Caleb Drugan (17) and Travis Bruno (33) battled for the race lead late. Drugan would hold on for his second win of the season and the spot in the Vermont 200. PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — With just one race remaining on the 2026 schedule, Airborne Park Speedway's Round 13 program delivered everything fans could ask for on the final Thursday Night Thunder event of the season. A packed night of racing featured crucial championship battles, a coveted Vermont 200 starting spot on the line, and several drivers making major statements heading into the season finale on September 13. The spotlight of the evening belonged to the JS Steel Sportsman Modifieds, which contested a 50-lap, $1,500-to-win feature carrying an automatic starting position in Sunday's Vermont 200. But before the headline event, several divisions took to the track with championships hanging in the balance. The Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds kicked off feature action with seven cars taking the green flag for their 20-lap main event. Youngster Antony Boissonneault wasted no time grabbing the lead at the start and looked poised to score a breakthrough victory. By lap five, however, the pressure began mounting as recent winners Gary English and David Johnson closed rapidly on the leader. English eventually found the preferred groove around the outside and powered past Boissonneault to assume command. Once out front, the championship contender was untouchable, driving away to score his fourth victory of the season and second consecutive triumph. The win allowed English to extend his points lead to 15 markers over Bro Roberts with one race remaining. Next up were the Renegades, with 13 competitors answering the call for their 20-lap feature. Tyler Irwin led the field to green and quickly found himself under fire from Josh Terry during the early stages. While the front-runners battled, points leader Billy Thwaits methodically carved his way through the field from his tenth-place starting position. By the halfway mark, Thwaits had reached the front and soon worked past Irwin for the lead. Nathaniel Guay mounted a late-race challenge and kept the leader honest over the closing laps, but Thwaits proved too strong. The victory was his sixth straight win, stretching his championship advantage to ten points entering Championship Sunday. The feature everyone had come to see followed as the JS Steel Sportsman Modifieds rolled onto the speedway for their 50-lap showdown. A field of 16 cars took the green with veterans Bucko Branham and Nick Heywood battling fiercely for the early lead. Branham eventually gained the advantage and appeared ready to control the race before rising star Caleb "Kid Lightning" Drugan entered the picture. Around lap 15, Drugan found his way to the front and immediately faced pressure from a charging Travis Bruno, who began working the high side in pursuit of the leader. Bruno appeared to be gaining ground when a caution flag bunched the field and erased his momentum. On the ensuing restart, Drugan executed flawlessly and maintained control through the closing laps to earn his second straight victory. Along with the $1,500 winner's share, Drugan secured the coveted starting spot in Sunday's Vermont 200. Bruno settled for second, with Evan Roberts completing the podium in third. The championship picture became even clearer as Bruno's runner-up finish, combined with a fifth-place run by Heywood, expanded Bruno's points lead to 32 points. With only one race left on the schedule, Bruno now appears all but assured of capturing the 2026 Airborne Park Speedway Sportsman Modified championship. The Crown Vics were next on the track with eight cars taking the green for their 20-lap feature. Trevor Jacques and Josh Muir battled for the lead during the opening laps before the division's dominant force, Richie Turner, moved his way to the front. Once in command, Turner never looked back, collecting his sixth victory of the season. More importantly, championship rival Scott Richner crossed the line in sixth position, allowing Turner to take over the points lead by four markers heading into the season finale. The final feature of the night belonged to the Mini Stocks, which brought a strong 24-car field to the speedway. Cody Young and Jeremiah King traded the lead early as multiple caution flags slowed the opening portion of the race. As the event settled into rhythm, Jake Fountain emerged as a serious contender and steadily moved his way toward the front. Late in the race, Fountain made the decisive move around King and pulled into the lead. From there, he remained composed under pressure and drove on to capture his first victory of the season. Jamie Whitney finished second, while King rounded out the top three. Although Fountain celebrated in Victory Lane, the championship battle also saw a major development. JP Corrow's fourth-place finish coupled with a ninth-place effort from Speedy Bresette allowed Corrow to build a commanding 45-point advantage entering the final race of the year. After an action-packed evening, Airborne Park Speedway will now take a short break before returning for the 2026 Season Finale on September 13. The championship program will feature the Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds competing in a 40-lap, $2,500-to-win event and the JS Steel Sportsman Modifieds battling for 50 laps and a $2,000 top prize. Also on the card will be the Renegades, 500cc Mini Sprints, Crown Vics, Mini Stocks, Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds, and a 50-lap Enduro to close the curtain on another exciting season at Airborne Park Speedway. With several championships still undecided and one final night of racing left on the calendar, all eyes now turn to September 13 for what promises to be a memorable season-ending showdown. Gallery

