MALTA, N.Y. — Three was the number to have Friday night at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, with Matt DeLorenzo in the 3G and Marc Johnson in the 3J staging a dog fight for the win in the late stages of the 35-lap DIRTcar modified feature.
When the dust had settled, DeLorenzo was in victory lane, celebrating his second score of the rain-plagued season and 26th Albany-Saratoga career win. In the process, he broke a tie with Dave Lape and took sole possession of 10th on the all-time win list as well as earning the $500 Madsen Overhead Door “Back to Back” bonus.
Johnson had to settle for second, with Adam Pierson third ahead of Jack Lehner and Peter Britten, who came from 18th and 17th, respectively.
Polesitter Matt DePew led the early laps, dueling with Brendan Darrah and Derek Bornt. But the tenth starting DeLorenzo was on the move and stood fourth by lap ten with the 13th starting Johnson on his rear bumper.
With numerous cautions keeping the field tight and the leaders out of traffic, DePew kept the lead through halfway, but once DeLorenzo got to second on lap 19 the writing was on the wall. DeLorenzo got the lead twice with nifty moves off turn two but had to give it back both times as yellow flew before the lap was completed.
The third time was the charm, with DeLorenzo driving around the leader on a lap-20 restart. Johnson was fourth at the time but soon fought his way by Pierson for second and even got the lead for part of a lap after a late restart. But DeLorenzo was not to be denied and took the lead back and handily led the last five laps.
“I’m still running my teammate Brian Gleason’s car because my motor is out for repairs,” offered DeLorenzo. “We haven’t touched the car since we won the last race because it really works. There wasn’t much grip out there tonight and I did what I had to do, taking Marc’s favorite lane away so he couldn’t slide me.”
Pierson, for one, appreciated the battle in front of him, saying “I watched a good race between the three’s. I was hoping they’d carry each other up the track and I could capitalize on the bottom but it never happened.”
Mike Mahaney, up from 21st, led a second five that included 26th starting Kolby Schroder, DePew, David Schilling and Bornt.
Canadian Felix Roy parlayed an outside front row starting position and a strong car into a win in the DIRTcar 358 modified feature, besting DeLorenzo, Schilling, Ronnie Johnson, Neil Stratton, rookie Mike Coffey, Pierson and Chris Curtis.
Beau Ballard bested Chucky Dumblewski in the Pro Stock finale.
