Albany-Saratoga News & Notes
January 22, 2011
Official Press Release Announces
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Sanction
For Immediate Release
Historic
Albany-Saratoga
New
York
Track Joins NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
DAYTONA
BEACH
,
Albany-Saratoga Speedway, a
.400-mile paved oval in
“We welcome the Richards
family,
Family patriarch C.J. Richards
founded the CVRA in 1960 and originally leased Albany-Saratoga
in 1977 before purchasing the track.
Albany-Saratoga opened in 1965 and hosted the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in
1970 and 1971. Both events were won by Richard Petty. Bobby Isaac won a
NASCAR Grand National East event at the track in 1972.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway is
also the “home track” for NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin
Pemberton. The Pemberton family operated Dunster’s restaurant near the
track in the 1960s and it was a regular dinner stop for drivers. Pemberton
and his brother Randy, now a NASCAR television reporter, were among Albany
Saratoga Speedway’s first fans.
“We were there when they
were bulldozing the track in to shape,” Robin Pemberton said. “We saw
guys like Eddie Flemke Sr., Jerry Cook, Pete Hamilton, Richie Evans, Don
MacTavish and Brian Ross race. When I met Richard Petty there, having that
opportunity made me think I could work on race cars for a living.
“Albany-Saratoga Speedway
shaped the future for my whole family,” Pemberton said. Two other
brothers Ryan and Roman work for NASCAR race teams. “I’m really proud
NASCAR is again part of my home track. I’ll check my calendar and do
everything I can to get to a race there this summer.”
C.J. Richards was an original
promoter in the days of the old NASCAR North Series. He also pioneered the
track tire rule, 358 c.i. small block engines for dirt Modifieds, and
retaining a paved racing surface while adapting it to dirt track racing.
He remains a consultant for the tracks. Son Bruce Richards serves as
promoter and general manager for the track while son Jerry Richards is
promoter and general manager at the family’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway in
“The branding that NASCAR
offers and the notoriety it brings to our pavement racing is great for our
drivers and their fans,” Bruce Richards said. “There’s nothing
bigger or better for our drivers than competing for the accolades NASCAR
offers. Nothing’s better than competing for NASCAR championships. This
is hands down what everyone strives for.”
Albany-Saratoga Speedway’s
weekly events in 2011 include NASCAR Division I, NASCAR Modifieds based on
dirt-style chassis that add a newly introduced GM 602 crate engine;
Division II, Pro Late Models; Division III, Renegades; Division IV, Bomber
Warriors which are four cylinder front wheel drive cars. Legends cars have
been added to weekly racing at the track this year. Ken Tremont won the
Modified division championship at both tracks in 2010.
NASCAR-licensed drivers in
NASCAR Division I at each track are eligible to compete for track and
state or province championships and ultimately the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series national championship. In addition to Division I point
fund awards, state champions receive customized driver’s helmets and
racing uniforms from series sponsor Whelen Engineering. State or province
championships are determined by drivers’ highest 18 finishes at NASCAR
tracks within a state.
NASCAR-licensed drivers in
NASCAR Divisions II through V accumulate points in the NASCAR Finalist
program. The top 100 drivers in each of eight groups will be ranked each
week and those point standings will determine the top eight support
division drivers in the nation. A driver’s best 14 finishes at NASCAR
tracks within a state count toward the season’s ending standings. Points
will be kept separately for dirt and asphalt tracks. The top eight drivers
will be recognized at the series’ awards banquet.
NASCAR also offers a NASCAR
Learner’s Permit for drivers age 14 and 15 who may be eligible to
compete in Divisions II through V. Eligibility is determined by local
track rules, and the permit can be upgraded to a Charger license when the
driver turns 16.
Other series awards programs
include the Craftsman Mechanic of the Year Award, the Rookie of the Year
Award presented by Jostens, the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH)
Scholarship Award and the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award.
All NASCAR Division I track
and state champions, the national champion, eight NASCAR Finalist program
winners and special award winners will be honored at the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series Awards Banquet at season’s end.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series is the grassroots foundation of NASCAR and consists of more than 50
short tracks across
December 2, 2010
CVRA Announces Changes for 2011
The Champlain Valley Racing Association (CVRA) will be taking a page of out its history book as it heads into the 2011 racing season.
Facing an uncertain economy and with the desire to cultivate a new group of young drivers, the CVRA will be making a full conversion of its open-wheel modified division to 602 crate motors for 2011.
