VARIN “KING OF DIRT” AT A/S
VARIN “KING OF DIRT” Miller Cashes In Big In “Street Stock Nationals”
Story By: Matt Keith/Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Photos By: Mark Brown/RacersGuide.com
Malta, New York (September 15, 2017 ) – Bobby Varin came to Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night and drove away with the $3,000 payday in the “King of the Dirt 358 Nationals.
Starting from the third spot by virtue of the draw, Varin stalked the leaders early in the 40-lap race. On lap 29 he pulled a slide job on Jeremy Wilder, who had led from the get-go. Coming out of turn 2 Wilder went a bit high and Varin dove underneath him to the take the lead. From there he would pull away.
Demetrios Drellos would get by Wilder on Lap 36 for second. Wilder would finish third. Matt Delorenzo slipped by Tremont at the finish line for fourth and Tremont ended up fifth Current point leaders on the “King of the Dirt Series” Marc Johnson and Neil Stratton finished right next to each other with Stratton in ninth and Johnson tenth.
“The Wheelman” Randy Miller drove to a dominating victory in the $1,000 to win “Classic Muscle Parts Street Stock Nationals.” Miller took the lead on Lap 2 from Paul Mulrain and led the remaining 29 laps of the 30-lap feature almost unchallenged.
Joey Wilson, who had a couple of shots at Miller on restarts, settled for second. Jeff Meltz Sr., who challenged for the lead early, was in third with David Cook getting up for fourth. Albany-Saratoga Speedway 2017 Street Stock champion Al Relyea rebounded to finish fifth after an early race altercation.
Jay Fitzgerald, owner of Classic Muscle Parts, was elated with the way the race turned out. “I was happy with the turnout of cars for the race and the fact that everyone got to race. It was nice to see a support division be rewarded for their hard work with a little extra pay. Big thanks to Lyle DeVore as he basically let me run the race and be the promoter for the whole thing.”
Tim Hartman Jr. led from start to finish in the 25-lap Sportsman Feature. The win was the second of the season and second in a row for Hartman. Connor Cleveland was second, James Meehan, a recent graduate from the Limited Sportsman, finished in third with Dave Baranowski finishing in fourth. Jeremy Pitts came from 20th to finish in fifth.
Justin Buff led from green to checkered in the 20-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Buff picked up his first win of the year on the last night of the year. Stephen Kneer, who also looking for his first win of the season, settled for second with Paolo Pascarella finishing in third. John Stowell and Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald rounded out the top five.
In 4-Cylinder action it was Brett Horlacher won the Single Cam division with Will Ryan coming home third and winning the championship. In the Dual Cam division, Jared Powell won the race and Ben Grant captured the championship.
For the first time ever the Slingshot division raced at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway and Spencer Cherko will go down in the books as the first ever winner in that division at “The Great Race Place.”
A tough night for local favorites as Derrick McGrew Jr, son of longtime Sportsman racer Derrick McGrew, was unable to run in the heat race and finished seventh in the feature. Tanner Warner, son of 2017 Sportsman champion Rocky Warner, was involved in a crash and finished eighth.
Although the racing season has come to a close for 2017 a couple of events remain on the schedule for Albany-Saratoga Speedway. This Sunday, September 17, the track will host “The Malta Republican Committee Family Fun Day.” The event will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Senator Jim Tedisco will be the special guest. Registration for the event closed on September 15, however, walk-ins are welcome.
The cost for the event is $10 per person and $25 for a family of four (immediate family only), Children 10 and under are free.
The other remaining event takes place on Sunday, October 1. The first annual Albany-Saratoga “Fall Festival and Vendor Fair” will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free to the public. For more information or to register for a booth contact the speedway.
Malta Mudbits- With $50 for leading a lap in the Street Stock feature Randy Miller pocketed $2,475 between the lap money, the payout for the win and other contingency awards.
A violent flip in turn two during the 4-Cylinder feature saw Robert Gurney barrel roll several times off turn two and landing over the backstretch. Thankfully Gurney was not hurt.
Classic Muscle Parts that sponsored the evenings $1,000 to win “Street Stock Nationals” is mostly an online business located just minutes from the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Owner Jay Fitzgerald is a long time racer and supporter of racing and is already looking forward to sponsoring this event in 2018.
For the 2017 schedule and up-to-date Albany-Saratoga Speedway information be sure to visit:
Online at www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com
Twitter at http://twitter.com/Albany-Saratoga@Albany_Saratoga
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Instagram at albany_saratoga
About Albany-Saratoga Speedway: Conveniently located at 2671 U.S. Route 9, Malta, NY 12020 the 4/10 mile dirt track is approximately one mile North of Exit 12 off I-87. Racing takes place every Friday night at 7 p.m. from mid-April to mid-September and features DIRTcar Modifieds (Big Block / Small Block combined), DIRTcar Sportsman, Limited Sportsman, DIRTcar Pro Stocks, Street Stocks and 4-Cylinders. “The Great Race Place” grandstand gate opens at 5 p.m.; pit gate opens at 4 p.m. The facility provides the ultimate fan-friendly location for motorsports entertainment including free parking and camping.
