PHILLIPS DOES IT AGAIN WITH DMA AT ALBANY-SARATOGA
By: John DaDalt
Malta, New York (June 19, 2021)………Two weeks after nailing down his first feature win with the USAC-DMA midgets, Justin Phillips (West Suffield, CT) was back in victory lane after scoring the win at the fast Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday night.
Phillips utilized the low groove to work his way into the lead. “The race was a lot of fun. We started seventh and just slowly picked them off around the bottom. I love this track and our car was hooked up. I tried to stay patient but be ready to make a move. The 76 (Josh Sunn) slipped up off the bottom with a few laps to go and I was there to capitalize. A huge thank you to the Bear Ridge Speedway crew for coming out to help us run a good clean show for Albany-Saratoga Speedway.”
Sunn led most of the feature and looked to be heading for his first win of the season but was overtaken by Phillips on lap 20. “I thought I had my first win but got the brakes hot so I couldn’t run the bottom at the end of the feature” stated Sunn after the race.
Will Hull ended the race in third. Justin Sheridan was fourth while 2018 series champion Jason Goff finished fifth.
Point leader Seth Carlson’s string of 14 straight top three finishes ended with a flat tire.
The two heat races were won by Will Hull and Brandon Piastka.
The USAC-DMA midgets next race will be at their home track, Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT on Saturday July 3.
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USAC DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION RACE RESULTS: June 18, 2021 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway – Malta, New York
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Will Hull (#3 Matczak), 2. Seth Carlson (#4 Matczak), 3. Justin Phillips (#16 Miller), 4. Jason Goff (#19 Goff), 5. Josh Sunn (#76 Mancini), 6. Joe Krawiec (#1B Miller), 7. Derrick McGrew Jr. (#6 McGrew). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Brandon Piastka (#7 Miller), 2. Manny Dias (#42 Dias), 3. Justin Sheridan (#17 Miller), 4. Tim Iulg (#2K Kugler), 5. Wayne Koehler (#91 Koehler), 6. Floyd Billington (#44 Billington), 7. Adrian Tetreault (#52x Tetreault). 2:21.579
FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. Justin Phillips, 2. Josh Sunn, 3. Will Hull, 4. Justin Sheridan, 5. Jason Goff, 6. Manny Dias, 7. Joe Krawiec, 8. Floyd Billington, 9. Wayne Koehler, 10. Adrian Tetreault, 11. Tim Iulg, 12. Seth Carlson, 13. Derrick McGrew, Jr., 14. Brandon Piastka. 7:33.731
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Brandon Piastka, Lap 4 Justin Sheridan, Laps 5-20 Josh Sunn, Laps 21-25 Justin Phillips.
USAC DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION POINTS: 1-Will Hull-347, 2-Seth Carlson-341, 3-Joe Krawiec-327, 4-Justin Phillips-320, 5-Justin Sheridan-310, 6-Manny Dias-303, 7-Josh Sunn-276, 8-Brandon Piastka-274, 9-Wayne Koehler-246, 10-Kelly Ferrell-184.
NEXT USAC DMA MIDGET RACE: July 3, 2021 – Bear Ridge Speedway – Bradford, Vermont