Heotzler Continues Two-In-A-Row Trend at Albany-Saratoga

MALTA, NY -- Ominous clouds hovered over the Albany Saratoga Speedway on

Friday night, but not a drop of rain fell for Open Wheel Madness 97.

The earth shaking thunder of the Empire Super Sprints and ARDC Midgets

accompanied the CVRA Modifieds and Sportsmen in an event filled night of

racing which saw Gary Halteman, "Spider" Thomas, Jeff Heotzler, and Tony

Ballestero share victory lane.

The ARDC Midgets took to the speedway first for their 25-lap feature.

The lead was definitely not the place to be if you were piloting a

midget as first Ed Stimely Jr. jumped the cushion while leading, then

Mark Freeland broke going down the front stretch with only three laps

remaining, giving the victory to Gary Halteman. The race was Haltemans

first feature event victory in 197 tries in the midgets. Stimely

recovered for a close second, while Walt Stearly, Tim Dietz, and Bob

Cicconi rounded out the top five.

Cicconi was chauffeuring his brother Lous car which was piloted by

crowd favorite Brett Hearn in the heat race. After Bob suffered

mechanical failures on his own car, and Hearn found the fit in the

number 75 a little tight, Cicconi took the reigns for the feature, much

to the chagrin of the crowd.

Following the ARDC feature, the Empire Super Sprints were let loose on

the speedway for their 20-lapper. Bobby Parrow took the lead on the

second lap and seemed to have the race in the bag until, once again, the

number one position proved unlucky. With three laps to go he spun his

sprinter in turn one giving the lead to an opportunistic "Spider"

Thomas. Thomas slipped by the spinning Parrow to take the lead for the

final restart. "Spider" had the "Cricket" trapped in his web as he

outran Craig "Cricket" Keel to the finish, while series kingpin, Mike

Woodring, passed Billy Bradshaw for third on the final lap. Craig Lane

finished fifth, while Dan Kaszubinski, Lance Yonge, Doug Emery, Mike

Lauterborn, and Bubby Kerrick rounded out the top ten.

The race had to be red-flagged on lap 17, as Robbie Hart flipped

violently down the front stretch. Tim Kelly had come to a halt against

the front stretch wall and Hart just barely clipped him at high speed,

sending Hart first barrel rolling, then flipping end-over-end into the

infield. Neither driver was injured in the incident.

The 358 modified feature went 35 laps caution free for the first time

this season. But no cautions definitely does not mean no excitement, as

Jeff Heotzler continued the two-in-a-row trend at "The Great Race Place"

by rocketing his Reclamation 83, powered by Ford, into victory lane. So

far this season the modified division has seen Bob Savoie, Brett Hearn,

and now Heotzler, win two consecutive features. Heotzler started way

back in sixteenth position, and, unaided by cautions, ran down leader

Jim Ryan and passed him on the 30th lap to secure his second win in a

row at the Malta track.

Ryan got the jump at the green and pulled away from the rest of the

pack, as Don Ronca worked his way to second by lap eight, while Don

Ackner, Randy Hotaling, and Bob Savoie dueled for third. Soon Heotzler

and Mike Ricci joined the battle followed by Kenny Tremont. The group

put on an outstanding show, going three and four wide at times, as

Heotzler moved his way through the strong running group of modifieds.

Track conditions were excellent, contributing to the fine racing action.

On lap 20, Ryan began to catch slower traffic and struggled to get

around the first lapped cars. Heotzler caught Savoie for third, while

Hotaling and Ackner slugged it out for the fifth position. After making

short work of Savoie, Heotzler then ran down Ronca for second by lap 27.

With his sights on Ryan, Heotzler caught him with five to go. He made

his winning move look easy, sailing by Ryan in turn two. Ryan then began

to fade, and Ronca and Savoie followed suit, driving by Ryan who

appeared to have used up the last of his Goodyear tires.

Don Ronca followed Heotzler across the line for second, Savoie finished

third, Ryan held on for an impressive fourth place finish, while Don

Ackner looked the best he has all season, rounding out the top five.

Word from the Bob Kearns-owned #97 has the car working better than it

has in the last two seasons, and the difference is apparent in Ackner's

performance on the track. The top ten was completed by Hotaling, Ricci,

Tremont, a struggling Brett Hearn, and Brian Berger.

In the sportsman finale, Tony Ballestero of Ballston Spa NY, edged

opening day winner Lance Harting, for the 20 lap feature event victory.

Harting had a chance for the victory after Scott Noel, winner of the

past two races at Albany Saratoga, looped his mount to bring out the

yellow with two laps to go. Harting drew close and made an outside bid

on the final lap, but Ballestero held on for his second win of the year.

Randy Delany and Jim Senzio followed them across the line.

MODIFIEDS: JEFF HEOTZLER, Don Ronca, Bob Savoie, Jim Ryan, Don Ackner,

Randy Hotaling, Mike Ricci, Ken Tremont, Brett Hearn, Brian Berger, Mike

Ronca, Jeff Trombley, John Harrison, Lee Nutting, Vince Quenneville, Don

Scarborough, Hector Stratton, Mike Perrotte, Todd Ryan, Dan Douville,

Guy Sheldon, Brian Gerrain, David Towns, Jack Cottrell.

SPORTSMEN: Tony Ballestero, Lance Harting, Randy Delaney, Jim Senzio,

Jeff Betit, Tim LaDuc, Jim Davis, Alex Sommer Jr., Bob Schmidt, Todd

Morey, Dave Sargent, Dave Manny, Jim Introne, Chuck Higley, Ray Simpson,

Brian McKenzie, Scott Noel, Tom Proctor, Joe Budka, Ron Johnson, Brian

Whittemore, Gary McLain, Don Mattison, Mike Ballestero.