Malta, NY – On Thursday evening the race fans of the Capital District experienced Mother Nature’s wrath as severe storms pelted the region with heavy rain, wind and lightning. Just about 24 hours later those same race fans saw a different kind of storm, one in which the thunder came from down under!

Australia’s Peter Britten picked up the Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified feature event win in what many would call one of the best races ever on the fast, four tenths of a mile oval. The win came just over a year since Britten became the first driver from outside of North America to win a feature event at the Great Race Place.

“We do what we can,” Britten said in response to announcer Mike Warren’s claim that Batman can really fly. Britten then asked a question that received a roar so loud from the packed stands that they may have heard it down under.

“What does everyone think about Brett Hearn not winning?” Britten asked.

In other action defending Sportsman track champion Jeremy Pitts won the division’s 25 lap feature event while Rob Yetman (DIRTcar Pro Stocks), Ricky Davis (Limited Sportsman) and Randy Miller (Don Don’s Delights Street Stocks) also each reached victory lane. The entire racing program, which included a huge fireworks display and 118 entries, was completed in three and a half hours.

Pep Corradi and Neal Stratton led the stout Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified feature event to the green Corradi taking the point first. The race would see a pair of caution flags negate the attempt to start the event. The first saw fourth place starter Rich Ronca spin in between turns three and four, collecting Mark Kislowski and Matt Delorenzo. On the restart Jeff Trombley would make very hard contact with the front stretch wall, forcing another caution period. The newest driver to the Albany-Saratoga Speedway’s all-star lineup – Jeff Strunk, suffered a flat tire in the incident. He would return to the event.

Racing was finally able to get underway with Corradi taking the early lead over Neal Stratton, Hector Stratton, Mike Perrotte and Jimmy Cottrell. Neal Stratton would move to the topside and on lap two take the lead from Corradi. His father, Hector followed him past Corradi a lap later. The third of what would be five caution flags slowed the event on lap four when Matt Depew slowed on the track.

The Stratton’s remained one-two on the restart with Perrotte moving into the third position, Britten fourth and Brett Hearn fifth. Hearn, who started 15th, was tenth before the restart. On lap seven Britten moved past Hector Stratton for second while Hearn took over fourth from Perrotte. Brian Gleason came to a stop in turn two which forced the caution flag to wave for the fourth time. The restart attempt was unsuccessful as Depew, Brian Whittemore and Justin Barber tangled in turn four, which forced the caution flag to wave for the final time.

Neal Stratton would again lead on the restart with Britten, Hearn, Hector Stratton and Kenny Tremont, Jr. completing the top five. Britten would power the Troyer Race Cars backed machine out front on lap nine as Tremont moved into the fourth position. On lap 11 Hearn overtook Stratton for second while Tremont moved to third and Marc Johnson broke into the top five.

By lap 15 Britten had just shy of a ten car length lead over Hearn however that lead quickly evaporated as the duo entered extremely heavy traffic. Hearn was all over Britten by lap 18, even getting a look underneath the rising Australian star. On lap 24 the leaders were side by side working their way through slower traffic. They were three wide with Elmo Reckner and split Rich Ronca coming out of turn two.

The race for the lead was one of the best ever at the track with Britten and Hearn slicing their way through traffic. As they battled 12 time track champion Tremont started to close in. By lap 30 Tremont was on the rear deck of Hearn as Britten opened a small lead.

That small lead was all Britten needed as he brought home his second career feature win at the Great Race Place. Hearn held off Tremont for second with Marc Johnson finishing fourth and Ronnie Johnson fifth. Heat races for the 32 car field were won by Hearn, Kislowski and Neal Stratton. All drivers were eligible to start the feature event.

“That was a hell of a show,” Britten said. “I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did.”

Jeremy Pitts won the 25 lap Sportsman feature event. The win for the defending track champion and current points leader was his second of the season. Nick Anatriello would take the early lead over Timothy Davis, Andy Durie and the remainder of the 33 car starting field. Jack Speshock moved past Durie for third on lap two and set his sights on the leaders.

The first of four caution flags slowed the event on lap three when Joe Orlando broke on the front stretch. Anatriello would lead on the restart however Pitts was on the charge. Pitts moved past Jake Scarborough on lap five for fourth and then two laps later past Speshock for third. Pitts then joined Anatriello and Davis for a dandy three car battle for the lead.

On lap 11 the trio went three wide for the lead with Davis coming out on top over Pitts. Pitts would take the lead on lap 13. In the end Pitts would survive three more restarts to bring home the win over Speshock, Cody Bleau, Scarborough and Rocky Warner. Heat races for the 33 car field were won by Durie, Speshock, Scarborough and Davis. All drivers started the feature event.

