Malta, NY – 2015 Rocky Warner came into Friday night having never won the 100 lap Northeast Crate Nationals, when all was said and done the Flying Squirrel put the Jake Spraker owned Bicknell machine in victory lane in the 2015 version at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Warner becomes the sixth different winner in the six year history of the Northeast Crate Nationals which awarded him $2,225. Josh Pieniazek won the CRSA Racesaver Sprint Car Series event while Hunter Sanchez won the 30 lap Meltz Lumber Street Stock special.

The night was a special one as track management paid respect to all fire and rescue personnel. When everyone pulled off Route Nine into the Great Race Place, they drove under a large American Flag which was hung from the top of extended ladders coming from the ladder trucks of Malta Ridge and Round Lake Fire Departments. There was also an on track parade consisting of numerous emergency vehicles from all over the area.

With 65 cars on hand for the event, a unique qualifying format set the starting field. Time trials were held for all drivers with the top six timers being locked into the redraw. The fastest times were turned by Brian Krummel (16.598 seconds), Chris Stevens (16.612 seconds), Rocky Warner (16.642 seconds), Allison Ricci (16.643 seconds), Jon Miller (16.651 seconds) and Chad Edwards (16.653 seconds).

After time trials the field competed in three, 15 lap qualifying events with four drivers qualifying directly to the feature event and the top two heading to the redraw. Those events were won by Hunter Bates, Jeremy Pitts and Derrick McGrew. A trio of consolation events added six more cars total to the feature field. Those ten lap events were won by JaMike Sowle, Jason Gray and David Schilling.

Scott Duell and Mike Tholin led the 30 car field to the green with Duell taking the early lead over Tholin, Chad Edwards, Rocky Warner and Jon Miller. Warner took third from Edwards on lap two with Brian Krummel taking fifth on lap three. The first caution flag waved on lap three as Nick Lussier had troubles in turn four. With caution laps counting for the first 75 laps, racing resumed on lap seven with Duell out front over Tholin, Warner, Edwards and Krummel. Allison Ricci slowed on lap nine to bring out another early caution.

Racing returned to green on lap 13 with Duell, Tholin and Warner setting the pace. Krummel moved to fourth with Jeremy Pitts fifth. Tholin was able to stay with Duell and get along side on lap 17. Tholin controlled the lead on lap 18 with Warner challenging Duell for second. Krummel meanwhile moved to the top side and took third from Warner and then second from Duell on lap 19.

After Chris Stevens made contact with the turn two implement tire, racing resumed with Tholin out front over Duell, Krummel, Warner and Pitts. Krummel moved back to second on lap 28. Numerous cars tangled in turn four on lap 28 to bring out the yellow. Among those that were involved were Michael Sabia and Dan Santabarbara. Racing returned to action on lap 33 with Tholin and Krummel battling for the lead. Krummel took the top spot on lap 35 with Tholin, Duell, Warner and Pitts rounding out the top five. Warner would make his way past Duell for third soon after and then on lap 40 take second from Tholin. Pitts moved past Duell for the fourth position on lap 40 as well.

The 2015 track champion Derrick McGrew took fifth from Duell on lap 43 while Pitts closed on Tholin for third. Meanwhile Krummel entered heavy slower traffic on lap 47 which allowed Warner to close in. Pitts took over third just shy of half way and by the time lap 50 clicked off Warner had closed to within a few car lengths of Krummel.

Krummel’s great run came to an end on lap 53 when his Smokers Choice number 88 went up in smoke. Warner and Pitts brought the field back to the green on lap 59 with Warner leading over Pitts, Tholin, McGrew and Hartman. Hartman took fourth from McGrew on lap 62 and set his sights on Tholin. McGrew was able to get back past a few laps later.

Connecticut’s Michael Sabia broke on the back stretch on lap 69 bringing out the caution. Racing resumed on lap 73 with Warner in the lead. McGrew took over second with Pitts third, Hartman fourth and Tholin fifth. Adam Pierson slowed on lap 79 to bring out another caution period. On the restart four drivers tangled exiting turn three. When racing resumed Warner continued to lead over McGrew, Pitts, Hartman and Josh Sunn. Duell moved past Sunn for fifth on lap 84.

In the end no one could catch Warner who picked up his first career Northeast Crate Nationals win. McGrew finished second with Hartman third, Pitts fourth and Sunn fifth.

“The top worked really well,” Warner said. “I knew some quality cars were up there but I was comfortable on the bottom. The bottom went away so I was nervous on those late restarts.”

Josh Pieniazek won the 25 lap A-Main for the CRSA Racesaver Sprint Car Series. Pieniazek and Josh Flint led the starting field down to Kenny Marshall’s green flag with Pieniazek taking the early lead. With Pieniazek out front Flint settled into second with Brian Krummel third. The caution flag waved on lap three for a spin in turn three. On the restart Pieniazek held the lead with Krummel challenging Flint for second. Flint held Krummel off until lap six when he was forced back to third over Kyle and Brett Jaycox.

