Column: Albany Saratoga’s Malta Massive Weekend Boasts $11,500 Payday, Last SDW Qualifier
News Director 
Column By: MICHELINA FRISS / DIRTCAR – MALTA, NY – A massive weekend awaits the Super DIRTcar Series – the iconic Malta Massive Weekend at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Along with battling for a $11,500 payday in the 115-lap race – honoring Kenny Tremont’s last ever race – the event will also be the final chance for drivers to secure a guaranteed starting spot in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 during Super DIRT Week 51.
While the Super DIRTcar Series will contend on Saturday, fans will see the biggest stars of the northeast for two straight nights at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. The DIRTcar 358 Modified Series and the DIRTcar Sportsman Series will compete on Friday, Sept. 22. Then, the Super DIRTcar Series will be joined by the DIRTcar Pro Stock Series on Saturday.
It all leads to Super DIRT Week 51 at Oswego Speedway, Oct. 2-8, where fans will also see all four Series competing together.
Here are the top storylines to follow:
A SPECIAL SITE: After taking a year off from Series competition to revamp his program, 2021 Rookie of the Year Chris Hile made headlines during the initial visit to Albany-Saratoga on June 13 when he drove his #5H machine to victory for the first time in Series competition.
The Oswego, NY driver returns to Albany-Saratoga Speedway in sixth place, 25 points behind fifth-place Jimmy Phelps. He’ll fight to break back into the top five by scoring both his second track and Series win during this weekend’s 115-lap showcase.
FEELS LIKE HOME: Saturday will be a bittersweet night for Big Block Modified racing legend Kenny Tremont Jr. as he will hang up his helmet after the race.
The West Sand Lake, NY driver has had an illustrious career at the Malta, NY track, including 13 track championships and 81 wins. In total, he’s collected 393 victories in his career across 20 different tracks.
Adam Pierson, who finished third in points in weekly racing, will try for a third straight top-five Series finish. The East Corinth, VT driver led 82 laps of last season’s September visit before exiting the track on Lap 83 with a blown motor. He’ll aim to finish what he started last year and score his first Series win.
After surgery to correct a finger injury that required him to temporarily step away from racing, Peter Britten has stepped back into the saddle, ready to compete for wins once more. He finished eighth and sixth during the 2022 matchups, and then posted a fourth-place finish back on June 13. He’ll aim for his first Series win at the track.
Matt Delorenzo, the 2023 Albany-Saratoga Big Block Modified runner-up in points, finished third during the first Series visit back on June 13 and will look to give the Series stars another run for their money as he battles once again for his first Series win.
UP FOR GRABS: The heated battle for third through fifth will continue into the Massive Malta Weekend.
The three positions are currently separated by 21 points, with third and fourth position separated by just three points.
Tim Sears Jr.: (3rd place, 268 points)
Tim Sears Jr. has seen a breakout year, entering the matchup third in the points battle. His success has been anchored with three top-five finishes, the most recently coming at Ransomville Speedway on Aug. 22.
The Central Square, NY native has performed decently at the Eastern New York track, scoring one top-five finish and three top-10 finishes in his last three Series visits. He’ll need to add another top-notch performance to the tally to keep his position as Mike Mahaney sits only three points behind him in fourth place.
Mike Mahaney: (4th place, 271 points)
Albany-Saratoga Speedway is a special stop on tour for Mike Mahaney, as he has captured two of his three career Series wins at his home track. His first came during the 2021 Massive Malta Weekend followed by another triumphant Series visit on June 24, 2022.
The King Ferry, NY driver has battled his way up the leaderboard the entire season, currently sitting in fourth place, three points behind third-place Tim Sears Jr. He will be ready to continue the fight to break into the top-three this weekend with another stellar showing in front of his home fans.
Jimmy Phelps: (5th place, 289 points)
“The Baldwinsville Bandit” comes into the weekend fifth in the points battle, looking to fight his way back into the top three.
It will require a breakthrough performance, as Albany-Saratoga has been a difficult track for the veteran driver. In his last three visits, he’s finished 13th, 10th and 13th, respectively. He will look to put all that behind him and battle for his first win of the season.
ROAD TO 10 CONTINUES: Nine-time and defending Series champion Matt Sheppard leads the field with a 97-point advantage coming into the second Series visit to the Malta, NY track.
The Waterloo, NY driver scored his first Series win at the track during the 2022 Massive Malta Weekend after charging from 15th place. He recorded a sixth-place finish during the first visit this season back on June 13.
There are currently five races standing in his way to a potential 10th Super DIRTcar Series title.
