News Director 
Story By: ROB HAZER / KING OF DIRT – MALTA, NY – Rocky Warner has won just about everything possible in Sportsman Modified competition. One thing that has eluded him in his illustrious career would be a DIRTcar Sportsman Series title or the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman crown. Earning the King Of Dirt Racing Sportsman Series title in 2017 would get him closer to achieving that goal, which had the ‘flying squirrel’ in winning form Tuesday night at Albany Saratoga Speedway.
Robert Bublak Jr. with his M&J Construction 27b and Chad Edwards driving the Spencer Racing 37 would lead the 30 car starting field to the green in the King Of Dirt Racing DIRTcar East Region Sportsman 30-lap main event at the great race place.
Edwards took the early lead, but was pressured quickly by Joey Scarborough. They’d battle closely until lap 13 when the red flag flew for DCI racing driver Jack Speshock who flipped hard in turn three. He was uninjured in the accident, but his evening was over.
On the restart Edwards went back to the lead, but he’d have some company in the form of 2015 King Of Dirt Racing champion Rocky Warner and moving into the top five was defending 2016 King Of Dirt Racing champion Connor Cleveland.
Another red flag flew on lap 13 after Nick Lussier’s number 3 spun and collected a series of cars including Dirt Rush driver Scott Duell and visiting Vermont driver Richie Simmons who both flipped. They were uninjured in the accident and able to walk away, but their evening would come to an end.
On the restart Edwards and Warner went to battle for the top spot. These two drivers are also locked in a tight point race for the KOD/DIRTcar East Region Sportsman crown. Edwards would power his way back into the lead using the top side of the speedway leaving Warner to fend off the chargers of two-time Nationals champion Tim Hartman Jr.
A late race restart on lap 23 gave Warner the opportunity he needed, as heading into turn one he’d pull off a successful slide job and claim the top spot from Edwards. He’d try fighting back, but had his hands full with Hartman Jr. who drove by for 2nd and began pressuring Warner.
Nothing would deny Rocky Warner his 7th career feature win at Albany Saratoga Speedway and his 2nd on the KOD tour this season. Hartman Jr., Edwards, Cleveland, JaMike Sowle, Scarborough, Jeremy Pitts, Bublak, Jack Lehner, and David Schilling rounded out the top 10. Andy’s Speed Shop winner’s bonus went to Rocky Warner as well. Jack Speshock, Scott Duell, and Richie Simmons all flipped during the feature event. Thankfully they all were able to walk away uninjured. Saratoga Masonry Hard Charger, which is awarded to drivers top 12 who didn’t use provisionals, was Jeremy Pitts who rolled from 16th to 7th. Fast Axle super sixth award went to Joey Scarborough, while Jack Lehner earned the KillerCrate Newcomer Of The Race nod.
KOD NOTES: Strong 39-car field visited Albany Saratoga Speedway for the KOD/DIRTcar East Region Sportsman Series event Tuesday. Rocky Warner started the night off by earning the J-Tees Screen Printing Fast Timer award earning a bonus point. Heat race winners were Warner, Scarborough, Cleveland, and Edwards earning a bonus point.
AUGUST 15, 2017 1-800-GOT-JUNK? KING OF DIRT RACING DIRTcar EAST SPORTSMAN SERIES PRESENTED BY ANDY’S SPEED SHOP, DODSON CONSTRUCTION, & DEAN’S ELECTRICAL FEATURE RESULTS AT ALBANY SARATOGA SPEEDWAY (30 Laps) – 1) Rocky Warner, 2) Tim Hartman Jr., 3) Chad Edwards, 4) Connor Cleveland, 5) JaMike Sowle, 6) Joey Scarborough, 7) Jeremy Pitts, 8) Robert Bublak Jr., 9) Jack Lehner, 10) David Schilling, 11) Andrew Buff, 12) Michael Sabia, 13) Chris Johnson, 14) Brian Pessolano, 15) Darryl Nutting, 16) Kevin Chaffee, 17) Jeff Watson, 18) Nick Heywood, 19) Jim Morgan, 20) Josh Neil, 21) Mike Coffey Jr., 22) Justin Barber, 23) Rob Maxon, 24) Jason Gray, 25) Nick Lussier, 26) Scott Duell, 27) Richie Simmons, 28) Jon Miller, 29) Jack Speshock, 30) Pat Jones.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #1 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Rocky Warner, 2) Jack Lehner, 3) Andrew Buff, 4) David Schilling, 5) Pat Jones, 6) Mike Coffey Jr., 7) Brian Pessolano, 8) Adam Gage, 9) Jason Gray, 10) Jesse Edwards.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #2 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Joey Scarborough, 2) Robert Bublak Jr., 3) Nick Lussier, 4) Jack Speshock, 5) Rob Maxon, 6) Richie Simmons, 7) Josh Neil, 8) Nick Heywood, 9) Chris Ronca, 10) Mike Ostrander.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #3 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Connor Cleveland, 2) Chris Johnson, 3) Tim Hartman Jr., 4) Darryl Nutting, 5) Justin Barber, 6) Michael DuBois, 7) Jeff Watson, 8) Bobby Flood, 9) Fred Proctor, 10) Collin DuBois.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Heat #4 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Chad Edwards, 2) Scott Duell, 3) JaMike Sowle, 4) Jeremy Pitts, 5) Jim Morgan, 6) Michael Sabia, 7) Jon Miller, 8) Kevin Chaffee, 9) Paolo Pascarella.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Consi #1 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Brian Pessolano, 2) Jeff Watson, 3) Justin Barber, 4) Pat Jones, 5) Mike Coffey Jr., 6) Jason Gray, 7) Fred Proctor, 8) Bobby Flood, 9) Jesse Edwards, 10) Adam Gage, 11) Michael DuBois, 12) Collin DuBois.
KOD/DIRTcar East Sportsman Consi #2 Results (8 Laps) – 1) Jim Morgan, 2) Rob Maxon, 3) Richie Simmons, 4) Nick Heywood, 5) Michael Sabia, 6) Josh Neil, 7) Kevin Chaffee, 8) Jon Miller, 9) Paolo Pascarella, 10) Chris Ronca, 11) Mike Ostrander.
DTD Lap Leaders – Chad Edwards (1-23), Rocky Warner (24-30)
Saratoga Masonry Hard Charger – Jeremy Pitts (+9)
Andy’s Speed Shop $250 Bonus – Rocky Warner (1st)
Fast Axle Superior Sixth – Joey Scarborough ($50 Certificate)
J-Tees Fast Timer – Rocky Warner (16.568)
Killer Crate Newcomer Of The Race – Jack Lehner (9th)
