Season Opener on Tap Friday April 17th
Malta, NY – The 61st season of stock car racing at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway will roar to life on Friday, April 17th. The opening night card will showcase the stars and cars of the Super DIRTcar Series for Big Block Modifieds as well as the DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stock divisions. The DIRTcar Sportsman event will be a CDRA Series event.
The night will be presented by Bart Contracting and will pay the 61-lap event winner $6,100. In addition to the big check, the winner will take the early points lead as the event will serve as the 2026 opener for the series.
One year ago, Connecticut’s L.J. Lombardo won his second career Super DIRTcar Series event to kick off the “Great Race Place’s” 60th season. The “Outlaw” was joined on the podium by series regulars Alex Yankowski and Tim Sears, Jr.
Mike Mahaney finished in the fourth position and used the momentum of the season opener to bring home the 2025 DIRTcar Modified Track Championship. Second generation Western New York star Erick Rudolph rounded out the top five finishers. A total of 51 drivers entered the event.
While opening day is officially on April 17th, the gates opened for the first time at the “Great Race Place” on Friday, April 10th for the annual practice session. A total of 129 drivers entered the pit area to not only get some track time before the start of the season, but to go through technical and safety inspection.
The lap times were competitive with divisional quick times going to Brenden Darrah (DIRTcar Modified/358 Modified – 16.253), Chris Crane, Jr. (DIRTcar Sportsman – 16.548), Scott Duell (DIRTcar Pro Stock – 19.082), Devon Palmer (Limited Sportsman – 17.073), Matt Mosher (Street Stock – 19.531), Dawson Thompson (DIRTcar 4-Cylinder – 20.840) and Matt Tanner (360 Sprint Car – 14.880).
Pit Gates will open at 3:00pm and spectator gates at 4:00pm on April 17th, with hot laps taking to the track at 6:00pm, followed by Super DIRTcar Series time trials. Racing is set to begin at 7:00pm.
For more information on the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, please find us on our social media pages and our website – albany-saratogaspeedway.com.
The post Season Opener on Tap Friday April 17th appeared first on Albany-Saratoga Speedway.