Local race fans strolled through the hallways at Colonie Center Friday and Saturday, taking in the sights and sounds of the third annual Lebanon Valley pre-season car show presented by Lance and Jill Sharpe in honor of “The Flying Farmer” Jason Harrington and Race Pro Weekly founder Bobby Chalmers.

With 40 cars on display, fans reconnected with their favorite drivers in anticipation of another season of competition at Lebanon Valley and Albany-Saratoga Speedways.

Multi-time Lebanon Valley Speedway modified track champion Andy Bachetti brought the Garrity No. 4 small-block modified to the show for the first time.

“It’s awesome,” Bachetti said about the show. “They did a great job setting it up and there are a lot of fans and cars here. I am sure the mall likes it.”

As many of the drivers on hand did, Bachetti chatted with fans, signed autographs, posed for photos, shared laughs and discussed his plans for the upcoming season.

“We will be back at The Valley this year with both the big and small blocks, and we might hit some money shows here and there,” he said. “We will see how everything works out. I am not going to journey out too far because of the cost of everything right now. I have very good sponsors, and they are glad they get some advertising up here in this area.”

The show also provided a blend of the old and the new as the Independent Vintage Racing Association display of classic-bodied cars that will compete at the local speedways this season along with photos and videos of racing at the historic speedway.

The next generation of drivers from the Valley’s go-kart track had their karts on display, many alongside their families’ race car.

Lebanon Valley will host an open practice session on April 4 before hosting a $4,000-to-win sportsman race on April 11 and hosting the DIRTcar 358-modified series event on April 18. The big blocks will hit the track for the first time in the 74th season of competition on April 25.

Lebanon Valley’s sister track, Albany-Saratoga Speedway, will be back in action for its 61st season opener, hosting the Super DIRTcar Modified Series for a 61-lap, $6,100-to-win feature.

Following the passing of long-time speedway promoter Lyle DeVore in December 2025, after a hard-fought, four-year battle with cancer, a new management team was announced for the upcoming season.

Howard Commander, owner of Lebanon Valley and Albany-Saratoga speedways announced that Marcy Mangino DeVore and Pete Scully will manage “The Great Race Place” for the 2026 racing season.

The inaugural “Legend Laid in Clay” night honoring Lyle DeVore, with a 55-lap, $5,500-to-win modified feature, has been added to the schedule on the July 31 race card. The program also features a $2,555-to-win 358-modified shootout, $1,800-to-win sportsman feature and $1,500-to-win pro stock feature.

It was also announced that former DIRTcar Series Director Mike Perrotte will be joining the team as Race Control Director for the 2026 season and Erin Rockafellow, of Rocky Photography, will be this year’s official track photographer.

(Regular show includes Big-block and 358-modifieds, sportsman, limited sportsman, pro stocks, street stocks and 4-cylinders)

11 – Spring has Sprung $4,000-to-win Sportsman race.

18 – DIRTcar 358-modified series; Street Stock Race

25 – Big Block modified season opener

2 – Regular race program plus Cannonball Run #1

9 – Regular race program plus Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS)

16 – Regular race program featuring Butch Davenport Modified Memorial

20 – Practice for the Short Track Super Series

21 – Short Track Super Series King of Spring, Plus Bobby Chalmers Memorial for 602 Sportsman

23 – Regular race program featuring the Andrew Sherman Sportsman Memorial

30 – Regular race program featuring the Guy Madsen Memorial for modifieds

6 – Regular race program featuring the 14th Annual JC Flach Memorial for modifieds.

13 – Regular race program featuring the Ron Van Etten Memorial plus Cannonball Run #2, and Powder Puff

16 – Super DIRTcar Series $15,500-to-win Mr. DIRT Track USA featuring Big-blocks, Small-blocks and Pro Stocks

17 – Mr. DIRT Track USA rain date.

20 – Regular race program featuring the 23-lap Bobby Chalmers Memorial for Pro Stocks

27 – Regular race program featuring the George Marcus Memorial for 602 Sportsman

4 – Regular race program featuring the Jason Herrington Memorial for 358-modifieds plus Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular

11 – Regular race program featuring the $8,200-to-win HC82! (Twin $4,000-to-win 20-lap modified features)

14 – Eve of Destruction!

18 – Regular race program.

25 – Regular race program plus the Independent Vintage Racing Association (IVRA)

31 – Monsters vs. Megas

1 – Fonda-Lebanon Valley Challenge #1 at Fonda Speedway

8 – Regular race program featuring Halloween in August Trick or Treat Meet and Greet

15 – Regular race program featuring the Steven Larochelle Memorial for Pro Stocks plus Back-Pack Giveaway

22 – Regular race program featuring the Old Buzzard Pro Stock DIRT Series, plus Fonda-Lebanon Valley Challenge #2 at Lebanon Valley Speedway

29 – CLOSED for Lebanon Valley Dragway Bracket Finals

5 – Final Night of Points for all divisions.

10, 11, 12 – The Syracuse 200 Reunion Weekend

Regular show includes modifieds, sportsman, limited sportsman, pro stocks, street stocks. 4-cylinders and 358-modifieds added for special events)

3 – Early Tech Inspection (3-7 p.m.)

17 – 61st Season Opener. 61-lap, $6,100-to-win Super DIRT Series modified feature, plus sportsman and pro stock features.

24 – Regular race program featuring $3,000-to-win modified feature, plus 358-modified shootout #1 and 4-cylinders.

1 – Regular race program plus 4-cylinders

8 – Regular race program plus 358-modified shootout #2.

15 – Regular race program featuring $3,000-to-win modified feature, plus DIRTcar Pro Stock Series

22 – Regular race program featuring $1,300-two-win sportsman feature and 4-cylinders.

29 – Regular race program plus 358-modified shootout #3

5 – Regular race program plus Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets and 4-cylinders

12 – Regular race program plus SCoNE Sprints

19 – Regular race program plus 358-modified shootout #4

26 – Regular race program

3 – Regular race program features $2,500-to-win modified feature plus Fireworks!

10 – Regular race program plus 358-modified shootout #5 and 4-cylinders

17 – ESS Sprints plus modifieds, sportsman, pro stocks and street stocks.

24 – Sixth Annual Stan Da’ Man Night featuring $3,200-to-win modified. $1,320-to-win sportsman and pro stock features and $320-to-win street stock main event.

31 – Inaugural Legend Laid in Clay honoring Lyle DeVore. 55-lap, $5,500-to-win modified feature, $2,555-to-win 358-modified shootout #6, $1,800-to-win sportsman feature and $1,500-to-win pro stock feature. (Rain Date Aug. 4)

7 – Regular race program featuring $3,000-to-win modified feature

14 – Regular race program plus $2,531-to-win The Flying Farmer 31 358-modified shootout #7 plus 4-cylinders

21 – Regular race program plus Kids Giveaways and 4-cylinders.

28 – Regular race program plus 358-modified shootout #8 and 4-cylinders. (Final night of points for modified, sportsman and pro stock divisions)

4 – Regular race program featuring the Fifth Annual $10,000-to-win Pro Stock Autism Acceptance Race. (Final night of points for limited sportsman, street stocks and 4-cylinders)

18 – John and Chris Grady Memorial Night featuring the Independent Vintage Racing Association (IVRA) Modified Open.

26 – Malta Massive Weekend featuring DIRTcar 358-modified series and DIRTcar Sportsman Fall Championship Series.

27 – Malta Massive Weekend featuring 75-lap, $7,500-to-win Super DIRTcar Modified Series and DIRTcar Pro Stock Series, plus Limited Sportsman.