Auto Racing News - 7 June 2024

Tonight Albany-Saratoga Speedway will host the Xtreme DIRTcar DMA midgets, along with all weekly divisions. 

 Utica-Rome Speedway will host the C.R.S.A. 305 winged sprint cars, with all weekly divisions.

 Dodge City Speedway has a regular night for all weekly divisions, plus a Money Race for the Senior Wing Champs. 

 Saturday, Fonda Speedway will host Dave Lape Memorial Night, presented by Roosevelt's Towing. There will be Dave Lape memorabilia merchandise for sale in the grandstand area and at the Fonda Speedway Museum and Hall of Fame. The race program will feature twin 22-lap features for the modified division. All weekly divisions will be in  competition, plus the rained out limited sportsman division feature from April 27 and the Swagger Factory Apparel crate 602 sportsman division feature from May 25. The museum is free to enter from the parking lot and you do not need to stay for the race program. Comedian Ginger Billy will be available for a meet & greet inside gate two from 4:30 until 5:30. before he makes his debut in a limited sportsman.

 The village of Scotia will present their 25th. annual Cruisin’ on the Avenue, Father’s Day Car Show on Sunday, June 16. Show hours are from 1:00 pm. until 5:00 pm. rain or shine, using Mohawk Avenue from Glen Avenue to Sacandaga Road. The show is open to all cars, trucks, and motorcycles of all makes, models, and years.

 I recently heard from Melissa Shoemaker-Pigliavento, Melissa is having shirts made to honor her late father Kenny "The Shoe" Shoemaker. I will be sure to pass along when the shirts become available. Although there is not a Shoemaker tribute night in 2024. 

Melissa is sure to have an event in 2025.  Making news on Albany television station WNYT 13, was the release of information in regard to the sale of the Albany-Saratoga Speedway property in Malta. Papers have been signed between owner Howard Commander and Five Corners Development Group. Tentatively the 50- acre property will be turned into mixed income affordable housing units and retail space ? It makes one wonder why it would be necessary to

eliminate an activity that brings family and friends together throughout the summer months. An activity that is part of peoples recreation, entertainment, hobbies, and jobs. The loss of the Malta

oval would leave a huge void in summertime entertainment for the whole capital district area.There obviously is other available property in Saratoga County for housing.

 Results from the past week. On Thursday night the Short Track Super Series made their first appearance at the Airborne Park Speedway near Plattsburgh for the Adirondack Invasion for the STSS modifieds, with a 70-lap feature paying $7,070. Anthony Perrego earned a hard fought

battle over Michael Maresca,  Alex Payne, Mat Williamson, and Stewart Friesen. The first 62-lapa were caution free on a dry/slick track. 

Other local drivers finished in the following order: Alex Yankowski 11th., Jack Lehner 12th., Marc Johnson 18th., Bobby Hackel IV 19th., Chris Curtis was 27th. but did not start, and Demetrios Drellos did not qualify. Lehner was credited with the Hard Charger Award as he started the 70-lap feature in position 23 and finished 12th. This was Round Number 2 for the STSS modified  North Region Series, In the companion sportsman division feature Nick Heywood scored the victory over Travis Bruno and Fire Swamp. 

 Friday at Utica-Rome Speedway the 3 Bastards Brewery modified division 30-lap feature was won by Alex Yankowski earning his first victory of 2024. Matt Janczuk and Bobby Hackel IV filled the podium.

In the Taylor’s Trailers crate 602 sportsman division 25-lap feature Mike Richmond scored the win over Payton Talbot and Josh Amodio, The Next Generation GraphiX pro stock division 20-lap feature was won by A.J. Walters, followed by  Devon Camenga and Jason Morrison. The

Limited sportsman division 15-lap feature was won by Josh Coonradt ahead of Jayden Wust, and Carson Rothwell. In the Fonda Fair 4 cylinder division Jacob Kimball earned the dual cam division victory and Wayne Russell Jr. the single cam division. The All-Star Slingshot division feature was won by Brett Putnam and the Junior slingshot division win went to Preston Trautschold, 

