Auto racing fans all have their favorite drivers but everyone enjoys seeing a driver get his first win, and that is just what the fans at Albany Saratoga Speedway were treated to last Friday night when Guilderland's Pep Corradi wheeled his car into Victory Lane. With the Modified Division having the week off, the Sportsman Division took center stage. Corradi and Kory Sandstedt led the 22 car field to the starting line with Corradi taking the lead after one lap. On the second lap, Chris Busta, hugging the inside wall, took the lead and would stay there for the next 11 laps. Corradi was never far behind and, by Lap 12, his extreme outer line was starting to pay off as he made his way back by Busta as they completed Lap 13. Using the same lane as Corradi was David Towns who, despite setting the quickest time in time trials, had to start 6th as a result of the redraw. Towns was driving the potent Ford #3 usually driven by Mark Kislowsky. Without the aid of Caution Flags, Towns made up a lot of ground taking over second place on Lap 17 and then quickly catching Corradi. However, catching was all he could do because there was no getting around Corradi on this night. Corradi, a former slingshot racer and also a long-time crew member on Jeff Trombley's Modified, wheeled his F.W.C. Construction #21 to the win, much to the delight of the fans. Towns was a very close second, followed by Busta, Matt Depew, Sandstedt, Mike Ketchhum, Rob Langevin and Mike Tholin rounding out the first 8 cars across the line.
Chuck Dickson won the 25-Lap Budget Sportsman race. Dickson started
from the pole position and led every lap despite pressure from last
week's winner Derrick McGrew and eventual second place finisher Jack
Gentile. It was Dickinson's second career win following his previous
win last August. Frank Hoard III crossed the line behind Dickinson and
Gentile with McGrew finishing fourth with Bryan Davis fifth.
Troy's Cale Kneer also led every lap of his Pro-Stock Division's feature but very nearly lost the race on the last lap. While Kneer was pacing the pack on every lap, second running Daryl Carl kept sticking his nose under Kneer coming down the front stretch and actually appeared to take the lead as they got the White Flag but just then the Caution Flag waived negating the pass. On the restart, Kneer protected his inside and cruised to his sixth career win at the speedway. Carl would have to settle for second, followed by Chuck Towslee, Rob Yetman and Kim Duell.
The Limited Division continued to impress since, for the second week in a row, their 20-Lap feature was the best race of the night. Brian O'Reilly led the first three circuits before Jon Miller nosed ahead on Lap 4. O'Reilly and Miller then swapped the lead back and forth for the next three laps. O'Reilly pulled ahead for a few laps but then it was Dan Older's turn to run side-by-side with the leader. Older took the lead on Lap13 and one lap later Tom Conroy took over second. By Lap 15, Older and Conroy ran door to door. Conroy was the leader on Lap 16 but Older, running a smooth race on the inside, retook the lead for good on Lap 17 and held on for his first win of the year. Last week's winner Dan Petronis came home third ahead of O'Reilly and Miller.
Racing continues this Friday, May 1, with all of the regular Friday night divisions. Race time is 6:45 p.m.
Troy's Cale Kneer also led every lap of his Pro-Stock Division's feature but very nearly lost the race on the last lap. While Kneer was pacing the pack on every lap, second running Daryl Carl kept sticking his nose under Kneer coming down the front stretch and actually appeared to take the lead as they got the White Flag but just then the Caution Flag waived negating the pass. On the restart, Kneer protected his inside and cruised to his sixth career win at the speedway. Carl would have to settle for second, followed by Chuck Towslee, Rob Yetman and Kim Duell.
The Limited Division continued to impress since, for the second week in a row, their 20-Lap feature was the best race of the night. Brian O'Reilly led the first three circuits before Jon Miller nosed ahead on Lap 4. O'Reilly and Miller then swapped the lead back and forth for the next three laps. O'Reilly pulled ahead for a few laps but then it was Dan Older's turn to run side-by-side with the leader. Older took the lead on Lap13 and one lap later Tom Conroy took over second. By Lap 15, Older and Conroy ran door to door. Conroy was the leader on Lap 16 but Older, running a smooth race on the inside, retook the lead for good on Lap 17 and held on for his first win of the year. Last week's winner Dan Petronis came home third ahead of O'Reilly and Miller.
Racing continues this Friday, May 1, with all of the regular Friday night divisions. Race time is 6:45 p.m.
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