Albany-Saratoga Speedway Release Schedule Of Events For 2020 Racing Season
Story By: TOM BOGGIE / ALBANY-SARATOGA SPEEDWAY – MALTA, NY – A spectacular season opener, a Big Show in the middle, and a Massive finish. What more could a dirt track racing fan ask for?
Albany-Saratoga Speedway promoter Lyle DeVore has released the track’s 2020 season schedule, and it’s loaded with special events.
One of those specials will be the 55th season opener on Friday, April 17. Sponsored by Bart Contracting and Schaghticoke Wine & Spirits, the 55-lap modified feature will pay $5,500 to win. The card will include a $1,000 to win sportsman feature, just one of several $1,000 to win features for the secondary division, thanks to support from John Ray & Sons. Rain date for the season opener is Tuesday, April 21.
Brett Hearn’s “Big Show XII” will return to Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Tuesday, June 23. Hearn, an eight-time modified champion at Albany-Saratoga, is now focused on his new duties as general manager at Orange County Speedway in Middletown, and is still working out the final details for “Big Show XII,” although he has guaranteed that the Super DIRT Series race will pay at least $10,000 to win. Rain date for “Big Show XII” is Tuesday, June 30.
July will also see the annual “Stan Da Man” Night, a tribute night for DeVore’s late father, Stan DeVore. The modifieds will be running a 32-lap feature with $3,200 to win on Friday, July 31, and each modified heat winner will receive a $320 bonus. Sportsman will also be in action, competing in the Flying Trowel 32, which will pay $1,320 to win.
When the calendar turns to August, fans will be looking forward to the John Grady/Nostalgia Night on Aug. 7. Modifieds will be racing for $3,000 to win that night, but the highlight of the night is always the return of the stars of the past, who mingle on the green behind the grandstands to talk with fans and sign autographs.
Two major events will be held in September. The racing card on Friday, Sept. 11, will feature a 76-lap DIRTcar East Region Sportsman Series feature, as well as the second annual Fall Pro Stock Classic, which will pay $3,200 to win.
The regular season will come to a close with Malta Massive Weekend on Sept. 25-26. The racing card on Sept. 25 will be highlighted by the DeCarlo’s Autobody Fall Foliage 358 Special, a 50-lap main event. Also on the Sept. 25 card is a 6 Pack Street Stock Series race, as well as a King of Dirt Sportsman series race.
The Super DIRT Series big blocks will return to Albany-Saratoga on Saturday, Sept. 26 for a 100-lap race, paying $10,000 to win. Last year, Demitri Drellos of Queensbury stunned the racing world by leading flag to flag for his first Super DIRT Series victory. The Sept. 26 card will also include a DIRTcar Pro Stock Series race.
Sprint car fans should mark down June 19 on their calendars. The Empire Super Sprints will be at Albany-Saratoga on June 19 as part of the Hoosier Daddy Father’s Day Special activities. On Friday July 3 the annual fireworks spectacular will be held in conjunction with Military Night.
In addition to racing on the 4/10ths mile oval, Albany-Saratoga will once again be holding its cruise-ins on the first Monday of the summer months. The brainchild of Chris Grady, the cruise-ins grew from modest beginnings in 2019 to drawing over 400 custom cars, trucks and motorcycles for the final event of the season. The cruise-ins are scheduled for June 8, July 13, Aug. 10 and Sept 14, and run from 4-9 p.m. each night.
DeVore has scheduled tech and safety inspections for Sunday, April 5, beginning at noon, and a practice session will be held on Friday, April 10, beginning at 5 p.m.
