Wason Earns Capital District Racing Association Season One Points Championship And Punches Ticket To Title Town

12/16/24: Taylor Wason turning hot laps at Albany-Saratoga Speedway where he calls home on Friday Nights. (Photo Obtained From Wason Racing Page)

FONDA, NY – Taylor Wason may not be a household name in Sportsman Modified racing, yet. He didn’t even park in victory lane during JAM Performance CDRA season one points chase presented by Elmo’s Speed Supply. Instead, the young racer from Middlegrove, NY used consistency as his advantage to earn a trip to Capital District title town.

Wason did something unique in winning a championship without visiting victory lane. He had a trio of top five finishes, four top 10’s, which included back-to-back podium finishes at Albany-Saratoga and Glen Ridge. To top off his JAM Performance CDRA season, Taylor Wason didn’t shy away from the ‘Valley Swng’ and accepted the challenge of the high banks finishing 14th respectively.

Once the final points were tallied, Wason was atop the leaderboard with his Lenihan Paving-Lake Auto Parts 07w Bicknell racing chassis. The announcement he won the title was a relief to the champ, as he wasn’t sure how rewarding his season was.

“When I found out we won the CDRA championship it honestly was relieving. We went winless all season and felt there was nothing to show for our efforts, but we were consistent enough in speed to secure the points championship without a win,” said Taylor Wason.

So, what do we know about the kid who battled with Cody Ochs for the title right down to Malta Massive Weekend? Well, he began racing open wheel Sportsman Modified in 2019 in the Limited Sportsman where he visited victory lane at both Malta and the Ridge. He moved up in 2023 where he again found victory lane at the great race place in his rookie season.

“When I won at Malta in 2023, my rookie season, it felt great. Beating to of the best Sportsman drivers in the area gave us confidence we could compete at a high level,” continued Wason.

Wason owes it to his dad and sister for getting him hooked on dirt track racing where he’s grown to be quite the fan of dirt Modified racer Stewart Friesen and wheelman extraordinaire Kyle Larson.

While he enjoys the diversity of tracks like Albany-Saratoga, Lebanon Valley, and Airborne, it’s the Ridge that suits him. Don’t take our word for it, just ask the champ.

“I feel like I do the best at Glen Ridge. With the amount of laps I’ve turned there, and the short track being up on the wheel all the time, it fits my driving style best,” said Wason.

Taylor Wason has a bright future ahead of him. He’s only raced regular Sportsman Modified for a short time and he already has feature wins and a CDRA Season One series championship to his credit. He’ll be the first to say he didn’t do it alone and he had some people to thank.

“I can’t thank my mom and dad enough. They’ve done so much for me and none of this would be remotely possible without them,” Wason said.

He concluded by saying, “I of course have to thank all my fans and sponsors for their support also. Elmo’s Speed Supply, Lenihan Paving, Lake Auto Parts, Fastenal, Express Employment, HICO Fabrication, Gene’s Lawncare, Heaven Sent Lawn Service, Carbs By Ray, and Walsh Construction are great marketing partners.”

Wason made it clear he intends to defend his JAM Performance CDRA Racing title presented by Elmo’s Speed Supply in 2025. The champ is coming full speed into season two, and looks to top the Capital District Sportsman Modified driver pool again. Congratulations to Taylor and the entire Wason Racing team on a championship 2024 season.

CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Six races make up a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks to crown a champion. Are you brave enough to live life on the ridge, battle at the great race place, and tame the valley of speed? The drivers who do 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 follow.

Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.

𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝟭𝟬 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗖𝗗𝗥𝗔 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦
POS # Driver Hometown TOTAL
1 07 Taylor Wason Middlegrove, NY 482
2 33 Cody Ochs* Rensselaer, NY 391
3 01 Zach Buff* Latham, NY 379
4 24B Brendan Gibbons Amsterdam, NY 365
5 12B Tyler Bobar Ft. Plain, NY 318
6 22 Tim Hartman Jr** Glenville, NY 307
7 711 Chris Crane Jr** Canaan, CT 304
8 89 Dylan Madsen Spencertown, NY 292
9 98 Craig Wholey Bolton Landing, NY 282
10 43 Tavien Blowers Caroga Lake, NY 277

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla Brands, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, GM Performance 602 Crate Engines, McGaffin Family Photography, and Final Reward Trophies. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.

The Five: Ochs, Wason, Gibbons, Buff, and Blowers Lead CDRA Point Standings Heading Back To Glen Ridge In July

07/15/24: Cody Ochs (33) and Taylor Wason (07) race for position during a feature event at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park. (Blaze Post Photo)

FULTONVILLE, NY – The first season of JAM Performance CDRA racing is full of underdog stories. Take the top five in point standings for example, who are all weekend warriors who might not have household names. Get to know them, because right now they’re title contenders with a chip on the line headed to Glen Ridge on July 28th for the Hall Of Fame Classic.

