MALTA - When two veteran drivers start near the front of a feature, it’s obvious they’ve been having some problems, and it’s also obvious that only one of them is going to be happy when the feature is over. Mike Perrotte broke out of his early-season slump at Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night, holding off Dave Camara in the 35-lap feature to record his first victory of the season.
But Perrotte’s win also extended Camara’s frustration, as the defending track champion just can’t hit on all cylinders. Perrotte started third in the field, and Camara started fifth, unusual starting positions for veterans of their caliber. But that’s been the story at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season, where just getting into the modified feature on a Friday night has become a challenge.
Ron Dwyer came off his front-row starting position to lead the first five laps, with Perrotte in tow, but when Dwyer slipped high in the third turn on the sixth lap, Perrotte shot through the opening, and got the lead. Brian McKenzie brought out the first caution on lap eight, spinning in the front straightaway after making contact with Dwyer in the battle for third. That restart allowed Camara to put his Camara Slate-sponsored Teo-Pro car into second place, and he and Perrotte then started a door-to-door battle that lasted for the rest of the feature.
While Perrotte and Camara were battling for the lead, Ken Tremont Jr. was coming from the middle of the pack and had moved up to fourth by lap 15. He then began his own little battle with Andy Bachetti, who was looking for his second straight win. Restarts on lap 21 and lap 29 gave Camara two opportunities to get past Perrotte’s Adirondack Auto-sponsored car, and each time, Camara looked to be quicker when the green flag fell. But Perrotte, running the faster top line around the race track, only needed a lap or two each time to rebuild his momentum, forcing Camara to settle for second.
Bachetti, who looks like he’s going to be a contender for the modified point championship at Malta, brought the Four Star Transmission car across the finish line third, just ahead of Tremont’s Freihofer-sponsored Troyer machine. Fifth place went to Jack Cottrell’s Kendall-sponsored ride. Completing the top 10 were Jack Johnson, Ron Proctor, Brett Hearn, who had been forced to qualify through the consolation race after blowing a tire in his heat, Vince Quenneville Jr. and Matt DeLorenzo.
Mike Ballestero came away with his first victory of the season in the 20-lap sportsmanfeature, pulling away for an easy win over Jimmy Becker and Tim Hartman.
Rick French was first under the checkered flag in the 20-lap pro-street stock main event, taking the lead away from Bob Smith with just two laps to go.
The IMCA modifieds made their second appearance of the season at Malta, with George Catanzano getting his second win in as many tries, and Vince Santoro drove to his first win of the season in the hobby stock feature.
Also notching wins on Friday night were Dave Kennedy (four-cylinder cruisers) and John Richter (four-cylinder cruisers).
Albany-Saratoga will be hosting its double point Spring Championships on Friday night, with all divisions in action. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.
MODIFIED FINISH: MIKE PERROTTE, Dave Camara, Andy Bachetti, Ken Tremont Jr., Jack Cottrell, Jack Johnson, Ron Proctor, Brett Hearn, Vince Quenneville Jr., Matt DeLorenzo, Tim Laduc, Todd Ryan, Gene Munger, Bob Savoie, J.R. Heffner, Don Scarborough, Andy Romano, Brian McKenzie, Ron Dwyer, Tony Pepicelli, Mike Ronca, Scott Noel, Frank Hoard Sr., Kenny Aanonsen, Ray Hoard, Wayne Jelley.
SPORTSMAN: MIKE BALLESTERO, Jim Becker, Tim Hartman, Tom Proctor, Tony Ballestero, Frank Hoard Jr., John Bellinger, Paul Cirincione, Gary Gates, Ricky Davis, Sput Shaw, John Harrison, Stan Lemiesz, Randy Salisbury, Derrick McGrew, Jason Herrington, Brent Lacoste, Dick Bisson, Rich Ronca, Jack Gentile, David Peek, Mike Boomhower.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: RICK FRENCH, Bob Smith, Charlie Koenig, Carl Vladyka, Fred Little, Adam Tranka, Jeff Sukup, Ed Pieniazek, Mike Paquin, Chris Maxon, Steve Burega, Randy Brownell, Joe Santoro, David Shippee, Matt Anatriello.
HOBBY STOCKS: VINCE SANTORO, Dave Cook, Don Daniels, Jim Monroe, Glen Evans, Mike Tholin, Mike Traylor, Gary Michaud, Roy Fifield, Dan Daniels,
C.J. Brooks, Jim Mabb, Dave Daniels, Ray Michaud, Brad Breel, Adam Stoddard, Ken Town, Mike Ostrander.
IMCA MODIFIEDS: GEORGE CATANZANO, Chris Crews, Travis Stevens, Cory Fachini, Joey Williams, Pete Knapp, Bud Hernberg, Bobby Banks, Keith Ackerknecht.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: JOHN RICHTER, Jim Monroe, Jon Atwell, Mitch Gaies, Chuck Gauthier, Mike Burdo, Charlie Stoddard, Dan Uber, Stan Durie, Elmer Montville.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: DAVE KENNEDY, Chris Busta, Ron Earfrato, Foster Ribseman, W. Jon Smith, Luke MacIsaac, Tim Pelech, Jeff Monroe.