“We've been hemming and hawing about this for a while, and it's time to stop hemming and hawing,” said Albany-Saratoga Speedway race director Bruce Richards. “With the economy the way it is now, this change is needed for the health and well-being of racing.”
The change to 602s follows the cost-cutting trend that CVRA founder C.J. Richards began in 1985, when he phased out big blocks and replaced them with 358 small blocks at both Albany-Saratoga and Devil's Bowl Speedways. “C.J. was the pioneer when he switched from big blocks to 358s, and here we are again,” said Bruce Richards.
“Our modified division is no longer sustainable from a monetary point of view,” said Jerry Richards, Devil’s Bowl Speedway race director. “For years now, we’ve had almost no new drivers joining the modified ranks. All attempts we’ve made to move experienced sportsman drivers to the modified division have failed. Mostly because they just can’t afford to field a modified car, so they end up staying in the sportsman ranks even though they have enough driving experience to move up. The days of the sportsman being a stepping stone to the modifieds have been over for a long time now. We feel strongly that it’s our responsibility to bring the cost of racing under control at our tracks.”
Hoosier Tire has developed a new, long-wearing tire for this division, plus the 602s run on pump gas instead of racing fuel, which is another savings.
The new open-wheel division will be known as Crate Modifieds and will pay $750 to win, and the entire purse structure will be posted on the CVRA website located at
cvra.com.
The Crate Modified engine program will be overseen by RPM Racing Engines of Georgia, Vermont. RPM is a complete machine shop that specializes in high performance engines. Owner Rick Paya provides crate engines and services to a total of 12 race tracks in the northeast. RPM will be the only authorized engine dealer for Crate Modified cars racing on the CVRA. Contact Rick for more information at 802-524-7406.
In addition, the CVRA will reinstate a point fund for the open-wheel division for the 2011 season. “We'll take the best 10 Crate Modified races at both tracks,” said Bruce Richards. “The point fund will pay $3,000 to the winner, $1,500 for second, $1,000 for third, and $500 for fourth and fifth place. In addition, we will draw two Wild Card Winners from among the 6th-10th place finishers, paying $500 each.”
The CVRA pro stock division will begin making the conversion to a true asphalt late-model style car. CVRA officials have been working closely with American-Canadian Tour director Tom Curley on a rules and tech package, and intend to eventually adopt ACT late model rules. “We're starting the transition phase this year to make the cars that we have now competitive with asphalt late models,” said Bruce Richards.
Both CVRA tracks will still be running Renegades and Bomber Warriors in addition to the Crate Modifieds and Pro Stocks.
New this season, individual track memberships will be sold for $50 each, while a combination license for both Albany-Saratoga and Devil's Bowl will be priced at $75, if the memberships are purchased prior to March 1. See the web site at www.cvra.com for information and updates.
September 3, 2010
LEGENDS Car Test Session
Malta NY
–
Why would anyone don a firesuit and a full-faced helmet on a blistering hot afternoon?
It's not often you get to test a Legends car.
Albany-Saratoga Speeday held its first test session ever with a Legends car Thursday afternoon, and everyone who climbed behind the wheel of the car was impressed.
Three generations of the Denooyer family, which sponsors the Denooyer Modified Dash for Cash at the Malta track, were on hand for the test session. Jim Denooyer, who now resides in Kenya and only spends a couple of months in the States every year, watched as his son, Tommy, and his grandson, Nick, an eighth-grader who races go-karts, took turns behind the wheel of the Legends car.
“That was slick,” said Tom Denooyer, who has raced both motorcycles and go-karts in the past. “When you just stand here and watch, it doesn't look like much, but they're a lot of fun to drive.”
Dan Carlson, who raced both limiteds and sportsman on the old dirt surface at Albany-Saratoga, really put the car through its paces.
“It was awesome,” said Carlton after climbing out the car, which had been raced on the dirt Wednesday night at Accord and wasn't touched, except for changing from dirt to asphalt tires, for the test session. “It pulls you out of the turns just like a sportsman. Handling-wise, you point it and it goes where it's supposed to go. It's very comfortable. You get 20 of these things out there, and you're going to have a heck of a show.”
Albany-Saratoga promoter Bruce Richards, who has been thinking about putting together some type of Legends program for the future, was also impressed with the test session. He also took his turn behind the wheel, and looped the car in turn two after going in a little too hot. He quickly threw up his arms and jokingly blamed “his crew” for not having the proper tire pressure.