Cory Castel (10) gets around Jamy Begor (19) with a pass on the high side of turns 1 and 2 to capture his first career Sportsman Modified win. PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — With the 2026 championship season entering its final stretch, Airborne Park Speedway hosted its annual Make-A-Wish Night on Saturday evening, featuring a full card of racing highlighted by Twin 20-lap features for the JS Steel Sportsman Modifieds. By night's end, several championship battles had tightened while others saw contenders create valuable breathing room with only two races remaining. The evening began with the Crown Vic division, where nine competitors answered the call for a 20-lap feature. Trevor Jaques led the field to green and quickly established himself at the front, but all eyes were soon focused on eighth-place starter Richie Turner. Turner methodically worked his way through traffic before taking the lead in the opening laps. Once out front, he pulled away from the field and drove to his fifth victory of the season. The win proved doubly important as points leader Scott Richner struggled to a sixth-place finish, allowing Turner to leave the night with a four-point advantage atop the standings. The first of two JS Steel Sportsman Modified features saw 15 cars take the green flag. Cory Castell and Jamy Begor put on a spirited battle for the lead early in the event before Castell gradually found another gear. As the laps wound down, Castell stretched his advantage and crossed the finish line first to record the first Sportsman Modified victory of his career. Begor settled for second while championship leader Travis Bruno completed the podium in third. Bruno's solid finish, combined with a tenth-place result for title rival Heywood, allowed him to increase his championship edge to 16 points. Castell remained fifth in the standings, 52 points back and still within striking distance entering the season's final two events. The Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds then took center stage for their 30-lap main event. Chris Raabe started on the front row and wasted little time establishing control of the race. While Raabe drove away from the field, championship contenders Mike Mahaney and Felix Roy mounted impressive charges from tenth and eleventh starting positions. Both worked their way into the top three but were unable to challenge Raabe for the victory. Raabe collected his second win of the season and climbed to sixth in the standings. Meanwhile, Roy's strong finish cut Mahaney's championship lead to just nine points. The Renegades feature provided another chapter in the division's title fight. Steven Bresette led the opening laps before Billy Thwaits stormed to the front. Thwaits faced persistent challenges from Nathaniel Guay and Brad Bushey throughout the race but never relinquished the top spot. The victory was his seventh of the season and allowed him to expand his points lead to ten markers after Shawn Duquette recorded a fifth-place finish. In the Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modified division, Antony Boissonnault appeared poised to score his first career victory after leading much of the 20-lap contest. However, championship leader Gary English steadily reeled him in during the closing laps. English eventually made the winning pass and drove away to earn his third victory of the year. The win extended his points lead to 15 over Bro Roberts, while defending champion Kobe Hernandez remained third in the standings, 36 points out of the lead. The second Sportsman Modified feature may have produced the most exciting battle of the evening. Codie Aubin and Travis Bruno traded the lead during the early stages before Caleb Drugan emerged as a contender after starting eighth. Following a restart, Drugan worked his way around Bruno and took command of the race. Late in the event, Mike Wright charged spectacularly from 15th on the grid to challenge for the victory, but Drugan held firm to claim his second win of the season. Wright finished second ahead of Aubin, while Bruno's consistency proved valuable in the championship race. With Heywood struggling throughout both features, Bruno's lead ballooned to 32 points with only two races remaining. The Mini Stocks brought 25 cars to the speedway for a thrilling 15-lap feature. J.J. Laporte controlled the early laps while fending off challenges from Nick Harnden. Points leader J.P. Corrow steadily advanced from 13th starting position and joined the fight for the lead late in the race. A late caution set up a dramatic restart, and Corrow edged Laporte in a thrilling side-by-side finish at the checkered flag to score his second victory of the season. With Speedy Bresette finishing fifth, Corrow increased his championship lead to 45 points. The evening concluded with a 40-lap Enduro. After surviving the chaos and attrition that traditionally accompany the division, Lopes emerged victorious. The win helped him maintain a 14-point advantage in the standings heading into the closing weeks of the season. As Round 12 came to a close, several championship battles remain undecided, while others are beginning to take shape as contenders separate themselves from the field. Airborne Park Speedway now turns its attention to September 3, when the track hosts its penultimate event of the season. The evening will be highlighted by a 50-lap JS Steel Sportsman Modified feature paying $1,500 to win, setting the stage for another crucial night in the race toward the 2026 championships. 