Matt DeLorenzo Breaks Through For First Win Of 2018 At Albany-Saratoga

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – MALTA, NY – With some of the hotshoes traveling to the Super DIRTcar Series race being held at the Brewerton Speedway, the door was wide open for someone to take home the Father’s Day Special at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night, and Matt DeLorenzo said thank you very much, don’t mind if I do.

The driver of the BBL construction 3D captured his 11th career win at the speedway. Rolling off from the fourth position, “MattyD” was hoping this would be his night to get the monkey off his back.

One driver who has been fast all year on the high side of the ‘Great Race Place’ has been Jessey Mueller and he brought the field down to the green from his pole position. Mueller would lead early on picking the uncharacteristic “the low side.” DeLorenzo said “thank you very much” and passed the leader at his own game.

Making their way to the front was Ronnie Johnson and Jeremy Wilder as the two were battling for positions trying to crack the top 5.

Soon, Ronnie was battling with Mueller and was looking to go to the high side. However, at the same time, the #19 decided it was time to change lanes, slowing RJ’s momentum and keeping him in third. This proved to be good for Mueller, who found his comfortable line and started reeling in the 3D but to no avail.

A late race caution slowed the field one last time but their was no denying a determined driver the win, but did change the the order in the top 5 as Marc Johnson got by RJ for third with few laps to go.

Up front, it was all Matt DeLorenzo picking up his first victory of the 2018 season at ‘The Great Race Place,’ becoming the seventh driver in seven races to visit victory lane.

“We’ve been struggling so far this year,” DeLorenzo said. “We were late last year too, so we decided to switch to a Bicknell and things are going better.”

A relieved driver thanked his crew and family for all the hard work they do in the garage all week.

Mueller finished second followed by Marc Johnson and Ronnie Johnson with Bobby Hackel sneaking in for fifth. With the Series Race at Brewerton, Friday night at Malta was show-up points for the Modifieds. Brett Hearn, Keith Flach and Peter Britten were all missing but it was a great race and always good to see MattyD in victory lane.

The Sportsman class saw 32 cars take the green, and let me tell you, there was slicing and dicing going on throughout the entire field during the action-packed feature. All that was going on behind the leader, Jason Gray, who had pulled out to a comfortable lead.

At one moment, Gray had to avoid a spinning car and almost got collected if not for evasive driving. The Vermont campaigner went unchallenged and took the victory.

“Ive been battling the car all year, but we had a rocket tonight,” Gray said. “The high side was real good tonight. We travel three hours to get here each week and it will be a great ride going home finally.”

Daryl Nutting finished in the runner-up spot. Robert Bublak was third and coming from deep in the field with another solid run was the Tim “The Hitman” Hartman. Fifth was Jack Speshock.

The Pro Stock feature went to a gentleman who has not seen victory lane in almost five long years, Ed Thompson. Thompson has not had the feeling of winning in a long time. One reason was he couldn’t race due to health issues. Since doctors gave him clearance to come back, he has been on a mission and Friday it all paid off as he collected the third win of his career.

“It’s been a long road getting back here,” Thompson said. “After all the health issues I’ve had, it’s so good to be back into victory lane.”

Coming home in second was Jay Corbin. Corbin had a long week after wrecking on Tuesday night at the Tribute event. Since then, the team put together their back-up machine and it proved to be a good piece.

Brandon Emigh was third followed by Chuck Dumblewski and Dean Charbonneau. Last week’s winner. Kim Duell, struggled a bit but came home with a respectable sixth place finish.

The Limited Sportsman feature was won by Stephen Kneer. He was followed by Paolo Pascarella, Micheal Wagner Fitzgerald, Scott Bennett and John Stowell.

Street Stock fans were treated to double features as they also ran the rained out feature from May 4th.

In the first feature, it was once again Randy Miller taking home another victory. The question was, though, could anybody call an end to Miller time in the second race? The answer was yes as Miller’s streak came to an end with David Cook bringing home the victory.

Once again, as the night went on, the stands filled right up as it turned out to be a great showing of fans. Last Friday’s 50/50 was not claimed and it was a whomping $2,522 which was second prize this week. $1,837 was first prize on Friday. Now talk about some ‘Big Money.’

Friday at Malta had some great racing and great fun as the whole family made it to the ‘Great Race Place.’ In this fast paced life we all live now, one thing is for sure. We all will meet up at the races…something I am grateful for because it truly is our family sport that brings us all together…family and friends.

All you race fans, have a safe and wonderful weekend and Happy Father’s Day to all the special Dads out there. Prayers as always to our troops. See you all at the races. Next stop for me, Fonda Speedway.