Let’s start with Rensselaer, NY racer Cody Ochs and his Next Generation Services LLC, Pheasant Hollow, Rob Albreada Snap-On Tools number 33. Ochs opened the CDRA season with a win at the ridge in May during the DIRTcar Sportsman East series 40-lap event, and backed it up with a solid 6th place finish at Albany-Saratoga in the Dj Davies Media 26. He’s the current series point leader.

Middlegrove, NY racer Taylor Wason finds himself just five points out of the lead after a pair of top 10 finishes with his Lenihan Paving, Lake Auto Parts, Express Equipment Professionals number 07. Those finishes included a 7th to open the point championship chase at Glen Ridge, and followed that up with a solid 3rd place run at Albany-Saratoga. He’s knocking on the door to title town.

Brendan Gibbons is a pleasant surprise, currently 3rd place in CDRA points. The Amsterdam, NY racer had a tough wreck early in the season with his family-owned equipment, but landed in the driver’s seat of the David Bosclair owned 02. The C&D Stump-Tree Removal, Buff’s Auto Service, Justice Insurance ride has pair of top 10 finishes to his credit headed to Glen Ridge in July.

Zach Buff has had a tough start to 2024 despite having a pair of weekly racing wins. The Latham, NY racer has one top 10 finish in two CDRA races with his West End Towing & Repair, JAM Performance, Buff’s Auto Service number 01. The talent is there, he just needs the wheel to turn his way sort of speak. Despite any adversity thus far, Buff holds the 4th position in points just 23 out of the lead.

Rounding out ‘the five’ is young shoe Tavien Blowers out of Caroga Lake, NY. He’s positioned his O’Connor Towing, Charlie John’s Stone, New Image Lawn Care number 43 just 28 out of the point lead with a pair of top 15 finishes. The next CDRA points paying race is back at his Sunday night home track, Glen Ridge, where opportunity awaits.

The back half of the top 10 has some Capital District young guns and heavy hitters that include Kadon Hohensheldt (6th), Tyler Bobar (7th), Chris Crane Jr. (8th), Tim Hartman Jr. (9th), and Craig Wholey (10th). Wholey is in a 3-way tie for the spot with Dylan Madsen and Dylan Nichols, both who had 2nd place finishes in their CDRA appearances.

The JAM Performance CDRA championship chase will once again shake up after the Hall Of Fame Classic at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park on July 28, 2024. 35-laps to decide a race victor in round three of the CDRA points season on a special night at the ridge paying $1,000 for the winners’ effort.

CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Six races make up a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks to crown a champion. Are you brave enough to live life on the ridge, battle at the great race place, and tame the valley of speed? The drivers who do 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 follow.

Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.

2024 CDRA Racing Series Schedule
Race #1 – May 19, 2024 (Glen Ridge)
WINNER: Cody Ochs
Race #2 – June 25, 2024 (Albany Saratoga)
WINNERS: Tim Hartman Jr. & Chris Crane Jr.
Race #3 – July 28, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – Hall Of Fame Classic Night
Race #4 – August 17, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Halloween Night
Race #5 – August 31, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Mr. Dirt Track USA Night
Race #6 – September 20, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Malta Massive Weekend

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla Brands, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.

Victory Letter: Chris Crane Jr Earned First Career Sportsman Modified Win At Albany-Saratoga Worth CDRA Points

06/25/24: Chris Crane Jr. has a lot to smile about after earning his first career Sportsman Modified win at Albany-Saratoga worth full CDRA points. (Bill McGaffin Photo)

FONDA, NY – After Dj Davies Media 26 Feature #2 was complete, there was a brand new winner standing in victory lane. Chris Crane Jr. has progressively been improving since racing open wheel Sportsman Modifieds and not only did he get a career first, it was a big one. Don Davies Memorial night and CDRA special will certainly earn you a victory letter.

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla Brands, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.

Victory Letter: A Quick Note To Tim Hartman Jr After His First CDRA Win At Albany-Saratoga

06/25/24: Tim Hartman Jr. all smiles in Finish Line Designs victory lane after capturing victory at Albany-Saratoga in Dj Davies Media 26 Feature #1. (Bill McGaffin Photo)

FONDA, NY – Tim Hartman Jr. won his first ever CDRA Sportsman Modified feature event Tuesday and his third of the season at Albany-Saratoga during Don Davies Memorial night. This warranted a letter of appreciation and congratulations.

