Hearn wins again ... streak at six consecutive
MALTA - Brett Hearn wiped one of Jack Johnson’s entries out of the record books Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
Hearn, who is also bidding for the single-season track record at the Malta track, drove to his sixth consecutive victory in the 35-lap 358-modified feature Friday night. The win, which was also Hearn’s 11th of the year at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, broke Johnson’s track record of five in a row, which was set in 1984.
If Hearn has his way, and so far this season, that’s just what he’s done, Johnson’s name won’t be in the record books at all by the time the 2002 season ends. Hearn’s next goal is to break the track record for single season wins. Johnson won 12 features in 1981, and Dave Lape matched that mark in 1982. Hearn will be trying to tie the record Friday night, when Albany-Saratoga Speedway hosts a 100-lap big block/small block challenge.
The amazing thing about Hearn’s success this season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway is that he comes from the rear of the field every Friday night. His 11th win of the season came after he started 14th, which was one of his highest starting positions this season.
Mike Ronca and Ron Proctor, who occupied the front row for Friday night’s main event, did the dueling for the first 10 laps. Proctor led laps two through six, before Ronca steamrolled into the top spot. But by the time the 10th lap had been completed, Hearn was already fourth, sitting behind Jack Cottrell, who had started eighth.
Also in the fray was veteran Bob Savoie, who returned to the speedway earlier this month behind the wheel of the Sam Smith-owned 72VT. Savoie had started third, and took the No. 2 position on lap six.
The three veterans put on a heck of a show for the fans, with Savoie doing his best to hold off Cottrell and Hearn. But Hearn had the Madsen Motorsports small block humming, moved past Cottrell on lap 13, and then took the No. 2 position away from Savoie on lap 16.
One lap later, Hearn had the lead and left the field in his dust, winning by over two seconds.
Lapped traffic came into play as Cottrell and Savoie battled for the No. 2 spot, and it cost Savoie a couple of spots near the end of the race. In the final order of finish, Hearn was 2.4 seconds ahead of Cottrell, and Ken Tremont Jr. was another second behind Cottrell in third. Savoie had his best finish of the month, coming across the finish line fourth, but he was over five seconds behind Hearn.
Completing the top 10 were Matt DeLorenzo, Scott Noel, Mike Perrotte, Wayne Jelley, Ronca and John Kollar.
Mike Ballestero picked up his third win of the season in the 25-lap sportsman feature, and made up more ground as he bids for his second straight track championship.
Jimmy Davis started on the pole by virtue of the heads-up start, and looked like the man to beat, but Ballestero used a restart on lap 16 to get the lead and pick up his second straight victory. The win also allowed him to cut point leader Tim Hartman’s advantage to just one point. Hartman finished third, with Joe Conroy fourth and Derrick McGrew fifth.
Mike Ostrander pulled off a big upset in the 15-lap hobby stock feature, picking up his first victory of the season, beating two 2001 CVRA champions, Mike Tholin and Lori Cary, to the finish line.
Chris Busta started on the pole and led the first 11 laps. But disaster struck on lap 12, when something in the suspension snapped and Busta wound up on his roof. Ostrander, who had started 10th, inherited the lead when Busta crashed, and beat Tholin to the finish line by 1.109 seconds.
Cary was third, with David Daniels fourth and Dan Daniels fifth. The Daniels brothers are now dead even in the battle for the track championship.
The Empire Super Sprints made their second appearance of the season at the speedway, with Erin Crocker getting a popular victory.
The cruiser features were won by Jason Duncan (four-cylinder) and Keith Wright (six-cylinder).
The 100-lap big block/small block challenge will be the highlight of Friday night’s card. The feature will pay $3,000 to win. Racing will start at 7 p.m.
MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Jack Cottrell, Ken Tremont Jr., Bob Savoie, Matt DeLorenzo, Scott Noel, Mike Perrotte, Wayne Jelley, Mike Ronca, John Kollar, Frank Hoard Sr., Randy Hotaling, Ron Dwyer, Jeff Betit, Gene Munger, Chuck Higley, Jimmy Becker, Ron Johnson, Don Ackner, Dave Camara, Ron Proctor, Tim Laduc.
SPORTSMAN: MIKE BALLESTERO, Jimmy Davis, Tim Hartman, Joe Conroy, Derrick McGrew, Jason Herrington, Ricky Davis, John Bellinger, Jimmy Cottrell, Rich Ronca, Erik Mack, Doug Sheeley, Neal Erickson, Ken Anatriello, Tony Ballestero, Dan Humes, Paul Dunham Jr., Keith Nichols, Jack Swinton, Bll Cody, Ray Martindale.
HOBBY STOCKS: MIKE OSTRANDER, Mike Tholin, Lori Cary, Dave Daniels, Dan Daniels, Jim Monroe, Gary Michaud, John Laviolette, Bill Smith, Kevin Van Chance, Adam Stoddard, John Filarecki, Joe Mulvaney, Chris Busta, Fred Backes II, Kevin Sawyer, Fred Harris, Roy Fifield.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: KEITH WRIGHT, Rick Mrzyglod, Jon Atwell, Dan Uber, Brian Myers, Matt Thomas, Luke MacIsaac, Keith Keller, Peter Pelech, Dave Emeigh, No. 12, Emler Montville, Butch Ryan, Jason Pelton, Foster Ribsamen.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: JASON DUNCAN, Jim Monroe, Robert Ross, Matt Corbiel, Kevin Connors, Joe Ladd, Pete Jeske, Mike Mrzyglod, Emerson Ostrander, Ed Sousie, Stan Durie, Jeff Krouse, Keith Guilder, No. 58, Mike Minick.