MALTA - Brett Hearn was like the third man in a fight at Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night. First, he watched Frank Hoard Sr. and Don Scarborough wear each other out, then he stepped in and sucker-punched both of them. Hearn got the lead away from Hoard with five laps left and went on to win Friday night’s 35-lap modified feature, becoming the first repeat winner at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season.
The feature was run caution free, which made Hearn’s job that much harder, but he easily put the Brioschi-sponsored small block back into victory lane for the second straight week. The win was the 35th of Hearn’s career at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, giving him sole possession of third place on the all-time win list, behind Jack Johnson and C.D. Coville.
Thirteen was the lucky number early in the race, as Brian McKenzie came off the pole in his 13M to lead the first nine laps, but Hoard, driving the 13H, was never far behind. Neither was Scarborough and the Brandon Bandit and Hoard soon put on a show that had the crowd, which included legend Bill Wimble and a number of other New York State Stock Car Association members, on their feet.
McKenzie soon developed a push, and on lap 10, both Hoard and Scarborough shot through a hole on the inside, dropping McKenzie to third. Two laps later, McKenzie pulled into the pits and was done for the night. But Hoard and Scarborough were far from done. With Hearn, who had started eighth, sitting third and watching the show, the two Vermont drivers battled for the lead.
While Hoard hugged the inside guard rail, Scarborough kept switching lanes, looking for a place to pass. Because the race went caution free, they eventually got into lapped traffic, and that’s when Scarborough made his move. On lap 27, Hoard had to check up for the lapped car of Ron Proctor, and Scarborough ducked to the inside of the second turn, getting the lead going down the backstretch.
But with Proctor still on the inside, both Scarborough and Hoard went into turn four hard, and made contact, with Hoard running into the rear of Scaborough’s car. As Scarborough battled to keep his car under control, Hoard went back into the lead, and Hearn, figuring he had waited long enough, moved into second. Hearn then moved the Brioschi car to the top of the track and passed Hoard with five laps to go to get the win.
Scarborough and Hoard continued their battle after the checkered flag came out, with Scarborough steering his car into Hoard’s on a number of occasions as they went around the track on the cool down lap. That resulted in Scarborough’s disqualification for rough riding.
Hoard’s runner-up performance was his best finish since a second-place run to Bob Savoie on Aug. 16, 1991. With Scarborough’s DQ, Dave Camara moved up to third, with Jack Cottrell fourth and Andy Bachetti fifth.
Tim Hartman, who won on opening day, finally made his way back to victory lane in the 20-lap sportsman feature. Hartman battled with Jimmy Becker before getting the lead on lap 15, one lap after he had bounced off the concrete barrier in the second turn when he had tried to snake through a hole on the inside. Mike Ballestero got up for second, with John Bellinger third, Frank Hoard Sr. fourth and Becker slipping back to fifth.
Bob Smith picked up his first win of the season in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature, holding off a persistent challenge from Rick French to get the victory.
Gary Michaud broke a long winless streak with a victory in the hobby stock feature. The story of the race was a strong run by Lori Carey, who came from the middle of the pack to challenge for the lead. But on the final lap, she got sideways coming out of the second turn and spun into the infield, dropping back to 14th in the final running order.
The other winners Friday night were W. Jon Smith and Jim Monroe Jr. in the cruiser divisions features.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will celebrate the 4th of July holiday with a fireworks display and a 40-lap open pro-stock race Friday night. All other CVRA divisions will also be in action, with racing beginning at 7 p.m.
MODIFIED FINISH: BRETT HEARN, Frank Hoard Sr., Dave Camara, Jack Cottrell, Andy Bachetti, Scott Noel, Tim Laduc, Ken Tremont Jr., Don Ackner, Todd Ryan, Mike Ronca, Jason Becker, Gene Munger, Jim Ryan, J.R. Heffner, Mike Perrotte, Matt DeLorenzo, Don Mattison, Vince Quenneville Jr., Ron Proctor, Chuck Higley, Jack Johnson, Brian McKenzie. DQ: Don Scarborough.
SPORTSMAN: TIM HARTMAN, Mike Ballestero, John Kollar, Frank Hoard Jr., Jimmy Becker, Jack Gentile, Gary Gates, Jason Herrington, Paul Cirincione, Tony Ballestero, David Peek, Sput Shaw, Stan Lemiesz, Ricky Davis, Joe Conroy, Ray Martindale, Derrick McGrew, Randy Salisbury, Rich Ronca, Brent Bouplon, Dick Bisson, Elmo Reckner, Tom Proctor, Mike Boomhower.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: BOB SMITH, Rick French, Adam Tranka, Matt Anatriello, Dan Madigan, Steve Burega, Mike Paquin, Joe Santoro, William Smith, Randy Brownell, Chris Maxon, Jason Brownell, Tigger Driscoll, Brian Holbritter, Carl Vladyka, Ed Pieniazek, Walt Brownell.
HOBBY STOCKS: Gary Michaud, Mike Ostrander, Dan Daniels, Dave Daniels, Jim Monroe, Chris Reckner, Fred Harris, Grant Rice, John Filarecki, Mike Tholin, Roy Fifield, Bob Schmidt, Ron Tollner, Lori Carey, Vince Santoro, Adam Stoddard, John Morris Jr., John Donnelly.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: JIM MONROE JR, Mitch Gaies, John Richter, Mike Burdo, Mike Carmen, Jon Atwell, Chuck Gauthier, Don Minick, Dan Uber, Bill Lehman, Kevin Van Chance, Joe Naccarato, Jason Duncan, Charlie Stoddard.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: W. JON SMITH, Chris Busta, Jeff Monroe, Ron Earfrato, Dave Kennedy, Luke MacIsaac, Foster Ribseman.