MALTA, NY – The time has finally come for the most anticipated weekend of racing in the Capital District with the running of Malta Massive Weekend at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Tonight, at the great race place JAM Performance & Consulting CDRA series presented by Elmo’s Speed Supply crowns the Season Two champion. But there are other stories to be told with this evening’s results.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway plays host to the CDRA racing series for the fifth time tonight, and the second running of what has become known as the ‘Great Crate Classic’ run in conjunction with the DIRTcar Sportsman Fall Championship series. This will present a stacked field of highly talented competitors between Capitaland hot shoes, and DIRTcar top guns.
Tonight’s running of the Great Crate Classic has many storylines that will unfold starting with the championship battle, which will be decided between Glenville, NY racer Tim Hartman Jr. and defending champion racer Taylor Wason from Middlegrove, NY. They are separated by 28 points heading into the 35-lap, $1,500 to win main event.
Behind the front running pair is a point battle for third in standings between Caroga Lake, NY young gun Tavien Blowers, and Newcomer Of The Year Nick Brundige from Round Lake, NY. Blowers holds a nine-point advantage, but Brundige calls Malta home on Friday nights. Navigating the DIRTcar Sportsman series talent will be challenging for these men, but someone will own the spot.
Zach Buff is safely in fifth in points for this season, so the next interesting storyline to follow is the log jam to round out the top 10 in point standings. Connor Crane currently holds 6th with a 14-point lead over seventh Alex Palmer-Sawyer. APS is tied with Derrick McGrew Jr. and Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald with 269 points. To make it more interesting, Chris Crane Jr. is just 2 points behind them. There could be a wild change from sixth all the way back to tenth in final points.
Last season, Chris Crane Jr. picked up the win in the Great Crate Classic at Albany-Saratoga Speedway during Malta Massive Weekend, which was also part of the DIRTcar Sportsman Fall Championship Series. Connor Crane, Cody McPherson, Derrick McGrew Jr., and Emmett Waldron rounded out the top five.
“Tonight is the season two finale. It’s been a great season. We (CDRA) are growing, and drivers have been great in their support. We’re here for the drivers of the Capital District. Whoever wins the title this season, it’s been a good battle. Wason defended his title honorably, and there was no doubt Timmy would be in contention. And how about these young guys like Blowers and Brundige. I’m proud of them for grinding out the six race schedule over the summer months and being in good position to earn recognition for their efforts,” said CDRA competition director Rob Hazer.
UP NEXT FOR CDRA: With the season of points paying races concluding at Albany-Saratoga with the Great Crate Classic, focus shifts to the CDRA Honors on Friday December 19, 2025. Awards will recognize top 10 in final point standings, as well as awarding season honors including Champion, Driver Of The Year (DOTY), Newcomer Of The Year (NOTY), Outstanding Performance (OPTY), and Honorable Mentions. Also, Honors will introduce the Fan Favorite (FOTY) to be determined by voting prior to the December date.
CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Season two schedule consists of a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks like the great race place, the fastest quarter mile on dirt, and the valley of speed. Drivers who do travel the Capitaland will earn hardware and some green for their efforts.
For more information on CDRA visit http://www.cdraracing.com on the web. Fans and drivers can also find CDRA on Social Media at http://www.facebook.com/cdraracing. Be sure to save, like, and follothee faw.
Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.
2025 CDRA POINT RACE SCHEDULE
04/18/25 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway | Spring Showdown ✔
07/25/25 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway | Flying Trowel 32 ✔
08/03/25 – Glen Ridge Motorsports Park | Rumble At The Ridge ✔
08/10/25 – Glen Ridge Motorsports Park | Montgomery County Brawl ✔
08/28/25 – Lebanon Valley Speedway | Mr. Crate Track USA ✔
09/19/25 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway | Great Crate Classic
Official Primary CDRA Marketing Partners For 2025 include: Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply.
Official Associate CDRA Partners For 2025 Include: Fox Racing Shox, SD Marketing and Designs LLC, Herrington Farms LLC, J-Tees Screen Printing, McGaffin Family Photography, and Final Reward Trophies.
Official Affiliate CDRA Partners For 2025 Include: DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, GM Performance 602 Crate Engines, Mad Skins Race Car Bodies, Cordova Plumbing & Heating, Bart Contracting, Hayes Trucking & Excavating, New Deals Used Cars, Joe Wilkinson & Sons Excavating, County Waste, and Doug Wholey Ideal Excavation.
Official Media | Social Partners For 2025 Include: Area Auto Racing News, Hazilla Brands, My Race Pass, DIRTvision, DTDtv, Race Pro Weekly, Dirt Track Digest, Race New York, Doug’s Dirt Diary.
Official CDRA Race Titles For 2025 Include: Sportsman Modified Spring Showdown (ALB), Montgomery County Brawl (GRMP), Flying Trowel 32 (ALB), Rumble At The Ridge (GRMP), Mr. Crate Track USA (LVS), and Great Crate Classic – Malta Massive Weekend (ALB).
Information shared about partners in Capital District Racing Association is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Info included but not limited to winner’s share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change.
For the latest news, results, point standings, and more about the CDRA Series presented by JAM Performance and Elmo’s Speed Supply, please visit http://www.cdraracing.com.
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