Rob Yetman picked up his 19th career DIRTcar Pro Stock feature win at the track. Ed Thompson grabbed the early lead before a lap eight caution flag for a stopped Brandon Emigh set up the races first restart. On the restart Yetman was able to stay with Thompson and on lap nine took over the top spot. Yetman would go unchallenged to take the win over Robbie Speed, Thompson, Dave DePaulo and Kim Duell. A total of 17 DIRTcar Pro Stocks were pit side with heat races going to Speed and Bernie Companion.

Ricky Davis not only picked up his first career Limited Sportsman feature event win in the divisions 15 lap event, the win was his first ever in a stock car. Davis took the lead at the drop of the green and despite numerous caution flags was able to lead the entire distance for the win. Brandon Pitcher finished second with Ben Brownell third, Emily Quinn fourth and Alissa Cody fifth. Heat races for the 18 car field were won by Davis and Pitcher.

Randy Miller returned to victory lane in the Don Don’s Delights Street Stock division. Miller pulled away to the win over Jason Meltz, Scott Lawrence, Bill Duprey and Matt Mosher. A total of 18 drivers entered the event.

The Albany-Saratoga Speedway returns to action this Tuesday evening with the sixth running of Brett Hearn’s Big Show. The event is a $10,000 to win Super DIRTcar Series race for the DIRTcar Modifieds. The DIRTcar Sportsman division will also be in action in a twin 20, feature only program. Racing is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

For more information on the Albany-Saratoga Speedway including the 2014 racing schedule, photos and point standings please log on to our website at www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com.

Official Results

Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified Results (35 Laps) – 1) Peter Britten, 2) Brett Hearn, 3) Ken Tremont Jr, 4) Marc Johnson, 5) Ronnie Johnson, 6) Keith Flach, 7) Neil Stratton, 8) Mike Perrotte 9) Matt Delorenzo, 10) Hector Stratton, 11) Jimmy Cottrell, 12) Brett Wright, 13) Jeff Strunk, 14) Don Ronca, 15) Rich Scagliotta, 16) Mark Kislowski, 17) Kyle Armstrong, 18) John Lutes Jr., 19) Elmo Reckner, 20) Rich Ronca, 21) Pep Corradi, 22) Jim Nagle, 23) Brian Whittemore, 24) Brian Gleason, 25) Jeremy Wilder, 26) Justin Barber, 27) C.G. Morey, 28) Mike Minick, 29) Cass Bennett, 30) Jeff Trombley, 31) Matt Depew, DNS) Justin Boehler

Sportsman Results (25 Laps) – 1) Jeremy Pitts, 2) Jack Speshock, 3) Cody Bleau, 4) Jake Scarborough, 5) Rocky Warner, 6) Hunter Bates, 7) Tim Hartman Jr, 8) Nick Anatriello, 9) Robert Bublak, 10) Connor Cleveland, 11) Joey Scarborough, 12) Derrick McGrew, 13) Chris Johnson, 14) Dave Baranowski Jr, 15) Jack Gentile, 16) Nick Lussier, 17) Pete Jeske, 18) Mike Burdo, 19) Alex Bell, 20) Colin Bokus, 21) Bert Film, 22) Scott Duell, 23) Chad Miller, 24) Elliott Lussier, 25) Timothy Davis, 26) Olden Dwyer, 27) Cody Hunt, 28) Jon Miller, 29) Sebastien Bourque, 30) Jack Swint 31) Mike Ostrander, 32) Andy Durie 33) Joe Orlando

DIRTcar Pro Stock Results (25 Laps) – 1) Rob Yetman, 2) Robbie Speed, 3) Ed Thompson, 4) Dave Depaulo, 5) Kim Duell, 6) Ken Martin, 7) Dan Older, 8) Byron Wescott, 9) Danny Wood, 10) Randy Brownell, 11) Bernie Companion, 12) Tom Princiotta, 13) Bill Smith, 14) Brandon Emigh, DNS) Norm Loubier, DNS) Kevin Loomis, DNS) Rowdy Burch

Limited Sportsman Results (15 Laps) – 1) Ricky Davis, 2) Brandon Pitcher, 3) Ben Brownell, 4) Emily Quinn, 5) Alissa Cody, 6) Randall Soucie, 7) Anthony Alger, 8) Diana Huyck, 9) Chris Curtis, 10) Jack Bublak, 11) Andrew Buff, 12) Zach Daurio, 13) Jesse Edwards, 14) Ken Conroy, 15) Wally Potter, 16) David Emigh, 17) Shannon Donnelly, 18) Christopher Ronca

Don Don’s Delights Street Stock Results (20 Laps) – 1) Randy Miller, 2) Jason Meltz, 3) Scott Lawrence, 4) Bill Duprey, 5) Matt Mosher, 6) Yule Cook, 7) Josh Coonradt, 8) Chase Aussicker, 9) Dave Stickles, 10) Joe Wolcott, 11) Darrell Older, 12) Frank Monroe, 13) Damon Anderson, 14) Luke MacIsaac, 15) John Hayes, 16) Paul Braymer, 17) Jason Barrett, 18) David Shippee