Ken Tremont Ends Hearn Win Streak
MALTA - Ken Tremont Jr. finally got off the canvas Friday night and started fighting back.
After getting knocked around at his Friday night track for the better part of two years, Tremont posted his first win of the year Friday night in the 35-lap 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway and in the process, ended Brett Hearn’s record-tying winning streak.
Hearn came into the night with five straight wins, which tied the track record set by Jack Johnson in 1984, and looked to be on his way to No. 6 when a flat right rear tire on a restart on lap 17 put him out of contention.
Tremont had been the dominant driver at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in the 1990s, winning six straight track championships and 22 features from 1994 to 1999, but in the last three years, he’s been battling to catch up. He lost the track championship to Dave Camara in both 2000 and 2001, and had only been to victory lane three times in the last two seasons.
But he was back in his old form Friday night, showing that Hearn may have some competition at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this year, after all.
Tremont started 10th, but it only took him three laps to move into the top five. Scott Noel came off the pole and set the early pace, but he was no match for Tremont, who rocketed into the lead on lap eight.
Hearn, who had started in his usual 18th position, sliced through the pack with the ease of a hot knife through butter, and by lap 10, was right on Tremont’s back bumper when a caution came out.
Tremont and Hearn then gave the fans their money’s worth, running side-by-side, with Tremont on the cushion and Hearn on the bottom. Hearn kept working his line, getting the advantage coming off the second turn, only to have Tremont use the high line coming out of three and four to get to the starter’s stand first. Hearn appeared ready to take the lead for good when another caution came out on lap 17.
That yellow proved to be Hearn’s downfall, as his tire went down under the caution period and his bid for the win went out the window. He ran the next three laps before finally pulling out on lap 21, officially finishing 18th.
Hearn’s misfortune allowed Wayne Jelley, who had started third, to finish second, his best performance of the season at the speedway. Point leader Matt DeLorenzo put on another impressive run, coming from his 17th starting position to finish third, with Mike Perrotte fourth and Ronnie Johnson fifth.
"It was Hearn’s race to win," Tremont admitted after the victory.
Completing the top 10 were Jack Cottrell, Tim Laduc, Dave Camara, Frank Hoard Sr. and Gene Munger. Camara had to charge from the rear after bringing out a yellow early in the race.
Veteran Tim Clemons won the 20-lap sportsman feature. Clemons began his racing career in the modified division at Albany-Saratoga Speedway back in the early 1980s, but in recent years, has become one of the top sportsman drivers in the Capital Region.
Friday night proved to be one of his easiest wins ever, as he started on the pole and went flag-to-flag for the victory. He has 19 career sportsman wins at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, making him the leader in victories in that division.
Tim Hartman, who started 11th, put on a late charge to finish second, with Tony Ballestero third, Mike Boomhower fourth and Rich Ronca fifth.
Hollywood Joe Santoro drove to his third win of the season in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature, nipping rival Carl Vladyka by 0.530 seconds at the finish line. Brian Holbritter came off the front row and set the pace for the first 11 laps, but Santoro, who had started seventh, moved in front for good on lap 12. Vladyka came across the finish line second, with Dan Madigan third, Bob Schmidt fourth and Holbritter fifth.
Dan Daniels drove to his second win of the year in the hobby stock division, finishing nearly a second and a half in front of the second-place car of Jim Monroe, who had Gary Michaud right on his tail at the finish.
Ken Bergstrom broke through with his first win of the year in the six-cylinder cruiser class, and Kevin Connors was first under the checkered flag in the four-cylinder cruiser division.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be holding its annual New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame night on Friday, with all NYSSCA Hall of Famers being honored. There will be a full card of racing beginning at 7 p.m.
MODIFIEDS: KEN TREMONT JR., Wayne Jelley, Matt DeLorenzo, Mike Perrotte, Ronnie Johnson, Jack Cottrell, Tim Laduc, Dave Camara, Frank Hoard Sr., Gene Munger, Mike Ronca, Randy Hotaling, Jeff Betit, Don Ackner, John Harrison, Jimmy Becker, Ron Dwyer, Brett Hearn, Brian Gerrain, Jim Introne, Scott Noel, Frank Hoard Jr., Todd Ryan, Ron Proctor, Don Mattison.
SPORTSMAN: TIM CLEMONS, Tim Hartman, Tony Ballestero, Mike Boomhower, Rich Ronca, Jason Herrington, Mike Ballestero, Rick Davis, Ray Martindale, Derrick McGrew, Stan Lemiesz, Gary Gates, Gerry Conroy, Bill Cody, Keith Nichols, John Bellinger, Ken Anatriello, Neal Erickson, Doug Sheely, Jack Swinton, Tom Proctor, Brian McKenzie, Jimmy Davis.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: JOE SANTORO, Carl Vladyka, Dan Madigan, Bob Schmidt, Brian Holbritter, Steve Burega, Matt Anatriello, Mike Paquin, C.J. Brooks, Charlie Koenig, Tom O’Connor, Dean Charbonneau, Dan Daniels, Adam Tranka, Fred Little, Jason Brownell, William Smith, Chris Maxon, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Dave Uline, Cale Kneer, Vince Santoro, Walt Brownell, Randy Brownell, Mike Bradley.
HOBBY A MAIN: DAN DANIELS, Jim Monroe, Gary Michaud, Lori Cary, Mike Traylor, Jeff Morris, John Morris Jr., Jeff Davis, David Daniels, Chris Reckner, Brad Breault, Mike Tholin, Fred Harris, Chris Busta, Mike Pinke, Todd Dunston, Roy Fifield, Mike Ostrander.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: KEN BERGSTROM, Jason Pelton, Keith Wright, Jon Atwell, Matt Thomas, Todd Burch, Brian Myers, Luke MacIsaac, Amanda Clemens, Butch Ryan, No. 51, John Quintana, Peter Pelech, Keith Keller, Harry Williams, Dan Uber, Dave Kennedy, Elmer Montville.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: KEVIN CONNORS, Joe Naccarato, William Lehman, Jim Monroe, Emerson Ostrander, Mike Carman, Kevin Van Chance, Pete Jeske, Mike Minick, Jason Duncan, Mike Mrzyglod, Joe Ladd, Jeffrey Krouse.