Hearn, Perrotte Split Twin 20s

MALTA - If there was ever any question about the effect of sail panels on a short-track small block, Brett Hearn answered them Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

With the Brioschi-sponsored small block decked out in sail panels for promoter Bruce Richards’ Night Of The Wild, Hearn charged from his 18th starting position to win the first half of the Twin 20s for 358 modifieds.

Mike Perrotte, the only other driver who has been able to get to victory lane with any consistency in the last year and a half, came back to win the second feature, posting his first victory of the season.

Hearn usually has to come from the rear of the field in the modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, but in a regular race, he has 35 laps to get to the front. So with only 20 laps to work with, there was some question if he had enough time to get through the field.

How’s this for a charge to the front? By lap six of the first feature, Hearn had already worked his way to the top six. The caution also flew on that lap, when Dave Camara, who was running second at the time, spun out. Using the restart, Hearn jumped to third by lap eight, passed Ron Proctor for second on lap nine, and took the lead away from polesitter and early leader Mike Ronca on lap 12.

From there, Hearn pulled away to a full straightaway lead as he picked up his third victory of the season, one week after being the first car out of the feature because of a wreck.

Hearn’s strong run overshadowed an impressive performance by Don Mattison. Mattison, a former sportsman campaigner, started seventh in the field, steadily moved to the front, and then held his line to grab the No. 2 position, his best finish ever in the 358 modified division.

Ken Tremont Jr. also made a big move, coming from 20th to finish third. He was followed by Proctor and Frank Hoard Sr.

Perrotte dominated the second 20-lapper. With the first 12 cars from the first feature being inverted for the start of the second event, Gene Munger found himself on the pole, with Perrotte sitting sixth. But by the end of the second lap, Perrotte already had the lead and no one was going to touch him, as the field quickly stretched out.

Although the win was the first of the year for Perrotte, it was his third since the beginning of the 2002 season. With Hearn dominating the competition at the speedway, Perrotte is the only other 358 driver who has been to victory lane more than once.

Munger came across the finish line second in the second 20-lapper, with Matt DeLorenzo third, Hoard fourth and Tremont fifth.

The sportsmen ran an extra five laps in their feature, but Tim Hartman didn’t really need the extra distance to notch his second straight victory.

Hartman and another veteran, John Bellinger, locked into a race-long battle for the lead. Bellinger grabbed the top spot on lap three, but Hartman kept stalking him until taking the lead on lap 21.

Bellinger refused to go away, but Hartman proved to have the stronger car in the closing laps, pulling away for a 2.539-second margin of victory. Erik Mack was right on Bellinger’s rear bumper for third, with Stan Lemiesz fourth and Rich Ronca fifth. But Bellinger was disqualifed after the feature, moving Mack to second and placing Dick Bisson fifth

Butchie Irwin, the newest convert to the CVRA Chevy spec engine program, posted his first career victory in the 30-lap pro-street stock feature. Taking advantage of a heads-up start, Irwin grabbed the lead on lap three and then frustrated Bob Schmidt to get the victory. Schmidt, who proved he could run just as fast as Irwin, finished second for the fourth consecutive week. He was followed by Adam Tranka, Lori Cary and Dean Charbonneau.

Mike Tholin nosed out John Morris Jr. for his first victory of the year in the 20-lap hobby stock feature. When the checkered flag dropped, Tholin’s margin of victory over Morris was 0.089 seconds, just a little more than the width of a front bumper. Byron Westcott and John Filarecki were right in the mix, finishing third and fourth, respectively. All four cars were less than a second apart at the finish line.

The cruisers were also in action Friday night, with Keith Wright picking up the victory in a six-cylinder, and Robert Ross getting the four-cylinder win.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action Friday night, holding the first Kids’ Night of the season. Activities will include kiddie rides and a number of giveaways. All divisions will be in action.

MODIFIED FIRST 20: BRETT HEARN, Don Mattison, Ken Tremont Jr., Ron Proctor, Frank Hoard Sr., Matt DeLorenzo, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Perrotte, Jack Johnson, Jack Cottrell, Scott Noel, Gene Munger, Dave Camara, Don Ackner, Tim Laduc, Randy Hotaling, Lance Harting, Todd Ryan, Dave Manny, Mike Ronca, Ray Hoard.

MODIFIED SECOND 20: MIKE PERROTTE, Gene Munger, Matt DeLorenzo, Frank Hoard Sr., Ken Tremont Jr., Jack Johnson, Brett Hearn, Scott Noel, Jack Cottrell, Ronnie Johnson, Ron Proctor, Don Mattison, Dave Camara, Don Ackner, Todd Ryan, Tim Laduc, Randy Hotaling, Ray Hoard, Lance Harting, Dave Manny.

SPORTSMAN: TIM HARTMAN, Erik Mack, Stan Lemiesz, Rich Ronca, Dick Bisson, Dan Bublak, Jack Swinton, David Peek, Ray Martindale, Jeff Sukup, Ken Anatriello, Neal Erickson, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Jim Meka, Mike Catone, Derrick McGrew, Keith Nichols, Jim Cottrell, Gary Gates, Jason Herrington, Mike Pinke, Joe Budka, Doug Sheely. DQ: John Bellinger

PRO-STREET STOCKS: BUTCHIE IRWIN, Bob Schmidt, Adam Tranka, Lori Cary, Dean Charbonneau, Steve Burega, Tom O’Connor, Henry Tanner, Jimmy Eaton, Walt Brownell, Charlie Koenig, Chris Maxon, Jason Brownell, Joe Santoro, Carl Vladyka, Matt Anatriello, Roy Fifield, Mike Wheeler, Cale Kneer, Randy Brownell, Don Daniels.

HOBBY STOCKS: MIKE THOLIN, John Morris Jr., Byron Westcott, John Filarecki, Bob Smith, Mike Carmen, Russ Farr, Adam Stoddard, Jim Monroe, Jeff Monroe, Jim Monroe, David Emigh, Chris Busta, Kevin Van Chance, Curtis Condon, Richard Burke, Dan Daniels.

CRUISERS: KEITH WRIGHT 6 cyl, ROBERT ROSS 4 cyl, Matt Thomas, Elmer Montville, David Kennedy, Luke MacIsaac, Kevin Connors, James McCarthy, Jason Pelton, Ken Wooley, Jon Atwell, Jeremy Brownell, Pete Jeske, Mike Minick, Bob Bublac Jr., Keith Keller, Matt Corbiel, No. 78, Amanda Clemens, Joe Naccarato, Brian Myers, Ben Durie.