DIRTcar Track Spotlight: Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Albany-Saratoga Speedway is a 4/10-mile dirt oval located in Malta, NY, situated between Albany and historic horse racing hub Saratoga, NY. The track opened in 1965 and is currently owned by Howard Commander and operated by Lyle DeVore.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway, or simply “Malta” to some, has featured some of the greatest drivers of all time to wheel a Big-Block Modified. And that’s just their weekly show. Special events like Brett Hearn’s Big Show are fan favorites at the Great Race Place. Last year, the high-paying Big Show and NAPA Super DIRT Week Qualifier drew over 50 drivers for the event’s tenth anniversary, including NASCAR personality and UMP Modified driver Kenny Wallace.
This year, the Big Show XI is on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, and pays $11,111 to-win. Big Show promoter and Super DIRTcar Series star Brett Hearn is the winningest driver in Albany-Saratoga Speedway history with 133 checkered flags to his credit. Hearn is looking to hold on to the $11,111 for himself, but the stars and cars of the Super DIRTcar Series are keen to take the bounty.
Each Friday night, Albany-Saratoga Speedway features three DIRTcar Northeast divisions in the Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship: Big-Block Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds, and Pro Stocks. Each race contributes points to the lucrative Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly $37,750 point fund that gets paid out in addition to the track’s own points fund in November.
The competition has remained at the premier level in the Big-Block Modified division for decades. Weekly racers include Brett Hearn, Marc Johnson, Ronnie Johnson, Kenny Tremont Jr., Keith Flach, and many more. Jack Lehner raced there weekly in 2018, and he’ll be taking what he learned to the Super DIRTcar Series full-time in 2019 in a bid to become Rookie of the Year. Peter Britten recently announced that he is returning to the track each Friday night as well.
In the Sportsman Modified ranks, Tim Hartman Jr., Connor Cleveland, and Chris Johnson took the top three in points at the Malta race track in 2018. Their weekly battles are worth the price of admission. The top two drivers were only separated by six points.
The always exciting, fender-bending Pro Stocks are another highlight on the weekly racing schedule. You could throw a blanket over the top five every night. In 2018 Kenny Martin took the Track Championship with hot shoes Jason Corbin, Chuck Dumblewski, Josh Coonradt, and Kim Duell right behind him.
Make a visit to Albany-Saratoga Speedway an all-out family weekend! Lebanon Valley Speedway races weekly on Saturday nights, so that’s back-to-back Big-Block Modified racing action at your disposal. You can also catch another type of horsepower at the nearby Saratoga Race Course for thoroughbred horses. The region is scenic and historic. The area is dotted with state parks, museums, and shopping all a short distance away from the track.
Visit www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com to stay up to date!
2019 Albany-Saratoga Speedway schedule:
SUN April 7, 2019, Spring Swap Meet | Track Tech & Safety Inspection Gate Opens at 12:00 pm
FRI April 12 Practice All Divisions Pit Gate Opens at 3:00 pm for Inspection | Practice 6:00-9:00 pm
Free Grandstand Admission, $20 Pit Admission
FRI April 19 Come ‘N Get It! 2019 SEASON OPENER 54 Lap Modified Shootout $5,400 to Win! Sponsored by BART Contracting and Schaghticoke Wine & Spirits (WD) | KIDS FREE | Rain date Tuesday
FRI 4/23 April 26 Andy’s Speed Pick 5 Sportsman Special Free General Admission Passes to Lebanon Valley for the kids! (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
FRI May 3 VP Small Engine Fuels Night Native Pride Geronimo $1,000 to win Sportsman (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
FRI May 10 “HOOSIER MAMA” Mother’s Day Special LIMITED SPORTSMAN 25 Laps (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
TUES May 14 Open Practice All Divisions Gates Open at 4:00 pm | Practice 5:00-8:00 pm Free Grandstand Admission | $20 Pit Admission
FRI May 17 LAW ENFORCEMENT NIGHT $3,000 to win Modifieds | Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds (WD)
FRI May 24 Sportsman Shootout Series $1,000 to Win sponsored by Dean’s Electrical Service Kiddie Rides at 6:30 pm (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