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla Brands, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.

Tim Hartman Jr and Chris Crane Jr Earn CDRA Points Paying Wins At Albany-Saratoga In Twin Dj Davies Media 26 Lap Feature Events

06/25/24: Tim Hartman Jr. (22) and Chris Crane Jr. (711) park it in Finish Line Designs Victory Lane for CDRA points paying wins. (Bill McGaffin Photos)

MALTA, NY – Albany-Saratoga Speedway knocked it out of the park during the Don Davies Memorial, which included twin 26-lap contests for the 56 Sportsman Modifieds signed in to compete. Both Dj Davies Media feature events were indeed JAM Performance CDRA points paying races, which saw Tim Hartman Jr. and Chris Crane Jr. claim huge victories at the great race place.

With a large number of Sportsman Modified racers in attendance at Albany-Saratoga for the Don Davies Memorial track management made the decision to split them into two separate features, which their lineups were set by timed hot laps. Fans were treated to not one, but two 26-lap JAM Performance CDRA points paying races for the Dj Davies Media main events.

Craig Wholey wasted no time taking advantage of his front row starting position to grab the race lead in feature number one driving his Rounds Paving 98. He would pick up both Madsen Overhead Doors lap leader bonuses for laps 8 and 18, but lap 19 is when Tim Hartman Jr. came to challenge for the top spot with his MRP Companies 22.

Wholey was able to hold off an early race challenge from the Lenihan Paving 07 of Taylor Wason, but TH2 wasn’t going to be denied. Hartman Jr. took the lead on lap 19 and never looked back picking up his 3rd win of the year at Albany-Saratoga, his 10th overall on the season, and his 1st CDRA points paying win.

Travis Witbeck drove his Burdick Property Development 405 race rod to a 4th place finish, while Peyton Talbot was impressive driving from 16th to 5th in is Belmont’s Garage 14T to round out the top five. Cody Ochs, Drew Cormie, Bryce Breault, Dominic Roselli, and Brendan Gibbons rounded out the top 10 in Dj Davies Media 26 CDRA feature number one.

“First of all great job by Craig Wholey. I went up to their shop about a month ago and he’s finished second about four times now, but his win is coming,” said Tim Hartman Jr. in victory lane.

He continued by saying, “It was an advantage to run third, because I could experiment and see what line worked. And I found the top before anyone else did. It seemed like that was the difference maker.”

FEATURE #1 NOTES: CDRA point leader Cody Ochs proved bold predictions dead wrong with a solid 6th place finish keeping his point lead. Taylor Wason earned a solid 3rd place run and cut into Ochs lead trimming the margin to just five. Brendan Gibbons is another top CDRA point earner who proved bold predictions wrong, by earning a solid top 10 and moving to 3rd in the standings.

Chris Crane Jr. and his little brother Connor Crane Jr. with their Crane’s Outdoor Power Equipment 711cars brought the field to the green flag in feature number two. Chris, like Wholey, took advantage of his up-front starting spot to take the early lead. Richard Murtaugh with his Flood Doctor Properties 33 challenged Connor quickly for the runner up position.

Connor Crane Jr. was left to fend off challenges and contact from the Central Vermont Motorcycles 11VT of Joey Scarborough, which let the Madsen Overhead Doors 89 of Dylan Madsen slip on by to challenge for the runner up spot occupied by Murtaugh. All this action while Scott’s Roofing Services 29 of Max Dolliver quietly worked his way into the top five.

The only thing slowing Chris Crane Jr. down was a red flag for the High Tower Farms 74 of Matt Perry who rolled over in turn two. Crane claimed both lap 8 and 18 lap leader bonuses fending off a late race challenge by Murtaugh and Madsen to earn his first ever Sportsman Modified victory in the second Dj Davies Media CDRA feature event.

Madsen solid for a 2nd place finish, Murtaugh 3rd, Dolliver 4th, and Scarborough rounding out the top five. Mike Coffey Jr., Cody Bleau, Connor Crane Jr., Travis Green, and Jon Miller rounded out the top 10 finishers.

“This is awesome. This is my first Sportsman win ever. It wasn’t easy out front, especially at 26 laps. That extra lap doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you’re out front it’s quite a lot,” said Crane in victory lane.

He concluded with a heartfelt dedication saying, “I gotta give a shoutout to everyone back at home. I lost one of my really good friends a week ago yesterday. I gotta give a shoutout to the Simmons and Whiting families for everything they’ve been going through. This one’s for Owen.”