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Thomas Cook (24) captures his first career Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds win. The calendar may have flipped to August, but the action at Airborne Park Speedway remained as hot as ever as the track hosted Round 10 of the season along with its annual Backpack Giveaway Night. With 88 cars filling the pit area across six divisions, fans were treated to a full night of racing as Airborne helped send local kids back to school in style. The feature action began with the return of the Crown Vic division, where 12 drivers took the green for a 15-lap showdown. After an impressive drive from eighth on the starting grid, Richie Turner worked his way to the front and took control of the race. Turner was forced to withstand late pressure from Andrew Lopes and Beau Reeves, but the veteran driver stayed smooth and consistent to capture his fourth victory of the season. Lopes and Reeves completed the podium while Scott Richner's fifth-place effort allowed him to cut the championship gap to just six points. The spotlight then shifted to the Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds for their 30-lap main event. Fifteen cars rolled onto the speedway with Thomas Cook quickly asserting himself at the front of the field. Racing on a tacky track surface, Cook built a comfortable advantage and appeared poised for a breakthrough win. Late in the race, however, the pressure mounted as Felix Roy and Tim Fuller closed in. Despite the challenge, Cook never faltered, holding off the hard-charging veterans to score his first career 358 Modified victory. Roy crossed the line second while Mike Mahaney came home fourth, allowing Roy to trim the championship deficit to just 10 points. The Renegades delivered another chapter in what has become one of the best championship battles of the season. Eleven cars took the green flag for their 20-lap feature, with points rivals Billy Thwaits and Duquette once again battling for supremacy. This time it was Thwaits who got the upper hand, driving to his fifth victory of the season. Duquette settled for second while Brad Bushey completed the top three. With the victory, Thwaits tightened the points race to just two markers with only a handful of races remaining. A strong 16-car field answered the call for the JS Steel Sportsman Modified feature. Vince Quenneville led the opening laps while Keith Pelkey and Nick Heywood remained within striking distance. The story of the race, however, belonged to Evan Roberts. Starting at the tail of the field, Roberts methodically worked his way through traffic before mounting a late charge to the front. Roberts grabbed the lead in the closing laps and drove away for his second win of the season. Pelkey and Heywood rounded out the top three. The championship battle saw another shakeup as Heywood's third-place finish was enough to reclaim the points lead by three points, while Roberts moved into third in the standings. The Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds featured eight entries for their 15-lap contest. The race up front came down to reigning champion and current points leader Kobe Hernandez and Gary English. On this night, English proved to be the class of the field, racing to victory while extending his championship lead to 15 points over Brogan Roberts. David Johnson completed the podium with a third-place finish. Closing out the evening were the always entertaining Mini Stocks, which brought a stout field of 25 cars to the speedway. The battle for the win centered on Josh Laporte and Glenn Engstrom, who spent much of the race trading the top spot. When the checkered flag finally waved, it was Engstrom standing in Victory Lane. Jake Fountain finished third, and with points contender JP Corrow ending the night in sixth, Fountain gained valuable ground in the championship battle by cutting the deficit by 15 points. Airborne Park Speedway roars back to life next Thursday night for another edition of Thursday Night Thunder, highlighted by the Mini Stock Special. The division will compete in an extended-distance feature with a hefty $1,000 payday awaiting the winner in what promises to be another exciting night of action at the North Country oval. Gallery

Lonnie Rivers (R7) and Caleb Drugan (17) duel for the lead in the JS Steel Sportsman Modified, where Rivers would get his first win of the season. PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. Airborne Park Speedway returned to action Thursday, July 30, for its ninth race of the season on Rain Pro of Vermont Night. All weekly divisions were on the card, including the Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds, JS Steel Sportsman Modifieds, Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, Mini Stocks, and Crown Vics. A solid crowd filled the grandstands for a full program highlighted by a $ 500-to-win Limited Sportsman main event. Before feature racing began, the track hosted Kids Ride Night, giving young fans the chance to ride in race cars during intermission. The Crown Vics opened the feature program with ten cars taking the green for 20 laps. Benjamin Deyo led early, but multi-time winner Richie Turner charged from mid-pack, took control, and drove away for another victory. Josh Muir and Eric Friend completed the top three. In the points chase, Scott Richner and Nate Steady remained separated by eight markers. The Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds rolled out next with eleven cars battling for the $500 prize.