FRI May 31 NYSSCA Night SPORTSMAN $1,000 to Win sponsored by Greg Davis Towing (WD)
SUN June 2 ELECTRIC CITY RIDERS AMA Motorcycle & 4-Wheeler Races & Swap Meet Gates Open at 11:00 am | Racing at Noon | Adults $10, Kids 11 & Under $2
FRI June 7 KING OF DIRT Sportsman RAY GALUSHA MEMORIAL 4-Cylinder Race $400 to Win Each (Single & Dual Cam) FREE KIDS BIKE RAFFLE!! (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
MON June 10 Cruise-Ins All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Years Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm
FRI June 14 “HOOSIER DADDY” Father’s Day Special EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS John Morris Sr. Memorial Street Stock 30 Laps Modified & Sprint Heats (features only for all other divisions) (WD) | Adults $16, Kids 11 & Under $2
FRI June 21 DMA USAC Bear Ridge Speedway Midgets Native Pride Red Cloud 25 Lap Street Stocks (WD)
TUES June 25 Brett Hearn’s The BIG SHOW 11 $11,111 to WIN 111 Lap Modified DIRTcar Series Event Plus Sportsman!! Adults $26, Kids 11 & Under $5 | Pit Admission Lic $35 Non Lic $40 | Rain Date Wednesday 7/10
FRI June 28 MASSIVE 4th of JULY CELEBRATION with FIREWORKS!! Honoring the Military Sportsman Shootout Series $1,000 to Win sponsored by Dean’s Electrical Service (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | Adults $14, Kids 11 & Under $2
FRI July 5 DON HORNING MEMORIAL $4,000 to Win Modified Main Event $250 Modified Heat Winners $1,000 to Win SPORTSMAN SPECTACULAR Native Pride Ira Hayes Limited Sportsman (WD)
MON July 8 Cruise-Ins All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Years Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm
FRI July 12 5th Annual Mark Hughes SPORTSMAN REMEMBRANCE RACE Andy’s Speed Pick 5 Modified Special (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
FRI July 19 $1,000 to win KING OF DIRT 35 Lap Pro Stock Throwdown for the Crown sponsored by Stone Motorsports Sportsman Shootout Series $1,000 to Win sponsored by Dean’s Electrical Service (WD)
FRI July 26 STAN DA MAN’s 32 NIGHT! $3,200 to win Modifieds Native Pride Sitting Bull 32 Lap Pro Stocks (WD)
FRI August 2 JOHN GRADY MEMORIAL Nostalgia Night DMNT Vintage Modifieds $3,000 to Win Modifieds | $1,000 to Win Sportsman (WD)
FRI August 9 CRSA Sprint Cars Bart Contracting $1,000 to Win Pro Stock Modified, Pro Stock & Sprint Heats (features only for all other divisions) (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | Adults $14, Kids 11 & Under $2
MON August 12 Cruise-Ins All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Year Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm
FRI August 16 DMA USAC Bear Ridge Speedway Midgets (WD)
FRI August 23 KIDS NIGHT Free Admission for Kids! Kiddie Rides at 6:30 pm plus Back to School Backpack Giveaway (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
FRI August 30 Native Pride Crazy Horse $2,500 to Win MODIFIED FINALE Final Night of Points Modified, Sportsman & Pro Stock (WD) plus 4-Cylinders
FRI Sept 6 $5,000 to Win 1st ANNUAL FALL PRO STOCK CLASSIC KING OF DIRT Northeast Crate Nationals FIRE & RESCUE NIGHT Limited Sportsman, Street Stock | Adults $14, Kids 11 & under $2
MON Sept 9 Cruise-Ins All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Years Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm
FRI Sept 13 KING OF DIRT Small Block Gold Rush 35 Laps $3,000 to Win sponsored by Lebanon Springs Excavating Sportsman, Limited Sportsman, Street Stock plus 4-Cylinders | Adults $14, Kids 11 & Under $2
FRI Sept 20 Tom Clothier Trucking Suicide Prevention Awareness $2,500 to Win Small Block Modified
Modified Warm-Ups $500 Bonus for Quick Timer! SPORTSMAN sponsored by Dean’s Electrical Service
Street Stock plus 4-Cylinders | Adults $14, Kids 11 & Under $5
SAT Sept 21 Super DIRTcar Modified Series, DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Limited Sportsman | Adults $26, Kids 11 & Under $5 | Rain Date Sunday 9/22
DIRTcar Racing is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game) and NAPA Auto Parts (SDS). Contingency sponsors include: ASI Race Wear (SDS), Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux, Dig Safely, Cometic Gasket (SDS), COMP Cams (SDS),DART (SDS),Fox Shox (SDS), Intercomp, JE Pistons (SDS), KSE Racing Products (SDS), MSD (SDS), and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum) (SDS); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Beyea Headers,FireAde,Racing Electronics and TNT Rescue.
Sources: Joe Grabianowski, DIRTcar NE PR