Friday September 18, 2015 Results
Gray moved his number double zero to the topside and on lap eight took the lead from Edwards. Within five laps Gray had opened up a straightway lead over Edwards and the remainder of the field. Soon after Jim Morgan made contact with the implement tire in turn two forcing a caution period. With caution laps counting until lap 30, racing resumed on lap 18 with Gray and Edwards running one-two and McGrew taking over third. On lap 20 the caution flag waved again, this time for a handful of cars who tangled in turn four.
Racing resumed on lap 25 with Gray leading over Edwards, McGrew, Jeremy Pitts and David Schilling. McGrew nosed ahead on lap 27 and then within a lap firmly held the position. Sunn moved past Schilling for fifth on lap 28 while Pitts got past Edwards for third. With ten laps to go Gray continued to lead with the top five remaining the same. Sunn though was challenging Edwards for the fourth position and before lap 40 was complete took over the spot. Rookie Mike Coffey slowed on lap 42 forcing a late race restart.
When racing resumed Gray held the lead over McGrew, Pitts, Sunn and Edwards. Tim Hartman, Jr. moved past Edwards for sixth on lap 45, forcing Edwards to sixth. McGrew got a run under Gray on lap 46. The duo ran side by side for another lap with McGrew taking the lead. Gray powered back on the outside with two laps to go. The duo took the white side by side but Gray slipped up entering turn one which was what McGrew needed. The 2015 track champion led the final lap to take the win. Gray finished second with Pitts third, Sunn fourth and Hartman fifth. With 27 Sportsman on hand heat races were won by Edwards, Lussier and Gage.
“This car was awesome all night long,” McGrew said. “We have been busting our hump on this thing. We were smart and were there at the end.”
Randy Miller won the 20 lap Street Stock feature event and was crowned track champion. Jordan Kasper and Jason Meltz led the field to the green with Meltz taking the early lead over Kasper and Nathan Dahoda. By lap three Miller and Josh Coonradt joined Dahoda for a three car battle for the third position. The caution flag would slow the field on lap five due to debris on the front stretch. On the restart Meltz held the lead with Miller taking second and Coonradt third. Miller quickly closed on Meltz and pulled alongside on lap seven.
The duo battled door to door which allowed Coonradt and Bill Duprey to close in. By lap ten it was a four car battle for the lead. On lap 12 Mike Arnold spun in turn two forcing a restart. When racing resumed Meltz and Miller continued to battle side by side with Coonradt in third. Following a spin on lap 15, racing returned to green and Meltz held the lead with Coonradt second and Miller third. On lap 17 Miller made a charge on the top side to take second and then a lap later the lead. Once out front Miller was able to bring home the win over Coonradt, Duprey, Meltz and Gary O’Brien. A total of 23 Street Stocks entered the event with heat races being won by Meltz, Miller and Hunter Sanchez.
“Me and my dad have been working for this for four years,” Miller said. “We pretty much have this thing figured out. It was an awesome year.”
Pat Jones won the Limited Sportsman feature event. Shannon Donnelly was the first to lead the 20 lap feature event with Jim Kraus and sixth place starter Zach Daurio following. Diana Huyck spun on lap two to bring out the caution flag. On the restart the top three remained the same. Jones took over third from Daurio on lap five. Following a restart Jones took the lead over Donnelly. At the halfway point Huyck spun again, setting up another restart. When racing resumed Jones held the top spot over Donnelly and Daurio. Daurio took over second on lap 15. In the end Jones held on for his third win of the season. Daurio finished second with Donnelly third, Kraus fourth and Nick Fretto fifth. Daurio was disqualified after the event moving Mike Block into the top five. Jones now graduates to the Sportsman division for the 2016 season.
“The car felt really good,” Jones said. “The past couple of weeks we have been struggling a little bit. It feels great to move up.”
Steve Ryan won the Greg’s Towing and Repair Four Cylinder feature. Tim Meltz was the first to lead the 20 lap event. A spin by David Mullineaux brought the caution flag out on lap two. On the restart Meltz was the leader and led until lap six when he gave way to Steve Ryan. Todd Goldstein took the lead on a lap 11 restart with Ryan in second. Ryan moved back to the lead on lap 15 with Goldstein falling to second. In the end Ryan would pick up the win over Ben Grant, Meltz, Goldstein and Dave LaBarge.
“It was an awesome time,” Ryan said. “I have a lot of people to thank.”
Justin Phillips won the 20 lap Empire Lightning Sprints event. By virtue of their heat race wins Zach Bennett and Phil Bessette led the field to the green with Bennett taking the early lead over Bessette and Justin Phillips. The caution flag slowed the early pace on lap six when Massachusetts driver Jamie Beaudry spun in turn two. When racing resumed Bennett held the lead with Phillips taking second from Bessette. Phillips closed quickly on Bennett and within a lap the duo were battling for the race lead.
Phillips moved to the inside of Bennett on lap 11 and took over the top spot. Once out front Phillips pulled away from the field to claim the win. Bennett finished second with Bessette third, Shilo Buyce fourth and Jerry Sehn fifth. Heat races for the 11 Empire Lightning Sprint entries were won by Bennett and Bessette.
“It was awesome,” Phillips said. “I couldn’t believe how fast it was. We struggled here a couple of weeks ago but we had it hooked up tonight.”
The Albany-Saratoga Speedway has concluded the 2015 racing season. Pease stay tuned for details on the 2015 banquet and the 2016 racing season. For more information about Albany-Saratoga Speedway please log on to www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com.