But when he completed his session, he climbed out of the car and had a big smile on his face, just like everyone else who took part in the testing session.
July 17, 2010
Tri-Track Series Rained Out Once Again
Malta NY
–
After 11 straight weeks of racing, the drivers at Albany-Saratoga Speedway got an unexpected night off Friday.
A line of storms rolled through southern Saratoga County Friday afternoon, forcing officials to cancel the night's racing program at the historic Malta track.
The cancellation, the first since April 25, again kept the Tri-Track Series on hold.
The series, which features modified drivers from Albany-Saratoga, Devil's Bowl and Airborne Speedway, has now been postponed twice. The first race of the series was rained out on April 25, and race No. 2 was washed out on Friday. Track officials said they will be looking for a date in the future to reschedule the series race.
The next race on the Albany-Saratoga schedule will be the Summer Meltdown on July 23, with all divisions in action, as well as a 50-lap enduro.
Race fans should log in to the Champlain Valley Racing Association Web site at www.cvra.com for the complete Albany-Saratoga schedule, and any changes that may occur.
May 7, 2010
Make Up Date for Showdown at Albany-Saratoga
Malta NY
– The rescheduled East-West Showdown, pitting drivers from the Modified Racing Series against their counterparts from the RoC DART Asphalt Series, will headline a huge night of racing on Friday, May 21, at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
The Showdown was originally scheduled for Sunday, April 18, but was postponed because of rain after just two heat races. Over 40 of the top asphalt modifieds in the Northeast were in the pits on April 18, and all, if not more, are expected to return on May 21.
All the regular Champlain Valley Racing Association divisions will also be in action on May 21, creating a huge night of racing on the resurrected asphalt surface. Racing will begin at 6:45 p.m., and adult admission will be $18. Rainchecks from April 18 will be honored.
When the Showdown hits the track, Dwight Jarvis will be looking for his second win of the season, as he took the checkered flag at the MRS Series Spring Dash 100 at Monadnock Speedway. That was Jarvis' fifth career win on the MRS Series.
Jacob Dare, the 2009 Rookie of the Year, finished second at Monadnock, and he's the only driver who's finished in the top five in the first two MRS races, as he came across the finish line fifth in the season-opener at Waterford Speedbowl. The Blastoff Weekend 100 was won by Doug Coby.
One of the other drivers to watch at Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be Rowan Pennick, who turned the fast time during practice on April 18 before the remainder of the show was rained out.
The RoC DART Asphalt Series is scheduled to kick off its season on May 16 at Shangri-la Speedway. Matt Hirschman, the 2009 series champion, will be leading the RoC contigent when they return to Albany-Saratoga for the Showdown.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway promoter Bruce Richards is excited about the field of modifieds that will be running at the historic Malta oval this season. Defending track champion Ken Tremont Jr. has made the switch from dirt to asphalt at Albany-Saratoga, but he's going to face strong challenges from drivers like Mike Bruno and Chris Ross, who will be making their Friday night homes at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in 2010.
Keith Flach, another convert from dirt to asphalt, has been making steady progress during numerous test sessions throughout the spring and should have no trouble running up with the leaders. The Albany-Saratoga Speedway field will also be enhanced by a number of drivers who are regulars at Airborne
Park Speedway in Plattsburgh.
Additional information about the Modified Racing Series or the RoC DART Asphalt Series can be obtained by accessing their
web sites. The entire 2010 racing schedule at Albany-Saratoga Speedway and additional information about upcoming events can be obtained by going to
www.cvra.com.
April 14, 2010
Ross named Grand Marshal for Albany-Saratoga opener
Malta NY
–
Hall of Famer Brian Ross, one of the most influential drivers and fabricators of his generation, will be the grand marshal for the combined Modified Tour Series/Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Tour Series race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Sunday, April 18.
Ross began his racing career in the charger division at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in the late 1960s and progressed to have a distinguished career on the NASCAR asphalt modified series before walking away from the division in 1990 following the death of his good friend, Charlie Jarzombek.
“Of all the places I raced and had a lot of success, no one had ever asked me to do anything like this,” said Ross when he was asked to be grand marshal. “I'm kind of thrilled and honored to be asked to do this.”
Ross describes his early racing days at Albany-Saratoga Speedway like an education.