FEATURE #2 NOTES: Kadon Hohensheldt and Zach Buff didn’t have ideal finishes in their feature go around, but they’ve earned enough CDRA points to climb into 4th and 6th in the standings respectively. Tip of the hat to Cody Bleau who started 17th and raced his way to a 7th place finish.

UP NEXT FOR CDRA: Focus shifts back to the fastest quarter mile on dirt, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park on Sunday July 28th for the $1,000 to win Hall Of Fame Classic presented by West End Towing & Repair. It will serve as round three for the JAM Performance CDRA points paying races with Cody Ochs leading Taylor Wason by five points going in. 10 points out of the point lead is Brendan Gibbons in third, with Zach Buff and Tavien Blowers rounding out the top five in points.

“It was a great event and I have no doubt Don would’ve been proud. Great job by Lyle, Marcy, JoAnn, and everyone else involved in a unique evening for all. We’re happy to have been a small part of such a historic event for a Hall Of Fame journalist and human being for our sport,” said CDRA Competition director Rob Hazer.

CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Six races make up a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks to crown a champion. Are you brave enough to live life on the ridge, battle at the great race place, and tame the valley of speed? The drivers who do 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 follow.

Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.

𝟬𝟲/𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝗔𝗠 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 / 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗗𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗷 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 #𝟭 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 (𝟮𝟲 𝗟𝗮𝗽𝘀): 1. TIM HARTMAN JR., 2. Craig Wholey, 3. Taylor Wason, 4. Travis Witbeck, 5. Peyton Talbot, 6. Cody Ochs, 7. Drew Cormie, 8. Bryce Breault, 9. Dominic Roselli, 10. Brendan Gibbons, 11. Elliot Lussier, 12. Dave Baronowski, 13. Scott Duell, 14. Jeff Washburn, 15. Brian Chaffee, 16. Tavien Blowers, 17. Tanner Coon, 18. Nick Arnold, 19. Dylan Grogan, 20. Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, 21. Mike Ballestero, 22. Tyler Bobar, 23. Jim Nagle, 24. Dan Grignon, 25. Joey Bruning, 26. Ron Delease, 27. Tyler Rapp.

𝟬𝟲/𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝗔𝗠 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 / 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗗𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗷 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 #𝟭 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 (𝟮 𝗟𝗮𝗽𝘀): 1. Taylor Wason (17.115), 2. Craig Wholey (17.162), 3. Tim Hartman Jr. (17.196), 4. Dan Grignon (17.205), 5. Dylan Grogan (17.330), 6. Drew Cormie (17.361), 7. Travis Witbeck (17.429), 8. Mike Ballestero (17.451), 9. Cody Ochs (17.491), 10. Tavien Blowers (17.556), 11. Bryce Breault (17.573), 12. Jim Nagle (17.589), 13. Elliot Lussier (17.631), 14. Joe Bruning (17.645), 15. Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald (17.672), 16. Peyton Talbot (17.767), 17. Tyler Bobar (17.790), 18. Brendan Gibbons (17.805), 19. Dominic Roselli (17.849), 20. Nick Arnold (17.861), 21. Dave Baronowski (17.888), 22. Jeff Washburn (17.925), 23. Brian Chaffee (17.959), 24. Tanner Coon (17.965), 25. Tyler Rapp (18.005), 26. Scott Duell (18.198), 27. Ron Delease (18.203).

𝟬𝟲/𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝗔𝗠 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 / 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗗𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗷 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 #𝟮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 (𝟮𝟲 𝗟𝗮𝗽𝘀): 1. CHRIS CRANE JR., 2. Dylan Madsen, 3. Richard Murtaugh, 4. Max Dolliver, 5. Joey Scarborough, 6. Mike Coffey Jr., 7. Cody Bleau, 8. Connor Crane Jr., 9. Travis Green, 10. Jon Miller, 11. Chris Jakubiak, 12. Tanner Warner, 13. Derrick McGrew Jr., 14. Tyler Stevenson, 15. Mike Benson, 16. Chad Gregory, 17. Kadon Hohensheldt, 18. Ashton Pierson, 19. Zach Buff, 20. Josh Coonradt, 21. Dan Jalbert, 22. Alex Palmer-Sawyer, 23. Mike Engwer, 24. John Dumond, 25. Dakota Green, 26. Matt Perry, 27. Pat Jones, 28. Nick Brundige.

