8/26/11: MALTA – Jamie Proctor got a late start to the racing season, but he’s certainly making up for it now.

Proctor, one of four members of the Proctor clan who follow the Friday-Sunday circuit on the Champlain Valley Racing Association, held off teenager Jessey Mueller Friday night to come away with the first win of his career in the 35-lap NASCAR Modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Proctor spent the early part of the summer getting his car together and didn’t get on the track until about a month ago. But he’s shown steady improvement each week, and on Friday, recorded a milestone victory.

Proctor started on the pole for the 35-lap feature and led flag-to-flag. But Mueller, still looking for his first career win at Albany-Saratoga, was a pest throughout the entire race.

When the first yellow came out on lap six, when Cody Sargen and Paul Dunham Jr. got together and hit the wall in turn one, Mueller was sitting second, and he pressured Proctor for the remaining 30 laps.

On the final lap, Mueller tried to make a run coming off turn two, but he wisely gave way, or he would have taken out the leader. When the checkered flag dropped, Proctor had his first career victory and Mueller was second for the fourth consecutive week.

Hunter Bates, Joe Williams and points leader Ron Proctor completed the top five. Williams finished in front of Ron Proctor for the first time since June 3 and kept his hopes for the track championship alive. With two points races remaining on the 2011 schedule, Ron Proctor unofficially has a five-point lead over Williams.

Dan Petronis and Darryl Carl continued their torrid battle for the pro late model title, with Petronis coming away with the win in the 30-lap feature. Petronis took the lead away from Brandon Emigh on lap 10 and held off a hard-charging Carl for his fourth win of the season. Petronis had a five-car-length lead with five to go, but Carl closed the gap to just 0.203 seconds at the finish. Brandon Emigh came across the finish line third.

Josh Coonradt won the 20-lap Renegade feature, the sixth time he’s been to victory lane this season, Harold Lavair Jr. led flag-to-flag to record his seventh win of the campaign in the Bomber Warriors division and Russ Sniffen Jr. won the INEX Legends feature.

Fans also got a peek into the past, as both the Atlantic Coast Old Timers and STAR Antique Racers had some of their vintage machines on hand Friday night, bringing back memories of the 1960s, when modifieds and sportsman completed on the original asphalt surface at the historic Malta track.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 2 with a big holiday weekend show. All divisions will be in action, and the night will also include a 100-lap enduro and a gigantic fireworks display.

NASCAR MODIFIEDS: JAMIE PROCTOR, Jessey Mueller, Hunter Bates, Joe Williams, Ron Proctor, Dave Manny, John Proctor, Fred Proctor, Cody Sargen, Skip Shippee, Paul Dunham Jr.

PRO LATE MODELS: DAN PETRONIS, Darryl Carl, Brandon Emigh, David Emigh, Carl Guilefuss, Hunter Bates, Chad White.

RENEGADES: JOSH COONRADT, Bull Dupree, Frank Monroe, Matt Livingston, Rowdy Burch, Andy Smith, Jonathan Hayes.

BOMBER WARRIORS: HAROLD LAVAIR JR., John McCarron, Mark Lindblade, Dan Collins, Colin Clow, Dan Older Jr.