The expected Friday night rain came right on schedule, and the local short-track racing circuit suffered a complete washout. Season-opening programs at Brewerton and Utica-Rome, plus a regular show at the Outlaw Speedway, were all canceled.
The Albany-Saratoga Speedway did manage to squeeze in their Friday night program, and Keith Flach came away with the DIRT big-block modified feature win.
Flach, a third-generation racer from Ravena, New York, started sixth but once in front, he held off Anthony Perrego and Larry Wight in the closing laps. Jack Lehner was fourth and Demetrious Drellos was fifth.
With more rain expected Saturday, Fulton Speedway has canceled its show. Although Oswego Speedway had their Friday night practice session washed away, their 70th seasonal opener Saturday is still on.
Oswego’s opener will start two hours earlier, with the first qualifying heat set for 4:30. The supermods will have a 50-lap main event, with the small-block supers running a 30-lapper, and the 350 supers have a 25-lap feature.
UP AND DOWN NIGHT FOR STEWART FRIESEN IN DARLINGTON TRUCK RACE
Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at the Darlington (South Carolina) Speedway was a crash-filled affair, with a record 12 caution periods
Stewart Friesen spun near the end of the first stage, and while most entries pitted for tires and fuel, Friesen stayed out on the track to allow the Sprakers, New York driver to restart in the first row.
Friesen remained in the top five and moved into the lead after the majority of the leaders crashed out with 25 laps remaining. But Friesen’s shot for the win went away after a car blew a tire and crashed him out of the race.