Mike Ostrander of Ballston Spa narrowly took the victory in the 20-Lap Limited feature last Friday night at Albany Saratoga Speedway.

It was “Points Party and Barbeque Night” at the track with well over 100 trophies being handed out to the competitors who excelled at the Malta track, as well as its sister track, Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

After the awards ceremony, there was on-track action featuring a 50-Lap Budget Sportsmen race as well as Limiteds and Mini-Stocks.

The best racing of the night was provided by the Limited division. They were barely one lap into the race when leader Nick Lussier and Bill Decker got into it as they raced down the backstretch.

After contact, the two came to a stop in Turn 3, handing the lead over to Andy Durie. Durie’s stay out front would be short lived as Mike Ostrander blasted by on Lap 4.

Ostrander would lead the remaining 16 laps but he had plenty of company as a pair of 44s challenged him throughout most of the race.

Bill Duprey, in his No. 44D, and Ken Conroy, in his No. 44, ran side-by-side on Ostrander’s back bumper waiting for a mistake.

Ostrander then held off DJ Brundige who came on strong at the finish making it past both 44s and drew in on Ostrander as they came to the checkers. Ostrander held on by a scant 0.451-second margin of victory for his third win of the year. Brundige was followed closely by Duprey, Conroy and Durie at the finish. 

The 50-Lap Budget Sportsmen feature saw five-time winner Paul Dunham start on the pole, through the luck of the draw. What looked as though it would be a runaway win by Dunham, lasted only five laps as fourth-starting Alex Bell used the inside line coming off turn 2 to work his way past Dunham on Lap 6.

Once out front, Bell pulled away from the pack and took a convincing two-second victory over Fred Proctor, Frank Hoard, Dunham and Bryan Davis. The win was Bell’s second in a row and his third of the year.

The 15-Lap Mini-Stock feature saw Jason Dickson of Greenfield Center put his No. 26 in Victory Lane for the first time this year. Dickson had to hold off a persistent Erin Older as she drove to the outside of Dickson lap after lap.

Older would have to settle for second with Rusty Palmatier and Mike Cranston chasing her across the line. Ron Zagata was fifth and he was the first 6-cylinder across the line.

The 50-Lap Enduro was won by Michael Kamm.

Racing returns for the final Friday Night show this week featuring a 35-Lap feature for the Sportsmen division. The Modifieds are finished for the season but all other classes will be competing. Action gets under way at 6:45 p.m.