MALTA - Since returning to big block modified racing on the Champlain Valley Racing Association in the early 1990s, former hobby division champion Mike Ronca just hasn’t been able to get a handle on the tricky racing surface at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. But under beautiful conditions on Sunday, he grabbed the track by the throat and drove to his second career victory in the 2001 season opener at the historic Malta facility.
Ronca started on the pole and held off challenges from Ron Proctor and defending track champion Dave Camara to record his first victory at Albany-Saratoga Speedway since Sept. 5, 1997. Mike Ronca will be carrying the banner for the family racing team this season, as his older brother, Don, a former track champion at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, was forced into retirement last season after suffering serious injuries in an accident at his race shop.
The top two finishers were both pleased with their runs, as Proctor’s second-place finish was his best effort since sitting in victory lane nearly two years ago, on June 4, 1999. The April 29 opening date was one of the latest opening-day events in the history of the speedway. The last time the track opened this late in the season was 1992, when four straight rainouts pushed the season opener back until May 8.
Camara showed he’s once again going to be a force to be reckoned with at the speedway, as he vies for his second straight overall CVRA point championship. Despite starting 15th in the24-car field, Camara charged to third. Invader Andy Bachetti was also impressive, finishing fourth behind the CVRA regulars, while Jason Becker, who started on the outside pole, had the first top-five finish of his career, coming across the finish line in the No. 5 position.
The highly competition sportsman division picked up right where it left off last season, with two old rivals, Tim Hartman and Tony Ballestero, battling it out for top honors. Hartman,who had started sixth, took the checkered flag, with Ballestero settling for second. Jim Becker was third, completing a good afternoon for the Becker Racing Team. MikeBallestero came across the finish line fourth, with Jason Herrington fifth.
Hollywood Joe Santoro proved that his pro-street stock isn’t just for show. Santoro, who picked up numerous awards during the offseason with his spectacular looking new ride, charged from his eighth starting position to win the first pro-street stock feature of the season. Rich French was second, with Bob Schmidt third.
Ken Town, one of the dominant drivers in the hobby stock division on the CVRA last season, won the Hobby A feature, outrunning Mike Ostrander and Jim Monroe, who had shared the front row at the start of the race, to the finish line.
The Monroes dominated the cruiser division features, with Jim Monroe Jr. winning the four-cylinder division, and Jeff Monroe taking the checkered flag in the six-cylinder class. Jon Atwell and John Ritcher followed Jim Monroe Jr. across the finish line, while W. John Smith and Foster Ribsamen finished second and third, respectively, in the six-cylinder class.
Albany-Saratoga also ran its first enduro of the season Sunday, with Mark Springer taking the checkered flag.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action on Sunday, with the IMCA modifieds making their first appearance of the 2001 season, joining the other CVRA divisions on Fan Appreciation Day. Racing will begin at 2 p.m.
MODIFIEDS: MIKE RONCA, Ron Proctor, Dave Camara, Andy Bachetti, Jason Becker, Todd Ryan, Jack Cottrell, Matt DeLorenzo, Brian McKenzie, Jim Ryan, Gene Munger, J.R.Heffner, Scott Noel, Don Scarborough, Ron Dwyer, Frank Hoard, Tim Laduc, Andy Romano, Dave Manny, Bob Savoie, Vince Quenneville Jr., Kenny Aanonsen, Don Mattison, Jeff Trombley.
SPORTSMAN: TIM HARTMAN, Tony Ballestero, Jim Becker, Mike Ballestero, Jason Herrington, Tom Proctor, Jack Gentile, Rich Ronca, Sput Shaw, John Harrison, Davis Peek, Frank Hoard Jr., Paul Cirincione, Randy Salisbury, Dan Ryan, Stan Lemiesz, Gary Gates, Terry Adams, Ray Martindale, Brent Lacoste, Brent Bouplon.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: JOE SANTORO, Rick French, Bob Schmidt, Adam Tranka, Matt Anatriello, Charlie Koenig, Mike Paquin, Carl Vladyka, Fred Little, Ed Pieniazek, Jigger Driscoll, Jeff Sukup, Steve Burega, Randy Brownell.
HOBBY A: KEN TOWNE, Mike Ostrander, Jim Monroe, Adam Stoddard, C.J. Brooks, Ray Michaud, Dan Daniels, Chris Reckner, Gary Michaud, Roy Fifield, Grant Rice, Bob Smith, Lori Carey, Pat Cram, John Morris Jr., Mike Tholin, Vinnie Santoro, Don Daniels, Ron Gregory.