𝟬𝟲/𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝗔𝗠 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 / 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗗𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗷 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 #𝟮 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 (𝟮 𝗟𝗮𝗽𝘀): 1. Chris Crane Jr. (17.270), 2. Connor Crane Jr. (17.291), 3. Richard Murtaugh (17.392), 4. Joey Scarborough (17.438), 5. Jon Miller (17.454), 6. Dylan Madsen (17.460), 7. Matt Dolliver (17.498), 8. Mike Coffey Jr. (17.517), 9. Pat Jones (17.529), 10. Tanner Warner (17.650), 11. Derrick McGrew Jr. (17.660), 12. Alex Palmer-Sawyer (17.673), 13. Mike Benson (17.703), 14. Mike Engwer (17.710), 15. Zach Buff (17.711), 16. Chris Jakubiak (17.714), 17. Cody Bleau (17.736), 18. Nick Brundige (17.740), 19. Dan Jalbert (17.748), 20. John Dumond (17.755), 21. Kadon Hohensheldt (17.811), 22. Dakota Green (17.831), 23. Matt Perry (17.868), 24. Tyler Stevenson (17.958), 25. Travis Green (17.983), 26. Ashton Pierson (18.071), 27. Josh Coonradt (18.275), 28. Chad Gregory (18.463).

2024 CDRA Racing Series Schedule
Race #1 – May 19, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – WINNER: Cody Ochs
Race #2 – June 25, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – WINNERS: Tim Hartman Jr. & Chris Crane Jr.
Race #3 – July 28, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – Hall Of Fame Classic Night
Race #4 – August 17, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Halloween Night
Race #5 – August 31, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Mr. Dirt Track USA Night
Race #6 – September 20, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Malta Massive Weekend

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla Brands, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting the Capital District Racing Association.

Bold Predictions: Albany-Saratoga djdaviesmedia 26 Will Shake Up The Point Standings

06/18/2024: Chris Crane Jr. (711), Taylor LaPlante (T32), and Michael Coffey Jr. (06) go three-wide at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. (Rich Post Photo)

MALTA, NY – With just one week until the djdaviesmedia 26 for Sportsman Modifieds at Albany-Saratoga as part of a huge Don Davies celebration of life Super DIRTcar Series event, it’s time for some bold predictions about who’s moving up and who might be moving out in the JAM Performance CDRA championship point standings.

Let’s recap what we know for the Tuesday June 25th special at the great race place in regard to the djdaviesmedia 26 for Sportsman Modifieds. Cordova Plumbing is sweetening the victor or victors’ spoils if car counts dictate multiple features. That’s just the beginning.

On top of the $1,046 to win prize, companies such as Madsen Overhead Doors along with Greg’s Towing and Repair are offering lap leader bonuses and finishing position bonuses. Leaders of laps 8 and 18 will get $76, while finishers in the 8th and 18th positions will get $118.

The djdaviesmedia 26 will serve as the second CDRA points paying race of the season. Drivers participating should be DIRTcar legal. Timed laps will determine lineups for heats and/or feature(s). If there are enough cars to warrant two main events for the Sportsman Modifieds, BOTH will be worth full CDRA points based on series points structure.

Now, let’s talk bold predictions. Based on weekly racing, results, stats, and just a good old-fashioned hunch we’ll throw out some names that may move up, down, or out of the top 10 in JAM Performance CDRA series points. Let’s start with our point leader Cody Ochs.

Cody Ochs has a pair of wins this season with one coming at Glen Ridge Motorsports park and one at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Heading to the great race place and should he be in competition it’ll be hard for the Rensselaer, NY racer to maintain the lead. He’s struggled a bit at ‘Malta’ and in eight races has just two top five finishes and two top 10’s.

Bold Prediction: Cody may very well lose the point lead after this race. Plenty of opportunity to rebound post djdaviesmedia 26, but the Albany-Saratoga race will shake the point standings up.

Dylan Nichols and Dale Robinson are wild cards and that’s okay. CDRA season one is like the wild west, because you never know what gunslingers are coming to town to shoot down a top performance. But Jason Gray has history at Albany-Saratoga. While he’s not a regular in 2024 at Malta, he’s been in victory lane before and has multiple solid finishes.

Bold Prediction: Gray could advance to the point lead from his 4th position with a solid run on a special Tuesday night at the great race place. He’s only five points behind Ochs and statistically he’s more consistent at Albany-Saratoga.

Brendan Gibbons is an unknown. Currently 5th in CDRA points headed to the great race place, he’s run into a string of bad luck this season including a blown engine this past Friday night in the David Bosclair owned 02 Bicknell. Should he be back in competition for the djdaviesmedia 26 there’s an opportunity for him to maintain a top ten-point standing. But Gibbons racing recently posted a DIRTcar legal crate for sale?

Bold Prediction: Gibbons is headed down the point standings and out of the top 10. We would love to see him prove this notion dead wrong.

