Erickson best at Malta 

MALTA - Neal Erickson wasn't going to let a little 24-hour delay spoil his weekend.

After thunderstorms canceled American Pride Night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday, promoter Bruce Richards ran the holiday show on Saturday, and Erickson couldn't have been more pleased.

With the 358 modifieds getting the night off, the sportsmen had the spotlight, and all the attention went to Erickson, who came away with his second career victory. The only other time in his career he had been in victory lane was Sept. 9, 2003.

Erickson started sixth in the 24-car field, but took advantage of early cautions to quickly work his way to the front. Dan Bublak, who had started third, and Matt Depew swapped the lead on a couple of occasions in the first 10 laps of the feature, but when a caution came out on lap 10, Erickson was sitting second, and used the restart to get the lead for good.

With Erickson setting a torrid pace, the large crowd, taking advantage of a $10-per-carload admission price, was entertained by Dick Bisson and Derrick McGrew, who were coming through the pack. Bisson, who had started eighth, had to settle for second while McGrew, who had started 19th in the Parillo No. 17 after finishing fourth in the sportsman B main, did a tremendous job to get up for third.

Tim Hartman grabbed the No. 4 position, with Tony Ballestero fifth.

Completing the top 10 were Jimmy Cottrell, Depew, Rich Ronca, Chris Busta and Dustin Delaney.

Jim Monroe recorded his second victory of the season in the Rentway Limited feature. Thomas Conroy led a tight three-car finish, with Monroe and Mike Minick all within inches at the checkered flag, but Conroy was later disqualified, giving the victory to Monroe.

The Pro-Built mini-stocks were also part of American Pride Night, with Randy Manhey winning the six-cylinder division and John Baldwin taking the checkered flag in the four-cylinder class. Manhey's victory was his second of the season, while Baldwin is now a three-time winner.

Fifty-six cars signed in for the 50-lap enduro, which was won by Brian Landry, and the fans were also treated to a spectacular fireworks display

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will return to action on Friday, July 8 with all divisions in action on Bikers Night. Racing will start at 7 p.m.

SPORTSMEN: NEAL ERICKSON, Dick Bisson, Derrick McGrew, Tim Hartman, Tony Ballestero, Jim Cottrell, Matt Depew, Rich Ronca, Chris Busta, Dustin Delaney, Ken Anatriello, Jack Gentile, Stan Lemiesz, Ed Pieniazek, Dan Carlton, Brian Holbritter, Colleen Salisbury, Skip Shippee, Dan Bublak, David Peek, Joe Budka, Paul Dunham Jr., Mike Tholin, Mike Ballestero.

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: JIM MONROE, Mike Minick, Kevin Van Chance, John Filarecki, Richard Holmes, Richard Burke, John Morris Jr., Joe Mulvaney, Dan Petronis, Dave Emigh, Jeff Monroe, Charlie Koenig, Mark Burch, Mike Pfau, T.J. Pierce, Jim Monroe Jr., Mike Wilber, Curtis Condon, Bob Smith, Tracy Ash, Tim Brunell, Tommy Primeau. DQ: Thomas Conroy.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS (SIX-CYLINDER): RANDY MANHEY, Kevin Lukasik, Lewis Kusalonis, Jeremy Brownell, Mike Duclos, Chris McCarthy, Randy Senecal, Art Howe, Ray Galusha.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS (FOUR-CYLINDER): JOHN BALDWIN, Kevin Connors, Mike Cranston, Ben Durie, Jamie McCarthy, Tyler Peetz, Travis Tromans, Pete Willis, Brett Osgood, Joe Baker, Jason Dickson, Ryan Petchel, Mark Emigh, Matt Corbiel, Chris Greene.