Dirtcar Racing: Week #2 @ Airborne Speedway May 8th 2021

winning pass
Photo By: 
Nathanel Lepage

Joe Daniels (46) and Tylor Terry (44) go side by side through turn 1 as they were battling for a third at the time but at end of the night it would be a winning battle as the top two would be dqed. It would be the second week of racing for Airborne Speedway and the four weekly divisions would all be in action as around 60 cars would grace the pits. With that being said everyone would make their respected main events as there would be no need for an lcq on the night. After the heat racing would be done it would be main time and the first one up would be the Renegades division and it would be a great battle up front between Shawn Duquette, Zack and Joe Daniels, and the Terry brothers Tylor and Josh as they would switch the lead many times over the 25 laps A main. When the dust settled we thought that the winner would be Shawn Duquette but that win would be taken away as he was disqualified along with second place Zack Daniels so the win would end up in the hand of Joe Daniels. Next up would be the 30 laps main for the J+S Steel Sportsman Modified and it would be a tight battle up front all night between Nick Heywood, DJ Gonyo, Bucko Branham, and David Boisclair. Nick Heywood would lead the opening would lead the first 20 laps but would have to retire after an apparent electrical issue. So over the last ten laps, the other three would battle it out. There would be a restart with 2 laps to go with Branham and Boisclair when they raced down to the stretch Boisclair would get the win for his first at the track. Next up would be the Limited Sportsman Modified and would battle up front between Al Lajoice and Mark Fewster and after three years chasing Mark Fewster would get first win behind a Sportsman Modified after a pass in the closing laps. Then the last race of the night would be the 4 cylinder class that would see 13 cars take the green flag but after a few crashes on the night only half would see the checkered flag with the win going to Nate Smart after a great battle with Caleb Tourville. The track will be alive again next Saturday night as it will be Law Enforcement night at the track with all four divisions back in action the only change on the schedule is we will head back to our traditional start time of 7 pm. Gallery

off the corner
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Mark Fewster (411) and Blayden Arquiett (18) go side by side off of turn 2 down the back as Fewater would get his first win of his career. Gallery

Dirtcar Sportsman Modified North/East Series presented by Liquior and Wine Warehouse @ Airborne Speedway April 30th 2022

tight racing
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Jessica Powers (52) and Todd Buckwold (631) take it tight through the turn in Sportsman Modified Heat 6 race. It would the season opener for the Airborne Speedway and they would bring in the Dirtcar Sportsman North/East Series with a liquor and wine warehouse presenting the night of racing. The pits would be packed for the opening night of racing as there would be nearly 100 cars in the pits for the dour divisions on the night, Sportsman Modified, Novice Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, and the 4 Cylinders. We would start the night with the opening ceremonies and honoring once again the 2021 season champions. When the racing got underway we would start with the Sportsman Modified there were six heats and the winners would be David Boisclair, Dave Rodgers, Shane Pecore, Jamy Begor, Zach Buff, and Andrew Buff. Then next up we would have the Renegades for their two heats with wins going to Shawn Duquette and Zack Daniels. Then the Novice Sportsman Modified would have their heat and the win would go to Dale Gonyo. Then the heat racing would end with the 4 cylinders having their two hears and the winners would be Nate and Bill Doner to end the heat racing the night. Although that would not be the end of qualifying as with the large amount of Sportsman Modified they would need three Last Chance Qualifiers to finish out the field for the A-Main and the winners would be Michael Wagner, and Richie Simmons, and Beau Reeves. With all the qualifying down it would be on to the main events of the evening and the first one up would be the Taylor Rental 4 Cylinders with last year's champion Nate Smart starting on the pole he would hold upfront and get the first race win of the season but not without stiff competition from Greg Zindler and Nate Harden who would round out the top three. The next main event of the evening would be the showcase event as the Dirtcar Sportsman Modified North/East Series would take to the track for 40 laps with a packed 33 cars starting. After a few opening lap crashes the cars would be pulled to the pits and the rest of the evening would be postponed as they deemed the track unsafe as drivers were unable to see the car in front of them with the dust spray. The rest of the event including the Sportsman Modified race will be rescheduled to a later date. The Airborne Speedway will be back in action next weekend May 7th with the return of the 358 Modifieds. Gallery

for the lead
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

It would be a battle for the lead and win in the Renegades heat as Shawn Duquette and Tyler Irwin would go side by side with the win going to Shawn Duquette. Gallery

Week 2 Racing Albany-Saratoga Speedway April 23rd 2021

winning pass
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Chris Jakubbiak (357) drives to the bottom three and takes the lead and win over Zach Buff on the last lap. 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

three wide
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Jimmy Eaton (8j) Shane Henderson (9) and Jason Casey take it three-wide into turn three as they battle for position early in the Pro Stock main event. Gallery