“When you to go college, you look for absolutely the best college you can,” he said. “When I started racing at Albany-Saratoga, it was like going to school. If you wanted to learn about racing, there was no better place to be. Anybody who was anybody showed up to race at Albany-Saratoga. It always got the best drivers from New England, western New York, Canada, Long Island. Just to make the show was a feat. It was a tremendous place to learn about racing.”
Although Ross won many major races during his career and spend some time on the ARCA series after he left modified racing, his career wasn't about victories.
“I never did it for the glory,” he said. “My deal was, I was 50 percent driver and 50 percent car builder. I loved to build cars that could beat people. I really enjoyed designing and fabrication, and driving, for me, was a bonus.”
The combined race between the two asphalt modified series will highlight the return of asphalt racing at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
The weekend of racing will begin on Saturday, April 17, with a racing card featuring the American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association, the first race of the season for the New England Truck Series, a 100-lap enduro that will pay $1,000 to win and open practice for all divisions. Grandstand gates will open at 11 a.m., and racing will begin at noon. Adult admission will be $8, and kids will be admitted free.
“Liquid” Lou Cicconi and Mike Stefanik have confirmed entries for the ATQMRA race on April 17.
The STAR antique racers will join the asphalt modifieds on the April 18 card. Grandstand gates will again open at 11 a.m., and racing will start at 1 p.m. Adult admission will be $18, and children will again be admitted free.
Additional information about the 2010 schedule at Albany-Saratoga Speedway can be obtained by going to the Champlain Valley Racing Association Web site at
www.cvra.com.
March 26, 2010
Stefanik, Cicconi coming to Albany-Saratoga
Malta NY
–
Mike Stefanik and “Liquid” Lou Cicconi have confirmed their entries for the American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association series race that will help Albany-Saratoga Speedway kick off its new asphalt era on Saturday, April 17.
The April 17 show at the historic Malta track will be the season-opener for the ATQMRA, meaning a lot of fresh equipment and drivers hungry for a victory.
The season opener at Albany-Saratoga will also include the New England Truck Series, as well as a 100-lap enduro, which will pay $1,000 to win. There will also be open practice for all divisions, regardless of affiliation.
Pit gates will open at 10 a.m., grandstand gates will open at 11 and racing will begin at noon. Adult admission will be $8, and children 12 and under will be admitted free.
Stefanik and Cicconi are two of the biggest names in Northeast asphalt racing. Stefanik, out of Wilbraham, Mass., is a seven-time champion on the Whelen Modified Tour, tying him for second all-time with Jerry Cook, a former track champion at Albany-Saratoga during its first asphalt phase, in the 1960s and 1970s.
Cicconi is one of the most successful drivers on the ATQMRA, and also campaigns a supermodified on the ISMA circuit. His nickname, “Liquid Lou” comes from his fluid style of racing. The Pennsylvania pilot is also at home on the dirt, and has made many area appearances in a midget in the past.
“We're lucky to get drivers like Mike Stefanik and Liquid Lou here for our opener,” said Albany-Saratoga promoter Bruce Richards. “We thought the April 17 show was just going to be a tuneup to our asphalt modified tour race on April 18, but now, it looks like we're going to have two incredible days of racing.”
The April 18 card features the first meeting ever between the Asphalt Modified Tour (formerly known as the True Value Series) and the ROC Modified Tour. In addition to the modifieds, the Senior Tour Auto Racers, a Massachusetts-based group dedicated to preserving the history of asphalt racing, will be competing.
Additional information about the 2010 schedule at Albany-Saratoga Speedway can be obtained by going to the Champlain Valley Racing Association
web site at www.cvra.com.
March 5, 2010
Albany-Saratoga the place for family fun!
Malta NY
– Albany-Saratoga Speedway, already recognized as one of the premier racing facilities in the Northeast, will become even more fan-friendly in the 2010 season.
In addition to a decrease in admission prices, the historic Malta track will become smoke-free.
“We've always had our family sections, with no smoking and no alcohol,” said track promoter Bruce Richards. “But this year, there will be no smoking anywhere in the grandstands. We will be setting up a designated smoking area to accommodate our many fans who enjoy the use of tobacco products, but the grandstands will be smoke-free.”
The big change that fans will see at the front gate is that kids 12 and under will now be admitted free of charge.
