The Big Show At Albany-Saratoga Isn’t Just A Race, It’s An Event Like No Other

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – MALTA, NY – As I was driving to the Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Tuesday night, I was racking my brain as to what I wanted to focus on for a story about the Big Show. Once I got there, it fell into my lap.

I arrived early to the event, around 2pm, and came to the conclusion that I would write about my adventures of the day itself. When I walked into the track, first thing I noticed was the controversial famed #112 “Batmobile” in which multi-time Super DIRT Week Champion Gary “Hot Shoe” Balough drove to victory at the New York State Fairgrounds . It took my breath away.

Setting down next to that awesome machine was NASCAR On Fox Analyst Kenny Wallace, who was to be piloting a Big Block Modified in the event for the Auchmoody family, trying to raise money for Alzheimer’s Awareness. Wallace was on the phone, and when done talking, he turned to us and noted that he was talking with David Stremme about his race at Spoon River Speedway in Canton, IL. Now, I thought that was pretty cool.

I said to myself there probably might be something interesting that’s comes out of sticking around the two icons, Balough and Wallace, as the “Hermanator” was getting two signed copies of Balough’s new book, “Hot Shoe.” When that was done, Wallace wanted a picture by the historic car with Gary, and you can’t take the media person out of him, even when he’s at a track to race.

Wallace asked Gary why this car went so fast.

“It was because of how high the roof was from the rest of the body,” Balough stated. “The aero dynamics of the contour of the body, how it flowed and the offset on the car all contributed.”

I say in that era this car was way ahead of their competitors on thinking out of the box when it came to the fabricating side of making a car go faster.

A curious Wallace then asked about the tech for the event if if the guys were equipped to deem the car illegal or why they passed it?

“In 1980, there were no rules on the body as far as how high the roof could be or how wide the body should be,” Balough said. “As we know now, this car is what changed the way the rule book was written.”

Balough was overwhelmed by the interest that there still is in the “Town Car” as the “Batmobile” was also called, even some 38 years later.

“It’s just great being here with all the fans,” the appreciative legendary driver of the 112 expressed.

That’s when the promoter of the event, Brett Hearn, made his way over and was getting his picture taken. When he was about to leave, I saw an opportunity to ask him with being is in charge of the event, does that take any focus away from being a driver?

“I need to totally switch gears at 5pm to the driving deal,” he said. “When I totally switch gears, I totally switch gears.”

I then asked the “Jersey Jet” after two not so stellar runs on the Super DIRTcar series, what does he need to do to be more competitive.

“We blew the motor in the first race and faded back to 10th in the second,” he said. “We need to keep digging and find more speed out of our tour car.”

I wished him good luck in the event. Maybe that’s what worked, or maybe it being one of his home tracks as he got his best finish on the Series in 2018. Hearn brought his #20 to a solid sixth place finish, coming from 16th starting position.

When I turned to see what the “Hermanator” was doing I saw them whisking him away so I went over to him and asked if I could talk for this article. He graciously told me to walk with him. I jokingly said, ‘don’t tell me you drove here all the way,’ due to the fact that he drives all over to the tracks he races at as he posts it on social media.

“Here’s the deal,” he said. “We got done racing in Canton, IL. I’m the only one who has a CDL to drive my truck. I work hard now. I don’t have any crew chief, and I’m kind of racing like Brett Hearn, doing my own deal. I drove my hauler, got home at 2am, got up at 5am to get to my flight, slept on the plane and I’m ready to roll. ”

There’s my story. I told him to have fun and good luck as he was off to get fitted in the car. Wallace would start 31st on the grid but finished 26th. The car ran into motor issues and would have to pull off early.

Before the race, Wallace stated that he was having the time of his life,

“I’m excited to be here, but it’s not about me,” he said. “It’s all about the fans. This is really fun being here in a Dirt Modified.”

I also noticed before he had stepped into the car that an inspector was over checking his firesuit and helmet to make sure that even Wallace would be up to standers on safety. Kudos to them for that.

My next venture in the pits I was getting to talk with one of Dirt Modified’s legendary announcers, the very own Shane Andrews. When I asked him if I could interview him, he looked at me with a smile and said this is a first. I said ‘perfect.’ with a laugh.

Andrews has been calling races for the Super DIRTcar Series along with other events since 1988. That was when he announced his first race, giving him 30 years being a “voice at the tracks.

“My favorite track is any that I am announcing at,” Andrews said with a smile. “Jumpin’ Jack Johnson is my favorite driver of all-time. I loved to announce his races. He just was a special driver.”

Shane told me that announcing is a part-time gig in his life, and something he does to keep himself entertained.

“The hardest part of being a announcer, I thought would have to be the traveling,” he said. After the races, it’s a long haul home and getting up for work next day can be tough with a full time job. Other then that, I really like what I do and try not to make it a job so it flows better.”

Andrews has been around for many years, and will be for many to come.

Next I had the chance to catch up with defending champion of the event, Tim McCreadie. I asked what he thought about his chances were for a repeat after his big win in Big Show 9.

“I’m not starting off too good tonight so I don’t know,” a frustrated McCreadie said. “I didn’t time trial well and will be starting deep with a stout field of cars in our heat race. The ten that are in my heat could be the top 10 in the feature.”

The driver of the #39 would end up going into the last chance race and outdueled Billy Decker for the win. That put him 21st on the starting grid in the feature. On a positive note, he would have a strong finish, bringing the Sweetener’s Plus machine home eighth, giving him the hard charger award. That’s probably not the award he wanted but his night ended with a solid finish.

In the “Pick The Pick Quick” contest, there were three winners that had four of the five, as nobody was perfect to win the $1,000 prize.

The top 5 were Tim Fuller, who set fast time at 15.544. He was followed by Peter Britten, Stewart Friesen, Willy Decker and Friday night’s first time winner at Malta, Jessey Mueller.

A nice thing that was available during the night was that Brett Hearn made golf carts available to shuttle people from their cars that was parked at a far distance away. I can attest that it was very appreciated by the fans.

The 50/50 was over $3,800…one heck of a catch for sure.

The ‘Big Show X’ was everything it was expected to be. They had a super car count with 56 Modifieds checking in with the Sportsman fielding a great car count as they had 57 making it to the “Great Race Place.” The pits were jammed packed and the grandstands were also filled to capacity.

The final results did not turn out to be not what everybody thought in the end as Matt Sheppard led 95 of the 100 laps but didn’t win. Fans that left a little to soon missed the Xfactor in the race. Just goes to show you it’s not over until the checkered flag drops.

Billy Decker’s streak of finishing in the top 10 of the Big Show ended at nine editions to the event as he came home 27th.

This writer had a wonderful time at the Big Show and thank you to all the drivers that supported the event. It was a great job by all. There is nothing like watching Dirt Modified Racing in the northeast!

Oh I must mention…the weather could not have been any better. How about that?

Prayers as always to all our servicemen and women. I hope you enjoyed my journey at the Big Show because I know I sure did. Everybody, stay safe and see you at the races.