Hearn ties single-season win record with 12th victory
MALTA - If there were ever any questions about Brett Hearn’s dominance at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, they were answered Friday night in the track’s 100-lap Big Block/Small Block Challenge.
Plagued by two flat right rear tires during the course of the race, Hearn came from the rear of the field twice and outran Kenny Tremont Jr. to get the win, and the top prize of $3,000.
The win was Hearn’s 12th victory of the season at the Malta track, tying the single-season win record set by Jack Johnson in 1981 and tied by Dave Lape in 1982.
Hearn has now won the last seven features he’s competed in at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. The last time someone other that Hearn sat in victory lane was July 2, when Jack Cottrell won the first Big Block/Small Block Challenge of the season. Hearn was out of town that night, competing in a Turning Stone Casino Series race.
Friday night’s victory marked the second time this season that Hearn has come from the rear of the field after suffering a flat tire. He also had to pit during the 35-lap feature on June 28, but came back to win that race.
Champlain Valley Racing Association regulars Tim Laduc and Mike Ronca made up the front row for the 100-lap feature, with Tremont sitting third and Hearn ninth of the grid.
Laduc set the pace for the first six laps before giving way to Tremont. But by lap nine, Hearn had already moved up to second, and on lap 15, Hearn pushed the Madsen Motorsports small block into the lead for the first time.
Hearn and Tremont waged a good battle for the lead for the next 10 laps, but the man on the move was A.J. Romano, driving a big block. Romano, who had started 11th, moved into the top five on lap 14, and had his own little war going with Laduc and Don Ronca, who had started fifth.
The complexion of the race seemed to change on lap 25, when Hearn got his first flat tire of the night, and went to the pits, giving the lead back to Tremont. The restart also allowed Romano to move into second, with defending track champion Dave Camara now riding third.
While Tremont set the pace, Hearn began an incredible charge from the rear. Working his way through traffic, Hearn quickly moved back into the top 10, and got a good break on lap 42 when Romano also suffered a flat tire, bringing out the yellow, and ending his bid for a good finish.
Helped by the caution, Hearn jumped back into the fourth spot, behind Tremont, Camara and Matt DeLorenzo.
Fourth was where Hearn was still sitting when he got his second flat tire on lap 57, again going to the pits, and giving up a ton of track position.
But again, Hearn kept his poise, and began another charge to the front. The only question this time was if he would run out of laps.
As hard as he drove, Hearn only got as far as fourth with 10 laps remaining in the feature. But on lap 91, he rocketed past both DeLorenzo and Camara to take over second, and then passed Tremont for the lead with just five laps left to pull off an amazing comeback victory. Tremont came across the finish line second, followed by DeLorenzo, Camara and Cottrell.
Completing the top 10 were Gene Munger, Randy Hotaling, Ronnie Johnson, Don Ackner and Wayne Jelley.
Mike Ballestero drove to his third straight victory in the 25-lap sportsman feature, and by doing so, took over the lead in the points race.
For the second week in a row, it looked like it was going to be Jimmy Davis’ race. Davis started on the outside pole on the heads-up lineup, and seemed to have the race in hand. But Ballestero, who started ninth, used a couple of late cautions to close the gap on the leader, and then took the lead with six laps remaining. Davis chased Ballestero across the finish line for the second straight week, with Dick Bisson third, Rich Ronca fourth and Tim Hartman fifth.
Dean Charbonneau picked up his first victory of the season in a wild finish in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature. Charbonneau started on the pole and led every lap, but he had to hold off Dan Madigan, as Madigan was just 0.117 seconds behind at the finish. Fred Little was also a factor in the closing laps, as he was door-to-door with Madigan at the checkered flag. Don Daniels finished fourth, with Carl Vladyka fifth.
Dave Daniels won the 15-lap hobby stock feature, and took the point lead, as well. Daniels finished with a 0.624 seconds margin of victory over Mike Tholin, who ran second for the second week in a row, with Kevin Van Chance third, John Morris Jr. fourth and Fred Harris fifth. Daniels and his brother, Dan, went into the night tied in the point race, but Dan Daniels only completed seven laps and finished 16th.
Cruiser division features were won by Jason Duncan (four-cylinder) and Elmer Montville (six-cylinder).
There will be no 358 modifieds at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday night. The CVRA sportsmen will be running a 50-lap feature, and there will also be a 40-lap open competition pro-stock event, open to all drivers, regardless of affiliation.
MODIFIEDS (100 LAPS): BRETT HEARN, Ken Tremont Jr., Matt DeLorenzo, Dave Camara, Jack Cottrell, Gene Munger, Randy Hotaling, Ronnie Johnson, Don Ackner, Wayne Jelley, Don Ronca, Bobby Varin, Frank Hoard Sr., Don Mattison, Ron Proctor, Ken Hanson, Lorne Browe, Jimmy Becker, Ron Dwyer, Todd Ryan, Scott Noel, A.J. Romano, Tom Proctor, Mike Ronca, Mike Perrotte, Tim Laduc, Denny Soltis, Jeff Betit.
SPORTSMAN: MIKE BALLESTERO, Jimmy Davis, Dick Bisson, Rich Ronca, Tim Hartman, Jack Gentile, Tony Ballestero, Paul Dunham Jr., Jason Herrington, Jimmy Cottrell, Ray Martindale, Derrick McGrew, Doug Sheely, Ken Anatriello, Bill Cody, Neal Erickson, Keith Nichols, Gary Gates, Joe Conroy, Jack Swinton, Joe Budka, Erik Mack, Mike Catone, Rick Davis.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: DEAN CHARBONNEAU, Dan Madigan, Fred Little, Don Daniels, Carl Vladyka, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Mike Paquin, Mike Traylor, Steve Burega, William Smith, Adam Tranka, Charlie Koenig, Dave Uline, Bob Schmidt, Mike Bradley, Chris Maxon, Scott Duell, Matt Anatriello, Bill Eaton, C.J. Brooks, Jay Fitzgerald, Jason Brownell.
HOBBY STOCKS: DAVE DANIELS, Mike Tholin, Kevin Van Chance, John Morris Jr., Fred Harris, Jim Monroe, Lori Cary, John Filarecki, Jeff Washburn, Mike Ostrander, Adam Stoddard, Chris Busta, Brad Breault, Fred Backes II, Curtis Condon, Dan Daniels, George Welch, Brian Westcott.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: JASON DUNCAN, Keith Guilder, Robert Ross, Joe Naccarato, Kevin Connors, Jeffrey Krouse, Jim Monroe, Joe Ladd, Pete Jeske, Stan Durie, Mike Mrzyglod, Mike Dow. DQ: Matt Corbiel.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: ELMER MONTVILLE, Dave Kennedy, Jason Pelton, Jon Atwell, Keith Wright, Rick Mrzyglod, Art Howe, Brian Myers, Ken Bergstrom, Keith Keller, Ed Emigh, Dan Uber, Ed Sousie.