RPW Exclusive: Albany-Saratoga’s Big Final Weekend Sure Lives Up To It’s “Massive” Moniker

Column By: TOBY LAGRANGE / RPW – MALTA, NY – Almost every event these days has a name attached to it, which if you think about is not only a very smart idea marketing wise, but a very effective one.

Not every event lives up to their monikers.  However, every once in a while, you get one that not only earns its name but cements that name in race fan lore.

The Malta Massive Weekend is one of those events that not only is catchy but truly does live up to its name. Beyond the honestly large crowds and record car counts there was something that is lacked in many events these days – a big event atmosphere.

As soon as you pulled in off Route 9 you could tell that you were entering something big. There were the campsites and variety of campers that occupied a large portion of the parking lot – from the highway all the way along the tree line. Then there were the race fans either at their campsites, walking through the parking lot or filling up the area behind the grandstand.

Once you parked and exited your vehicle, you could feel it in the air. Along with the race fuel you could feel the excitement, anxiety and big event feel that many events crave.

From a media standpoint you know it’s a big event when Jo Ann Davies is sitting in the window, waiting to sign you in with a smile. It was announced on Saturday night that she will be moving to North Carolina by her new grandchild. Jo Ann, along with her late husband Don were staples all over the northeastern Dirt Modified land as journalist for the Area Auto Racing News for many, many years.

Once you enter the pit area and see just how full it is and more importantly who is there, the goosebumps start to appear.

Why you ask?

Because you know that not only is pretty much every big name in our portion of the sport in attendance but that the fields are healthy.

Then there are the officiating crew who put the “pro” in professionalism. From the new command center to the matching and neatly presented team of officials, that big feel vibe runs rampant.

After all this hits you, then you grab some of the very reasonably priced food that was flying out of the concession stands all weekend long (including those stuffed tater tots which, if you were lucky enough to have some, were amazing) and have a seat.

Regardless if you take your seat in the pit stands or the grandstands you then hear the voices from the tower that cement the big event feel.

As an announcer, the voices coming from the loud speaker (or your streaming device) can go a long way in making or breaking the show. They do not have to be perfect. They can make a mistake, pronounce a name wrong or get something else wrong because they are after all human. But what they do have to be is knowledgeable and prepared.

As Jim King once told me, if you’re not willing to do your homework before coming to the track and be prepared, then you might as well stay home.

The team of Danny Martin, Tim Baltz (Friday Night), Mike Warren and Rich Vleck are second to none when it comes to an announcing crew. They are prepared, knowledgeable and know how to deliver the show to everyone at home and in the stands.

There is a reason that these four make up the announcing team for Super DIRT Week each season and all four are headed for various halls of fame when their time comes.

Then there is the track itself. Operated and groomed by Lyle DeVore and his team, the Great Race Place routinely lives up to its nickname. There was great racing in all seven divisions that competed during the weekend.

Speaking of great racing, how about the Super DIRTcar Series event itself?

With Demetrious Drellos checking out after battling with Danny Johnson, all eyes turned to the non-stop battles involving Johnson, Tim Sears, Jr., Matt Sheppard, Mat Williamson and others.

What about the finish to the DIRTcar Pro Stock series event Saturday night? You really cannot get any better than that.

I will not rehash all of the results for you, as by not everyone knows who won and where their favorite driver finished. I will say a big congrats to all of the 2024 Malta Massive Weekend Feature Winners – Mat Williamson (Super DIRTcar Series), Mike Mahaney (DIRTcar 358 Modified Series), Chris Crane, Jr. (DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series), Beau Ballard (DIRTcar Pro Stock Series), Lucas Duncan (Limited Sportsman), Jason Meltz (Street Stock) and Kyle Lanfear (overall DIRTcar Mini Stock).

The car counts were beyond solid. There were 45 Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds, 46 DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, 59 DIRTcar Sportsman, 26 DIRTcar Pro Stocks, 36 Limited Sportsman, 24 Street Stocks and 15 DIRTcar Mini Stocks.

When the final checkered flag waved on Saturday evening, one thing became more apparent than ever – the Malta Massive Weekend has earned its place with the biggest weekends in our sport and has taken center stage as the biggest weekend in the Capital District.