Jason Barney and Chris Busta scored impressive wins in Sprint Car and Sportsman main events last Friday night at Albany Saratoga Speedway. Barney, of Constantia, NY, who had previously competed at the track with the E.S.S. Sprints without much success, won at the speedway for the first time in the first ever appearance of the ASCS Patriot Sprint Car Club. Mike Stelter led Lap 1 but on Lap 2, Barney blasted around the outside of Stelter as they drove off Turn 2 and he proceeded to open up a sizeable lead. Bubba Broderick was running second when the caution came out on Lap 14 and coasted to a stop under the caution because his safety belts had come undone. This relegated Broderick to the rear of the pack and put two-time and defending champion Bryan Howland on Barney's back bumper. Howland kept Barney in sight as they wove their way through lapped traffic but he couldn't muster up a challenge. A caution, with two laps to go, gave Howland one last shot for the win. On the restart, Howland swung to the outside of Barney as they exited Turn 2 in a sudden move that took Barney by surprise and the two made contact sending Howland off the track. Howland recovered but would have to settle for second place as Barney raced on to the win and the $1,750 prize money that went with it. Canada's Alain Bergeron and Steve Poirer finished third and fourth with Jared Zimbardi fifth and local favorite Jessica Zemken coming home sixth.
The Sportsman feature had a shaky start. Following a minor spin on the
first attempt to go racing, a wreck involving no less than eight cars
prompted a red flag and all this happened before a single lap was
completed. On the third attempt, things went a little more smoothly as
Chris Johnson, using his front row starting spot, took off from the
pack. Chris Busta quickly moved into second place but Johnson seemed to
have everything going his way. That is until Lap 21, when the engine
blew in his #33 at nearly the same time that third-running Kory
Sandstedt had a mechanical failure in his car. Busta then had clear
sailing over the final 4 laps and recorded his 8th career win. Matt
Depew finished second nearly three seconds behind the winner. Last
week's winner, Rob Langevin, was third followed by Dave Constantino and
Pep Corradi.
The Modified Division had the night off, except for the seven drivers invited to compete in three 10-Lap races billed as a Mod Clash. Matt DeLorenzo won the first segment and Ronnie Johnson won the second.
When the money was on the line, Brett Hearn, who is undefeated at the track this season, easily won the third race over DeLorenzo, Ronnie Johnson, Kenny Tremont and Jimmy Cottrell.
As the Budget Sportsman race was getting started, the rain also started and forced the postponement of the remainder of the scheduled events, setting up a busy night of racing for this Friday, May 15.
Race time is 6:45 p.m.
On Saturday, May 16, there is an open Test and Tune Session at the track for all divisions.
The Modified Division had the night off, except for the seven drivers invited to compete in three 10-Lap races billed as a Mod Clash. Matt DeLorenzo won the first segment and Ronnie Johnson won the second.
When the money was on the line, Brett Hearn, who is undefeated at the track this season, easily won the third race over DeLorenzo, Ronnie Johnson, Kenny Tremont and Jimmy Cottrell.
As the Budget Sportsman race was getting started, the rain also started and forced the postponement of the remainder of the scheduled events, setting up a busy night of racing for this Friday, May 15.
Race time is 6:45 p.m.
On Saturday, May 16, there is an open Test and Tune Session at the track for all divisions.
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