By Curtis Berleue (Sodus, NY) | This Friday night, the Patriot Sprint Tour will be in competition at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway for the fourth time in series history. Racing action will get under way Friday night with pits opening at 4pm, grandstands opening an hour later at 5pm and racing set to take the green flag at 7pm sharp.
In the four previous visits to Malta for the Patriot Sprint Tour, a repeat winner has yet to grace victory lane. The first visit back in 2009 saw Jason Barney take home top honors. After a six year hiatus, the PST returned in 2016 and multi-time champion Jared Zimbardi went to victory lane – his first of eight victories that year. Last year, mother nature won the event originally scheduled for May, and it was Canadian Steve Poirier who took home the win when returning in July.
New this week is the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Four Laps of Fame Dash. Scott Bonnell, a long-time supporter of the Patriot Sprint Tour, has stepped up to sponsor the dash for cash each night in 2018. The four-lap event that consists of positions 9-14 in passing points from the heat races pays a separate purse of $300 per night, with $100 of that going to the winner. Points are kept for the dash series throughout the year, and the top 3 drivers are recognized at the season ending banquet held in November.
A stout field of competitors is expected Friday night – drivers from NY, NH, and Canada have made plans to be in attendance. Leading the charge will be current point leader Jason Barney, who holds a five point advantage over second place Bryan Howland.
For more information on this weekends events, visit www.PatriotSprintTour.com and www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com . For up to the minute coverage and more, ‘like’ the Patriot Sprint Tour on Facebook, and follow @PatriotSprints on Twitter and Instagram.
The Patriot Sprint Tour recognizes the following marketing partners for the 2018 season: A-Verdi Storage Containers, Hoosier Racing Tires, Prestige Pool & Spa, Einstein Construction Group, Bonnell’s Rod Shop, Fine Touch Collision, Mike Emhof Motorsports Inc., Super Gen Products with Champion Power Equipment, Patriot Tank Lines, Danny Willmes Enterprises, Casey’s Truck Salvage, Just Signs & Designs, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Sunoco Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, ASI Racewear and CBP Media.