8.13.15 Albany Saratoga Speedway Results
After being postponed by Mother Nature for just over a month, the seventh annual Big Show promoted by Brett Hearn took the green and when all was said and done, Jimmy Phelps made the long tow east worthwhile by picking up the big win. The win was worth $10,000 for the Baldwinsville driver and marked his first win ever at the Great Race Place. It was his first Super DIRTcar Series win since 2012.
Track regulers Matt Delorenzo and Keith Flach led the 30 car field down to the green with Delorenzo taking the BBL Companies machine out front first over Rich Scagliotta, Flach, Kenny Tremont, Jr. and Matt Sheppard. Tremont and Sheppard moved past Flach for third and fourth on lap two with Tremont taking second from Scagliotta a lap later.
The race would slow for the first time on lap five when Ballston Spa’s Jimmy Davis spun exiting turn two. Racing resumed on lap eight with Delorenzo holding the top spot over Tremont, Scagliotta, Sheppard and Phelps. Scagliotta moved past Tremont on lap nine while Danny Johnson began closing on Phelps for fifth. Jeff Trombley’s return to the Great Race Place ended on lap 15 as he took the familiar number 21J pit side. At the same time Tremont regained the second position from Scagliotta.
Stewart Friesen slowed on lap 17 to bring out the caution flag. The soon to be crowned four time Fonda Speedway track champion returned to action however ended up finishing 19th. Delorenzo remained out front when the race returned to the green flag on lap 20. Once again Scagliotta moved into second with Tremont, Phelps and Sheppard following. Phelps then began to make his way towards the front. He took over third from Tremont on lap 21 while his teammate Sheppard followed to fourth a lap later. Johnson followed the duo past Tremont for fifth a lap later.
As the event reached the one quarter mark event promoter Brett Hearn had moved past Tremont for sixth. At that time the sparks that occasionally had showed themselves from underneath the Garden State veteran’s Teo chassis machine became more frequent. While all eyes were on Hearn’s spark filled charge Phelps had moved past Scagliotta for the second position. Johnson meanwhile moved past Sheppard and Scagliotta for third on lap 27.
Hearn’s Madsen Motorsports machine slowed on lap 28 when the sparks became worse. While under the caution his team made repairs and the Jersey Jet was able to return without losing a lap. Phoenix, New York young gun Larry Wight also went to the attention of his crew during the caution. He would return and finish 13th.
When racing went back under the green on lap 31 Phelps was the new race leader. Delorenzo ran a strong second with Johnson, Sheppard and Scagliotta following. Tremont moved back into the top five on lap 34 just before Jesse Mueller slowed on the back stretch. Johnson slowed abruptly during the yellow and headed to the attention of his crew. He would finish 18th. Ronnie Johnson also headed to the pit area; he did not return and finished 26th.
Phelps held the lead when racing resumed on lap 40 with Delorenzo, Sheppard, Tremont and Billy Decker in pursuit. The driver on the move was Gary Tomkins. After starting 21st, the Clifton Springs veteran had made his way the sixth position by lap 43. Larry Wight spun on lap 51 to bring out another caution flag.
Racing returned to green on lap 54 with the top five remaining the same. Rob Pitcher slowed on lap 55 causing another restart. On the lap 58 restart the top three remained the same with Decker moving to fourth and Tomkins fifth. Following a spin by Pat Ward on lap 59 and then another by Jesse Mueller, racing resumed on lap 65 with Tomkins taking over fourth and Peter Britten fifth.
Over the final 20 laps of the race Hearn was the driver on the move. He took over sixth from Decker on lap 85 and then fifth from Britten on lap 90. With two laps to go Hearn pulled alongside of Tomkins as the two raced hard over the final laps.
In the end Phelps was too strong and brought home the big win. Delorenzo came home second in what was his best Super DIRTcar Series finish of his career, Sheppard third, Hearn fourth and Tomkins fifth. A total of 33 drivers entered the event heat races being won by Wight, Britten, Hearn and Tremont. Tomkins won the consolation event while Britten turned the overall fastest time in time trials with a lap of 15.580 seconds.
The Sportsman division was also on the card taking part in a twin 20 lap program. All 43 drivers on hand were split into the two events with everyone competing. The field was ranked via lap times during their hot lap sessions and then split in two, with the top 12 redrawing for their starting spots. Derrick McGrew set overall fast time with a lap of 16.174 seconds.
In the first event Gloversville’s Rocky Warner picked up the feature win. Warner drew the outside pole and took the green at the drop of the green. Early on track Limited Sportsman competitor Ken Conroy chased Warner from the second position. Conroy gave way to Cody Bleau and Robert Bublak on a lap three restart, dropping him to fourth. The driver that caught everyone’s attention was Accord Speedway regular Allison Ricci who after starting 11th moved to fifth in her first start at the track. In the end Warner would not be challenged, taking the win over Bublak, Bleau, Josh Sunn and Ricci.
The second event would see Nick Lussier pick up his first career Sportsman division feature win. Lussier shared the front row with New England driver Richard Simmons with Lussier taking the early lead. Joey Scarborough moved past Simmons for second on a lap one restart. As the race approached half way the top three Lussier, Scarborough and defending track champion Jeremy Pitts had pulled away from the field. In the end, Lussier held off a hard, late race challenge from Scarborough to bring home the win. Pitts settled for third with Scott Duell and Adam Pierson rounding out the top five.
The Albany-Saratoga Speedway returns to action Friday evening August 14th with all divisions in action. The CRSA RaceSaver Sprint Car Series will also be on hand. Racing is set to begin at 7pm with pit gates opening at 4pm and grandstand gates opening at 5pm. For more information about Albany-Saratoga Speedway please log on to www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com.
Official Results
The Big Show 7 – Super DIRTcar Series DIRTcar Modified Finish (100 laps) – Jimmy Phelps, Matt Delorenzo, Matt Sheppard, Brett Hearn, Gary Tomkins, Peter Britten, Billy Decker, Keith Flach, Marc Johnson, Elmo Reckner, A.J. Romano, Rich Scagliotta, Larry Wight, Tim McCreadie, Pat Ward, Brian Gleason, Jessey Mueller, Danny Johnson, Stewart Friesen, Tim Fuller, Tyler Dippel, Kenny Tremont, Jr., Dave Rauscher, Shaun Pangman, Rob Pitcher, Ronnie Johnson, Jeff Trombley, Michael Sabia, Mike Ricci, Jim Davis
DNQ – Jeff Rockefeller, Willy Auchmoody, Floyd Billington
Sportsman Feature #1 (20 laps) – Rocky Warner, Robert Bublak, Cody Bleau, Josh Sunn, Alison Ricci, Jack Gentile, Colin Bokus, Ryan Stortini, Ken Conroy, Ivan Joslin, Mike Coffey, Jr., Josh Morgan, Mike Ostrander, John Proctor, Nick Plumbstead, Joe Orlando, Bert Film, Andrew Buff, Derrick McGrew, David Schilling, Dave Baranowski, Jr.
Sportsman Feature #2 (20 laps) – Nick Lussier, Joey Scarborough, Jeremy Pitts, Scott Duell, Adam Pierson, Matt Hitchcock, Bobby Hackel, IV, Dave Constantino, Richard Simmons, Kevin Chaffee, Ray Zemken, Don Bellen, Adam Gage, Chris Ronca, Stan Lemiesz, Jack Swinton, Diana Huyck, Jon Miller, Mike Burdo, Tim Hartman, Jr., Richard Smith, Erick Mack