 At Albany-Saratoga Speedway in the NAPA DIRTcar modified division 35- lap feature Demetrios Drellos scored the win over Peter Britten and Marc Johnson. In the Ideal Excavating DIRTcar crate 602 sportsman division 25-lap feature Joey Scarborough earned the win over Craig Wholey, and  Daryl Nutting. The Saratoga Masonry Supply pro stock division 25-lap feature went to Brandon Emigh over Pete Stefanski and Kyle Hoard. The Haun Welding limited sportsman division 20-lap feature was won by Tanner Coon ahead ofNick Brundige and Chase Zimmer. The Cornell’s Auto Parts street stock division 20-lap feature went to Jason Meltz followed by Chris Stalker and P.J. Cram Jr. The Greg’s Towing 4 cylinder division 15-lap division feature saw Adam Montville win the dual cam division and  Kyle Lanfear in the single cam

division.

If you are a Demetrios Drellos follower you will notice that he has currently switched his Saturday night racing to Lebanon Valley Speedway.

 Also on Friday at Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, N.Y.  Bobby Varin scored the 30-lap modified feature win. with Alex Payne and Jeff Daugherty completing the top three.

 On Saturday at Fonda Speedway in the make up 20-lap feature from April 27 for the Leatherstocking Credit Union pro stock division Jason Morrison took his first win of 2024 at the Track of Champions. The make up Swagger Factory Apparel crate 602 sportsman 25-lap feature went to Chad Edwards

 In this weeks race for the Amsterdam Truck Center modified division 30-lap feature Mike Maresca earned his second win of the season over Rocky Warner and Bobby Hackel IV, In the Swagger Factory Apparel crate 602 sportsman division 25-lap feature Payton Talbot took the victory ahead of Chip Constantino and Brendan Gibbons. The Leatherstocking Credit Union pro stock division 20-lap feature saw A.J. Walters score the win followed by  Nick Stone and Kenny Gates. For the Montgomery County Office for Aging limited sportsman division feature Josh

Coonradt was victorious over Jeff Bobilin and Ryan Sweet. Look for Coonradt to soon move up into the regular crate 602 sportsman division. Fonda Fair 4 cylinder division 12-lap feature Kenny Hollenbeck took the overall win and was the first single cam division car and Jay Ingersoll won for the dual cam division  The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois just a few miles east of St. Louis for the Toyota 200 on Friday  Stewart Friesen qualified for the sixth starting spot for Saturday’s feature. Stewart completed stage one in the fourth position. Stage two Friesen would finish 15th., and the third stage in eighth position.

 Glen Ridge Motorsports Park held their Mohawk Valley Showdown for the Super DIRTcar Series 358 modified division. In the 50-lap Callanan Industries 358 modified division feature Lance Willix won, beating Stewart Friesen,and Jordan McCreadie to the checkered flag. In the

Ted’s Body Shop/Next Generation GraphiX DIRTcar crate 602 sportsman division 30-lap feature Zach Buff earned the win over Taylor Wason and Stephen Gray. The Yurkewecz Auto Crushers DIRTcar pro stock division feature saw Slater Baker claim the win ahead of Cousin Luke Horning and Ivan Joslin. The Limited sportsman 20-lap feature was won by Josh Coonradt over Nick Brundige and Zach Graham. The 15-lap street stock division feature was won by Jason Samrov, as he beat Josh Samrov and Matt Wells. The 15-lap Leatherstocking Credit Union DIRTcar mini stock division feature was won by Stephen Walters in the single cam division and Jordan Ryder in the dual cam division. 

 The Northeast Paving & Sealcoat slingshot  division features went to A.J. Albreada in the 15-lap All-Star senior division and Preston Trautschold in the 12-lap Junior division feature

 Big Diamond Speedway near Pottsville, Pennsylvania hosted the Super  DIRTcar Series big block modified division on Tuesday night for the Anthracite Assault 75. Stewart Friesen took the win over Anthony Perrego and Matt Sheppard. Jack Lehner finished 15 and Alex Yankowski 20.