And race fans definitely got their money’s worth.
In Late Model racing, Stacey Roberts, with two wins already in the books, would start on the pole with Jay Johnson outside, J.R. Mossely third, Cale Simons fourth and Charles Sealy fifth. When the green flag fell, late models shooting for the number one spot would get all tangled up in Turn 1 and bring out the first caution of the evening. On the double file restart, Johnson would get a great jump on the field to take the first spot for half a lap. Going into Turn 3, Johnson, Roberts and Simons would race side-by-side three wide for five laps. Roberts would finally get the edge when he found his groove on the high side of turn 1 and 2. Throughout the race all five drivers would race nose-to-tail through 17 laps and seven cautions. But on Lap 18, Mossley would make the pass on Johnson on the inside as Johnson slid high out of Turn 2 and ran out of track. This would bring out the eighth caution when Johnson hit the back straight away wall and caused his right tires to ride the fence for about 10 feet. On the restart, Simon would make numerous moves on the inside of Roberts, but Roberts’ Crate Motor still had just enough to hold him off. The checkered flag flew again with Roberts in his Sunbelt Ford Rocket taking his third win in a row, followed closely by Simons, Mossley, Sealy and Adam Giles in fifth.
Super Street
Super street would roar onto the track with Jason Price looking for his fourth in a row at Albany Motor Speedway. Price, who was on the pole took the green flag with Allen Flournoy close behind and Travis Williams in third. Price would lead with Flournoy and Williams hot on his tracks until Lap 12. Looking like a replay of the late model race, Flournoy would make heavy contact and ride the backwall, but Price would weather the storm and go on to win his fourth consecutive victory, with Williams second and Rick Elmore third.
Pure Stock
First-year racer Bradley Frake would start on the pole and show race fans just how good he is. On the first lap, Frake would get a flat on his left front tire and continue to race for eight complete laps holding on to first place. When a caution came out, Frake’s tire came completely off the rim and this caused him to leave the track to change it. Taking over as leader then was Michael Canady, who took the lead on Lap 10, passing Wesley Horne and first-time racer Robert McDonald. With two laps to go, Lewis would move up to second as Canady took the checkered flag with Joseph Lewis second and Horne third.
Claimer
Michael Weeks would lead the claimer class around the first lap, but on Lap 2 would spin out and allow Michael Adams to take the lead. Adams would hold first until Lap 5, when last week’s winner, Cody West, would make the pass for the lead. On Lap 8, Papa Stone put Adams back one more spot to third. And that is how they finished the race: West, Stone and Adams in third. Cody West failed the inspection afterward for being too light on his weight and therefore would relinquish first place to Papa Stone. Second place went to Adams and third to Charlie Skinner.
Mini Stock
Keith Walls would start the race on the pole and not be able to hold first for long. On the first lap, Hank Moore would pass, forcing Walls into second. Lap 2 brought on more passing action with Kevin Burkett and Tyler Boyette moving up to second and third, respectively. On Lap 3, Boyette and Mike Keown would make the move on Burkette, forcing him down to fourth. When the checkered flag dropped, Moore would take first, Boyette second and Keown third. Boyette failed inspection due to illegal tires and gave first place to Hank Moore, second to Keown and third to Kevin Kelly.
--- Look for a complete recap every other week from the local racing action at Albany Motor Speedway.
