MALTA, N.Y. — Jessey Mueller has gotten over the cushion twice this season and given apparent victories away with the checkers in sight.
But he was not about to go for a three-peat Friday night at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
“I couldn’t give another one away,” declared Mueller. “I bobbled twice but slowed down a little and got my rhythm back. What won the race was taking the bottom on that last restart. There was a little wet spot right by the inside wall and the left rear bite got me going. I knew Felix wanted me to go high but I fooled him.”
The tough as nails lumberjack prevailed over Canadian Felix Roy and Vermonter Justin Stone to notch his first DIRTcar modified score of 2025. Jack Lehner and Demetrious Drellos rounded out the top five.
Polesitter Rich Ronca led the early laps with C.G. Morey and Adam Pierson in tow. Brenden Darrah soon vaulted to the top three after a back and forth battle with Morey while the big guns were chewing their way forward.
By the time the night’s second yellow flew when point leader Marc Johnson and leading feature winner Matt DeLorenzo tangled in turn one just before halfway, Darrah was leading while championship contender Mike Mahaney had advanced from 10th to third and appeared ready to mow down the leaders.
Unfortunately for Mahaney, who had just become a father for the first time, he nicked the inside jersey barrier on the green and bounced to the outside lane, sending the field into evasive action.
Amazingly, everyone avoided serious contact though Mahaney dropped to the back of the top ten again.
Mueller benefitted the most, scooting from fifth on the restart to the lead in four laps with Roy in hot pursuit. The Canadian got even a few times entering the turns but Mueller’s high groove momentum always put him comfortably back in front down the next straightaway.
A Jack Speshock spin on the last lap brought a yellow followed by a green/white/checkers finish with Mueller shocking Roy by taking the bottom, then scooting away to claim the win.
“The car was good but Jessey was really fast,” tipped Roy. “I should have gone to the top on that last restart but I thought he’d slide up and go to the top to block me. Instead, he stayed on the bottom and got away. It’s been a good year overall but that hurt.”
Stone was pleased with third, saying “We’re learning. I had a couple of guys I couldn’t get by early because I was too snug but I kept trying and we got way better at the end. I fell back, then went forward, which felt really good.”
Darrah led the second five, which included last week’s winner Peter Britten, David Schilling, Mahaney and Pierson.
Scott Bennett Jr bested Chad Gregory and Cody Ochs in the Sportsman feature while old pro Kim Duell led Jason Casey and Brandon Emgh home in the Pro Stock finale.
