Move over C.D., the Jet is coming through!
Brett Hearn took over second place on the all-time Albany-Saratoga Speedway win list Friday night when he drove to his eighth win of the season in the 35-lap Midseason Championships at the historic Malta track.
The win was Hearn’s 43rd career victory at Albany-Saratoga, moving him past Hall of Famer C.D Coville, who retired with 42 wins. But the all-time track record of 80 victories, held by Jack Johnson, appears to be out of Hearn’s reach.
But that’s about the only thing that’s out of Hearn’s reach at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season. Despite starting 18th in the field, Hearn avoided an early-race jingle that took a couple of other contenders out of action, and pulled away for an easy win, beating runner-up Wayne Jelley to the finish line by nearly three seconds.
Hearn recorded his first win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on May 27, 1994, and is enjoying one of his best seasons ever at the Malta track. He’s on pace to match his 1996 season, when he chalked up 11 victories, falling just one short of the track record for victories in a season.
The point standings also had some serious movement because of the double point Midseason Championships. Ken Tremont Jr., who finished third in Friday night’s feature, jumped into the lead, with Hearn taking over the No. 2 position, just seven points behind Tremont. Matt DeLorenzo, who went into the night with the point lead, finished 15th, and fell from first to third, while Jack Cottrell, who started the night in second place, saw his chances for the track championship go right out the window, as he finished 24th.
Jelley came off the pole position in the Sprint PCS-sponsored small block and led the first 23 laps, but Hearn masterfully made his way through traffic, took the No. 2 spot away from Todd Ryan on lap 23 and then overhauled Jelley the next time around.
Following Tremont across the finish line were Ryan and Tim Laduc, who finally appears to be getting back on track after struggling early in the season. Completing the top 10 were Mike Perrotte, Jimmy Becker, Bob Savoie, making his first appearance of the season in the Sam Smith-owned 72; Ron Dwyer and Randy Hotaling.
Tim Clemons drove to his second straight win, and third overall, of the season in the 20-lap sportsman feature, which was plagued by a number of cautions. Clemons started 12th in the original field, and like Hearn, had to avoid a number of incidents to get to the front.
Rich Ronca, still looking for his first career victory, started on the pole and set the pace for the first 17 laps, but Clemons then used a restart to get the lead, and he went on to beat Ronca by nearly a full second. Tim Hartman crossed the finish line third, with Mike Ballestero fourth and Tom Proctor fifth. One of the best performances was turned in by rookie Jimmy Cottrell, who charged to a seventh-place finish after qualifying through the consi.
Dan Madigan posted an upset in the 20-lap pro-street stock main, as he chalked up his first victory of the season. Madigan had been competitive in the first three months of the season, but until Friday, hadn’t been able to show that he could beat Hollywood Joe Santoro and Carl Vladyka.
But Friday was Madigan’s night, After starting fifth, he battled with Ed Pieniazek Jr. before finally getting the lead on lap 13, and pulled away for an easy win as Vladyka, who started ninth, had all he could do just to get by Pieniazek for second. Santoro finished fourth, which allowed him to maintain the point lead, and Fred Little finished fifth.
Roy Fifield found his way back to victory lane in the 15-lap hobby stock main, driving to his fourth victory of the season. Lori Cary, who has been Fifield’s main nemesis on the CVRA this season, got the lead on lap five, but five laps later, Fifield took over the top spot and pulled away an easy win. Dan Daniels had a good run, passing Cary with two laps to go to finish second. Cary was third, followed by Dave Daniels and Mike Ostrander.
Elmer Montville outran Brian Myers to win the six-cylinder cruiser feature, and Jason Duncan dominated the four-cylinder cruiser feature, beating Kevin Connors to the finish line by almost eight seconds.
Action will resume at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday night, with the track holding its second Kids Night promotion of the season. The popular kiddie rides will be held following the hot lap session.
MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Wayne Jelley, Ken Tremont Jr., Todd Ryan, Tim Laduc, Mike Perrotte, Jimmy Becker, Bob Savoie, Ron Dwyer, Randy Hotaling, Frank Hoard Sr., Don Ackner, Don Mattison, Gene Munger, Matt DeLorenzo, Scott Noel, Ron Proctor, Brian Gerrain, Chuck Higley, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Ronca, Jim Introne, Dave Camara, Jack Cottrell, John Kollar.
SPORTSMAN: TIM CLEMONS, Rich Ronca, Tim Hartman, Mike Ballestero, Tom Proctor, Derrick McGrew, Jimmy Cottrell, Gary Gates, Jack Swinton, Paul Dunham Jr., Randy Salisbury, Joe Conroy, Erik Mack, Jack Gentile, Tony Ballestero, Mike Catone, Ricky Davis, Ray Martindale, Ken Anatriello, Doug Sheely, Al Powell, John Bellinger, Neal Erickson, Jason Herrington.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: DAN MADIGAN, Carl Vladyka, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Joe Santoro, Fred Little, Mike Paquin, William Smith, Don Daniels, Tom O’Connor, Chris Maxon, Dean Charbonneau, Matt Anatriello, C.J. Brooks, Jay Fitzgerald, Vince Santoro, Scott Duell, David Shippee, Adam Tranka, Steve Burega, Bob Schmidt, Jason Brownell, Charlie Koenig, Walt Brownell.
HOBBY STOCKS: ROY FIFIELD, Dan Daniels, Lori Cary, Dave Daniels, Mike Ostrander, Jim Monroe, Eric Sbregea, Ed Sears, Mike Tholin, Fred Harris, Chris Reckner, John Morris Jr., John Filarecki, Adam Stoddard, Jeff Monroe, Bill Smith, Brian Westcott, Mike Traylor.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: ELMER MONTVILLE, Brian Myers, Matt Thomas, Jason Pelton, Jon Atwell, Keith Wright, Luke MacIsaac, Dan Uber, Peter Pelech, Rick Mrzyglod, Butch Ryan, John Quintana.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: JASON DUNCAN, Kevin Connors, Robert Ross, Matt Corbiel, Keith Guilder, Jeff Krouse, Joe Naccarato, Emerson Ostrander, Jim Monroe, Mike Mrzyglod, Mike Carman, Stan Durie, Joe Ladd, Mitch Gries, Pete Jeske.