Fourth Win for Heotzler at Albany-Saratoga

MALTA NY -8/9/97- Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill, NY took advantage of Mike Benson's

bobble on a restart with 10 laps to go in the feature, and once in first

place, he never looked back, taking the Reclamation #33 to victory lane for

the fourth time this year. In sportsmen action, Randy Delaney of Ballston Spa,

NY has been playing musical cars all year long, struggling through mechanical

woes and owner problems while trying to stay in the hunt for points. He

notched his first win of the year in the #3, owned by Tim Grosky. Delaney is

currently fifth in points, but only 50 out of first place in the very

competitive division.

The 35-lap modified feature began with John Harrison the early leader while

Mike Benson quickly took second away from Hector Stratton and then moved the

Benson's Dairy Bar machine into first place. With seven laps down Bob Savoie

slowed on the backstretch, causing a yellow. On the restart Benson led the

field, followed by Jeff Trombley and Jeff Heotzler, with Trombley on the high

side and Heotzler trying the bottom groove of the track. Mike Perrotte was

running in fourth with Jack Cottrell in fifth, trying to hold off a hard

charging Brett Hearn. Another yellow several laps later for Ron Dwyer and

Brian Gerrain as they tangled in turn one spelled doom for Trombley, as

Heotzler passed him on the go-ahead lap for second place. Cottrell also got

shuffled back as Hearn got around him and brought Vince Quenneville along.

At the halfway point, Benson was still leading the field by running the top of

the race track. He was dogged by Heotzler who worked top and bottom, forcing

Benson off his line to try and hold on to his lead. With 21 on the books,

yellow came out again for Gerrain, who couldn't limp his car all the way to

the pits. On the restart, Benson fired the car but made an error coming to the

flagstand and bobbled the car just long enough for Heotzler to zoom by him and

take the top spot. Benson was followed by Trombley, but Hearn had moved into

fourth and was coming on strong. With 10 to go, Hearn moved past Trombley for

the third spot. Tremont seemed to get his car going all of a sudden, taking on

both Trombley and Cottrell, and moving into third at the same time Hearn got

by Benson for second. With two laps left a caution flew for Mike Perrotte as

he spun his mount, and Hearn had an opportunity to work on Heotzler but didn't

have enough for him as Heotzler drove under the checkers and forced Hearn to

settle for second, followed by Tremont in third, Benson fourth and Cottrell

fifth. Trombley took sixth followed by Don Ronca, Don Scarborough, Vince

Quenneville and David Towns. Towns had a great run, coming from 23rd, the

next-to-last spot on the grid.

In sportsmen action Randy Delaney held on through several restarts as Ron

Johnson ran out of time and settled for second place. Scott Noel, Danny Ody

and Dave Manny rounded out the top five. Street stocks saw Lucas Baker of

North Pownal, VT win his second of the year, with Jim Duncan and Dave Crounse

following. Ryan Odasz took the hobby win, checking out victory lane for the

fifth time this season. Randy Moore and Mike Marsche were second and third.

MODIFIEDS: JEFF HEOTZLER, Brett Hearn, Ken Tremont, Mike Benson, Jack

Cottrell, Jeff Trombley, Don Ronca, Don Scarborough, Vince Quenneville, David

Towns, Hector Stratton, Don Ackner, Lee Nutting, Jim Ryan, John Harrison, Tim

Dwyer, Ron Proctor, Mike Perrotte, Mike Ricci, Jeff Sheely, Brian Gerrain, Ron

Dwyer, Bob Savoie, Todd Ryan.

SPORTSMEN TOP 10: RANDY DELANEY, Ron Johnson, Scott Noel, Danny Ody, Dave

Manny, Tim LaDuc, Jim Introne, Lance Harting, Chuck Higley, Todd Morey.