Wight Put On A Show At Airborne Park Thursday Night
Column By: MIKE WARREN / RPW – PLATTSBURGH, NY – Last night was not only my first trip to the Airborne Park Speedway since the clay was laid down, but also the first trip for the Super DIRTcar Series.
It was a great night that saw Larry Wight, driver of the Gypsum Wholesalers Express Car #99L, put on a super drive to the front in picking up the win.
The key moment in the race was when Larry Wight got a great jump on the “Ravena Rocket,” Keith Flach, off of a pivotal restart and never looked back en route to the win.
AIRBORNE NOTES:
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the racetrack. I knew it would be a heavy track with a lot of water as that was Bruce Richards’ forte back in the old days of Albany-Saratoga. However, that was not to be the case during the heat races.
The track had many slick spots and you could tell it was something the sportsman were not used to. Turn 2 ended up being calamity corner.
The only way to really compare it is that cars were spinning like they were hitting the oil slick in the Super Nintendo version of Mario Kart.
It was good to catch up with a few DIRTcar officials that I haven’t seen in a while, such as Dave Farney, Mike Mallett and John Baumes. Always good to see them as they don’t venture north east too often.
Speaking of Mike Mallett, it was interesting hearing him banter with track announcer Rob Knowles. It just seemed different in a good way hearing two guys I’ve worked with across multiple sports work together.
There were 27 Super DIRTcar Modifieds that graced the Clinton County race track.
Billy Decker was very fast as he was able to grab quick time in time trials. It was his second fast time award of the season. His first coming during the series opener at Fulton.
I talked to a couple of drivers about their thoughts on the race track.
Brett Hearn said it was better than what he anticipated. Keith Flach said the track drove the same way as it did when it was asphalt.
A tough break for sure for one of the favorites, Carey Terrance in the 66X. The popular driver had motor trouble and had to load up just after hot laps.
It was good to see the ‘White Knight,’ Marc Johnson, in the fray making the trip North. Johnson has one of the best crew chiefs at the helm on the 3J in John “Apples” Albanese (no bias at all here).
You can bet these two together will be a force to be reckoned with outside of Albany-Saratoga and on the road real soon
