MALTA – When the 2024 Super DIRTcar Series schedule was announced in late November, there was something missing.

There was only one series stop at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on the schedule.

Now we know why. Albany-Saratoga Speedway promoter Lyle DeVore was working on something special.

After discussions with Super DIRTcar Series director Dean Reynolds, DeVore has announced the creation of the “Don Davies NY Modifieds 76”.

The race will be a tribute to Don Davies, the Hall of Fame motorsports journalist who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer last August at the age of 76. Davies and his wife JoAnn had been involved in racing for over 50 years, most recently writing the popular “NY Modifieds” column for Area Auto Racing News.

“Like so many other people in racing, I have known Don and JoAnn for a long time,” said DeVore, who has been involved in a multi-year battle of his own with cancer. “But when Howie (track owner Howie Commander) and I took over the operation of Albany-Saratoga in 2012, they became more than just friends. They really helped me with the transition period and went from being friends and colleagues to being part of my family. Don’s passing was a shock to a lot of people, but now that we’ve had some time to adjust to his absence, I wanted to do something really special to preserve his legacy.”

The “Don Davies NY Modifieds 76,” which will be run on Tuesday, June 25, will be unique in that it will be run in two segments. There will be a pause after lap 46, at which time there be a draw for an inversion number, and the cars will be realigned while the field is under caution. The race will then resume with what will be a 30-lap dash to the finish around the tricky 4/10ths-mile Malta oval.

According to DeVore, lap sponsorship will be sold and he’s already been talking to Albany-Saratoga Speedway’s dedicated family of corporate partners to create bonuses that will make the “Don Davies NY Modifieds 76” a truly unique experience.

The “Don Davies NY Modifieds 76” card will also include sportsman and pro stocks. In the event of bad weather, June 26 will be the rain date.

Additional details about the “Don Davies NY Modifieds 76” will be announced throughout the spring.