Terry Guest
Special to the Record
Track records fell fast and furious Saturday at Saratoga Speedway during a full night of auto racing.
The ENG Sheet Metal-sponsored card featured by a great 20-lap Wilroc Sprint car main event and a 35-lap Wilroc Lite main event. The IMCA Modifieds and Old Timers also ran great main events.
The assault on the record book began in the IMCA Modified division. Making his first appearance of the year, #98 Pat Brown set an amazing time of 15.383 seconds in qualifying, beating the old record by almost .3 of a second.
Car #8 Brad Purdy won yet another dash – he has won every dash so far this season. Purdy started on the pole for the 10-lap heat and held off the rest of the field to take the win.
The top three in the reverse heat were separated by only inches, but the advantage went to Brown who led from lap two on to take the win. The 18-lap feature saw some drama unfold on the last lap. Purdy had been leading from lap one, but #48 Rob Ryan spun him out on the very last corner. Ryan received a black flag, giving the win to Brown. Car #53 Kevin Noble finished second and Purdy placed third.
The Old Timers made their first appearance of the season and #1 James Campbell set fast time in qualifying of 16.402. Car #24 Roger Beck won the B dash and #25 George “The Jet” Jensen took home the win in the A dash.
Car #12 Ron Simpson led up until lap nine, but #35 Kail Beck finally finished off his pass in the final corner, taking the win. #09 Joe Dardengo led the reverse heat from start to finish, taking the win.
The 25-lap feature saw #71 James Miller start from the pole position and hold that lead for 20 laps. Car #1 James Campbell grabbed the lead on lap 21 and held on for the win. Car #8 Duane Zeinstra finished second and Miller took third.
The Wilroc Sprint cars also made their season debut Saturday. Fast time of 12.824 in qualifying went to #44 Scott Aumen. Car #2 Randy Vincent held off the field to take the win in the dash. #7 Mark Fisher held the lead in the heat for the first eight laps, but Vincent continued his winning ways, taking the lead on lap nine and holding on for the win.
Aumen started pole for the reverse heat and spread his lead from there, winning his first race of the evening. The 20-lap feature saw Vincent prove his dominance once again, taking the lead on lap one. A caution on lap 12 tightened the field, but Vincent led every lap in a main event that took only six minutes and 10 seconds to complete. Aumen finished second and third went to #91 Darren Yates.
Car #55 Jeff Bird also set a track record with an amazing time of 14.653 in qualifying. #28 Wayde Heckford took the win in the Wilroc Lite C dash. The B dash went to #34 Duane Zeinstra, who was filling in for Paul Verhagen for the dash.
Car #25 Chris Root took home the win in the A dash. Bird made his way from the very back to take the win in the Lite B heat. Car #43 Matt Verhagen held the lead in the A heat for the first eight laps, before #52 Jesse Dardengo passed him on lap nine en route to the win.
The Lite B reverse saw #27 Frank Mayell lead for four laps, but once again Bird made his way from the back to take the lead and the eventual win. Heckford held the lead in the A reverse heat for the first five laps, but #47 Richard Lejeune passed him on lap six and took the win.
In the 35-lap feature, #15 Eli Ross led for the first two laps before #86 Ron French took over and stayed out front for 14 laps. Dardengo eventually caught French and took the lead on lap 18. Bird was coming on strong but mechanical issues caused him to withdraw from the race. Dardengo spread his lead from there and held on for the win. Car #8 Robbie Haslam finished second and Lejeune placed third.
EXTRA LAPS This weekend marks the speedway's 30th anniversary and a rain or shine event will feature fireworks, a Limo Jump and a great performance from the Jet Dragster ... the Dwarf cars, Bomber cars and IMCA Modifieds will be racing on the night ...