Budka, Irwin triumph

MALTA - Joe Budka’s best move came before he even got on the track Sunday.

Budka drew the No. 3 starting position, and went on to win the 50-lap sportsman feature that highlighted the World Series of Racing at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Budka had been quick all afternoon in the Schenectady Unit Parts NAPA small block, but picking the No. 3 spot was just what he needed to post his first victory at the Malta track since 1999. Budka needed just three laps to get to the front, and then held off 2003 track champion Tim Hartman to record his fourth career victory and walk off with the top prize of $750.

Hartman had moved into the No. 2 position on lap 25, but had to settle for second. Erik Mack finished third, Jack Swinton, who had set fast time of the day during time trials, was fourth and Derrick McGrew was fifth. McGrew had the second-fastest time during time trials, but then drew the 14th starting position.

Butchie Irwin capped his outstanding season with a victory in the 50-lap pro-street stock feature. Irwin, who won the 2003 Albany-Saratoga Speedway track championship using a CVRA spec engine, took the lead on lap 21 and cruised to an easy victory, beating runner-up Chris Maxon by over a full second.

Irwin drew the seventh starting position but quickly made his way to the front. Fred Little drew the outside pole and took control early, leading the first 20 laps of the feature. But once Irwin got the lead, there was no question it was his race to win.

Maxon, who had started sixth, moved past Little into the No. 2 position on lap 29, but Irwin was on cruise control and went on to post his fourth win of the year and take home $500. Following Irwin and Maxon across the finish line were Henry Tanner, Bob Schmidt and Little.

Byron Westcott passed Mike Tholin coming out on turn four on the final lap to win the 20-lap hobby stock feature, and Luke MacIsaac dominated the 20-lap cruiser feature.

The final event on the 2003 schedule at Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be the Oct. 25 Halloween Havoc, which will include hobby stocks, cruisers, and a 200-lap enduro.

SPORTSMAN (50 laps): JOE BUDKA, Tim Hartman, Erik Mack, Jack Swinton, Derrick McGrew, Jimmy Cottrell, Frank Hoard Jr., Dan Bublac, Rich Ronca, John Harrison, Robert Perry, Keith Flach, Chris Garrity, Colleen Salisbury, Stan Lemiesz, Cass Bennett, Mike Ketchum, Tony Ballestero, David Towns, Neal Erickson, Dan Boni, Ed Pieniazek.

PRO-STREET STOCKS (50 laps): BUTCHIE IRWIN, Chris Maxon, Henry Tanner, Bob Schmidt, Fred Little, Cale Kneer, Jimmy Eaton, Rob Langevin, Brian Holbritter, Fred Backes III, Matt Anatriello, C.J. Brooks, Walt Brownell, Steve Burega, William Smith IV, Randy Brownell, Scott Duell, Ed Thompson.

HOBBY STOCKS: BYRON WESTCOTT, Mike Tholin, Pat Cram, Al Relyea, Billy Lussier, Brian Ashline, Jim Monroe, Jared McMahon, John Filarecki, Tom Pierce, Anita Williams, Adam Stoddard, Doyle Blackwell, George Welch, Bill Burlingame, Bob Smith, Dan Daniels, Kevin Sawyer.

CRUISERS: LUKE MACISAAC, Ron Zagata, Tom Glogowski, Harold Clothier, Mike Minick, John Sullivan, Matt Delucia, Amanda Clemens, Robert Bublac Jr., Elmer Montville, Jamie McCarthy, Gene Uncer.