Saratoga Speedway hosted another great double header weekend.
A total of 64 cars hit the track on Saturday and Sunday, one of the best car counts in years. California Kid and Rockstar put on an amazing show, destroying motor homes, buses and getting some amazing air.
Wet conditions once again affected qualifying on Saturday. Fast time in the Roadrunner class went to Andrew Buchanan, setting a time of 24.518. Buchanan carried over his winning ways from opening night, taking the lead early in the heat race and eventually taking the win.
The 15 lap main saw Derrik Senft take the lead early, holding on to it for most of the race until lap nine when Buchanan passed Senft on the back stretch taking away the lead and the eventual win. Second place went to Senft and third to James Moore, who was filling in for Weston Lane on the night. A very impressive field of 14 Bomber Cars also took to the track on Saturday. Fast time went to Kerry Steen with a time of 22.443. The B heat went to Darren Larson, and the A to Brandon Steen. The 30 lap main saw Travis Stevenson take the lead on lap one. Stevenson would be pressured by Steen for the whole race but was too much for Steen, leading all 30 laps. Second went to Steen and third to his dad Kerry Steen. Fifteen Crash to Pass cars filled the pits on Saturday. Fast time went to Glenn Pinto with a time of 24.244. The B heat went to Brandon Young and the A to Troy Tarbuck.
The 20 lap main saw “Mr. Ugly” Gregg Sagmoen dominate the field, leading every lap and hitting everything in his sight. On lap eight, the first roll over of the year happened; “Smokin” Joe Libatore took a hard hit in the back stretch which sent him airborne. “Smokin” Joe came out unharmed but his car needed many repairs.
The Hornet cars made their second appearance of the year on Saturday; fast time went to Jason Fraser with a time of 21.790. The D heat went to Ted Dimitrov, the C to Kyle Fallowfield, the B to Daryn Cahill, and finally the A to Kevin Lawrenuk. The B main saw William Boyes move up from last to first in two laps, eventually taking the win. Second went to James Nesbitt, and third to Tristin Gait.
The 30 lap A main saw Gord Fraser take the lead on lap four; Fraser held this lead until lap 16 when Corey Sanderson took the lead and he never looked back. Fraser would finish second and Kevin Lawrenuk took him third.
Dry conditions made for some great racing on Sunday. Fast time in the Roadrunner class once again went to Buchanan with a time of 19.047.
Buchanan would also go on to win the heat.
The 15 lap main saw Weston Lane take the lead on lap one and never look back, winning his first race of the year. Second went to Buchanan and third to Andrew Cannon.
A field of nine Bomber cars hit the track Sunday night. Fast time went to Charlie Ackerman with a time of 18.030.
Some drama occurred in the heat race – Darren Larson had been leading the race up until the last lap when Ackerman was challenging on the outside.
Larson didn’t want to give up the lead, causing him to cut off Ackerman, leading to a black flag for Larson, giving Ackerman the win. The 30 lap main saw Ackerman dominate the field, lapping all but five cars.
Second went to Darren Larson and third to Darrell Larson. Fourteen crash cars hit the track on Sunday. Fast time went to Troy Tarbuck with a time of 18.520.
The B heat went to Cody Young and the A to Tom Dunn. The 20 lap feature saw Gregg Sagmoen once again lead the pack and eventually take the win.
The monster trucks will return on July 30 and 31, with a projected four trucks coming. The I.M.C.A Modifieds, Dwarf cars, and motorcycles will be making their first appearances at the speedway next weekend.