Jeremy Huntoon is a mystery and Adam Leslie is a good fella, but said it’s a bit of a haul on a Tuesday but wishes everyone involved with Albany-Saratoga Speedway and the Don Davies Memorial the best with the event. That leaves us at Taylor Wason. Quiet kid, improving each year, and respectable racer. The Middlegrove, NY driver just needs to conquer his fear of the valley and he could legitimately have a shot at a trip to CDRA title town.

Bold Prediction: Wason lays down a solid lap, puts himself in the main event, and earns a hard-fought top 10 finish in the djdaviesmedia 26. That would send him back to the ridge in July still top 10 in points, if not top five.

Despite starting the season off ninth in points, Zach Buff is only 10 points out of the lead and points paying race number two is at a place he’s been to victory lane at. Buff races weekly at Albany-Saratoga and has been a top contender with a handful of top five and top ten finishes to his credit. The Latham, NY racer would benefit tremendously from a good run at the great race place.

Bold Prediction: Buff lays down top five finish in the djdaviesmedia 26 and leaves Albany-Saratoga Speedway the new CDRA point leader headed back to Glen Ridge for round three in July.

Let’s look deep down at the current point standings until we find Tyler Bobar. After an impressive display in points paying race number one at Glen Ridge, and an unfortunate scale infraction he overcame adversity to still pick up a win this season. Should he be in competition at the djdaviesmedia 26 he has a legit shot at climbing way up the point standings considering he’s only 20 out of the point lead.

Bold Prediction: Bobar shows up and shows out. Solid top 10 finish to catapult himself into the top 10 in CDRA points. This would put him on solid footing heading back to his home track at Glen Ridge for round three.

Now here’s where we get into drivers that are not in the points just yet and we’re starting with Tim Hartman Jr. Big time little Tim may have missed race number one at the ridge, but headed to Albany-Saratoga puts the point game in his wheelhouse. A place he has two victories this season and the current track point lead. So what’s the prediction on Hartman?

Bold Prediction: TH2 contends for a win and uses a top three finish to catapult himself into CDRA title talk. He finds a ride for the ridge in July, remains red hot in August for the ‘Valley Swing’ and heads to Malta Massive Weekend with a shot at landing in the money. Now that’s bold.

There are of course a host of other racers that would absolutely like to spoil bold predictions and that would be fantastic. Remember, bold predictions are a biproduct of actual race results, performances, and a wildly unknown future. There’s a bit of knowledge mixed with entertainment. Bold predictions are in no way a knock on any driver. Have fun with it.

“It’s exciting. The unknown, the differences from race-to-race, the way everything could change in a single race, it’s just exciting. Nobody knowns how it’ll all shake out, but Tuesday June 25th at Albany-Saratoga is going to be a good night celebrating the life of a really good human being in our sport and I thank Lyle DeVore and Jo Ann Davies for the opportunity to be a small part of it with this project,” said CDRA competition director Rob Hazer.

There’s a lot of uncertainty in CDRA season one. Drivers show up to the specific points paying races, they earn points, and the series along with marketing partners provide monetary rewards for their efforts. It’s a wide-open outlaw style points shootout. Sportsman Modified drivers get to the track on Tuesday June 25th for the djdaviesmedia 26 and make lasting Malta memories.

CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Six races make up a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks to crown a champion. Are you brave enough to live life on the ridge, battle at the great race place, and tame the valley of speed? The drivers who do 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 follow.

Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.

2024 CDRA Racing Series Schedule
Race #1 – May 19, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – WINNER: Cody Ochs
Race #2 – June 25, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Don Davies Memorial
Race #3 – July 28, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – Hall Of Fame Classic Night
Race #4 – August 17, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Halloween Night
Race #5 – August 31, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Mr. Dirt Track USA Night
Race #6 – September 20, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Malta Massive Weekend

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla Brands, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting the Capital District Racing Association.

Victory Letter: Ochs Earns Congratulatory Letter After First Ever CDRA Win

05/19/24: Cody Ochs became the first ever CDRA winner after visiting Finish Line Designs Victory Lane at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park back on May 19th. (Bill McGaffin Photo)

FONDA, NY – Win a main event and get a personalized letter of congratulations from CDRA competition director Rob Hazer. Appreciation. It’s all about appreciation.

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.

The Five: Ochs, Nichols, Robinson, Gray, and Gibbons Top Point Standings Heading To Albany-Saratoga

06/04/24: Cody Ochs (33) and Mike Ballestero (27) turn hot laps at Albany-Saratoga. (Quentin Young Photo)

FONDA, NY – Season one of JAM Performance CDRA racing is like a wild west shootout. Each points paying event has its own character, and nobody knows who’s going to win the battle. Heading into Albany-Saratoga Tuesday June 25th Cody Ochs, Dylan Nichols, Dale Robinson, Jason Gray, and Branden Gibbons represent the top five point earning competitors.