Pieniazek entered lapped traffic for the first time on lap 11 which allowed Krummel to close in. Krummel took a look under Pieniazek on lap 12 however at the same time, a few car lengths in front of them Mark Taylor spun in turn two. When racing resumed the top four remained the same with a battle brewing for the fifth spot. John Matrafailo spun on lap 13 to bring out the caution flag. On the restart the top four again remained the same with Cory Sparks moving to fifth.

On lap 16 Christian Rumsey took fifth from Sparks and began to close on Smith. Mike Kiser spun in turn two on lap 19 to bring out the caution flag. On the restart Pieniazek continued to lead. He pulled away by lap 22 and held on for the win over Krummel, Flint, Rumsey and Smith. Heat races for the 23 CRSA Racesaver Sprint Cars were won by Smith, Chuck Alessi and Sparks.

“I have been racing here for years,” Pieniazek said. “I have always wanted to win at one of my home tracks.”

Hunter Sanchez won the 30 lap Meltz Lumber Street Stock special. Sanchez started sixth in the event and took over the race lead before lap one was completed. Once out front Sanchez pulled away to pick up the win. Bill Duprey finished second with Josh Coonradt third, Jason Meltz fourth and Nathan Dahoda fifth. Heat races for the 22 Street Stocks on hand were won by Duprey, Sanchez and John Filarecki.

The Albany-Saratoga Speedway returns to action Friday evening September 18th with the final stock car program of the season. The Sportsman division will compete in a 50 lap event while the Empire Lightning Sprints, Street Stocks and Greg’s Towing and Repair Four Cylinders will be on the card. Racing is set to begin at 7pm with pit gates opening at 4pm and grandstand gates opening at 5pm. For more information about Albany-Saratoga Speedway please log on to www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com.

Northeast Crate Nationals Sportsman Results (100 Laps) – 1) Rocky Warner, 2) Derrick McGrew, 3) Tim Hartman Jr, 4) Jeremy Pitts, 5) Josh Sunn, 6) Scott Duell, 7) Kevin Chaffee, 8) Brian Pressolano, 9) Chad Edwards, 10) David Schilling, 11) Mike Tholin, 12) Connor Cleveland, 13) Hunter Bates, 14) Cody Bleau, 15) Matt Hitchcock, 16) Nick Anatriello, 17) Allison Ricci, 18) Jon Miller, 19) Andrew Buff, 20) Jason Gray, 21) Dave Constantino, 22) Adam Pierson, 23) Chris Schaffer, 24) Michael Sabia, 25) Brian Krummel, 26) Joey Scarborough, 27) Nick Lussier, 28) Chris Steven, 29) Dan Santabarbara, 30) Jamike Sowle, DNS) Steve Abt, DNS) Matt Atwood, DNS) Scott Bennett Jr, DNS) Robert Bublak, DNS) Mike Coffey, DNS) Justin Comes, DNS) Ken Conroy, DNS) Danny Cronk, DNS) Shannon Donnelly, DNS) Doug Flynn, DNS) Adam Gage, DNS) Jack Gentile, DNS) Kurtis Hohensheldt, DNS) Nick Hotaling, DNS) Diana Huyck, DNS) Pete Jeske, DNS) Tyler Johnston, DNS) Pat Jones, DNS) Jim Kraus, DNS) Rob Lanfear, DNS) Greg McCloskey, DNS) Jim Morgan, DNS) Joe Orlando, DNS) Mike Ostrander, DNS) John Proctor, DNS) Ricky Quick, DNS) Rich III Ricci, DNS) Bob Schmidt, DNS) Bruce Schwab, DNS) Skip Shipee, DNS) Justin Smith, DNS) Richard Smith, DNS) Ryan Stortini, DNS) John Stowell, DNS) Jack Swinton

CSRA Sprint A-Main Results (25 Laps) – 1) Josh Pieniazek, 2) Brian Krummel, 3) Josh Flint, 4) Christian Rumsey, 5) Kyle Smith, 6) Brett Jaycox, 7) Chad Miller, 8) Scott Goodrich, 9) Dalton Herrick, 10) Thomas Radivoy, 11) Chuck Alessi, 12) Jami Russell, 13) Emily VanInwegen, 14) Mark Taylor, 15) Cody Flach,16) David French, 17) Dana Wagner, 18) Mike Kiser, 19) Cory Sparks, 20) John Matrafailo, 21) Warren Alexson, 22) Johnny Smith IV

Meltz Lumber Street Stock Results (30 Laps) – 1) Hunter Sanchez, 2) Bill Duprey, 3) Josh Coonradt, 4) Jason Meltz, 5) Nathan Dahoda, 6) John Filarecki, 7) Randy Miller, 8) Damon Anderson, 9) Fred Harris, 10) Frank Monroe, 11) Mark Dwyer, 12) Jim Cutler, 13) John Hayes, 14) Mark Casey, 15) John Tisko, 16) Chase Aussicker, 17) Matt Mosher, 18) Jordan Kasper, 19) Jim McKiernan, 20) Dave Horning, 21) Steve Cosslman