MALTA, N.Y. – Mike Mahaney won his second DIRTcar modified feature of the season Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
The scene was far from joyful, as the motor in his George Huttig-owned No. 35 expired in the final turn, nearly passing the win to a rapidly closing Peter Britten, who had dropped back in the pack and then came alive when the bottom groove came in.
The blown engine was Mahaney’s second of the week, having lost the engine in his primary car at Wednesday’s Eldora Speedway Super DIRTcar Series round and being forced to run his spare car, which he then used at Albany-Saratoga.
Bobby Hackel IV was third in the 35-lapper ahead of Keith Flach and Kenny Tremont Jr. The second five consisted of Matt DeLorenzo, Marc Johnson, Rocky Warner, Ronnie Johnson and rookie Chris Johnson.
Polesitter Elmo Reckner led lap one, then lost his advantage when front row companion C.G. Morey went around in turn one, taking the side off Jack Lehner’s mount and scrambling the field. That set the tone for the night, with Neil Stratton then pulling a bump and run to dispose of Reckner. By then the sixth starting Britten was third and diving low on restarts trying to edge by the rim riders.
Lap six saw Brett Hearn pull up with a flat and the leader, Stratton, stop on the backstretch at the same time for yet another yellow, leaving Britten in command. But Jessey Mueller soon sailed around him and drove off, only to pull up with a flat as well. This put Britten back on top but Mahaney shot by him on lap nine and by halfway was deep in the tailenders.
By then, Britten had dropped to sixth as the rim riders kept driving around him and he was still there with five to go. But suddenly, the bottom groove came alive and the popular Australian began mowing down the cars ahead of him and nearly won the race.
“This is our last big block motor,” said Mahaney in victory lane. “We just spent fifteen grand to win $2,000. It’s nice to put on a great show for the fans but I feel terrible. Now we’re down to one small block that we run at Airborne Speedway in another car.”
In Pro Stock action, Luke Horning led Jason Corbin, Nick Arnold and Brandon Emigh to the flag in a proverbial “under a blanket” finish. Scott Deuel passed race long leader Marty Kelly with the checkers in sight to claim the Sportsman win, with Kyle Groff, Tim Hartman Jr and seventh grader to be Derrick McGrew Jr. trailing.