the race.  He fought back though, and by lap five he was back up to third.  He maintained that position throughout the rest of the caution free event.

“It is awesome to get a good finish here at Utica Rome tonight.  We haven’t had much luck here all season”, says Reakes after the race.  “We probably could have had a couple top ten finishes here earlier this year, but we had some late race problems that hindered us in the past”.

Sammy will have a couple weeks off before his next scheduled event as the Empire Super Sprints return to action at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, New York on Friday, August 10^th.  The following day, they make the long drive up I-90 to Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Saturday, August 11^th.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes Continues Can Am Success With Second Place Finish; 12th Place Finish in First Career Empire Super Sprint Start at Mohawk Raceway

This past weekend Sam Reakes IV traveled back Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night.  He made the trip just one month ago, but never made it on the track as they got rained out.  He returned this week to make his first ever Empire Super Sprint start at the Hogansburg, New York track.  On Saturday night, Reakes returned to Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park, the site of his first career win on their last visit to the track back in April.

At Mohawk Raceway, Reakes finished sixth in his qualifying heat race, placing him 16^th at the start of the 25 lap A-Main.  Reakes moved up to 12^th before the finish, gaining valuable experience on the fast half mile.

Reakes was looking forward to returning to Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park on Saturday night, looking to duplicate his performance from the ESS opener back in April where he led the entire distance from start to finish in a dominating performance after just a couple of starts with the Empire Super Sprints in 2011.  The night started well with a second place finish in his qualifier placing him in the redraw.  Sammy started the race from sixth place, and by lap two he was up to second.  The entire 25 lap distance went green to checkers, and Reakes was unable to mount a challenge for the lead.

“The car was good in the beginning but if faded there at the end,” said Reakes.  “I think I was over driving it when I got into lapped traffic, and the car was better than it showed but the Cobra (Chuck Hebing) got the better of the Honey Badger (Reakes) tonight.  We had three DNF’s in a row there, so to come back out to get a second to probably the best guy out there we’ll take it.”

After a week off with the Empire Super Sprints, Reakes will return to the track on Friday, July 20^th back at Mohawk International Raceway as a makeup show for their June 8^th rainout.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes Has Up and Down Day at Utica Rome Speedway; Preparing for Busy Week of Empire Super Sprint Racing

Although the end result wasn’t what Sam Reakes IV wanted at Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday night, he takes some solace in the fact that despite some bad luck the car was fast, and the only thing that spoiled what would have been a top ten run was issues with his brakes.

Reakes finished his qualifying heat race in fourth place, but a build up of mud in the right rear tire would have made for an even better finish.  In the redraw, Reakes selected the third starting spot, and lined up on the inside of row two for the 25 lap main event.  Sam fought brake issues throughout the evening, but was running solidly inside the top ten through lap 15.  Just a couple laps later, the maser cylinder went, causing him to fall back through the field to a disappointing 19^th place finish.

“The car was fast, and we were doing well despite the brake issues, and it looked like we were going to have a good top ten finish before the master cylinder went away with six laps to go”, says Reakes.

This coming week will be busy for Reakes with a race at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, New York on Tuesday night with the Empire Super Sprints.  This coming weekend, the sprints return to Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, New York on Friday night, and Can Am Motorsports Park on Saturday.

“I am really looking forward to racing at Rolling Wheels on Tuesday”, says Reakes.  “We won the championship there last year in the Sportsman division, and have had some success at the track in the past, and hopefully that will continue with the Sprint car”.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes Has Tough Night at Lebanon Valley With Empire Super Sprints

The 2012 racing season is definitely a learning experience for Fulton, New York racer Sam Reakes IV.  Although he got a win in the Empire Super Sprints opener at Can Am back in April, Reakes has been seeking consistency as we get into the summer months.  Reakes traveled to Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, New York this past Saturday night, looking for a solid run.

Like many tracks that Reakes will visit this season, it was his first ever race at Lebanon Valley Speedway.  The fast high-banked track produced very fast speed throughout the evening.  Reakes started the night with qualifying heats, and rebounded to finish fifth after having some front wing issues.  In the 25 lap main event, he started 13^th and was moving forward until a car in front of him took his lane away, and ending up in the wall, ending his night early.

