Swinton, Brundige Triumphant at East Coast Budget Nationals

MALTA, NY - Jack Swinton and D.J. Brundige, two regulars on the Champlain Valley Racing Association circuit, enjoyed $1,000 paydays Sunday with victories in the East Coast Budget Nationals at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Swinton took the checkered flag in the 75-lapper for 602 budgets, and Brundige got the win in the 75-lapper for the Albany-Saratoga budgets, which are equipped with 604/Noel's/World product engines.

It was also a good day for Jeremy Wilder, who picked up $500 for winning the Budget Clash, which pitted the top six finishers from each feature.

The final day of racing drew almost 50 budgets, and as many limiteds/street stocks, creating a fitting finish to the 2008 racing campaign.

Swinton took the lead away from Jack Gentile on lap 33 of the 602 feature and managed to hold off Gentile the rest of the way.

Mike Tholin did an amazing job to get up for third. Tholin went to the pits early in the race for a broken shock and returned at the rear of the field, but kept his GM crate engine cranked up and roared back for a podium finish.

Scott Duell came across the finish line fourth, with Wilder fifth. The race had to be red-flagged on lap 27 when Tim Anagnos and Steve Douglas came together in the front stretch, with Anagnos rolling his car several times. The car was destroyed, but Anagnos walked away unhurt.

The feature for Albany-Saratoga budgets kept the Sunday afternoon crowd on its feet. Brundige came off the pole and set the pace for the first 15 laps, but Glen Ridge Motorsports Park champion Jeremiah Munson got around Brundige on lap 15 and threatened to run away with the feature.

But on lap 51, the radiator hose on Munson's car blew, ending his day, and putting Brundige back on the point.

Brundige led another nine laps before Chuck Dickinson made a move to get the lead, but Brundige wasn't going to go away quietly. He ran right with Dickinson for four laps, got the lead with seven laps to go and came away with a popular victory.

Following Brundige and Dickinson across the finish line were Frank Corradi, Dennis Pennock and Dick Bisson.

Dan Petronis outran Dan Older and John Miller to win the limited/street stock feature, and Ken Hollenbeck picked up the victory in the mini-stock feature. Tony Brayton and Andy Smith finished one-two in the Duke stock feature, and Matt Demitraszek won the Sprint Dash.

The final weekend of racing at Albany-Saratoga Speedway also included the wildly popular Halloween Havoc enduro on Saturday. Kevin Soreo won the 107.7 lap event, sponsored by Regent Communications and country music station WGNA-107.7, and walked away with $1,007.70. Tim Catone finished second in the enduro, and Brent Warren was third.

EAST COAST BUDGET NATIONALS (602s, 75 laps): JACK SWINTON, Jack Gentile, Mike Tholin, Scott Duell, Jeremy Wilder, Aaron Jacobs, Anthony Marro, Peter Carlotto, C.V. Elms, Gary Siemons, Dan Conklin, Dan Peckham, Ralph Denison, Body Bellinger, Jon Bates, Claude Hutchins, Rick LaMont, Ken Towne, John Calcagni, Chris Rheome, Ivan Joslin, Jeremiah Munson, Steve Douglas, Tim Anagnos, Danny Cross, Tony Souricciani Derrick McGrew, Mike Burdo.

EAST COAST BUDGET NATIONALS (Albany-Saratoga budgets, 75 laps): D.J. BRUNDIGE, Chuck Dickinson, Frank Corradi, Dennis Pennock, Dick Bisson, Bob Gray, Nick Lussier, Jared McMahon, Paul Dunham, Scot Straight, Jimmy Duncan, Jeremiah Munson, Judy Proctor, Mike Grogan, Justin Boehler, Fred Proctor.

LIMITEDS: DAN PETRONIS, Dan Older, John Miller, Brian Ashline, Tommy Johnson, Mark Burch, Brian O'Reilly, Cody Bleau, Amanda Clemens, Shannon McDermott, Chuck McSpirit, Doyle Blackwell, Darryl Older, Ed Hatch, Ray Hall Jr., Nathan Dahoda, Lenny Fields, Bob Palmer, Ben Durie, Brian Cosselman, Jordan Jeffalone, David Cook, Luke Horning, Yule Cook, Roger Newkirk Jr., Mitchell Tucker, Dave Bayes, Ray Hall, Mike Ostrander, Mark Dwyer.

MINI-STOCKS: KEN HOLLENBECK, Kerrie Hollenbeck, Heather King, Dustin Holmes, Ken Schroeder, Matt Galusha, Justin Lilly, Don Curley, Erin Older, Tim Sayers. DNS: Chris White.