MALTA, N.Y. — After multiple 358 modified feature wins, defending Albany-Saratoga DIRTcar big block champion Mike Mahaney finally put the Huttig Auto No. 35 big block modified back in victory lane Friday night.
Mahaney had to duel multiple feature winners Justin Stone and Marc Johnson to claim a win that many thought would be easy. Instead of his usual “high teens” handicap starting spot, Mahaney took the green from outside the second row but his anticipated blast to the lead went awry in turn one.
“I wanted to be on the top but turn one was no good up high and I lost a bunch of positions,” tipped Mahaney. “Luckily I could make up for it some in three and four and after a few laps I got the top at the other end cleared off and we were good to go.”
A lap-two caution slowed his progress but with a return to green, Mahaney began clawing his way forward in pursuit of leader Rich Ronca and second-running Brendan Darrah. By lap five he was back to fourth and when Darrah took the point three laps later he had disposed of Stone and pounced on Ronca as well to show second.
Darrah and the rim-riding Mahaney then dueled for three laps before Mahaney prevailed, taking a lead he would not relinquish. Behind him, Stone turned up the wick and grabbed second before an immediate caution negated the pass.
Darrah then held off Stone until lap 20, when the Vermonter finally put him away, as did Jack Lehner. Stone was closing on the leader when Lehner and Marc Johnson got together, ending Lehner’s night. It was clear sailing from the ensuing restart to the checkers for Mahaney with Stone following in his tracks and Johnson digging hard on the bottom.
They hit the stripe that way with point leader Matt DeLorenzo fourth from 14th on the grid. Peter Britten was fifth while the second five consisted of Neil Stratton, Brian Calabrese, Ronnie Johnson, Jeremy Pitts and Darrrah.
“We wore our car out at DIRT series races this week and it wasn’t easy tonight,” added Mahaney. “I was good until I got to the lapped cars, lost the clean air and struggled a little. I managed to protect on the restarts, then jump back to my favored line before anybody else got there. Once I got rolling and got my rhythm back, I was ok.
“I didn’t want that last caution,” exclaimed Stone. “I was catching Mike a little, but he found the top before me and that was the fast line tonight. I tried one slider and he blocked it but all in all, it was a fun race.”
Johnson was disappointed, saying “the top was a little too good and I wasn’t as fast on the bottom as usual. I got chopped by Lehner and ran the rest of the race with a bent front axle. I guess it could have been worse, but I wanted a shot at the leaders.”
In support class action, Kyle Hoard bested Kim Duell, Shane Henderson and Duell’s son Scott while Taylor Wasson led Cole Hentschel, Scott Bennett Jr., Craig Wholley and Chris Crane Jr. home in the Sportsman finale.
