Gentile notches fourth win at Albany-Saratoga

MALTA, NY - To say that Jack Gentle has found a home in the budget sportsman division at Albany-Saratoga Speedway would be an understatement.

Gentile picked up his fourth win of the season Saturday night as Albany-Saratoga hosted the 602 DIRTcar sportsman division on a special holiday weekend card at the Malta track.

For years, Gentile struggled to keep up in the sportsman division at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and only recorded one win, back in 2002. But he made the switch to the 602 crate engine late in the 2008 season, finishing second in the East Coast Budget Nationals, and snapped his winless streak earlier this year, on May 1.

On Saturday night, Gentile got his fourth win in exactly the same fashion he recorded No. 3 on Friday – taking the lead from Derrick McGrew and outrunning his rival to the checkered flag.

Gentile finished over three seconds ahead of McGrew, who is still looking for his first win of the season. Kory Wilder hit the finish line third, followed by Mike Tholin and Ricky Quick.

The Empire Lightning Sprints shared the spotlight with the DIRTcar sportsman on Saturday, with Ralph Utter Jr. coming away with the win, which paid $1,000 to win. Utter started fourth in the 25-car starting field, but only needed one quick lap to get the lead.

Scott Goodrich, who started on the pole, never let Utter out of his sight and when a yellow came out for debris on the track on lap 13, Goodwich pulled right up on Utter's rear bumper.

But Utter was perfect on the restart, and went on to win the 20-lap feature, with Goodrich second, Doug Norrie third, Mike Kiser fourth and Jon Moore fifth.

The mini/duke stocks were also in action Saturday night, with Travis Tromans coming away with the win. Despite starting 14th, Tromans quickly moved to the front, and took the lead away from Ken Hollenbeck on lap nine of the 15-lap feature.

Erin Older made a late charge and got up for second. Hollenbeck hung on for third, with Adam Duncan fourth and Ken Schroeder fifth.

EMPIRE LIGHTNING SPRINTS: RALPH UTTER JR., Scott Goodrich, Doug Norrie, Mike Kiser, Jon Moore, Art Kiser, Don Harvey, Justin Phillips, Mike Kiser, Fred Hoffman, Rick Russell, Joe Szczapa, Joe Askew, Will Casazza, John Casazza, Ed Cokely, Dan Nappi, Christian Wright, Shaun Gosselin, James Kiser, Matt Norrie, Gary Reyer, Tim Durland, Bubba Broderick, Steve Lapine.