| Track Tech & Safety Inspection Gate Opens at 12:00 pm Free for Everyone (No Track Activity) | |
| Open Practice All Divisions 5:00-8:30 pm Full Concessions Free Grandstand Admission, $20 Pit Admission | Rain Date Sunday 12th | |
| 2020 SEASON OPENER The 55th Season Opener $5,500 to Win Modified Event sponsored by BART Contracting and Schaghticoke Wine & Spirits $1,000 to Win Sportsman sponsored by John Ray & Sons (WD) | Rain Date Tuesday 21st | |
| Northway Sportsman Series (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| VP Small Engine Fuels Night (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| “HOOSIER MAMA” Mother’s Day Special Crash Palace Sportsman $1,000 to Win (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| Open Practice All Divisions Gates Open 4:00 pm Free Grandstand Admission, $20 Pit Admission | |
| LAW ENFORCEMENT NIGHT MOHAWK VALLEY VINTAGE DIRT MODIFIEDS Greg’s Towing Sportsman (WD) | |
| Andy’s Speed Pick 5 PRO STOCKS Grit Racing Series SPORTSMAN (WD) | |
| NYSSCA Night Meltz Lumber Street Stock Spectacular (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| Limited Sportsman Special Native Pride $1500 to Win Pro Stocks (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| Malta Cruise-In All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Years Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm | |
| John Morris Memorial Street Stock 6 Pack Challenge DMA USAC Bear Ridge Speedway Midgets (WD) | |
| “HOOSIER DADDY” Father’s Day Special EMPIRE SUPER SPRINTS! Sprint, Modified & Sportsman Heats (features only for all other divisions) (No Street Stocks) | Adults $16, Kids 11 & Under $2 | |
| Brett Hearn’s The BIG SHOW 12 Modified DIRTcar Series Event Plus Sportsman!! Adults $26, Kids 11 & Under $5 | Pit Admission Lic $35 Non Lic $40 | Rain Date Tuesday 6/30 | |
| Northway Sportsman Series 4-Cylinder Spectacular Plus Kiddie Rides! (WD) | |
| MASSIVE 4th of JULY CELEBRATION with FIREWORKS!! Honoring the Military (WD) | Adults $16, Kids 11 & Under $2 | |
| Andy’s Speed Pick 5 MODIFIED 6th Annual Mark Hughes Sportsman Memorial Race (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| Malta Cruise-In All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Years Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm | |
| Modified Twin 20s (WD) | |
| John Ray & Sons presents $1,000 to win Sportsman (WD) Plus 4-Cylinders | |
| STAN DA’ MAN NIGHT! $3,200 to win Modifieds $320 to Win Modified Heats plus $1,320 to Win the Flying Trowel 32 Lap Sportsman (WD) Plus 4-Cylinders | |
| JOHN GRADY MEMORIAL / Nostalgia Night $3,000 to Win Modifieds, $2,000 2nd, $1,000 3rd $1,000 to Win Sportsman, $750 2nd, $500 3rd Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds (WD) Plus 4-Cylinders | |
| Malta Cruise-In All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Years Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm | |
| DMA USAC Bear Ridge Speedway Midgets Northway Sportsman Series (WD) | |
| KIDS NIGHT Kiddie Rides at 6:30 pm | Free Admission for Kids! (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| Kenny Wallace DIRT RACING EXPERIENCE Sign up to drive a race car at Albany-Saratoga – Great gift idea! | |
| John Ray & Sons presents $1,000 to Win Sportsman (WD) plus 4-Cylinders | |
| West End Sportsman Special Final Night of Points Modified, Sportsman & Pro Stock (WD) Plus 4-Cylinders | |
| 9/11 REMEMBRANCE DIRTcar Sportsman Eastern Region Series 76 Lap 2nd Annual Fall Pro Stock Classic $3,200 to Win Sportsman, Pro Stock, Limited Sportsman, Street Stock | Adults $15, Kids 11 & Under $2 | |
| Malta Cruise-In All Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Welcome! No Cut-Off Years Free Admission | 4:00-9:00 pm | |
SAT September 19 | The BIG KAHUNA Karting Race More details to come |
| MALTA MASSIVE WEEKEND DiCarlos Autobody Presents 358 Fall Foliage 50 Lap 6 Pack Street Stock Series & KOD Sportsman Plus 4-Cylinders | Adults $16, Kids 11 & Under $5 | |
| Super DIRTcar Modified Series DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Limited Sportsman | Adults $26, Kids 11 & Under $5 | Rain Date Sunday 9/27 | |