“These are tough times, and I certainly don't want to discourage the next generation of racing fans,” said Richards. “We don't want fans to stay home because they might not be able to afford the extra expense of bringing their children to the races.”
The smoke-free environment and the under-12 policy will also go into effect at Albany-Saratoga's sister track, Devil's Bowl Speedway in Fair Haven, Vt.
In addition, the adult front gate admission price at Albany-Saratoga has been dropped to $10 for regular shows.
“With the new 12-and-under policy, there are going to be a lot of nights where we're letting a lot of fans in for free, because we're still going to have our regular Seniors Night, Bikers Night, CDL Night, and we've got some other things planned,” said Richards. “This is going to be an exciting year for Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and we want to make sure as many fans as possible
participate in the excitement.”
Despite the heavy snow in late February, Albany-Saratoga is still on schedule to hold its first practice session of the season on Saturday, March 27. The practice, which will be open to cars in all divisions, will begin at 1 p.m., with pit gates opening at 11 a.m. Grandstand admission will be free. In the event of bad weather, the practice will be held on Sunday, March 28.
“I was out walking the track the other day, and everything is in good shape,” said Richards. “Once we get a couple of days of warm weather, the rest of the snow will be gone and we'll be ready to roll.”
Additional practices are scheduled for April 3 and April 10, preceding the first race date on April 17.
The complete 2010 schedule can be obtained by going to the Champlain Valley Racing Association Web site at
www.cvra.com.
February 26, 2010
Tremont Returning to Albany-Saratoga
Malta NY
– Although a new phase at Albany-Saratoga Speedway is about to begin, there will be at least one link to the former days of dirt-track racing.
Defending track champion Ken Tremont Jr. will be back for the 2010 season.
Joining Tremont is the weekly Friday night lineup will three veterans of asphalt racing, Chris Ross, Mike Bruno and Andy Lindeman.
Tremont won his 11th 358-modified point championship at Albany-Saratoga Speedway last season, and sits third on the all-time win list, with 53 victories. Although he weighed his options during the winter, his decision was to return to Albany-Saratoga.
“In terms of geography, it's pretty handy for me,” said Tremont, who teaches automotive, manufacturing and electrical engineering technologies at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. “I'm getting tired of chewing up the highway.”
Tremont is no stranger to asphalt racing, as he hauled to places like Sanair, Thompson, Oswego and Cayuga when DIRT held its original asphalt series. In recent years, he's also made a couple of stops at Airborne Park in Plattsburgh when that track held special shows for dirt modifieds.
“I've run with a lot of the guys at Plattsburgh before, and I'm sure I'm going to be able to mix it up with them,” said Tremont. “This will be a new challenge for me. Maybe I'm at the point in my career where I need to do something to spice it up.”
Tremont said that the rules that have been instituted for 358 modifieds on the Champlain Valley Racing Association made his decision to return to Albany-Saratoga much easier.
“They did a good job with the rules, as far as the chassis goes,” he said. “It will still be a dirt car. You'll be able to move a couple of things around, but overall, it will have its limits.”
Ross has spent the last 10 years racing a super late model all over the Northeast, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to race in his backyard.
“When I started hearing the rumors about them going back to asphalt last fall, I thought,
oh, boy. This was something I couldn't resist,” said Ross.
Working with Ross in the pits will be his Hall of Fame father, Brian, who raced modifieds at Albany-Saratoga Speedway back in the 1970s before going on to become a champion NASCAR modified driver, and briefly embarking on an ARCA career. “It will be nice to have him there and bounce ideas off him,” said Chris Ross.
Ross had to make major changes in his Don Foor-owned racing team to prepare for modified racing at Albany-Saratoga. “I probably have the best super late model team in the Northeast, and we've got enough parts for three cars. We've had to retool everything to get a dirt car.”
Ross will be driving a Bicknell chassis, and will be providing information back to Bicknell. “I'm sure they're going to get some good feedback from me,” Ross said.
Ross ran Jimmy Davis' dirt car during a practice session at Albany-Saratoga last fall and liked what he learned.
“When we were first out there, we were a little rough, but in the week that I had Jimmy's car in my shop, we really got it operating,” said Ross. “Modifieds are fun to drive, and guys like Bruce (Albany-Saratoga promoter Bruce Richards) and Mike Perrotte at Airborne are smart because they're keeping rules in place that will keep everyone competitive.”
