Week 2 of Racing Albany Saratoga Speedway April 23rd 2021

Dirtcar Racing
wheel to wheel
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Scott Duell (14x) and Connor Cleveland (09) going into turn three-wheel to the wheel as they battle for second early in the Sportsman Modified main. It would be week 2 of the 2021 season at Albany Saratoga Speedway and it would also be the return of fans to the races at the track for the first time in like 18 months although be it at a limited capacity of 20% in the stands. First up in the qualifying would be the heats for the Sportsman Modified and getting the four heats to win would be Pat Jones, Scott Duell, Dan Grignon, and Justin Miller. Then on track would be the Pro Stocks for three heats and the wins would go to Nick Stone, Chad Jeso, and Rob Yetman. Then we would have the ground-pounding Modifieds in the first heat Mike Maraseca would make a last-lap pass on Matt Depew for the win. Then in heat two, we would have another late-race pass this time by Jeremy Pitts on Derrick McGrew Jr for the win. In the third heat Anthony Pergero would take the lead on lap five over Rich Ronca and walk away with the win/ Then we would have the Limited Sportsman Modified out for three heat and in the first heat Bryce Breault would take the early lead for the win. In the second heat of the Limited Sportsman Modified, Gerald Leclair would go wire to wire for the win, and then in the third heat Zach Buff would do the same. Then the last set of heat races would be the Street Stocks for two heats and the winners would be Josh Femming and John Filarecki. Then we would have are only two last chance qualifiers on the night in the Sportsman Modified division and getting the wins would be Michael Fitzgerald and Tyler Corcoran. Then it would be back for its second year the Dash race this week in the Sportsman Modified class and getting the win is Pat Jones and the extra 200 dollars. Then all that would be left on the night would be the Mains and first up would be the Pro Stocks for 25 laps Rich Crane would start on the front row and slowly pull away from the field but there would be a late-race caution with 6 to go to bunch the field back up and have Chad Jeseo and Rob Yetman back in the hunt although it wouldn't be enough as Rich Crane would get the win. Next up on the schedule would be the 20 lap Limited Sportsman Modified and it would come down to the last lap and corner as Chris Jakubbiak would pass Gerald Leclair for the win. Then we would have the ground-pounding Modifieds and the early racing would see Michael Maresca and Anthony Peregeo battling at the front although a lapper would get in the way sending them both off. As the benefactor of that would be Jeremy Pitts and once he got the lead he would not give it up as he would secure his first career victory in the division. Then we would have the shower of 602 power as the Sportsman Modified would hit the track it would be slow getting going as there would be three cautions and we would have only one lap complete. Pat Jones would use his front row starting spot to avoid the wrecks and lead wire to wire for his second career victory. Although that wasn't to say there wasn't racing behind him as Andrew Buff would come up from 20th and get the 2nd place finish and Connor Cleveland would avoid an early crash to secure third. Then it would be the 15 laps four-cylinder race and Jaxson Ryan would walk away for his second straight win on the season. Then to finish off the night it would be the Street Stock for 15 laps as Hunter Sanchez would charge from the back of the pack for the win. The racing will return to the great race place next Friday (April 30th) for week three of the season on VP Small Engines Fuels night and Pro Stock Dash. Gallery

Thunder in the Thousand Islands Presented by St. Lawrence Radiology Can-AM Speedway April 10th 2021

Dirtcar Racing
victory celeberation
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Stewart Friesen (44) celebrates the first Super DIRTcar Series points event victory in over 470 days. It would be the official start to the 2021 Dirtcar season at the Can-AM Speedway for the Thunder on the Thousand Islands presented by St. Lawrence Radiology and would feature 47 of the best Super Dirtcar Series races along with 50 Dirtcar Sportsman Modifieds and 20 Dirtcar Pro Stocks. After the Hot Laps and qualifying first to the track for racing would be the Sportsman Modified with 5 heats of racings all the wins would be wire to wire Brian Hudson, Zach Payne, Mike Fowler, Anthony Rasmussen, and Matt Janczuk. Next to the track would be the ground-pounders of the Super Dirtcar Series that would also have 5 heats of racing and once again the leader of the start would get the victories going to Carey Terrance, Eric Rudolph, Justin Hears, Pat Ward, and Matt Shepard. Then to finish off the heat races would be the Dirtcar Pro Stocks with two heats would be Ivan Joslin and Sid Harmer but the story of the heats would b be Tyler Coonradt spinning out and finishing deep in the field and hurting his starting position for the main. Then we would have the last chance qualifiers for the Super DIRTcar Series and Sportsman Modified but before they would go there the track would be down for some track prep as they did a great job and getting an outside grove to come in and make for some great races. As for the LCQ's first would be the Sportsman Modified with two races and wins going to Gavin Eisele and Robert Gage. Then it would be the Super Dirtcar Series for two last chance qualifiers and the wins would go to David Marcuccilli and the hometown boy Jordan McCreadie and that would end the qualifying races on the evening. Now it was on to the mains and first out of the gate would be the Dirtcar Sportsman Modified for a 30 lap event, Brian Hudson would get the lead off the start and lead for the first seven laps until a spin would put them under caution. They would get back racing but for only one lap as another spin would put them under the yellow. On the ensuing restart, Mike Fowler would take the lead. Although Matt Jancauck would stay on his trail and take over the lead on lap 14 and hold the lead till the end for the victory but not without a late-race charge from Tyler Corcoran to make him work for the victory. Next up would be the main event of the evening with the Super DIRTcar Series with the Thunder in the Thousands 100 and their season would start the way it finished last year as Max McLaughlin who won the last race in Weedsport's would start on the pole tonight. Although his lead would short-lived as Tim Fuller would use his local knowledge. There would be caution on lap 17 for a spin-out but then the big one would come out as Eric Rudolph running in the top 5 would have a flat on lap 71 and bring out the caution and the restart would come with 25 to go. The front row of the restart would be Tim Fuller and Stewart Fresien and Stewie would dive bomb turn 1 and take the lead from fuller until the caution came out on lap 78 for Max McLaughlin. Although Timmy Fuller would get one last restart to try and get Stewart Fresien as Rusty Smith would have an engine go south 15 to go. Although it would not matter as Stewart Fresien would hold on and get the opening win of the season over Tim Fuller and Larry Wight. The Super DIRTcar Series will be back in action in two weeks at the end of April as they take to the high banks at Bristol Motor Speedway for the first time ever. Then to finish off the night would be the DIRTcar Pro Stock for 20 laps. The local Sid Harmer Jr would sit on the pole and lead the first five laps through a couple of cautions. Although on the fifth lap Nick Stone would go around him for the lead. Then there would be another caution on lap 8 as the 33 of Pete Schroy would have to pull in. Then on the ensuing restart, Sid Harmer would take the lead back but it would be short live cause on the next lap Luke Horning would take the lead with 5 to go. Although it would not be easy to the end as Rob Yetman would be charging up and would try last-ditch slide job off of turn four on the final lap but there wasn't enough room and Luke Horning would wrap the bumper cover off and slide under and beat to him to the checkered for the win. Gallery

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