Point leader Cody Ochs calls Albany-Saratoga home on Friday nights, and Glen Ridge Motorsports Park home on Sundays. With a handful of top five finishes, the Rensselaer, NY racer’s biggest win came on Sunday May 19th when he put the Next Generation Services 33 in victory lane at the ridge in their DIRTcar Sportsman Series East Region race, which doubled as the first CDRA points event.

Second place in points currently belongs to South New Berlin, NY driver Dylan Nichols. He had a spirited battle for position inside the top five at the ridge, which ultimately ended in a runner up finish. The G&M Automotive 01D isn’t a familiar name in the Capital District racing scene, because he calls Afton Speedway home on Friday nights. He’s just 3 points behind point leader Cody Ochs.

Dale Robinson currently holds third place in JAM Performance CDRA point standings. Sharon, VT racer Robinson was part of that spirited battle including the aforementioned Nichols during the first points paying event where he finished third respectively. Robinson raced his IV Generation Paving number 4 into a podium finish where he is just 4 points behind the top spot.

Jason Gray needs no introduction to the Capital District racing scene. The East Stafford, VT racer has been to victory lane at Albany-Saratoga in the past and runs strong whenever he makes the haul from Vermont to New York. His Connecticut Valley Auto Auction double zero had a solid outing in race number one landing him fourth in CDRA standings just 5 points out of the lead.

Rounding out the five is the flamboyant racer out of Amsterdam, NY named Brendan Gibbons. He drove his newly acquired ride in the C&D Stump and Tree Removal 02 race rod to a strong fifth place finish. In making car owner David Bosclair proud, Gibbons landed himself fifth in CDRA points heading into Albany-Saratoga on June 25th just 6 out of the point lead.

Some names to watch out for at the Don Davies NY Modifieds 76 special on Tuesday June 25th, which is the next CDRA points paying event, are Taylor Wason, Zach Buff, and Tony Farone who have all called Albany-Saratoga Speedway home in past years. Their point championship standings could change drastically after round two.

Last but not least, a few wild card names to keep an eye on include Stephen Gray, Tavien Blowers, and Tyler Bobar. These three racers call the ridge home on Sundays and if they choose to compete at Albany-Saratoga June 25th they set themselves up nicely in the points battle, as CDRA heads back to Glen Ridge in July.

CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Six races make up a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks to crown a champion. Are you brave enough to live life on the ridge, battle at the great race place, and tame the valley of speed? The drivers who do 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 follow.

Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.

2024 CDRA Racing Series Schedule
Race #1 – May 19, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – WINNER: Cody Ochs
Race #2 – June 25, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Don Davies Memorial
Race #3 – July 28, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – Hall Of Fame Classic Night
Race #4 – August 17, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Halloween Night
Race #5 – August 31, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Mr. Dirt Track USA Night
Race #6 – September 20, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Malta Massive Weekend

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.

Capital District Hot Spot For R/C Racing Full Throttle Supporting CDRA Driver Direct Program

5/24/22: Full Throttle R/C Raceway Setup To Market The Fastest Clay Oval In The Northeast. (Full Throttle RC Raceway Photo)

FONDA, NY – Full Throttle R/C Raceway located at 4 Center Court in Green Island, NY is a hot spot for radio-controlled racing in the Capital District. They offer racers and race fans their competitive fix while dirt tracks are quiet. Now they’re offering something back to Capital District Sportsman Modified racers with support of the CDRA Driver Direct program.

Driver Direct is a pilot program CDRA is building from the ground up, like the series, which builds a bridge directly between driver and marketing partner. Starting with JAM Performance and going down the final point standings, each marketing partner’s support goes directly to a driver in a specific position in the final point standings.

R/C racing, particularly with the highly popular Mudboss divisions, took the racing community by storm. Mudboss R/C cars look very much like miniature versions of the drivers you see weekly at Albany-Saratoga, Lebanon Valley, or Glen Ridge. CDRA is proud to announce Full Throttle R/C Raceway joined our family of marketing partners in support of the Driver Direct program.

Their monetary support will go directly to the fifth-place finisher in the overall point standings at the end of the season. The Driver Direct program by all accounts is working as it should.

“I’ve known Jen (Burega-Holt) for many years. And her father Steve for that matter. She’s always been kind. She’s one of those good souls who wants to make a positive impact in our sport, and in our area. In developing CDRA I wanted to bring in folks like that. Folks that put the sport first. Happy to have her part of our program along with her husband Greg and Dave Peek who I watched race as a young man. They got a good thing going with Full Throttle,” said CDRA Competition Director Rob Hazer.

