MALTA, NY – The Albany-Saratoga Speedway is two weeks away from officially dropping the green flag on the 2014 racing season. When that green flag waves, a face that is very familiar to Capital District race fans will be in the Sportsman division starting field as a track regular for the first time.

Rocky Warner, of Gloversville, will be calling the Great Race Place home this season. The many time feature winner brings his talented Ray Sefrin owned team to the fast four tenths of a mile oval in search of feature wins and a possible track championship.

“I don’t know,” Warner said of his title hopes. “It will be tough but I wouldn’t throw my name out the window. It is kind of tough to go against guys like Jeremy (Pitts), Derrick (McGrew) and Scott Duell who have been running there every week. It is their playground and to go in there and take away their money will be tough. We are looking forward to running at Albany-Saratoga; I think we are going to be a contender.”

The team will be bringing a car that has proven itself in big events each week, a car that has already reached victory lane.

“We are going to run the car that we ran and won with at Weedsport last fall,” Warner said. Warner won the Super DIRTcar Series event at the Weedsport Speedway last October, an event that was a part of Super DIRT Week. With the dominance of Albany-Saratoga drivers during this past season’s Super DIRT Week events, it is only fitting that Warner brings this car to the Great Race Place.

Warner has made limited Sportsman, Pro Stock and Street Stock starts at Albany-Saratoga during his career. He has one career Sportsman feature win at the track. That win came on August 3^rd, 2012.

“I think it is going to be a good year for us,” Warner said. “We have won a Sportsman race there so we do have some experience there. To start with we will be a little behind in the ball game compared to the guys who have raced there weekly but we will catch up soon.”

With the team making the 45 minute tow east each week, the question remains what brings the veteran driver to Albany-Saratoga on a weekly basis?

“I like Albany-Saratoga and our sponsors and car owner wants us to be there on Friday nights,” Warner said. “There is a lot of prestige at Albany-Saratoga, the fan base is large and there are a lot of sponsor opportunities.”

As he has for the better part of a decade, Warner will be driving for car owner Ray Sefrin and the West End Towing and Repair team.

“He does an awesome job and gives us everything we need to get the job done,” Warner said of his car owner. “I will not be lacking any equipment; it will be in my hands.”

For the 2014 season Warner will be sponsored by West End Towing and Repair, RCT Roofing, Catalytic Recovery, Wendy’s Restaurants of Johnstown and Watertown, Fox Shocks, Yurkewecz Auto Sales, JSB Fabrication, NAPA Auto Parts of Johnstown and Gloversville and many others.

“I have to thank Ray and all of our sponsors,” Warner said. “There are a lot of people who help out, it is a group effort.”

Albany-Saratoga is scheduled to open its gates on Sunday April 13th for a practice session. The season opener is scheduled for Friday evening April 18th.  For more information on the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, including the full 2014 schedule please visit the track website at www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com.