Dirtcar Racing: Thunder on the Thousand Island Presented by St. Lawrence Radiology April 10th 2021

slide job miss
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Dirtcar Pro Stock Rob Yetman (7) attempts the slide job on Luke Horning on the last corner of the race and comes up that short. 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

late charge
Photo By: 
Josh Painter

Tyler Corcoran (64) charging late in the race on Matt Junszuck (33) as they battle for the win but the 33 would hold on for the win. Gallery

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers @ Plattsburgh Hornets Upstate New York Girls Hockey League March 24th 2021

deke defender
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid's (7) with the deke on the Hornets defender and breaks to the net. For the second time in three days, the Plattsburgh Hornets would the Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers in Girl's Hockey action. The game would look like it was going to start the same as the last meeting as the Hornets would take the 1-0 lead at the 4:30 mark of the first period on the Giroux goal. Although this time the Lakers would have an answer to the Hornets defense and get the tying goal with 90 seconds left in the opening period. In the second period, the Hornets would answer back quick to regain the one-goal lead at 2-1 on the Johnston goal. Then just over three minutes later the Hornets would strike again and get the two-goal lead on the Amanda Vaughn goal at 3-1. The Lakers would still have fought in them and cut the lead in half at 3-2 at the 6:52 mark of the second period. The Lakers would keep up their attack and would eventually get that game-tying goal at 3-3 with just over nine minutes to go in the game. Although the tie would be short-lived as the Hornets would take the lead back at 4-3 just ten seconds later. It was starting to look like the Hornets were going to get the win but with 33 seconds left in the game, the Lakers would get the tying goal with the extra attacker on the ice. The teams would head to overtime but the extra would be of no help on this night as the game would end in a 4-4 tie.Gallery

breaking in
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh's Amanda Vaughn (23) breaks down the wing and cuts in for the backhand shot. Gallery

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers @ Plattsburgh Hornets Upstate New York Girls Hockey League March 22nd 2021

tap in
Photo By: 
Eleni Tyrell

Plattsburgh's Giroux with the tap-in goal right in front. It would be an Upstate New York Girl's Hockey League contest as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers at the Amer-can North Sports Center. The game would get started well for the host Hornets as they would take the 1-0 lead 3:20 into the game on the Mackenzie Brown goal. Then at the ten-minute mark of the period, the Hornets would extend their lead to 2-0 on the Emily Vaughan goal as Brown would have the assist. Then with just over two minutes left in the game, the Hornets would strike again for a 3-0 lead again from Mackenzie Brown for the second goal of the game and third point of the contest. In the second period, the Lakers would play their hearts out and keep the Hornets off the board but the Lakers would have no answer and the game would stay 3-0 after the second period. Then about halfway through the third period, the Hornets would strike again this time from Giroux for the 4-0 lead. Then with just over five minutes left in the game, the Hornets would add one more for good measure and complete the 5-0 shutout victory on the Emily Vaughan goal. In the winning effort, the Hornets netminders would combine for a thirty-two save the night. Gallery.

breaking in
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid (7) comes down on the breakaway trying to the breakup of the shutout bid. Gallery.

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers @ Plattsburgh Hornets High School Boys Hockey March 21st 2021

slides by
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid's Rhett Darrah would slide it past Plattsbiurgh's Ty Conklin's pad to give the Hornets the two-goal lead. The teams would have a feeling out process through the early part of the first period. Eventually, Plattsburgh's Austin Lucas would get the opening goal of the game at the 6:34 mark of the first period and that's how the first period would end. In the second period though the Lakers wouldn't take long to tie the game up at one Dylan Annell goal. Then just under the five-minute mark of the second period the Lakers would take the 2-1 lead once again coming from Dylan Annell. Then in the closing seconds of the second period, Rhett Darrah would come down on the breakaway and slide it by the Hornets goalie for the 3-1 cushion. In the third period, the Hornets wouldn't go quietly as Drew Knowles would score just about at the midway mark to make it a one-goal game again at 3-2. Then with about 5:30 left in the game, the Hornets would get the tying goal to make it 3-3. Just when the game was starting to look like we were headed for overtime Rhett Darrah would strike again for his second goal of the game with 14 seconds left in the game to give the Lakers the 4-3 win. In the winning effort, the Lakers would go to 1-2 on the season while the Hornets would finish the regular season at 0-12 and will get ready for their playoff game against Northeastern Clinton on March 27th. Gallery.

Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh's Ty Conklin (31) sticks out the pad to make the stop on Saranac Lake/Lake Placid's Rhett Darrah (10). Gallery.

