Super DIRTcar Series Opens Championship Season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway

MALTA — A battle in New York’s Capital Region awaits the Super DIRTcar Series, as the quest for the 2026 championship begins at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

The 61st season opener on Friday, April 17 will showcase the Beasts of the Northeast with a 61-lap feature paying $6,100-to-win. It’s also the 2026 championship season opener, giving one driver the chance to strike first on the road to the World of Outlaws World Finals.

Joining the Super DIRTcar Series are the track’s DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stock divisions.

Here’s a look at what to watch for at Albany-Saratoga:

• With the championship season kicking off on Friday, it also begins Mat Williamson’s quest for a third-straight title, and fourth title overall. Williamson has found plenty of success at Albany-Saratoga in the past, sweeping both Super DIRTcar Series stops in 2024, and earning three consecutive DIRTcar 358 Modified Series podiums. He finished sixth and eighth in the Series’ two appearances at Albany-Saratoga last season. A win by “Money Mat” on Friday will be his 39th career Series win, tying Bob McCreadie for seventh on the all-time wins list.

• The last time the series battled at Albany-Saratoga, it was 10-time series champion Matt Sheppard who stood in Victory Lane during Malta Massive Weekend. The Finger Lakes driver has two series victories at Albany-Saratoga over the past four seasons and has finished in the top five in three of his last four starts at the track. Overall, he’s earned three wins, 12 top-fives, and 13 top-tens. A win by “Super Matt” will be his 104th Series triumph, as he continues his chase of Brett Hearn at the top of the Series all-time wins list (141).

• Friday’s stop at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway marks the first venue the series visits in 2026, where several drivers race at their home track. Defending track champion Mike Mahaney, Felix Roy, Peter Britten, Jack Lehner, and Justin Stone each call Albany-Saratoga home on Friday nights and aim to score a victory in front of their hometown crowd. Lehner resides in Saratoga Springs and is a three-time feature winner at the 4/10-mile oval, reaching Victory Lane in 2024.

• Upset Special: Along with a stout group of Super DIRTcar Series regulars who race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway every Friday, there’s a group of regional drivers aiming to pull an upset victory, including last year’s event winner L.J. Lombardo. Former track champions Marc Johnson and Matt Delorenzo will also be aiming for the $6,100 prize on Friday, as they battle for their first career series victory.