Albany-Saratoga to kick off 58th season on April 14
MALTA – Albany-Saratoga Speedway promoter Lyle DeVore has released his 2023 schedule and from the April 14 opener to the Malta Massive Weekend in September, it’s loaded with special events and big-money races.
After a busy offseason in which DeVore manicured the racing surface at the historic facility on Route 9 in Malta with new clay and then was named the National Promoter of the Year by Racing Promotion Monthly, the focus now switches to the regular season. The schedule includes a dozen race nights in which the modifieds will be competing for a minimum of $3,000 to win, and a handful of special events that have become fan favorites.
The entire 2023 schedule can be found on the track’s web site at www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com, and is subject to change, but here are some of the highlights.
Following a practice session on Friday, April 7, the 58th season of racing will begin on Friday, April 14, co-sponsored by Bart Contracting and Schaghticoke Wine & Spirits. Thanks to the sponsors’ support, the modifieds will be competing for $5,800 to win, and all other divisions will also be in action. In case of rain, the card will be held on Sunday, April 16.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will again be hosting two Super DIRTcar Series races in 2023, with the first, the “Summer Starter 71,” taking place on Tuesday, June 13.
The return of the Empire Super Sprints on July 21 will highlight the action in July, and will be followed by two of the most popular events on the Albany-Saratoga Speedway schedule.
“Stan Da Man Night,” a tribute to Lyle’s father Stan, who died in 2016, will take place on Friday, July 28, with the modifieds racing for $3,200 to win, as well as $320 bonuses for heat race winners. The next week, on Friday, Aug. 4, it will be “John Grady Memorial Nostalgia Night,” with the modifieds, sportsman and pro stock divisions racing for inflated purses.
The month of September will include Autism Awareness Night on Sept. 8. The creation of pro stock driver Jordan Modiano, Autism Awareness Night will be highlighted by a pro stock feature that will pay an incredible $10,000 to win, through sponsorship from Upstate Chevy Dealers. Also on that card will be a feature for 358 modifieds which will pay $2,500 to win, sponsored by DiCarlo Auto Body.
John Ray & Sons and Dean’s Electrical Service, two longtime sponsors at the speedway, have teamed up to create two high-paying modified features which will be held on May 19 and Aug. 18. On those Friday nights, the modified winner will take home $4,000.
The 2023 season will conclude with the two-day Malta Massive Weekend on Sept. 22-23. The Friday night card will feature another DiCarlo Auto Body-sponsored 358 race, as well as the DIRTcar Sportsman Fall Championship. The Saturday card will include a 100-lap Super DIRTcar Series event for modifieds, with a minimum winner’s payday of $10,000, and a DIRTcar Pro Stock Series race.
Activity at the track won’t be limited to just open-wheel racing. The popular Malta Cruise-ins, a display of custom cars, trucks and motorcycles, will be back and are scheduled for June 5, July 10 and Aug. 14.
Motorcycle racing is also on tap, as the month of May will include the two-day AMA Vintage Flat Track National Championships, scheduled for May 13-14.
Matt DeLorenzo will be returning to Albany-Saratoga to defend his modified point championship, while Tim Hartman Jr., who became the winningest sportsman driver in the history of the speedway last year, will be back in quest of his fifth title.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway had one of its best seasons ever in 2022, holding a total of 23 race nights, with just one rainout.
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