It only took Jeremy Wilder a couple of hours.

Wilder came out of a third-row starting position and won the 35-lap budget sportsman feature on Showdown at Sundown Friday night at the historic Malta track.

The Showdown was the first of a two-race series between budget sportsman competitors from Albany-Saratoga Speedway and Glen Ridge Motorsports Park. In a sport where cooperation between promoters is rare, Bruce Richards of Albany-Saratoga teamed up with Glen Ridge promoters Mike Romano and Jake Spraker to put together the two-race series. “I don't mind working with people who are willing to work with me,” said Richards.

And Wilder was probably the happiest of the drivers who benefitted from the showing of cooperation. A total of 38 budget sportsman pulled into the pits at Albany-Saratoga for the Showdown, and 30 started the feature.

Jimmy Eaton and Chuck Dickinson, regulars at Albany-Saratoga, started on the front row and Eaton set the pace for the first six laps. But Dickinson moved out in front on lap seven.

Wilder, who stated sixth, took over the No. 2 position on lap nine and pulled even with Dickinson the next time around. One lap later, Wilder dropped Dickinson to second, and left the field in his dust.

With Wilder pulling away, the attention was now focused on Frank Hoard III, another of the Champlain Valley Racing Association's top guns in the budget division. Hoard had started eighth, but was in the top three by lap 13, and got around Dickinson for the No. 2 position on lap 19.

A caution of lap 20 allowed Hoard to get a good look at Wilder's rear bumper, but that was as close as he was going to get, as Wilder easily pulled away on the restart, and hit the finish line a full second ahead of Hoard.

The mini-stocks also got in their feature, with Jameson Tromans taking the checkered flag.

The modified feature was on the track when rain began to fall, and that race was red-flagged after 10 laps, with Ken Tremont Jr. on the point.

The rainout sets up a wild final night of the regular-season at Albany-Saratoga on Friday, Sept. 5, which is Championship Weekend. The modifieds will complete their feature, and then run a second 35-lap main, and there will be double features in the sportsman, pro-stock, limited and mini-stock classes. The handicappers will have their hands full with the double-feature format, as final points will be tallied immediately after the features, and point fund money and track championships will be awarded at the party that will follow the full night of racing.

In addition, Sept. 5 has been designated as Hometown Heroes Night, with all law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs and other emergency personnel being admitted to the speedway free of charge. Racing will begin at 6:45 p.m.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN (35 LAPS): JEREMY WILDER, Frank Hoard III, Bryan Davis, Jimmy Eaton, Chuck Dickinson, Scott Duell, Pete Carlotto, Ricky Quick, Korey Wilder, Fred Proctor Jr., Angela Hoard, Derrick McGrew, D.J. Brundige, Angelo DiCarlo, Mike Visconti, Mike Pinke, Joe Ketchum, Bodie Bellinger, Keith Showmaker, Derrick Herrick, Dan Peckham, Mike Burdo, Ron Wanamaker, Ralph Denison, Frank Corradi, Don Bellen, Jeremiah Munson, Cullen Howe, Jeremy Dygert. DQ: Jack Swinton.

MINI-STOCKS: JAMESON TROMANS, Justin Comes, Josh Rheome, Elmer Montville, Mike Cranston, Michele Catone, Charlie Stoddard, Ray Galusha, John Baldwin, No. 24, Jason Dickson, Dan Older Jr., Erin Older. DG: Jonathan Hayes.