Friday August 28, 2015 Results
Malta, NY – Kenny Tremont came from position 17 to pick up the Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified Mike Ronca Memorial event win at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. With the win and troubles by Brett Hearn, Tremont only has to start next week’s feature event to clinch his 13th track championship. The Ronca family put up bonus money for the event. In other action Jeremy Pitts (Sportsman), Walt Brownell (DIRTcar Pro Stocks), Zach Daurio (Limited Sportsman), Bill Duprey (Street Stocks) and Adam Pierson (DMB USAC Midget) all were victorious.
Mark Kislowski and Elmo Reckner led the Mike Ronca Memorial field to the green with Kislowski taking the lead over Reckner and Jimmy Cottrell. Jim Nagle spun in turn two on lap one to bring out the yellow. On the restart third place runner Jesse Mueller drove his machine into turn three hard and it didn’t stick, causing him to spin. When racing resumed Kislowski remained the leader with Reckner, Cottrell, Alex Bell and Rich Ronca following.
After ten laps the top five remained the same, however all eyes were on Brett Hearn and Kenny Tremont, Jr. Hearn moved to sixth on lap 11 with Tremont eighth by lap 13. Hearn quickly moved to fifth past Ronca. The yellow flag slowed the pace on lap 16 when Kris Vernold spun the Black and White Taxi number 97 on the back stretch.
When the field returned to the green Hearn made contact with the implement tire in turn two, ending his event and his hopes at the track championship. On the restart Kislowski held the lead with Reckner and Cottrell battling for second. Cottrell took second from Reckner on lap 18 and then a lap later the lead from Kislowski. Reckner moved past Kislowski for second on lap 20. Rob Pitcher slowed on lap 21, forcing a restart.
On the restart Reckner held the lead with Cottrell and Tremont following. Cottrell took the lead from Reckner on lap 23 using the top side. Tremont moved past Reckner for second on lap 24. On lap 25 Tremont took the lead from Cottrell. Tremont made his way through heavy traffic to take the win, his third win in the Ronca Memorial event. Cottrell finishes second with Reckner third, Don Ronca fourth and Kislowski fifth. With 30 Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modifieds in attendance, heat races were won by Cottrell, Kislowski and Reckner.
Jeremy Pitts won the 25 lap Sportsman feature event. Mike Ostrander and Andrew Buff led the field down to the green with the yellow flag coming out after a jingle in turn one. Current point’s leader Derrick McGrew was among those caught up in the incident. When racing got underway Buff held the race lead over Hunter Bates and Connor Cleveland. The yellow flag waved on lap three when David Schilling made contact with Rocky Warner, causing Warner to spin and collect others.
On the restart Buff took command with Bates and Pitts in pursuit. Connor Cleveland and Nick Lussier completed the top five. Lussier took fourth from Cleveland on lap eight with Nick Anatriello following past the Corinth driver for fifth a lap later. On lap ten McGrew and Warner were involved in an incident with both restarting in the rear. When racing resumed Buff still held the lead over Pitts and Bates. At the half way point the top three remained the same with Lussier and Anatriello rounding out the top five.
Pitts closed in on Buff on lap 15 and as the lap counter clicked lap 16 Pitts would take over the race lead. Meanwhile Dave Constantino took fifth from Anatriello. Constantino took fourth from Lussier on lap 20 and then third from Bates a lap later. That is as far as Constantino would get as he had to settle for third behind Pitts and Buff. Bates held on for fourth and Lussier fifth. A total of 31 Sportsman were on hand with heat races being won by Lussier, Bates and Pitts.
Walt Brownell picked up his first DIRTcar Pro Stock feature event win of his career. Todd Hoffman and Norm Loubier led the field to the green with Hoffman taking the early lead. Dave DePaulo took over the top spot on lap one with Hoffman falling back into the clutches of Jeff Washburn. Washburn moved past Hoffman for second on lap three. Justin Knight brought out the caution flag on lap three when he spun in turn four. After a jingle on the restart, Washburn would take over the top spot as DePaulo slipped back through the field.
Byron Wescott moved into second by lap five with Walt Brownell right behind him. Brownell took over the second spot on lap seven. Washburn continued to lead after a lap eight restart with Brownell all over him. On lap ten Brownell pulled alongside of Washburn and took the lead a lap later. In the end no one could catch Brownell who cruised home for the win over Washburn, Nick Stone, Kenny Martin and Wescott. Heat races for the 23 DIRTcar Pro Stocks were won by Bill Smith, Brownell and Loubier.
Adam Pierson won the 20 lap DMB USAC Midget event. The event was held in memory of Andy Fusco and John McCarthy and was part of the New England Race Fuels Triple Crown. Granby, Connecticut’s Dean Christensen grabbed the early lead with Scott Holcomb following. The driver on the moved was Pierson. Pierson took his car to the top side and got past both Christensen and Holcomb for the lead. Racing resumed following a caution on lap five with Pierson in the lead. Pierson quickly pulled away from the field. Seth Carlson took second from Christensen on lap nine and set his sights on a distant Pierson. The leaders pulled away and were never challenged. Pierson picked up the win over Carlson, Derek Graham, Brett Hearn and Christensen. A pair of heat races were run for the 24 cars on hand with wins going to Pierson and Carlson.
Zach Daurio won the 20 lap Limited Sportsman feature event. Nick Fretto held the early race lead until Rob Lanfear spun on the backstretch on lap two. When racing resumed Fretto held the lead until racing was slowed again, this time on lap four due to Matt Wescott spinning on the front stretch. On the restart Fretto continued to hold the race lead. Zach Daurio took the lead from Fretto on lap eight and began to pull away. In the end Daurio was able to pull away for the win over Fretto, Ken Conroy, Anthony Alger and Brandon Pitcher. The heat races for the 22 Limited Sportsman were won by Fretto, Pat Jones and Conroy.
Bill Duprey won the Street Stock feature event, his fourth win of the season. John Morris, Jr. held the early lead before giving way to Bill Duprey on lap three. At the half way point Duprey continued to lead with Randy Miller and Josh Coonradt following. Coonradt took over second from Miller just past half way and tried to close on Duprey. Coonradt slowed with a flat tire on lap 18 forcing the caution flag to wave. On the restart Duprey held the lead, an advantage he would hold until the end. Duprey picked up the win over Miller, Nathan Dahoda, Frank Monroe and Matt Mosher.
The Albany-Saratoga Speedway returns to action Friday evening September 4th with all divisions in action. It will be the final night of points for the Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modifieds and DIRTcar Pro Stocks. The Four Cylinders and the Featherfoot Pro Stock Series will also be on hand. Racing is set to begin at 7 pm with pit gates opening at 4 pm and grandstand gates opening at 5 pm. For more information about Albany-Saratoga Speedway please log on to www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com.