Bruno was a regular on the CVRA circuit on the dirt at both Albany-Saratoga and Devil's Bowl before moving to asphalt in 1999, when he competed on the Busch North Series
in a car owned by CVRA founder C.J. Richards and walked off with Rookie of the Year honors. Bruno has been a regular at the asphalt tracks throughout New England in recent years, chalking up a number of victories, and is anxious to return to his roots.
Lindeman has been running with the New England Truck Series since 2002, and will be making the switch to modifieds this year. His extensive resume also includes racing go-karts and motorcycles, as well as campaigning a street stock at Lebanon Valley Speedway. He will also be behind the wheel of a truck when the NETS pulls into Albany-Saratoga for a 50-lap feature on Saturday, April 17.
“The number of weekly entries are climbing rapidly, at both Albany-Saratoga and Devil's Bowl,” said Richards.
Richards has scheduled a number of practice sessions on the new asphalt surface before the season begins in April. The first practice, for all divisions, will be held on Saturday, March 27. Pit gates will open at 11 a.m., and the track will be open from 1-5 p.m. In the event of bad weather, the test session will be held on Sunday, March 28.
Practice sessions are also scheduled for April 3 and April 10, with the track open from 1-5 p.m. both days.
The racing card on April 17 will include quarter-midgets, a 50-lap truck race, and enduro and open practice. The first tour race of the season will be held on Sunday, April 18, when the True Value Modifieds and ROC Modifieds hold their first combined tour race ever.
The compete 2010 Albany-Saratoga schedule, as well as additional information about upcoming events, is available at
www.cvra.com.
January 14, 2010
Albany-Saratoga Speedway gearing up for 2010
Malta NY
– Horse racing has its Triple Crown, with the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Not to be outdone, Albany-Saratoga Speedway promoter Bruce Richards will be kicking off the 2010 season with a Triple Crown of his own.
The first-ever combo show between the True Value Series modifieds and the ROC asphalt modifieds will begin what promises to
be an exciting season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
The new asphalt surface, which got a shakedown session in November, will get its first big test when the asphalt modifieds pull in on Sunday, April 18 for their ground-breaking show. In addition to the modifieds, the Senior Tour Auto Racers, a Massachusetts-based group dedicated to preserving the history of asphalt racing, will be competing.
The next week, on Sunday, April 25, Tom Curley's American-Canadian Tour of late models will haul in
to the speedway. The card on April 25 will also include Race 1 of the asphalt series between Albany-Saratoga, Airborne and Devil's Bowl.
Then on Sunday, May 2, the show that everyone is talking about will take place, when the ISMA supermodifieds make their first
ever visit to Albany-Saratoga Speedway. During a test session in November, Oswego track champion Otto Sitterly
had his super humming around the track in 13-seconds flat, easily the fastest time ever run at the track.
The May 2 show will also include the Albany-Saratoga Speedway pro stocks, said Richards.
Regular Friday night racing will commence on May 7, and fans wil find that a number of the divisions have been renamed. The modifieds and pro-stocks remain the same, but the other divisions will now be
Sportsman (formerly budget sportsman), Renegades (formerly limiteds) and Bomber Warriors (formerly mini-stocks).
Plans are also in the works to begin kart racing in June. The kart track will incorporate the third and fourth turns of the main track and a portion of the infield. Racing will begin after school lets out in June, and will continue until Labor
Day.
“I'm really excited about this year,” said Richards, who is beginning his 29th season in the racing business. “Switching to asphalt is going to allow us to try some different things, and I'm sure the fans will appreciate the fact that they will no longer go home covered in dust.”
In conjunction with the new era at Albany-Saratoga, Richards is also going back to the past, and will be dropping front-gate admission prices back to $10 for adults. In addition, kids under the stick will be free, instead of being charged $3. “Basically, that will allow kids 12 and under in for free,” said Richards.
'We're going to make the first race of the year on April 18 a real event,” said Richards. “We're trying to get some of the drivers who raced here in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was asphalt, to come back for the first race and meet the fans and sign autographs. Hopefully, we can get some cars in here for practice on April 17, but that's something I'm still working on.”
Richards met with drivers from many of his divisions in early January to hash out the rules for 2010, and once tech officials give their final approval, everything will be set for the 2010 opener.
The Champlain Valley Racing Association will hold its awards banquet on March 13 at the Queensbury VFW Hall. Additional information about that event can be obtained from the association's
web site at www.cvra.com.