MALTA - The Green Mountain Boys have started their annual occupation of Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Vince Quenneville, Jr. of West Haven, Vt., and Frank Hoard Jr. of Manchester, Vt. picked up their first victories of the season Sunday afternoon at the historic Malta track.
Quenneville used a restart to get the lead and drove to an easy victory in the 35-lap modified feature and Hoard recorded his first career victory at the track in the 20-lap sportsman feature. The hot, breezy day created a very tricky racing surface and dusty conditions that truly tested the skill of the drivers in all divisions. But Quenneville and Hoard seemed to have no problem finding the fastest way around the track.
Quenneville, who started third in the modified feature, sat just off the pace as pole-sitter Don Mattison ran out on the point for the first 10 laps, with Jeff Trombley doing a shadow act on the leader. A yellow flag came out on the 11th lap for debris on the track, which allowed Trombley to get the jump on the restart and move into the lead.
But that restart proved a point. The outside was the best place to be on restarts, and when the next yellow flew, Trombley knew he was in trouble. That yellow came out on lap 15 when Ron Proctor spun in the second turn, collecting Ken Tremont Jr., Frank Hoard and Brett Hearn. Proctor would return, but Tremont, Hoard and Hearn were done for the day.
So was Trombley’s lead. Quenneville got the jump on the restart, and never looked back. Trombley had to settle for second, with Bob Savoie third in the Tim Groski-owned Little Joe’s-sponsored small block. Jim Ryan finished fourth and Todd Ryan was fifth.
The return of the Hoard Racing Team to the CVRA proved to be a good move for Frank Hoard Jr., who had no problem pulling away from defending point champion Tom Proctor to get his first career victory at Malta. The Hoards had spent the last couple of seasons racing at Fonda Speedway, but will be regulars at Albany-Saratoga and Devil’s Bowl this season.
Fred Little, the overall CVRA pro-street stock champion in 2000, picked up where he left off with a victory in the 20-lap feature. Rick French came across the finish line second, but was penalized for making contact with Steve Burega with one lap to go as they battled for second. That put Joe Santoro second, with Chris Maxon third, Burega fourth and Mike Paquin fifth.
The IMCA modifieds made their first appearance of the season at the speedway, and George Catanzano dominated the small field of cars.
Dave Daniels won the hobby stock feature, Mitch Gaies took the checkered flag in the four-cylinder cruiser division and Dave Kennedy was the first car across the finish line in the six-cylinder cruiser feature.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will return to its regular Friday night schedule this week, with racing beginning at 7 p.m. All divisions will be in action.
MODIFIEDS: VINCE QUENNEVILLE JR., Jeff Trombley, Bob Savoie, Jim Ryan, Todd Ryan, Ron Dwyer, Jack Cottrell, Gene Munger, Jason Becker, Matt DeLorenzo, Mike Perrotte, Brian McKenzie, Scott Noel, J.R. Heffner, Ron Proctor, Dave Camara, Don Scarborough, Tim Laduc, Don Mattison, Brett Hearn, Ken Tremont, Frank Hoard.
SPORTSMAN: FRANK HOARD JR., Tom Proctor, David Peek, Jason Herrington, Tim Hartman, Jim Becker, Mike Ballestero, Sput Shaw, Gary Gates, Jack Gentile, Brent Lacoste, Mike Boomhower, Tony Ballestero, Stan Lemiesz, Brent Bouplon, Bob Matthews, John Harrison, Elmo Reckner, Dan Ryan, Paul Cirincione, Rich Ronca.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: FRED LITTLE, Joe Santoro, Chris Maxon, Steve Burega, Mike Paquin, Carl Vladyka, Kelly Williamson, Adam Tranka, Jack Swinton, Randy Brownell, Charlie Koenig, Bob Schmidt, Matt Anatriello, Ed Pieniazek, Todd Burch, Tigger Driscoll.
HOBBY STOCKS: DAVE DANIELS, Mike Tholin, Gary Michaud, Ken Town, Dan Daniels, Grant Rice, Mike Ostrander, John Donnelly, Cliff Brooks, Chris Reckner, Glen Evans, Adam Stoddard, Fred Harris, Roy Fifield, John Morris Jr., Vinnie Santoro, Randy Alger, Don Daniels.
IMCA MODIFIEDS: GEORGE CATANZANO, Cory Fachini, Chris Crews, Steve Hough, Butch Irwin, Joey Williams, Lou Gancarz, Pete Knapp.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: DAVE KENNEDY, Jeff Monroe, Chris Busta, W. John smith, Foster Ribseman, Tim Pelech, Ron Gregory, Ron Earfrato.
FOUR CYLINDER CRUISERS: MITCH GAIES, Mike Carmen, Jim Monroe Jr., John Van Chance, Dan Uber, Mike Burdo, Charlie Stoddard, Chuck Gauthier, Jon Atwell, John Ritcher.