9/2/11: MALTA – After knocking on the door all season long, Hunter Bates finally kicked the barrier down Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Bates, the Vermont teenager who was 2010 Champlain Valley Racing Association Driver of the Year, added his name to the prestigious list of modified winners at Albany-Saratoga, easily winning the 35-lap NASCAR Modified feature at the historic Malta track.

Bates, who won two features in the sportsman division last season on his way to the overall CVRA championship, dominated the 35-lap feature, starting on the pole and leading flag-to-flag. When he hit the finish line, he was over five seconds ahead of Cody Sargen, who had his best finish of the season. Jamie Proctor was third. Ron Proctor virtually sewed up his first track championship with a fourth-place finish. He began the night with an 18-point lead over Joe Williams, who crossed the finish line right behind Proctor Friday night.

Dan Petronis took another step toward a track title with his second straight victory in the 30-lap pro late model feature. Petronis and Darryl Carl were battling for the lead with three laps to go when the two cars made contact, with Carl spinning out.

That put Petronis in the lead, and he held off David Emigh to come away with his fifth win of the season.

Josh Coonradt took the checkered flag in the 20-lap Renegades feature, but was disqualified in tech when it was found that he had the wrong gear in his car. The disqualification gave the win to points leader Frank Monroe, the fourth time this season he’s been to victory lane.

Matt Pappa came away with the victory in the INEX Legends feature, and Mark Lindblade came from the rear to win the 20-lap Bomber Warriors feature. Lindblade went to the pits before a lap was completed after blowing a tire when he and Harold Lavair Jr. came together on the original start.

The Labor Day weekend holiday show also included a 50-lap enduro, which was won by Guy Forden. Point champions in all divisions will be crowned when Albany-Saratoga Speedway closes its regular season with Championship Weekend on Friday, Sept. 9. Double points will be on the line in all divisions.

NASCAR MODIFIEDS: HUNTER BATES, Cody Sargen, Jamie Proctor, Ron Proctor, Joe Williams, John Proctor, Dave Manny, Paul Braymer, Fred Proctor. Skip Shippee. DQ: Jessey Mueller.

PRO LATE MODELS: DAN PETRONIS, David Emigh, Darryl Carl, Joe Williams, Carl Guilefuss, Jim Monroe.

RENEGADES: FRANK MONROE, Jeremy Jones, Andy Smith, Rowdy Burch. DQ: Josh Coonradt.

INEX LEGENDS: MATT PAPPA, Jack Speschock, Robert Silver, Russell Sniffen Jr., David Zelker.

BOMBER WARRIORS: MARK LINDBLADE, Dan Collins, Harold Lavair Jr., Tom Bristol, John Lindblade, Dan Older Jr., Blake Schwarting, John McCarron.