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