A Capital Region battle is up next for the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series as it makes its final stop before Super DIRT Week 52.
The Series visits Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday, Sept. 20, as part of Malta Massive Weekend. Drivers will aim for a $2,000 prize in the 30-lap Feature.
Malta Massive Weekend serves as a Super DIRT Week 52 preview, as all four DIRTcar Northeast Series are in action at Albany-Saratoga this weekend. That includes the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series, who join the Sportsman on Friday’s card.
For more on the DIRTcar Northeast, follow the DIRTcar Facebook page and the Series’ X/(Twitter) page.
Here’s a look at What to Watch For at Albany-Saratoga:
Down to Single Digits: After a runner-up finish at Land of Legends Raceway, Gavin Eisele has cut Cody McPherson’s points lead to five points.
The LaFargeville, NY driver has been consistent in the championship chase, earning two wins and four podium finishes. His worst finish in six races was sixth at Can-Am Speedway.
Eisele has made one Series start at the “Great Race Place” in his career, a fourth during last year’s Malta Massive Weekend.
McPherson, meanwhile, has only finished worse than sixth once in the Championship Series, a 15th at Can-Am. The St. Catharines, ON driver, who has more wins than any other driver in DIRTcar Sportsman Series history, has also made one start at Albany-Saratoga, finishing sixth in 2022.
The Richard Murtaugh Show: While Eisele has been consistent, no driver comes into the weekend with more momentum than Richard Murtaugh.
The Fulton, NY driver won the last two Series events, wrestling the win away from Eisele during Weedsport Speedway’s Sportsman Classic and dominating the Gerald Haers Memorial at Land of Legends.
Murtaugh has yet to make a Series start at Albany-Saratoga in his career.
TH2: While the Series regulars are hungry for the $2,000 prize, 2024 track champion Tim Hartman Jr. hopes to keep them out of Victory Lane.
Hartman won his fifth championship on Labor Day weekend and has found Victory Lane numerous times, including four wins at Albany-Saratoga and 13 wins at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
“TH2” has made one Series start at Albany-Saratoga, finishing seventh in 2022.
Other drivers to watch who race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway weekly include Mike Coffey Jr, Dylan Madsen, Chris Crane Jr., and Chris Jakubiak, who finished in the top five behind Hartman in the season standings.
DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championship Season Schedule:
Sunday, August 11/Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/Gavin Eisele
Wednesday, August 14/Fulton Speedway/Gavin Eisele
Tuesday, August 20/Ransomville Speedway/Cody McPherson
Friday, Sept. 6/Can-Am Speedway/Eric Nier
Saturday, Sept. 7/Weedsport Speedway/Richard Murtaugh
Saturday, Sept. 14/Land of Legends Raceway/Richard Murtaugh
Friday, September 20/Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Tuesday, Oct. 8/Brewerton Speedway
Saturday, October 12/Oswego Speedway
Saturday, October 19/Brockville Ontario Speedway
Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 2/ The Dirt Track at Charlotte*
*Denotes Non-Points Paying event