Beekmantown Eagles @ Plattsburgh Hornets High School Boys Hockey March 20th 2021

bodycheck
Photo By: 
Eleni Tyrell

Beekmantown's Trent Trahan (20) with bodycheck on Plattsburgh's Hayden Colburn (16) that takes him right to the ice. It would be the start of the final week of the regular season in the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Boy's Hockey season as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Beekmantown Eagles at the Amer-can North Sports Center. The game would be tight through the first half of the first period until DJ Gonyo would light the lamp at the 8:48 mark of the period on the powerplay for the 1-0 lead. Then just outside the five-minute mark of the first period, the Eagles would strike again on special teams this time from Dalton Kane on the shorthand goal for the 2-0 lead. Then at the 6:39 mark of the second period, the Hornets would get on the board and cut the lead in half a 2-1 on the Knowles goal. The Hornets would waste time getting the equalizer just 90 seconds later on the Colburn goal. Although the Eagles would answer back again on special teams with the Burdo goal with 2:15 left in the second period to regain the 3-2 lead. That's where the game would be as they entered the third period and in that period when the Eagles Sweenor would score on the powerplay to make it 4-2 just two minutes into the period. Then with just under 6 minutes to go in the game the Eagles would make it 6-2 once again on the powerplay this time the goal would go to Tetreault goal for the 5-2 victory. In the winning effort, Riley Hansen would make 22 stops as they go to 6-3-2 and Plattsburgh's Calkins would make 19 saves as they fall to 0-11 on the season.Gallery.

quick stop
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh's Hayden Colburn (16) with the quick stop that sends the snow a flying as he cuts back inside of Beekmantown's Gordie King (4). Gallery.

Ticonderoga Sentinels @ Plattsburgh Hornets Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Girl's Basketball March 15th 2021

from the wing
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh's (11) with the wide-open three from the wing for the score. It would be a matchup of winless opponents in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Girl's Basketball action as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Ticonderoga Sentinels. The game would start off good for the home hornets as they would jump out to the big lead after the first quarter at 17-6. In the second quarter, it would be a complete flip of the scrip as the Sentinels would get back into the game with a 13-3 quarter and only trail the Hornets by 1 at 20-19 at the half. When the teams returned for the second half they would play the third quarter rather tightly and the Hornets would increase their lead by the slimmest of margins at 8-6 to take a 28-25 lead into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the game would remain tight throughout and there would even be a couple of lead changes in the stanza. Although the Hornets would have enough in them to secure the 42-36 victory on the strength of a 14-11 quarter to get their first win of the season. The Hornets will look to continue their winning ways on Friday, March 19th as they travel to Clintonville and take on the Ausable Valley Patriots. Gallery

up strong
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Ticonderoga Dorsett (22)takes up front enough the basket for the scire as part 13-3 quarter. Gallery

Saranac Chiefs @ Plattsburgh Hornets High School Boys Hockey March 10th 2021

jump around
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Saranac's Zach O'Connell (12) jumps around the Hornets Ethan Kay (2) to get the shot off in the slot. It would be the start of week three of the shorten Champlain Valey Athletic Conference Boy's Hockey season as the Plattsburgh Hornets would meet up in the first of a three-game series and the offenses would be on display. The game would get off to a real quick start as both teams would score in the first thirty seconds of the game as Saranac's Landon Duprey and Plattsburgh's Bostyn Duquette would score to tie the game at one. Through the rest of the first period, the teams would combine for 5 more goals scoring for the Chiefs would be Hunter Provost, Zach O'Connell, and Nik Hamel (twice) while the Hornets would add one more this time from Hutchinson Ovios as the Chiefs had a 5-2 lead after the first period. In the second period the scoring would slow down and the Chiefs would expand their lead at the 5:29 mark of the period on the Hayden Buckley goal to make it 6-2. Although the Hornets would still have some fight in the cause at the 9:37 mark of the second period Jace Lacey would light the lamp on the powerplay and keep the game at a three-goal gap at the end of the second period. In the third period, the offense would be back as the Chiefs would score thirty seconds into the period for Zach O'Connell's second goal of the night to make it 7-3. Then just about two minutes later the Chiefs would score to make it 8-3 on the Nik Hamel hat trick goal. The scoring wouldn't stop there though as Hunter Provost would add his second of the night to make it 9-3 with just under ten minutes left in the game. Although the Hornets would try and help their cause just about a minute later on the Hayden Colburn goal. In the winning effort, Macen Mero would make 27 saves on the night and improve to 4-3 on the season while the Hornets fall to 0-7on the season. Both teams will return to action Saturday, March 13th at the Amer-can North Arena. Gallery.

scramble play
Photo By: 
Kyle Coryea

Plattsburgh's Hutchinson Ovios (13) with the goal on the scramble play in front of the net. Gallery.

Background Image