Patriot Sprint Tour Returning To Albany-Saratoga This Week
Story By: CURTIS BERLEUE / PATRIOT SPRINT TOUR – SODUS, NY – This Friday night the Patriot Sprint Tour will be in competition at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway for the fourth time in series history. Racing action will get under way Friday night with pits opening at 4pm, grandstands opening an hour later at 5pm and racing set to take the green flag at 7pm sharp.
In the four previous visits to Malta for the Patriot Sprint Tour, a repeat winner has yet to grace victory lane. The first visit back in 2009 saw Jason Barney take home top honors. After a six-year hiatus, the PST returned in 2016 and multi-time champion Jared Zimbardi went to victory lane – his first of eight victories that year. Last year, mother nature won the event originally scheduled for May, and it was Canadian Steve Poirier who took home the win when returning in July.
New this week is the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Four Laps of Fame Dash. Scott Bonnell, a long-time supporter of the Patriot Sprint Tour, has stepped up to sponsor the dash for cash each night in 2018. The four-lap event that consists of drivers who rank in positions 9-14 in passing points from the heat races pays a separate purse of $300 per night. $100 of that goes directly to the winner. Points are kept for the dash series throughout the year, and the top 3 drivers are recognized at the season ending banquet held in November.
A stout field of competitors is expected Friday night – drivers from NY, NH, and Canada have made plans to be in attendance. Leading the charge will be current point leader Jason Barney, who holds a slim five-point advantage over second place Bryan Howland.
