By Joe Grabianowski
The Craniacs in the crowd rose to their feet as a pair of brothers swept the top two Friday at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
Chris Crane, from Canaan, CT, crossed the finish line first ahead of brother Connor Crane after 35 straight laps of DIRTcar Sportsman Series Feature action on night one of Malta Massive Weekend.
Series points leader Cody McPherson settled for third as the brothers drove off in a heated battle.
“It is bittersweet because he [Connon Crane] is the one person I want to battle for the win with and the last person I want to pass for the win, “Chris Crane said. “It is bittersweet for sure.”
Overall Qualifying quick-timer Derrick McGrew, from nearby Ballston Spa, NY, led the 30-car Sportsman field in the early going racing side-by-side with Emmett Waldron, from Savannah, NY. Waldron bounced violently in Turn 1 and gave up the lead. McGrew’s time at the top was short-lived as Connor Crane dove under McGrew and took the point position out of Turn 4.
All-time Sportsman Series win leader Cody McPherson, from St. Catharines, ON, also passed McGrew and took second. However, he had no defense against the charging Chris Crane as he swept by on the backstretch on Lap 12.
Mid-race, Connor Crane closed in on lapped traffic with brother Chris on his tail. With the pressure on, Connor bobbled allowing Chris Crane to cruise by and maintain the lead until the checkered flag.
“I am just shocked,” said Chris Crane. “When I got by, I wanted to give him as much room as I could because ever since he got into the big car we talked about battling one-two on maybe a weekly night but to do it on Malta Massive Weekend with all the DIRTcar guys here says how good how program has been this year.”
Some pre-race film study helped prepare Crane for the 35-lap Feature.
“In the pits, I was sitting on the right front tire watching last year’s race,” Chris Crane said. “I saw Andrew Buff got to the front because he was pounding the outside. Starting on the outside I tried it, and everyone hit those holes in Turn 1. I went higher than everyone and it was there.”
Young Connor Crane was unphased by losing the lead to his brother. He is already planning his next trip.
“I can’t believe it,” Connor Crane exclaimed. “My dad said if either of us won we’re going to Super DIRT Week, so I guess we’re going to Super DIRT Week!”
It was a long tow from St. Catharines for Series points leader Cody McPherson.
“For our second time here, we ran really good,” McPherson said. “I didn’t know the race was so close to ending when it finished. We were definitely a third-place car. I was hoping for a yellow maybe. We’ll take the podium.”
Next up for the DIRTcar Sportsman Series is the highly anticipated Hurricane Harvey on Tuesday, October 8 as part of the 52nd running of Super DIRT Week. Tickets will be available at the gate, and you can catch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.
DIRTcar Sportsman Feature (35 Laps): 1. 711-Chris Crane Jr[6]; 2. 711X-Connor Crane[3]; 3. 7M-Cody McPherson[5]; 4. 26-Derrick Mcgrew Jr[1]; 5. 4-Emmett Waldron[2]; 6. 89-Dylan Madsen[4]; 7. 22-Tim Hartman Jr[7]; 8. 49-Chris Jakubiak[9]; 9. 38-Zach Sobotka[8]; 10. 01-Zach Buff[11]; 11. 5J-Patrick Jones[18]; 12. 410-Mike Fowler[12]; 13. 6-Cody Manitta[17]; 14. 07W-Taylor Wason[15]; 15. 18-Gavin Eisele[19]; 16. 30-Nicholas Root[22]; 17. 88W-Michael Wagner Fitzgerald[10]; 18. 2B-Bryce Breault[13]; 19. 916-Nick Brundige[20]; 20. 98-Craig Wholey[26]; 21. 12-Jon Miller[21]; 22. 34-Dylan Grogan[24]; 23. T32-Taylor LaPlante[25]; 24. 06-Michael Coffey Jr[23]; 25. 52-Jessica Power[27]; 26. 21-Ryan Barrett[29]; 27. 25G-Matt Gebo[16]; 28. (DNF) 16X-Savannah Laflair[30]; 29. (DNF) FOX28-Tyler Stevenson[28]; 30. (DNF) 02-Brendan Gibbons[14]
Post-Race Tech: Fuel checked, MSD Box plus wires were checked. exhaust was pulled and exhaust ports were checked, mufflers were checked for anti-reversion.
Hoosier Racing Tire Award (Free Tire): Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald
