Tremont Wins Victoria Qualifer at the Line

MALTA, NY -- Ken Tremont never gives up. That was evident last Friday at Albany-Saratoga as

he worked to reel in race leader Don Ronca for the last 15 laps of the 100 lap Victoria 200

Qualifier. Ronca looked to be untouchable but Tremont diligently worked i!

n a new groove on the high side of the track until he pulled up to Ronca's bumper on the last

lap, got side by side on the backstretch, and blasted out of turn four to a photo-finish win

by only six inches at the line.

In sportsmen action Ron Johnson once again smiled for the cameras in victory lane as the

rookie and point leader notched another win. Street stock winner Dan Madigan was later

disqualified in post-race inspections, handing the win to Dave Crounse.

Ron Dwyer was the early leader in the 100-lap modified feature as Mike Ricci hounded him in

second place. Jack Johnson spun in turn four with 16 laps down. Johnson rejoined the tail end

of the field, now one lap down. Ricci moved to the top and grabbed the !

lead on lap 21 as Hector Stratton was on the move and passed Jeff Heotzler for fifth, then

took fourth from Don Scarborough.

With 27 laps down Brett Hearn's Auto Palace car broke and he plunged over the banking. He

entered the pits under his own power but wouldn't return. Stratton went to the top on the

restart but ended up losing a spot as Don Ronca powered by Heotzler and Ricci!

for the lead on the 33rd circuit. It was Ronca, Heotzler and Ricci as Heotzler briefly took

the lead on the low side from Ronca, but Ronca turned the tables on him and took back the

lead on the low side. Heotzler began to slow with a right rear flat and Ke!

n Tremont was on the move, taking sixth place behind Vince Quenneville. Heotzler refused to

go to the pits, hoping to draw a yellow as he continued around the track riding on the rim of

his tire for five laps until officials black flagged him and were force!

d to throw the caution for safety reasons.

On the restart Stratton took second from Ricci as they raced side by side into turn one.

Tremont was now in fourth place behind Ronca, Stratton and Ricci. Jim Ryan brought out

another yellow as he slowed on lap 56. On the restart Ricci took that second plac!

e spot back from Stratton, and Tremont got by Don Scarborough to move into third. Bob Savoie

had moved into fifth and made short work of Scarborough. With 40 laps left it was Ronca,

Stratton, Ricci, Tremont and Savoie. The rest of the race would go caution-!

free as the field settled down and Tremont went to work on Mike Ricci.

With 20 laps left Ronca had a straightaway lead on Ricci. With 15 laps left Tremont finally

got the high cushion to work for him as he took second from Ricci on the high side of turn

three. Before he could go to work on chasing down Ronca he had to shake th!

e tenacious Ricci, who continued to pester him to try to retrieve his second place spot. With

five to go Tremont was getting faster and faster off the turns and finally shook off Ricci

for good. The crowd rose to its feet as Tremont inched closer and closer!

to Ronca, who was weaving his way through lapped traffic. As they came out of turn two for

the final lap Tremont pulled up to Ronca's bumper, got alongside him on the backstretch,

threw his car up high in turn three, and blasted out of turn four to run nec!

k and neck down the front.

The finish was so close, veteran announcer Jim King didn't even venture an opinion on the

winner, except to say "oh my!" After review of the slow motion video tape, Tremont was

declared the winner by less than a bumper.

In sportsmen racing, Ron Johnson continued his march to a CVRA championship in his rookie

year as he took the win over Chuck Higley and Lance Harting. Higley would later be

disqualified in tech inspection, so Harting was second, Todd Morey third, Dave Manny!

and Tony Ballestero rounded out the top five.

The street stock winner was also disqualified in the inspection process. Dan Madigan saw his

first win slip away from him, to be handed to Dave Crounse. Taking over second was Tom

O'Connor, Mike Bradley, Dave Horning Jr. and Jim Duncan. In hobby stocks Ryan!

Odasz came out on top over Mike Marsche and Randy Moore.

MODIFIEDS: KEN TREMONT JR., Don Ronca, Mike Ricci, Hector Stratton, Bob Savoie, Vince

Quenneville, Mike Perrotte, Guy Sheldon, Todd Ryan, Lee Nutting, Tim Dwyer, Don Scarborough,

Ron Proctor, Mike Benson, Randy Hotaling, Jeff Sheely, Ron Dwyer, Jim Ryan, Je!

ff Heotzler, Don Ackner, A.J. Romano, Butch Jelley, Brett Hearn, Jack Johnson, Jack Cottrell,

Jeff Trombley.

SPORTSMEN TOP 10: RON JOHNSON, Lance Harting, Todd Morey, Dave Manny, Tony Ballestero, Joe

Budka, Randy Delaney, Mike Ballestero, Jeff Holt, Danny Ody.