“We were racing hard, and the car in front of us took our lane away, causing to lose air on the wing, and the car just wouldn’t turn, and we ended up with some heavy damage after contact with the wall”, says Reakes.  “It was a tough night here a Lebanon Valley, but we will take some consolation in the fact that the car was fast, and hopefully when we come back here again next year, we will have some better luck”.

The next race on the schedule for Sam Reakes will be Sunday July 1^st at Utica Rome Speedway in Vernon, New York.  From there, Reakes will travel to Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, New York for a rare Tuesday night show on the eve of Independence Day.  The following Saturday, July 7^th, Reakes will return to Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park, the site of his first career Sprint Car win back in April.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our brand new website, www.samreakes.com.

It was almost a month to the day since his last start with the Empire Super Sprints that resulted in Sam Reakes first career win.  The impressive rookie was back in action this weekend, as the ESS club resumed their season with events scheduled at the legendary Fonda Speedway on Saturday night, and Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday.

For Reakes, he had never raced at Fonda in any division prior to Saturday night, but that didn’t slow down the “Honey Badger”, as he went out and set fast time in opening practice.  In his qualifying heat, Reakes started from fourth place, and moved up to third at the finish making the redraw.  For the second time in as many starts this season, Reakes would draw the pole position for the A-main.  Reakes ran well through the first 15 laps of the event, running in the third position, but lapped traffic played havoc on the rookie, and he would fall back to finish seventh.

“It was a great run for us, the car was really fast”, says Reakes.  “I hard a real hard time getting through the traffic as well as some of the veterans did, and we slid back a little over the final ten laps, but overall the car was good”.

At Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday, Reakes started off with a bad draw, and wasn’t able to find the handle on the car until the A-main.  He was running inside the top ten with six laps to go, but went off of the track with a broken right front shock.  He returned to salvage a 14^th place finish.

Sam Reakes would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during a very exciting rookie season with the Empire Super Sprints.  These sponsors include Whittaker’s Cars and Trux, Around Town Plumbing and Heating, Town Mechanical, Alpine Stars, All Phase Construction, Advanced Hearing Aid Centers, Billings Automotive and Mike Woodring Racing.

For more information on Sam Reakes, including updated race schedule, photos, results and sponsor information, please visit our brand new website, www.samreakes.com.

Sam Reakes IV Holds Off Veterans in Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Opener at Can-Am

LAFARGEVILLE, NY - Sammy Reakes IV has only a handful of sprint car starts in his career but on Saturday night in the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint opener at the Can-Am Motorsports Park the Fulton, N.Y., driver looked like a veteran as he held off a star-studded field of 35 drivers for his first ever victory in a sprint car.

“That was only our fourth race in one of these things,” said Reakes after the event.  “This was a blast.  This place was awesome tonight. It was smooth and it was fast and it really helped me being out in the clean air.  I can’t complain.”

Reakes, a former sportsman driver, decided to make the switch at the end of the 2011 season and he never dreamed that he would be able to get to Victory Lane so soon especially considering the drivers in the field.  In the closing laps Reakes was stalked by the defending series champion Chuck Hebing.

“This is awesome,” said Reakes.  “This is right up there with winning Syracuse.  It is an amazing feeling.  I never thought we’d win this early.  I thought it would be at least a year long process; I kind of feel like we are dreaming right now.”

Reakes started on the outside of the front row of the 25-lap Universal American Stars and Stripes Tour/SUNY Canton Series A-Main event on a blustery night in the North Country with Dylan Swiernik on the pole.  Before a lap could be complete a red flag was displayed as Mike Stelter and Kevin Ward Jr. came together in the middle of the track.  As they slowed up everyone behind them was forced to check up including Steve Collins who ended up getting upside down in the fourth turn.  He was uninjured in the crash but done for the event.
Once the green was displayed again it was Reakes grabbing the early lead away from Swiernik in a event that then went non-stop.  He got the jump coming off of turn four and beat Swiernik into the first corner to take the early