Bob Savoie Pilots New Car To Victory At Albany-Saratoga
Results for June 9 , 2000
MALTA - The combination of Groski, Teo and Savoie may sound like an
ambulance-chasing law firm, but it could also be a team to be reckoned with
this season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
Bob Savoie of Broadalbin, behind the wheel of the new Teo-Pro car owned
by Tim Groski and powered by a Groski-built motor, drove to a surprisingly
easy victory in the 35-lap modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Friday night. The win was the second of the season for Savoie, but the
first, which came on May 5, had been come in Savoie’s trusty old war wagon.
Savoie first debuted Groski’s new car on May 26, and the team quickly
found out the engine didn’t have enough power for the new chassis. So,
Savoie had his own car back at the speedway on June 2, while Groski tweaked
the motor to get more horsepower. What he did obviously worked, because
Savoie easily had the fastest car on the speedway Friday night.
Despite starting 14th, Savoie hugged the inside groove and was in the
top five after just seven laps. He then took the lead away from Ronnie
Johnson on the 13th lap, and cruised to his 31st career victory at the
speedway. The ease with which Savoie got by Johnson was impressive. When
Savoie got past Gene Munger to take over second on lap 10, Johnson had a
relatively comfortable lead.
But Savoie quickly reeled him in. Not only did Savoie reel Johnson in,
he also netted him and filleted him in a three-lap dash that put Savoie up
front for good. The first 17 laps were run under green, which helped
Savoie, but hindered both Ken Tremont Jr. and Dave Camara, who were trapped
behind some side-by--side racers in the middle of the pack.
But the yellows started to come out on lap 18, when Dave Manny spun off
the front stretch with a flat tire. The next time around, Jim Ryan also
suffered a flat tire, and on lap 23, Chuck Higley and Eddie Maxon went
around after a game of bumper tag in the second turn.
The cautions proved to be a big help to both Tremont and Camara. Tremont
charged forward and got past Johnson on lap 34 to finish second, his first
top-five finish since May 12. Johnson then held off Camara by a matter of
inches at the finish line for third, with Camara fourth and Gene Munger
fifth.
But no one as going to touch Savoie and the Groski-powered Teo. The
second five consisted of Jack Cottrell, Mike Ronca, Ron Proctor, Tim LaDuc
and Don Ackner. Vince Quenneville Jr., who was looking for his third
straight win, could only manage a 15th-place finish.
Tony Ballestero became the first two-time winner in the sportsman
division, easily winning the 20-lap feature, which was run caution-free.
Gary Gates, who had started on the front row, hung on for second, with Mike
Ballestero third. rookie Lucas Baker fourth and Tom Proctor fifth.
Mike Emhof won the exciting 15-lap Central New York Mini-Sprint feature,
which was the beginning of the three-race CVRA Challenge Cup. Emhof first
got the lead on lap 9, swinging around Peter Sindt, but Sindt kept his foot
in the throttle, and got the top spot back two laps later. But Emhof
regained the lead on lap 13, when Sindt got trapped behind a lapped car. A
yellow with two laps to go proved to be costly to Sindt. On the restart, his
left rear wheel flew off and went bouncing down the backstretch. Paul James
then drove over the wheel and went into a wild flip in the third turn. When
racing resumed, Emhof took the checkered flag ahead of Tim Smythe and Jim
Van Steenburg. Paul Peworchik was fourth, with Anthony Cain fifth.
Fred Little drove to his first win of the season in the 20-lap
pro-street stock race, and left the infield billboards intact. The previous
week, Little had been battling for the lead on the final lap when he spun
out and went careening into the infield, taking down a number of billboards.
But on Friday, Little had the race well in hand, beating Phil Sherman and
Ernie Grenier to the finish line.
Jason Armer, who transferred from the B main, drove to his third win of
the year in the hobby stock division while Bill Marshall and W. John Smith
were victorious in the two cruiser features.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action Friday night on Kids
Night. In addition to stock cars for all children in attendance, a number of
prizes will also be given away. An enduro will be added to the regular
racing card.
MODIFIEDS: BOB SAVOIE, Ken Tremont Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Dave Camara, Gene
Munger, Jack Cottrell, Mike Ronca, Ron Proctor, Tim LaDuc, Don Ackner, Todd
Ryan, Don Scarborough, Brian McKenzie, Mike Perrotte, Vince Quenneville Jr.,
Ken Aanonsen, Hector Stratton, Jim Ryan, Eddie Maxon, Scott Noel, Jerry
Pennock Jr., Chuck Higley, Jeff Betit, Dave Manny.
SPORTSMAN: TONY BALLESTERO, Gary Gates, Mike Ballestero, Lucas Baker, Tom
Proctor, Don Mattison, Jim Becker, Tim Hartman, Sput Shaw, Dan Ryan, Rich
Ronca, Ray Martindale, Ken McGuire, Doug Sheely, Jim Davis.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: FRED LITTLE, Phil Sherman, Ernie Grenier, Mike Paquin,
John Fitzgerald, Dean Charbonneau, Adam Tranka, David Cook, Matt Rich,
Charlie Koenig, Bernie Companion, Dan O’Connor, Bob Gile, Jeff Sukup, Matt
Anatriello, Chis Maxon, Kelly Williamson, Dave Uline, Randy Brownell, Dan
Madigan, Al Hunger, Walt Brownell, Joe Santoro.
HOBBY A MAIN: JASON ARMER, Rob Muscanell, Jim Monroe, Ken Town, Gary
Michaud, Adam Stoddard, David Peck, Jeff Assman, Dave Perretta, Dan Daniels,
Mike Tholin, John Morris Jr., Don Daniels, Mike Marsche, Jeff Daubert, Steve
Vrooman.
HOBBY B MAIN: MIKE MARSCHE, Jason Armer, Curt Condon, Todd Dunston, Dan Lee,
Keith Nichols, Ron Tollner, Bill McDonald, Kevin Sawyer, C.J. Brooks.
FOUR-CYLINDER CRUISERS: BILL MARSHALL, Mitch Gaies, Mike Clark, Pete Knapp,
Dave Kennedy, No. 84, Gene Brownell, Randy Rathbun, Jim Monroe Jr.
SIX-CYLINDER CRUISERS: W JOHN SMITH, Jeff Monroe, Rick Mrzyglod, Roy Fifield
Chris Busta, Jon Atwell, Randy Manhey, Tony Condon, Tracy Newkirk, Dan Uber,
Ron Earfrato.