Hearn Back on Top at Malta
MALTA, NY - In a song that was popular back in the 1970s, Jim Croce warned that it wasn’t a good idea to tug on Superman’s cape or to spit in the wind.
It’s obviously not a good idea to get Brett Hearn riled up, either.
One week after having his five-race winning streak snapped, Hearn used a last-lap pass to nip Ken Tremont Jr. and chalk up win No. 6 in the 35-lap 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
Hearn’s winning streak had been snapped by a flat tire and a quick decision by track officials on June 21st. Because the field had realigned quickly when Hearn went to the pits for a new tire two weeks ago, promoter Bruce Richards went right back to green, leaving Hearn stranded in the pits. Richards later said that he made the decision because the field was ready to go, and because he doesn’t give laps to anyone when they’re in the pits. Hearn had to abide by the decision, and then took out any frustrations he had Friday night.
After starting 16th, Hearn spent the better part of the race chasing Tremont, who, ironically, was the driver who snapped Hearn’s winning streak the previous week. Tremont had started 15th Friday night, but had gotten through traffic quicker, taking the lead away from Scott Noel on lap 18, and maintained his edge despite a couple of caution periods.
Tremont’s Freihofer-sponsored No. 115 was just as quick as Hearn’s Madsen Motorsports Brioschi-sponsored car, but with five laps to go, Hearn must have had both feet on the gas pedal, because he started to put some serious heat on Tremont. Hearn finally got the nose of his car past Tremont on the white flag lap, and hit the finish line just 0.537 seconds ahead of Tremont.
The win was Hearn’s 41st career victory at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, moving him within one of tying C.D. Coville for second place on the all-time win list at the historic Malta track.
The battle between Hearn and Tremont overshadowed an outstanding run by Mike Ronca, who finished third. That was Ronca’s best finish since he ran third to Tremont and Hector Stratton on Aug. 28, 2000. Completing the top five Friday night were defending track champion Dave Camara and Jack Cottrell.
Jack Gentile drove to his first career victory in the 20-lap sportsman feature. After a run of bad finishes, Gentile started on the pole, but still had to battle to get the win.
Former track champion Tom Proctor, who has had nothing but bad luck this season, started next to Gentile in the front row and led laps two through eight before Gentile finally got the lead for good on lap nine.
Proctor, also hoping for his first win of the season, hung right with Gentile, but the driver both Gentile and Proctor had to worry about was Tim Clemons in the Parillo 17, who was looking for his second straight win. Clemons had started 10th in the field and for a while, was stuck in traffic. He finally got the leaders with three laps to go, and passed Proctor on the white flag lap.
But Gentile didn’t have a thing to worry about by that time, as he hit the finish line with a huge lead, setting off a celebration in his pit area. Gentile became the seventh different sportsman winner this season.
Proctor finished third, followed by Jason Herrington and Gary Gates.
Hollywood Joe Santoro drove to his third straight win in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature. Mike Fritz came off the front row and set the pace for the first nine laps, until Santoro, who had started seventh, worked his way past Dan Daniels and then Fritz to get the lead.
Santoro cruised to his fourth win of the season, finishing with a 1.287 second margin of victory over Fritz, who had his best finish of the year. Dan Madigan got up for third, followed by Daniels and Carl Vladyka.
Roy Fifield picked up his third win of the year in the hobby stock feature, easily outrunning defending track champion Mike Tholin and John Filarecki. Kevin Connors won the four-cylinder cruiser feature, and Elmer Montville came away with the victory in the six-cylinder cruiser division.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be dark on Friday, July 5, as Devil’s Bowl Speedway will be running a special 4th of July holiday show on that night. Albany-Saratoga will be hosting the Sunoco Series 100 lap Big Block/Small Block Open this Tuesday, July 2nd. Regular Friday night action will resume at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday, July 12, with all divisions in action. That card will also include an enduro.
MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Ken Tremont Jr., Mike Ronca, Dave Camara, Jack Cottrell, Matt DeLorenzo, Scott Noel, Ron Proctor, Don Ackner, Randy Hotaling, Jimmy Decker, Wayne Jelley, Frank Hoard Jr., Frank Hoard Sr., Tim Laduc, Jeff Betit, Gene Munger, Brian Gerrain, Ron Dwyer, Todd Ryan, Don Mattison, Mike Perrotte, Ronnie Johnson, Kevin Perry, Jim Introne.
SPORTSMAN: JACK GENTILE, Tim Clemons, Tom Proctor, Jason Herrington, Gary Gates, Tony Ballestero, Mike Ballestero, Tim Hartman, Derrick McGrew, Rich Ronca, Joe Conroy, Jimmy Cottrell, Neal Erickson, Ricky Davis, Jack Swinton, Ray Martindale, Stan Lemiesz, Doug Sheely, Erick Mack, Mike Boomhower, Ken Anatriello, Paul Dunham Jr., Keith Nichols, John Bellinger.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: JOE SANTORO, Mike Fritz, Dan Madigan, Pete Kimball, Dan Daniels, Carl Vladyka, Bob Schmidt, Brian Holbritter, Steve Burega, Dean Charbonneau, Vince Santoro, Fred Little, Matt Anatriello, Dave Uline, Charlie Koenig, Adam Tranka, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Mike Bradley, Mike Paquin,.
HOBBY STOCKS: ROY FIFIELD, Mike Tholin, John Filarecki, Fred Harris, Don Daniels, Bill Smith, Gary Michaud, Chris Reckner, Jeff Monroe, Mike Traylor, Adam Stoddard, John Laviolette, David Daniels, Guy Klob, Chris Busta, Lori Cary, John Morris Jr., Mike Ostrander.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: ELMER MONTVILLE, Jason Pelton, Brian Myers, Ken Bergstrom, Peter Pelech, Butch Ryan, Keith Wright, Keith Keller, Todd Burch, David Kennedy, Jon Atwell, Luke MacIsaac, Amanda Clemens.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: KEVIN CONNORS, Jason Duncan, Joe Naccarato, Jeffrey Krouse, Jim Monroe, William Lehman, Matt Corbiel, Emerson Ostrander, Mike Mrzyglod, Robert Ross, Stan Durie, Kevin Van Chance, Joe Ladd, Pete Jeske.