Full Throttle R/C Raceway has been operating since 2014 as the Northeast’s fastest indoor clay oval. They offer a busy lineup of divisions including Big Block, Small Block, Sportsman, Super Late Model, Crate Late Model, Spec Sprint, 360 Sprint, Novice, and Jr. Novice. They also have a fully stocked hobby shop. It’s truly family fun for everyone of all skill levels.

Check out Full Throttle R/C Raceway on Social Media Facebook Group and their state-of-the-art online registration system where drivers can sign up for classes they want to race ahead of race day.

CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Six races make up a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks to crown a champion. Are you brave enough to live life on the ridge, battle at the great race place, and tame the valley of speed? The drivers who do 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 follow.

Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.

2024 CDRA Racing Series Schedule
Race #1 – May 19, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – WINNER: Cody Ochs
Race #2 – June 25, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Don Davies Memorial
Race #3 – July 28, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – Hall Of Fame Classic Night
Race #4 – August 17, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Halloween Night
Race #5 – August 31, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Mr. Dirt Track USA Night
Race #6 – September 20, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Malta Massive Weekend

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.

Finish Line Designs Joins CDRA Marketing Partners Supporting Driver Direct Program

05/16/24: FLD (Finish Line Designs) Custom High Quality Embroidery Joins CDRA Marketing Partners. (Finish Line Designs Photo)

FONDA, NY – When the JAM Performance CDRA points paying season kicks off as part of the DIRTcar East Region Sportsman Modified event at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park Sunday May 19th it marks the begging of a championship chase that now includes Finish Line Designs as marketing partners supporting the Driver Direct program.

Driver Direct is a pilot program CDRA is building from the ground up, like the series, and builds a bridge between driver and marketing partner. Starting with JAM Performance and going down the final point standings, each marketing partner’s support goes directly to a driver in a specific position in the final point standings.

CDRA is excited to announce Finish Line Designs out of Oneida, NY has joined the family of marketing partners in support of the drivers. That’s after all, exactly what the Driver Direct Program is intended for. Now, whatever driver finishes fourth in final Capital District Racing Association points will earn $250 from FLD.

FLD support goes beyond just that, as they also present the CDRA victory lane sign and provided series feature winner stickers for each driver to win one of the six points paying races at either Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, or Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.

Finish Line Designs, or FLD, are well known for their high-quality custom embroidery on hats, shirts, jackets, hoodies, bags, accessories, and more. They also offer a full line of screen-printed products including sweatshirts, t-shirts, men’s, ladies, and youth sizes.

Maybe you’re in the need for vinyl printed graphics? FLD does that as well, with a full line of high-quality vehicle graphics, stickers, labels, decals, banners, business signs, or racecar wraps. FLD can help you promote your business or event, as well as gear up for any occasion.

“Meghan and Matt were really helpful and because of their kindness I offered the opportunity to be part of what we’re building with CDRA. We soft launched this series, keeping it kind of small and exclusive to the Capital District tracks with like-minded rules, but I explained the Driver Direct program and they were in. I appreciate their support and being a part of our project,” said CDRA competition director Rob Hazer.

CDRA is a nostalgic throwback to the CVRA days. A series designed specifically for Capital District racing. Six races make up a diverse schedule at storied dirt tracks to crown a champion. Are you brave enough to live life on the ridge, battle at the great race place, and tame the valley of speed? The drivers who do 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 follow.

Anyone interested in joining CDRA family of marketing partners can contact the series via website, phone, or e-mail.

2024 CDRA Racing Series Schedule
Race #1 – May 19, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – DIRTcar East Sportsman Event
Race #2 – June 25, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Don Davies Memorial
Race #3 – July 28, 2024 (Glen Ridge) – Hall Of Fame Classic Night
Race #4 – August 17, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Halloween Night
Race #5 – August 31, 2024 (Lebanon Valley) – Mr. Dirt Track USA Night
Race #6 – September 20, 2024 (Albany Saratoga) – Malta Massive Weekend

CDRA is brought to you by marketing partners that include Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, JAM Performance, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Fox Racing Shox, Finish Line Designs, Full Throttle R/C Raceway, Hazilla, DIRTcar Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and GM Performance 602 Crate Engines. Any information shared about participating Capital District tracks is obtained via website, social media, and/or track press. Information including but not limited to winners share, formats, laps, sponsors, or schedule dates are subject to change. Thank you for supporting Capital District Racing Association.