Jeff Heotzler Runs By Entire Field for Third Albany-Saratoga Win

Malta -- A large crowd was on hand Friday for the show at

Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill amazed everyone in

Friday night's 35 lap modified feature. After being caught up in a

tangle on the second lap, which put him at the rear of the field for the

restart, Heotzler came back from last to claim his third feature win of

1997 at the Great Race Place. Ron Johnson continued his bid for

rookie-of-the-year honors as he took a win in the sportsman division

over Ballston Spa racer Randy Delaney.

Heotzler, who has struggled the last two weeks after taking back-to-back

wins earlier in the season, found the right combination Friday, as he

was able to run all three grooves on the track surface. After several

early cautions it took the field 10 laps just to settle down, but once

they did Heotzler was the man to beat as he ran away with it at the end.

Don Ackner was the early leader over Brian Gerrain on the start, but

Heotzler, Mike Perrotte, and Bob Savoie came together on the second lap,

and forced Ackner to restart the race once again. Only one more lap was

on the books before a huge crash littered turn two with a half dozen

cars plus another handful over the bank, caused when Brian Berger looped

his car in the middle of the turn. Everyone bunched up and tumbled

around, but Berger was the only one unable to continue once the mess was

sorted out.

Todd Ryan, who had passed Gerrain the lap before, dropped underneath

Ackner on the restart and took the lead as Ackner and Don Scarborough

fought it out behind him. Heotzler had already driven by Brett Hearn and

Ken Tremont and was eighth from his 16th place start when the next

yellow came out. This caution was for a stalled Mike Ronca on lap nine.

Mike Ricci had been running in fourth place, and he suddenly took charge

on the restart and blasted straight behind Todd Ryan, then went on by

him on lap 12, with a masterful high side move coming through turn two.

The midpoint of the race saw Heotzler still fifth, but he got faster

every lap, and eventually passed Ryan, Ackner and Scarborough to move to

second by the 25th lap. When Ryan stalled the next time around for

another yellow Heotzler first went outside Ricci on the restart, then

dove to the bottom and ran even for a lap before taking first place off

of turn two on the 27th lap.

Farther back in the pack, Ken Tremont kept churning his way forward one

car after another, and Lee Nutting was now knocking on Scarborough's

door for third. The Rutland, Vermont racer was successful in getting by

the Brandon Bandit, but ran out of time as the checkers flew for

Heotzler. An easy win in the end for the driver of the Reclamation #83,

as Heotzler held a full straightaway lead at the finish, with Mike

Ricci, Lee Nutting, Don Scarborough and Ken Tremont coming on in fifth.

Don Ronca, Brett Hearn, Don Ackner, Ron Dwyer and Hector Stratton

rounded out the top 10.

In the sportsmen division, rookie Ronnie Johnson won his third feature

of the year with a beautiful high side turn four pass of leader Randy

Delaney. Delaney crossed the line in second ahead of Tony Ballestero,

brother Mike Ballestero and Vermont racer Tim LaDuc. Tony Ballestero

would later be disqualified in post race inspections.

In street stock action, Mike Bradley won once again. Following him to

the line was Mark Emigh, Mike Paquin, John Russo and Mike Fritz. Steve

Burega won his third feature in the hobby stock class, with rival Ryan

Odasz coming in second and Chuck Knowlton in third. Burega and Odasz

have been trading wins in recent weeks in the competitive hobby stock

class.

MODIFIEDS: JEFF HEOTZLER, Mike Ricci, Lee Nutting, Don Scarborough, Ken

Tremont, Don Ronca, Brett Hearn, Don Ackner, Ron Dwyer, Hector Stratton,

Vince Quenneville, Mike Benson, Jack Cottrell, Jim Ryan, Jeff Trombley,

Todd Ryan, Brian Gerrain, David Towns, Randy Hotaling, Mike Perrotte,

Jeff Sheely, Bob Savoie, Mike Ronca, Brian Berger.

SPORTSMEN TOP 10: RON JOHNSON, Randy Delaney, Mike Ballestero, Tim

LaDuc, Brian McKenzie, Todd Morey, Jim Davis, Tim Hartman, Bob Schmidt,

Jim Introne.