Hotaling pulls off the upset

MALTA - The record book at Albany-Saratoga Speedway lists 31 drivers who have a single modified victory at the historic Malta track.

The list ranges from Winston Cup veteran Geoff Bodine, who made rare visits to the speedway during the 1970s, to journeymen like Bill Spaulding and Bob Ellis, who had everything fell into place on one night during their careers.

But the list no longer includes Randy Hotaling.

Hotaling finally broke a seven-year winless streak Friday night when he held off defending track champion Brett Hearn to win the 35-lap 358 modified feature at the speedway. Hotaling’s only other career victory came on May 5, 1996, which was also his first season in the modified division. During his sportsman career, he made eight trips to victory lane.

The win also broke a long drought for car owner Ralph Wade. The last time the Wade 99 was in victory lane was in 1999, when David Towns was behind the wheel.

Hotaling’s victory literally came out of nowhere. His only other top-five finish this season came on July 11, when he ran fifth.

But on Friday night, the Wade 99 was running perfectly, and it had to be, because Hearn was all over Hotaling during the last two laps of the feature.

Hotaling started sixth in the 23-car field, but used a caution on lap three to move up to second, and began to put the heat on leader Don Ackner, who had started on the pole.

Another yellow on lap eight, when Jack Johnson suffered a flat tire, set up a three-car battle between Ackner, Hotaling and Ken Tremont Jr., who has moved up quickly from his 11th starting position.

Hotaling was credited with leading lap eight, following the restart, but Ackner and Tremont both got by him the next time around.

Hotaling regained the No. 2 position on lap 10, dropping Tremont back to third, and on lap 15, Hotaling finally made the pass for the lead.

Dave Camara, who had started 16th, joined the lead pack at about the same time Hotaling took the lead, and with the field clicking off green flag lap after green flag lap, the fans were being treated to some wild racing.

Hearn, who had started 15th, didn’t get involved into the closing laps, but the Jet made it exciting. With two to go and Hotaling weaving through lapped traffic, Hearn stuck the nose of the Brioschi-sponsored small block right up against Hotaling’s door, but Hotaling wasn’t going to be intimidated. He cleared the lapped car of Frank Hoard Sr. and held off Hearn by about a car length.

Hearn crossed the finish line second, followed by Tremont, Camara and Ackner. The second six consisted of Gene Munger, Todd Ryan, Jack Johnson, Don Scarborough and Mike Ballestero.

Derrick McGrew made his debut in the John Kollar-owned small block a successful one, as he drove to his second career victory in the 20-lap sportsman feature, snapping Tim Hartman’s three-race winning streak in the process.

McGrew and Kollar hooked up two weeks ago, but didn’t get a chance to run on Aug. 1 because of a rainout. But McGrew showed what he can do in good equipment, dominating the feature and beating Hartman by over three seconds.

McGrew, a former crew member for Ronnie Johnson who began his racing career in the hobby stock division, notched his first win on Sept. 13 last year.

After using a heads-up starting format for most of the season, the sportsman went back to a regular handicapping procedure Friday night, which put McGrew sixth in the field, and Hartman 14th. McGrew only needed five laps before getting the lead away from Jack Swinton.

Hartman worked his way through the pack and moved into third on lap 12, but he then had his hands full with Dick Bisson, who battled with Hartman for the No. 2 position, using every inch of the speedway. That allowed McGrew to pull away for the easy win.

Hartman passed Bisson for second on the last lap. Erik Mack finished fourth, and Dan Bublac was fifth.

Rookie Roy Fifield picked up his second win of the season in the pro-street stock feature, taking the lead on lap 15 of the 20-lap feature and holding off Lori Cary at the finish. Butchie Irwin kept his hopes for the track championship alive with a third-place finish.

Jim Monroe Jr. won the hobby stock feature, his first victory since May, and Jeremy Brownell came away with his first win of the season in the cruiser division.

The night ended with a 50-lap enduro, won by Tom Glogowski.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action Friday night, holding its annual New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame Night. Many of the Hall of Famers will be in attendance at the speedway to sign autographs and meet with fans. All divisions will be in action, with racing starting at 7 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: RANDY HOTALING, Brett Hearn, Ken Tremont Jr., Dave Camara, Don Ackner, Gene Munger, Todd Ryan, Jack Johnson, Don Scarborough, Mike Ballestero, Mike Ronca, Ronnie Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, Jack Cottrell, Don Mattison, Scott Noel, Frank Hoard Sr., Mike Perrotte, Ray Hoard, Tom Proctor, Chuck Higley, Ron Proctor, Don Ronca.

SPORTSMAN: DERRICK MCGREW, Tim Hartman, Dick Bisson, Erik Mack, Dan Bublac, Joe Budka, Ken Anatriello, Jack Swinton, Neal Erickson, Rich Ronca, Jason Herrington, Brian McKenzie, Stan Lemiesz, John Lutes, Keith Flach, Jimmy Cottrell, Tony Ballestero, David Peek.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: ROY FIFIELD, Lori Cary, Butchie Irwin, Adam Tranka, Don Daniels, Bob Schmidt, Scott Duell, Joe Santoro, Mike Paquin, Carl Vladyka, Matt Anatriello, Cale Kneer, Steve Burega, Jamie Proctor, Jimmy Eaton, Dean Charbonneau, Vince Santoro, Dave Uline, Brian Holbritter, Henry Tanner, Bernie Companion, Chris Maxon.

HOBBY STOCKS: JIM MONROE JR., Byron Westcott, John Morris Jr., Jeff Monroe, Mike Tholin, John Laviolette, Chris Busta, Kevin Van Chance, Don Daniels, Dan Daniels, Tim Ippoliti, Kevin Sawyer, Jim Monroe III, Bob Smith, Keith Guilder, Brian Ashline, John Coon, Robert Ross.

CRUISERS: JEREMY BROWNELL, Matt Thomas, Jamie McCarthy, Joe Naccarato, Kevin Connors, Luke MacIsaac, Rich Mrzyglod, Chris Carrie, Brian Myers, Matt Corbiel, Keith Keller, Thomas Welch, Tracy Ashe, Dan Uber, Bill Bradley, Mike Minick, Chris Greene, Pete Jeske, Ben Durie, Brittany Ladd, Nick Wadman.