Josh Patterson led early with pressure from Cody Gregoropolus, but David Johnson surged past both in the closing laps to claim his fourth win of the season — fittingly on his sponsor’s night. Johnson moved to fourth in points, 20 out of the lead. Bro Roberts finished sixth to cut the standings gap in half, while Gary English’s ninth place run trimmed the margin to eight points. Sixteen Hartson Total Opening 358 Modifieds took the track for their 30-lap feature. Polesitter Chris Raabe jumped out front and faced heavy pressure from the top two in points, who worked from deep in the field to challenge. Raabe held strong to snap Mike Mahaney’s fourth win streak and move to fourth in the standings. Mahaney and Felix Roy finished second and third, maintaining their 17-point separation atop the title hunt. The Renegades followed with eleven cars for 20 laps. Shawn Duquette led early, but Bill Thwaits charged from fifth and reignited the season-long duel between the two. Thwaits took over near halfway and held on for his fourth win of the year, trimming the points gap to four as Duquette finished second. Nineteen JS Steel Sportsman Modifieds took the green for 25 laps. Vince Quenville led early before Caleb Durgan took command. In the late stages, Durgan and Lonnie Rivers staged a tight battle for the top spot, with Rivers making the winning move in the closing laps to secure his first victory of the season.
Cory Castell and Travis Bruno completed the podium, while Durgan slipped to fourth. Bruno’s third-place finish, combined with Nick Heywood’s ninth, extended Bruno’s points lead to 21. The Mini Stocks closed the night with a 25-car, 15-lap feature. JP Corrow led early, but Speedy Bressette and Tyler Bell charged forward to challenge. At the line, Bressette edged Corrow by half a car length for his third win of the season. Corrow’s runner-up finish extended his points lead to 18 over Jeremiah King, who finished eighth. Airborne Park Speedway returns Saturday, August 8, for its lone Saturday event of the season — Make A Wish Night, featuring the annual appearance of the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Series. Gallery

Evan Roberts (50) chases down Jamy Begor (19) with seven laps to go to get the win and cash in the $2,000. PLATTSBURGH — After three consecutive weeks lost to weather, Airborne Park Speedway roared back to life on Thursday, July 2, with a packed feature‑only program highlighted by the Firecracker 44 for the Sportsman Modifieds. With extreme heat pushing the start time to 8 p.m., six divisions took the track and delivered a full night of action as several championship battles tightened heading into mid‑summer. Thirteen Mini Stocks opened the evening with the first of two 20‑lap features. The race quickly settled into a three‑car fight among Nick Harnden, Haiden Bordeaux, and Randy Martin. Harnden controlled the pace throughout and secured his first win of the season, moving into ninth in the standings as he begins to chase down points leader Jake Fountain. The RainPro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds followed with 13 cars answering the call for their 25‑lap feature. Josh Patterson paced the early laps while Cody Gregoopoulos kept him in range, but the charge came from the fourth row as Brogan Roberts and Gary English worked forward. The pair eventually overtook Patterson and staged a tight late‑race duel, with Roberts claiming his first Airborne win of the season. The victory trims English’s points lead to nine. Ten Renegades rolled out next for their 25‑lap feature. Billy Thwaits and Nathaniel Guay battled early before Thwaits steadily pulled away, earning his third win of the season. Guay and Shawn Duquette completed the top three. Thwaits continues to close in on Duquette’s championship lead, now down to 22 points. The night’s main event, the Firecracker 44 for the Sportsman Modifieds, saw Jamy Begor jump to the early lead and fend off challenges from Lonnie Rivers and Jason McClatchie. As the laps wound down, Evan Roberts mounted a charge, taking the lead with seven laps remaining and driving off