Hearn Wins Malta Opener

MALTA - Early-season results based on heads-up starts are never really a good gauge to assess the remainder of the season, but if opening night at Albany-Speedway Saratoga is any indication, Brett Hearn is going to be even better than last year.

Coming off the front row, Hearn led every lap to pick up the victory in the 35-lap 358 modified feature Friday night as Albany-Saratoga Speedway jumped right into the 2003 campaign with both feet.

About the only difference between Hearn’s Friday night victory and the majority of his wins during the 2002 season was the presence of Jack Johnson, who holds the Albany-Saratoga Speedway record for career victories. Johnson, who finally has some real power under the hood of the Witz Roofing 12A, started third and ran with Hearn every step of the way, even taking the lead twice off restarts during the course of the 35-lap feature.

But the engine in the Brioschi 20 is no slouch, either, and Hearn never let Johnson get the lead when it counted.

Jumpin’ Jack still hasn’t committed to running a full schedule at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, hinting that he might hit the road when the summer small block series begins, and if he has to chase the rear bumper of the Brioschi 20 every Friday night, that decision to hit the road may be a little easier to make.

But pride could also be the deciding factor. Hearn’s victory on Friday night was the 47th of his career. He sits second on the track’s all-time win list, behind Johnson, who has 80, and the last thing Johnson wants to do is drop to No. 2 on that list.

Like many opening night shows, the Crank It Up feature at Albany-Saratoga was plagued by a number of cautions and accidents. The new frontstretch wall claimed its first victims, as both Jack Cottrell and Don Mattison lost tests with the new concrete.

And Dave Camara got off to another miserable start, wrecking two cars in the same accident.

Gene Munger, Camara’s Vermont hunting buddy, blew the motor in his car earlier in the night, and hitched a ride in Camara’s backup car, a new Teo, for the feature, while Camara drove his regular Camara Slate small block.

But on lap five, Camara got crossed up and wound up sideways on the race track. Munger had nowhere to go, and plowed right into Camara’s car, putting the new Teo on its roof.

While Hearn and Johnson were controlling the race from the point, Ken Tremont Jr. was putting on a show of his own. After finishing sixth in his heat race, Tremont started 18th in the feature, but climbed all the way to third at the end of the 35-lap event.

Todd Ryan came across the finish line fourth, with Ray Hoard fifth.

Completing the top 10 were Matt DeLorenzo, Ron Proctor, Mike Perrotte, Randy Hotaling and Don Ackner.

It was a good night all around for defending track champions, as 2002 king Carl Vladyka came off the front row and picked up the victory in the 25-lap pro-street stock feature.

Joe Santoro set the pace for the first 15 laps, but Vladyka then got the lead, and pulled away to an easy victory, beating Bob Schmidt by 1.4 seconds.

Lori Cary had an impressive debut in her first race in the division. Graduating from the hobby stock class and getting assistance from veteran Fred Little, Cary finished third. Ed Thompson was fourth and Butchie Irwin, who has joined the ranks at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season, was fifth.

Jeff Washburn drove to his first career victory in the hobby stock feature, holding off a strong challenge from Mike Tholin. At the finish, Washburn was about a bumper in front, winning by 0.085 seconds, and Jim Monroe was right with Tholin for third, creating the best finish of the night.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action Friday night with its annual Spring Green. All divisions will be in action, with the sportsmen and the cruisers joining the modifieds, pro-street stocks and hobby stocks. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Jack Johnson, Ken Tremont Jr., Todd Ryan, Ray Hoard, Matt DeLorenzo, Ron Proctor, Mike Perrotte, Randy Hotaling, Don Ackner, Frank Hoard Sr., Derrick McGrew, Dave Manny, Doug Sheely, David Peek, Mike Ballestero, Stan Lemiesz, John Bellinger, Wayne Jelley, Jack Cottrell, Rich Ronca, Don Mattison, Dave Camara, Ronnie Johnson, Gene Munger.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: CARL VLADYKA, Bob Schmidt, Lori Cary, Ed Thompson, Butchie Irwin, Don Daniels, Steve Burega, Tom O’Connor, Matt Anatriello, Joe Santoro, Charlie Koenig, Cale Kneer, Walt Brownell, Jason Brownell, Adam Tranka, Vince Santoro, Jay Fitzgerald, Dean Charbonneau, Mike Wheeler, Brian Holbritter.

HOBBY STOCKS: JEFF WASHBURN, Mike Tholin, Jim Monroe, David Daniels, Chris Busta, John Filarecki, John Morris Jr., Jim Monroe, Bob Smith, Rusty Palmateer, Dave Perretta, Adam Stoddard, Jody Davis, Jeff Monroe, Don Daniels, Dan Daniels, Fred Harris, Byron Westcott.