Column: Alex Yankowski Earns Second Straight Super DIRTcar Runner-Up; Takes Series Points Lead
Column By: MIKE WARREN / SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES – MALTA, NY – Alex Yankowski crossed the line behind LJ Lombardo Friday night in the Super DIRTcar Series race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, earning his second consecutive runner-up finish.
He also takes over the Series points lead after two points-paying events, holding an 11-point lead over defending Series champion Mat Williamson.
Once the caution came out on lap 30, Yankowski said one of the factors that kept him out of Victory Lane was not knowing which lane to pick.
“I feel like in the first 30 laps, we were really good, and in the last 30 laps, we were not so good,” Yankowski said. “It was pretty slippery through the middle, and I just goofed up. I let him get some energy on the top there, but it was hard to do anything after that. We weren’t really better. When you get a guy that rips the top like that and knows the place well, it’s tough.”
Tim Sears Jr. crossed the line third, earning his second consecutive podium finish at Albany-Saratoga. The Hastings, NY driver battled Mahaney and Williamson for most of the race before passing Mahaney for the final podium spot on the Lap 30 restart.
“I restarted fourth, and I was fortunate enough to be in the right lane at the right time,” Sears said. “We were definitely there. I’ve always been good on the smaller and shorter tracks, so these are kind of in my wheelhouse.”
Mahaney crossed the line fourth, and Erick Rudolph beat Williamson to the checkered flag by a bumper to finish fifth.
