Camara earns third victory

MALTA - It’s easy for Dave Camara to see the difference between his 2002 season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and the 2003 campaign.

Last year, Camara was the victim of bad luck. This year, he’s taking advantage of bad luck - to other drivers.

Sitting second and putting pressure on Todd Ryan, Camara got the break he needed when Ryan slipped off the backstretch with three laps to go, allowing Camara to go on and record his third victory of the season in the 35-lap 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night.

Ryan, who hasn’t had a victory at Albany-Saratoga Speedway since June 29, 2001, couldn’t even get a good finish. The slip off the backstretch was caused by a flat tire, which knocked Ryan out for good on lap 33. Instead of a win or a top-five finish, he limped away 17th in the field.

The run of bad luck that Camara suffered through last year has been handed to Brett Hearn this season. Hearn was the first car out of the feature Friday night, credited with four laps completed and a 24th-place finish. Hearn made contact with another car early in the feature, and pulled the Madsen Motorsports small block into the pits to replace a flat tire on lap five. But after one more lap on the track, he pulled in for good, as the damage that had resulted in the flat tire extended to the rear end of the car. Hearn has been to victory lane four times this season, but he’s had nearly as many DNFs.

Ryan and Ron Proctor brought the field to the initial green flag, with Ryan jumping right onto the point. Hearn, who had started 18th, had the Brioschi-sponsored small block humming early in the race, and had picked up a number of spots before his night ended prematurely.

Ken Tremont Jr. and Camara, who had started 14th and 16th, respectively, were also on the move early, and when you saw one car, you saw the other, as they were coming through traffic together.

But many of the fans were watching veteran Jack Johnson. Still looking for his first win of the year, Johnson had started 10th in the field, and by lap 10, had already broken into the top five.

Ray Hoard, energized by a win at Devil’s Bowl the previous week, grabbed the lead away from Ryan on lap 12, but Ryan then used a restart on lap 20 to regain the No. 1 position. The battle between Hoard and Ryan had the crowd on its feet, as Hoard would get the lead coming out of turn two each time around, but Ryan would jockey back in front coming out of turn four.

Johnson was sitting just off the pace in the Witz Roofing small block, and on lap 28, finally moved around Hoard for second. The next time around, Camara dropped Hoard another position, setting the stage for a wild finish.

One lap after taking over second, Camara watched Ryan slide off the backstretch, and rocketed by to get the win. Johnson came across the finish line second, making the third time this season he’s finished in the runner-up position. Matt DeLorenzo finished third, followed by Hoard and Don Scarborough.

Gene Munger, Ronnie Johnson, Tremont, Proctor and Don Ackner completed the top 10.

Jason Herrington, having one of his best seasons ever at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, drove to his first win of the year in the 20-lap sportsman feature. Coming off the outside of the front row by virtue of the heads-up start, Herrington grabbed the lead on lap five and went on to defeat point leader Tim Hartman by just 0.251 seconds.

John Bellinger finished third, with polesitter Jimmy Cottrell fourth and Derrick McGrew fifth. The fourth-place finish by Cottrell was his first top-five performance of the season.

Carl Vladyka, back on track after struggling through the month of May, drove to his third win of the season in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature. Vladyka won the opening day feature on April 25, but then didn’t even hit the top five again until getting win No. 2 on May 30. But now it seems like he’s the car to beat at the historic Malta track in the pro-street stock division.

Henry Tanner III was second, his best finish of the season, while Joe Santoro was third, Chris Maxon fourth and Butchie Irwin fifth.

Byron Westcott came away with his second win of the year in the hobby stock feature, easily outrunning Bob Smith and Jeff Monroe, and Keith Wright recorded his fourth win of the season in the cruiser division.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action on Friday, July 4, with a $10-a-carload night. Sportsman, hobby stocks and cruisers will all be running extra distance races, and the night will include a holiday fireworks display. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: DAVE CAMARA, Jack Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, Ray Hoard, Don Scarborough, Gene Munger, Ronnie Johnson, Ken Tremont Jr, Ron Proctor, Don Ackner, Scott Noel, Mike Ballestero, Donny Corellis, Dave Manny, Tom Proctor, Mike Perrotte, Todd Ryan, Chuck Higley, Frank Hoard Sr., Jack Cottrell, Don Mattison, Tim Laduc, Randy Hotaling, Brett Hearn.

SPORTSMAN: JASON HERRINGTON, Tim Hartman, John Bellinger, Jimmy Cottrell, Derrick McGrew, Dan Bublak, Neal Erickson, Doug Sheely, Erik Mack, John Harrison, Bill Cody, Jeff Sukup, Stan Lemiesz, Rich Salisbury, Ray Martindale, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Dick Bisson, Fred Proctor, Keith Nichols, Jack Swinton, Rich Ronca, Ken Anatriello, David Peek, Gary Gates.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: CARL VLADYKA, Henry Tanner III, Joe Santoro, Chris Maxon, Butchie Irwin, Bob Schmidt, Steve Burega, Freddie Little, Adam Tranka, Brian Holbritter, Vince Santoro, Cale Kneer, Jimmy Eaton, Don Daniels, Tom O’Connor, Bernie Companion, Walt Brownell, Buddy Hencke, Randy Brownell.

HOBBY STOCKS: BYRON WESTCOTT, Bob Smith, Jeff Monroe, John Filarecki, Mike Tholin, Chris Busta, John Coon, Dan Daniels, Adam Stoddard, Kevin Van Chance, Thomas Pierce, Keith Guilder, John Morris Jr., Tim Ippoliti, Jim Monroe III, Curtis Condon, Jim Monroe Jr., Pat Cram.

CRUISERS: KEITH WRIGHT, Brian Myers, Luke MacIsaac, Jeremy Brownell, DAVID KENNEDY, Jon Atwell, Kevin Connors, Joe Naccarato, James McCarthy, Keith Keller, Ed Mason, John Sullivan, Robert Bublac Jr., Brittany Ladd, Pete Jeske, David LaBarge, Matt Corbiel, Amanda Clemens, Emerson Ostrander, Rich Mrzyglod, Mike Minick, Harold Clothier, John Van Chance, Ron Zagata, Mitch Cranston.