‘The Great Race Place’ Looks Back On 2016 Season
Story By: TOBY LAGRANGE / ALBANY SARATOGA SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
Malta, NY –December 3, 2016- When the Albany-Saratoga Speedway waved the final checkered flag of the 2016 racing season back in September, with it came the final chapter in a season that saw record card counts, large crowds and fan favorites crowned as champion.
In all 19 events were held at the Great Race Place between April 22nd and September 16th. The 2016 season was the fifth for the track under promoter Lyle DeVore.
The Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified division would see a first time track champion crowned on Labor Day Weekend. Marc Johnson brought the Johnson Family Troyer machine to victory lane four times in route to the title. After Australian Peter Britten picked up the win on opening day, Johnson made a strong, early statement by winning the next three events (April 29th, May 20th and May 27th). Johnson was the only driver to win three events in a row at the track this season outside of the Four Cylinder division.
Kenny Tremont, Jr. kicked off the month of June with the first of what would be two feature wins. The Sand Lake Slingshot also picked up the win on July 22nd. Three other drivers would reach victory lane in June. They were Brett Hearn (June 10th), Matt Delorenzo (June 17th) and Stewart Friesen (June 24th). Friesen’s success continued when Brett H earn presented the Big Show 8, which was part of the Super DIRTcar Series.
The Spraker’s driver carried his June hot streak into July where he picked up three feature wins. Hearn, Tremont and Ray Hoard also won features in July. The month of August would see Johnson, Delorenzo and Friesen pick up feature wins. Friesen would win the season’s point finale on September 2nd. Ronnie Johnson won the special Tom Clothier Trucking sponsored 40 lap event for the 358 Modifieds on September 9th and then the season finale a week later.
The final top ten in points would see Marc Johnson the track champion over Hearn, Friesen, Tremont, Ronnie Johnson, Keith Flach, Delorenzo, L.J. Lombardo, Elmo Reckner and Don Ronca. In all eight different drivers reach victory lane in 2016. They included Friesen (6), Marc Johnson (4), Hearn, Tremont, Delorenzo and Ronnie Johnson (2) and Hoard and Britten (1).
In the Sportsman division Jeremy Pitts edged out Connor Cleveland for his third track championship. Pitts opened the season with a win and became the first repeat winner of the season on June 3rd. His five total feature wins led the division. Chris Johnson was the only other driver to pick up more than one feature win during the season. His two wins came on May 20th and August 19th. A total of 14 different drivers won feature events. Picking up single event wins were Robert Bublak, Scott Duell, David Schilling, Derrick McGrew, Hunter Bates, Cody Bleau, Tim Hartman, Jr., Cleveland, Jon Miller, Jack Speshock, Joey Scarborough and Jason Gray.
The King of Dirt Sportsman Series made two stops at the track. The first was won by Cleveland on June 24th and the second by Hartman on September 9th. Hartman’s win was in the annual Northeast Crate Nationals, an event that drew 60 entries.
The final point standings would see Pitts claim the title over Cleveland, Hartman, Johnson, Chad Edwards, Bleau, Bublak, Duell, Andrew Buff and Gray.
Robbie Speed was crowned the DIRTcar Pro Stock track champion. Speed claimed five feature wins including the June 3rd King of Dirt Series event. A total of seven drivers picked up feature event wins in 2016. Speed led the way with Nick Stone (3), Walt Brown, Brandon Emigh, Kenny Martin and Dan Older, Sr. (2) and Dave DePaulo (1) following. Older won the July 8th King of Dirt Series event while Martin was victorious in the July 22nd DIRTcar Series event. In the final standings Speed was followed by Brownell, Emigh, Kim Duell and Older.
Josh Coonradt was crowned track champion in the Street Stock division. He finished the season with eight feature wins. Jason Meltz finished second in points with Jeff Meltz, Sr. third, Paul Braymer fourth and Damon Anderson fifth.
The Limited Sportsman division would see a total of 13 drivers picked up feature wins. Zach Daurio led the way with three feature wins while Jack Lehner and Nick Fretto each picked up two. Winning one feature event each were Brandon Pitcher, Anthony Alger, Rob Lanfear, Travis Billington, John Stowell, James Meehan, Dan Grignon, Derek Bornt, Jake Scarborough and Scott Bennett, Jr.
Steve Ryan (Dual Cam) and Mike Parodi (Single Cam) were crowned champions in the Greg’s Towing and Repair Four Cylinder divisions.
The management at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway is in the process of putting together the 2017 racing season. Please stay tuned to www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com for updates.
