Auto Racing News - 3 November 2025

If you are headed out Sunday to the Lebanon Valley Speedway for their annual Super Swap Meet, the Lebanon Valley Kart Track is holding a Pancake Breakfast in the Speedway Club House. The breakfast will benefit the Lebanon Valley Kart Track and speedway point fund. Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m., and the Swap Meet is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Dodge City Speedway will celebrate its 2025 season at Checkers Out Speedway, located at 2299 Route 30A in Johnstown, on Friday, Nov. 7. Appetizers will be served at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $40 for ages 14 and up. Please R.S.V.P. to Paul Montenaro by Nov. 3, either through the Dodge City Speedway Facebook page messenger or by telephone. Juice Box Kart participants have been invited by Checkers Out Speedway to bring their Karts to race on the indoor track by 5 p.m. Please remember your helmet if you want to race after the banquet.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, Elmo's Speed & Supply will host its 10th annual Swap Meet on the grounds of Albany-Saratoga Speedway, 2671 Route 9 in Malta, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Nov. 8, Outdoor Motorsports and Trailer Sales, located at 3953 NY-30 in Amsterdam, will host a fall open house, vintage snowmobile show, and charity food drive from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Awards will be presented to Best in Show for various categories of sleds. On-site will be food trucks, vendors, raffles, special guests, manufacturer representatives, and promotional deals. Bring in a canned food item and receive a discount on a purchase.

On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, the Northeast Racing Products Auction, Trade Show, and Swap Meet will take place in the Exposition building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

In preparation for the 2026 season, Sportsman driver Kirsten Swartz of St. Johnsville has recently picked up a new Bicknell chassis. Dirt modified and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen continues to make daily progress in his efforts to heal and rebuild himself from injuries suffered in the horrific modified crash in Canada in late July.

The Capital District Racing Association has listed its high point earners for 2025. Tim Hartman Jr. claimed the title by sitting on top of the C.D.R.A. Sportsman Modified point standings. Taylor Wason and Nick Brundige completed the top three.

Results From Last Week's Eastern States Weekend

Last Thursday night, Orange County Fair Speedway hosted the Short Track Super Series modified division in the Hard Clay Finale. Mat Williamson was the Hot Lap Hero with a 20.904-second fast time. The six heat race winners for the 61 STSS modifieds that signed in were Matt Sheppard, Chris Raabe, Mat Williamson, Brian Calabrese, Danny Bouc, and 2025 O.C.F.S. modified track champion Jack Lehner. In the 50-lap feature, Matt Sheppard scored the win over Mat Williamson and Anthony Perrego. Matt Sheppard was also crowned the STSS North Region champion.

On Friday night, the Eastern States 50 for the sportsman division saw Jared LaBagh score the win, with Tyler Peet and A.J. Albreada filling the podium. Mat Williamson earned the pole position for the 358-modified Eastern States 100, with Matt Sheppard, Noah Walker, Brian Calabrese, Matt Stangle, and Jessica Friesen locking in the top six starting positions.

Also on Friday, Kaden Honeycutt was at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Driving the Halmar-Friesen Racing number 52, Honeycutt started fifth, finished stage one in seventh, stage two in eighth, and stage three in second.

Saturday's running of the Eastern States 100 for the 358-modified division took place on a fast and smooth track. In a thrilling finish, Anthony Perrego beat Mat Williamson to the line by only 0.056 seconds. Jessica Friesen, Felix Roy, and Brian Calabrese rounded out the top five. Jack Lehner, in the Nelson Motorsports No. 85, finished ninth.

Jessica Friesen of Sprakers had an outstanding run. After time-trialing sixth, she ran in the top five for the first half of the race and moved into second place behind Perrego when Matt Sheppard pitted around lap 95. Williamson, who had pitted earlier, charged through the field and passed Friesen in the closing laps. A top-three finish in the ESW 100 is a major accomplishment for Friesen, who runs a limited schedule.

On Sunday, Alex "Kid Rocket" Yankowski, the 21-year-old 2024 & 2025 Fonda modified champion, started on the outside of the front row and went on to claim his first victory in the iconic Eastern States-Will Cagle 200, collecting the $24,000 check. Tyler Dippel and Peter Britten filled the podium. Our other area drivers had strong showings: Jack Lehner finished fourth, Marc Johnson sixth, Max McLaughlin seventh, and Anthony Perrego eighth.

Overall, our area drivers had a very good showing at the 64th Eastern States Weekend, a weekend that they can all be proud of.