Hearn continues hot streak


MALTA - The hot summer weather is obviously making the cream rise to the top at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Brett Hearn, who won three of four 358 modified features at the Malta track during the month of June, wasn’t affected by the change of the month, as he recorded his fifth victory of the season in Friday night’s 35-lap modified feature at the historic Malta oval.

Hearn has now won the last three modified features at Albany-Saratoga, and appears to be on another of his summer odysseys, where he dominates the competition, no matter where he races.

Following Hearn’s pattern of domination are Tim Clemons in the Line-X Modified division, and defending track champion Butchie Irwin in the Amsoil pro-street class. Clemons put the Mike Parillo-owned No. 17 in victory lane for the fourth time this season, and Irwin drove to his sixth win of the year in the pro-street stock feature.

It looks like the battle lines have been drawn. Anyone hoping to win a track championship at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season will have one of the Big Three to contend with.

Hearn’s victory spoiled one of the best runs of the season by defending track champion Kenny Tremont Jr. Top-five finishes have been very scarce for Tremont this year, but on Friday night, he seemed to have everything working perfectly.

Because of his run of bad finishes, Tremont started eighth in the 358 modified field and only needed 10 laps to move past Mike Perrotte, who started on the outside pole, into the lead. Running clean and green, Tremont was able to get some breathing room, but all eyes were already on Hearn, who had started 15th and who was slicing his way through the field at ease.

Hearn moved into the No. 2 position on lap 22 and then began working on Tremont, finally making the pass for the lead on lap 28.

Tremont had another battle to face, as Jack Johnson was making a late charge. Johnson pushed the Witz Roofing small block into second with four laps to go, but there was no chance at catching Hearn, who finished with a 0.718 second margin of victory. The finish was a repeat of the recent CVRA vs. The World, when Hearn and Jumpin’ Jack crossed the finish line 1-2.

Tremont was third Friday night, the first time he’s cracked the top three this season. Jack Cottrell came across the line fourth while Ronnie Johnson was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Matt DeLorenzo, Don Scarborough, A.J. Romano, Perrotte and Gene Munger.

Fifteen must have been the magic number Friday night, as Clemons also started 15th in the Line-X Modified feature. But he got to the front even quicker than Hearn did, putting the Parillo No. 17 on the point following a restart on lap eight.

Neal Erickson, who had started fifth, tried to stay with Clemons, but was little more than a spectator as Clemons pulled away to a 1.810 second victory. Erickson ran a steady race to finish second, his best performance of the season, while Tim Hartman was third. Keith Flach crossed the line fourth, his first top-five finish of the season, and Erik Mack was fifth.

Irwin and his Chevy spec engine once again dominated the Amsoil pro-street stock field. Irwin and Joe Santoro started side-by-side in the fourth row, and that was the battle for the entire 20 laps, as the two cars stuck together like they were magnetized. But Irwin finally got the crate engine cranked up in the closing laps, and beat Santoro to the finish line by over two seconds.

They were followed by Jimmy Eaton, Robert Langevin and Dean Charbonneau.

The only division that saw any kind of an upset was the Rentway Limited class, where Chris Busta finally lost a race. Busta, who has been the subject of numerous protests after winning six of the first nine races, dropped out of Friday night’s feature with three laps to go, after making his way up to third.

The win went to Jim Monroe, his second victory of the season, as he finished with a big lead over John Morris Jr. and Byron Westcott.

Elmer Montville recorded his third victory of the year in the Pro-Built Mini-Stock division. For the first time this season, the six-cylinders and the four-cylinders ran together, with sixes occupying the top four spots. Jamie McCarthy had the first four-cylinder across the line, finishing fifth.

The hot summer excitement will pick up again Friday night, with all divisions in action. It will also be Seniors Night, with anyone over the age of 62 being admitted free of charge.

MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Jack Johnson, Ken Tremont Jr., Jack Cottrell, Ronnie Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, Don Scarborough, A.J. Romano, Mike Perrotte, Gene Munger, Ron Proctor, Tim Dwyer, J.R. Heffner, Scott Noel, Todd Ryan, Frank Hoard Sr., Mike Ronca, Don Ronca, Randy Hotaling, Craig Simmons, Mike Ballestero, Chuck Higley, John Bellinger.

LINE-X MODIFIEDS: TIM CLEMONS, Neal Erickson, Tim Hartman, Keith Flach, Erik Mack, Jimmy Cottrell, Tony Ballestero, Jeff Sukup, Derrick McGrew, Joe Budka, Rich Ronca, Jim Proctor, Dick Bisson, Ken Anatriello, Mike Tholin, Bill Cody, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Ricky Davis, Fred Proctor, Jack Swinton.

AMSOIL PRO-STREET STOCKS: BUTCHIE IRWIN, Joe Santoro, Jimmy Eaton, Robert Langevin, Dean Charbonneau, Lori Cary, Scott Duell, Cale Kneer, Vince Santoro, Bobby Gile, Ed Frank, Steve Burega, Brian Holbritter, William Smith IV, Bob Schmidt, Matt Anatriello, Jeremy Pitts, Tom O’Connor, Joe Mottoshiski, Don Piper, Bernie Companion, Chris Maxon, Walt Brownell, Rob Muscanell, Adam Tranka, Henry Tanner.

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: JIM MONROE, John Morris Jr., Byron Westcott, Mike Pfau, John Filarecki, Rich Holmes, Lucas MacIsaac, Brian Ashline, Bill Burlingame, Adam Stoddard, Chris Busta, Kevin Van Chance, Bob Smith, Dave Emigh, Curtis Condon, Tim Ippoliti, Thomas Conroy, Johnathan Coon, Jeff Monroe, Robert Bublak Jr.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS: ELMER MONTVILLE, Art Howe, Rich Mrzyglod, Dan Uber, Jamie McCarthy, Kevin Connors, Dan Petronis, Mike Cranston, Jeremy Brownell, John Baldwin, Matt Depew, Matt Corbiel, John Willis, Lewis Kusalonski, Patty Lucke, Gene Unser Jr., Randy Senecal, Amanda Clemens, Brian Myers Jr., Randy Mann, Emerson Ostrander, Ray Galusha.