to claim the $2,000 victory. Begor finished second with McClatchie third. Points leader Nick Heywood finished fifth, and Roberts’ win cuts Heywood’s advantage to 21 points. Thirteen Crown Vics took the green for their 20‑lap feature, with Josh Muir leading early before Richie Turner and Trevor Jaques reeled him in. Turner crossed the line first, but a post‑race rules infraction handed the win to Jaques, who now moves into the points lead by 20 over Scott Richner after three races. The second Mini Stock feature produced another three‑car thriller featuring Speedy Bressette, Jamie Whitney Jr., and Kenny Tourville. Bressette made a dramatic last‑lap pass to earn his second win of the season, moving him up to sixth in the standings. The night concluded with the 50‑lap Enduro, where 22 cars took the track. Nick Cain led early over Nathan Mitchell, but Michael Wright stormed from the rear, took command, and dominated the race by lapping most of the field en route to the first Enduro victory of the season. Airborne Park Speedway returns Thursday, July 9, with a full makeup program featuring all five weekly divisions as the track continues to work through its early‑season rainouts. Gallery

Nick Heywood (29) battles his way through the field as he goes after the win the JS Sportsman Modified feature. Airborne Park Speedway hosted Round Three of the 2026 campaign on Thursday night as the facility celebrated Hometown Heroes Night, recognizing Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement personnel for their service. A total of 105 competitors signed in across the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, J+S Steel Sportsman Modifieds, Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, Mini Stocks, and Crown Vics, creating one of the most competitive fields of the season. The program opened with the Rain Pro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modifieds. Sarah Ann Lauziere powered to the lead at the initial green flag and controlled the event from start to finish. Gary English applied pressure throughout the early and middle stages, but it was Kobe Hernandez who mounted the strongest late‑race charge, advancing to second and relegating English to third at the checkered flag. The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds took center stage next for their 30‑lap feature. Adam Pierson established himself as the early leader, holding off an initial bid from Thomas Cook. A mid‑race restart brought Mike Mahaney to Pierson’s outside, and Mahaney capitalized immediately—using the high lane through turn one to seize the top spot. From there, he drove away to secure his first Airborne victory of the 2026 season. The Renegades rolled out for their 20‑lap main event with 11 cars answering the call. Josh Terry led the opening circuits before Billy Thwaits and Shawn Duquette closed in. Duquette ultimately worked his way to the point and withstood a determined late‑race surge from Thwaits—who was seeking his third win of the year—to claim his first triumph of the season. In the J+S Steel Sportsman Modified division, the opening laps featured a tight side‑by‑side battle between Dylan Rabtoy and Michael Wright. Rabtoy eventually gained control, while Wright later retired with an apparent engine issue. The race then shifted into a three‑way contest among Rabtoy, Bruno, and a fast‑closing Nick Heywood. In the closing laps, Heywood completed his charge to the front, overtaking Bruno for the lead and driving on to the victory. Jason McClatchie also slipped past Bruno to secure the runner‑up position. The Crown Vics followed with their 15‑lap feature. Richie Turner wasted no time asserting himself at the front, taking command at the start and pulling away to a convincing win. Trevor Jaques and Scott Richner completed the podium. The evening concluded with the 15‑lap Mini Stock finale. Tyler Bell and Caleb Tourville set the early pace before Tourville began to fade. That opened the door for JP Corrow and Randy Martin, both of whom climbed steadily from mid‑pack to charge into contention as the race reached its final laps. Gallery