MALTA, N.Y. — When the track champion draws the pole for the feature, everyone else knows they’re in trouble.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway DIRTcar modified champion Mike Mahaney reinforced that concept Friday night with a flag-to-flag win in the John Grady Memorial, worth some $4,300. Australian Peter Britten and 11th starting Matt DeLorenzo completed the podium.
“We’ve had a great car the second half of the season,” summed up Mahaney with a huge smile. “A good starting position helped but since my son was born a few weeks ago, the crew has been doing all the prep work and the car was perfect. I don’t need to be a mechanic too anymore and I think that makes my driving better!
“Peter Britten is as good up top as anyone here and I had to protect that line all night long. It almost cost me the race, as a caught the curb once and biked enough that I thought I might go over but we saved it.”
Britten, who lined up right behind Mahaney, stuck outside front row starter Jack Speshock up high on the start and Britten, David Schilling and Don Ronca all dropped in line behind Mahaney. Britten could get in under the leader when they hit the turns early on but Mahaney’s momentum off the high line always gave him the lead back on the straightaway.
By halfway, the duo had a solid lead over the field with the action well behind them as Jeremy Pitts and DeLorenzo battled for fifth.
Amazingly, the two slowest cars in the field tangled on lap 25, drawing the race’s only yellow and bringing a big surprise on the restart.
With Mahaney blasting off to an immediate advantage, Schilling got the drop on Britten and took second, a position he would hold for ten laps before Britten finally got back by. At that point, Mahaney was out to a full turn lead and the battle for the win was effectively over.
DeLorenzo dropped Schilling another spot before the checkers, with last week’s winner, Marc Johnson, home fifth. Jessey Mueller led a second five that included Neil Stratton, Justin Stone, Pitts and Ronca.
“The 20 getting by me on the restart cost me any chance I had for a win,” offered Britten. “I felt like I had a shot but the restart killed me. The only consolation was that second tonight pays more than a normal win.”
As for DeLorenzo, he lamented the fact that he “didn’t do myself any favors by pulling eleventh in the redraw. $1,300 for third makes me feel a little better. I spent so much time getting through traffic that I never got to challenge for the lead but it might not have happened anyway. Mike and Peter were both really quick tonight.”
Mahaney’s marked his 10th overall for 2025 and came at the perfect time, as 10 is a big number with car owner George Huttig and crew.
“Ten was the late Joe Huttig’s favorite number and tomorrow his father, myself and the crew are all playing in a memorial golf tournament held each year for his foundation. Tonight, we’re celebrating his life more than the win.”
Craig Wholley led the entire Sportsman feature off the front row, besting Connor Crane, Nick Brundage and Tanner Coon. Rich Crane prevailed over Jason Casey and Kim Duell in the Pro Stock finale.
