Matt Sheppard wins the Malta Massive ( 25th September 2025 BLOG)
Since the last BLOG , I’ve had no mid week races to attend , so I had a few days of relaxation and time to recover from the previous weekender at the M.I.R and Sunday’s show at Airborne.
I had plenty of time to get myself ready to rumble on the next little sortie.
The weekend of 19th/20th of September was the ‘MALTA MASSIVE’ , which meant two days of quality dirt racing at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway NY.
On Friday night they were hosting a DIRTCAR Series event for both 358 Modifieds and Sportsman.
On Saturday it was the turn of the Big Block SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES and a round of the DIRTCAR Pro Stock Series .
I left home in Cornwall , Ontario on Friday at 10-15 am and was checking into the Red Roof Inn at Queensbury at 2-00 pm. I’d be staying there for two nights.
It was the same place I’d used a couple of months ago when attending the Devils Bowl Speedway and Glenridge Raceway, with my friend Lynn. The hotel I’d used for previous trips to the MALTA MASSIVE were charging higher prices , so it was time for a change.
Once checked in, I was on my way to the track. From past experience I knew I had to be there early, as the place gets packed.
I got myself parked up, then chilled out beside the car , until ready for a pit walk about.
For the Hot Laps I shot pictures from one of my favorite spots.
It was high on the roof of one of the guest lodges on turn four.
Thanks to Jay Bones for the picture
The early evening sunshine was causing a lot of shadows , so for the rest of the night I moved to the middle
The Sportsman Series had attracted a few of my local drivers, including Jessica Power and Tristan Ladouceur.
The Street Stocks and Mini-Stocks divisions were also included in the nights program
The Sportsman Series was the first of the features, and turned out to be the best race of the weekend .
For most of the 35 laps, there was a constant battle at the front between Richard Murtaugh and Connor Crane .
They traded places lap after lap, with Crane coming off best at the checkers.
Emmett Waldron came home third to join them on the podium.
The 358 Modifieds then entered the track and their big race was ready to get under way.
Mat Williamson got to the front early and looked all set to stay there.
Felix Roy and Mark Johnson started gaining on him and it wasn’t long before a Johnson got beside .
He made the pass and Williamson couldn’t get back at him.
So, local hero Marc Johnson took the checkers with the two Canadians, Williamson and Roy following.
The big race was in the books soon after 10-30 pm , so with just the Street Stocks and Mini Stocks left to run, I made my exit.
My hotel was less than 30 minutes away so I was back in my room editing pics by 11-15.
The joy of having the same accommodation for two nights , is not having to be out of the room by mid morning , so was able to get all the editing done by lunch time.
I was only one I87 exit away from one of my favorite eateries , so after a good lunch at the Golden Coral in Queensbury , I made a slow ride back to the track.
It was day two and the second installment of the Malta Massive.
I was there around 3-00 pm , parked up and snoozing in the sunshine.
I had my usual pit walk about , and had a nice long chat with Brian Carter. Brian from Charlotte, North Carolina , is the boss of the DirtCar organization , He’s a very down to earth, approachable guy, that still likes to have fun out on the track with in the Pro Stock division.
I first got to know him personally , when the World of Outlaw Late Models were visiting the Cornwall Motor Speedway in June 2009 .
Flashback to 2009 , Former Cornwall promotor Ron Morin and CEO of The World Racing Group ( DirtCar/World of Outlaws) Brian Carter .
He was at Malta with his # 6 Pro Stock, which is maintained and transported to the tracks from Watertown NY . He then fly’s his own private plane to the nearest airport when competing.
Once the racing got under way, I chose to go straight to the center.
It was a similar night of early evening sunshine , causing the same shadows as the night before, so figured I’d get better pics from out there.
The headline divisions of Big Blocks and Pro Stock were joined on the program by the Limited Sportsman
Following the heat races, the intermission and redraw took place, where Matt Sheppard drew pole .
When someone of Matt Sheppards calibre and ability pulls out #1 , it’s usually a foregone conclusion , who the winner will be , even in a 100 lapper.
The race began with the usual four wide fan appreciation lap.
Once the green flag dropped, as expected Sheppard went straight to the front.
The main interest was watching what was happening behind .
Anthony Perego had been running second , but Jimmy Phelps , who’d looked good in his heat race, was soon hounding him.
Once he got passed , it looked very likely he had what it takes to get by Sheppard .
The last few laps were great to watch as Phelps tried in vein to catch him.
It wasn’t to be, and just like most predicted , it was another win for Super Matt Sheppard
Perego held on to third place to complete the podium.
The main event for the Pro Stocks followed .
This gave Malta local , Brandon Emigh his first Series win.
Second was Kyle Hoard and 3rd was Chris Stalker .
This brought my night to an end , I headed out the gate, choosing to miss the final race of the night, for the Limited Sportsman.
I was back at the hotel by 11-30 pm.
On Sunday morning I left Queensbury at 7-00 am and began the homeward journey.
I was almost home and passing the Twin Leaf Diner in Akwesasne at 10-00 so stopped by for breakfast.
While there , I bumped into local Sportsman driver, Kristian Smoke. One of the first things he said to me was “are you going to the Cornwall practice this Wednesday ? ” . It was something I was unaware of, and went on to tell me , ” it’s just been posted on line” .
So , it looked like I was going to be busy mid week.
Once I’d eaten , it was just a ten minute drive across the border to my house.
I had nothing planned until Wednesday when I went along to the aforementioned Cornwall Motor Speedway for the, recently added practice night.
It began at 6-00 pm and by the time I left, a couple of hours later over 20 cars from various divisions had taken to the track.
The track was in great shape as the Cornwall Motor Speedway looks forward to it’s big end of year finale , The Canadian Super Dirt Week coming up in October.