Perrotte ends slump


MALTA - Mike Perrotte finally exorcised his demons Friday night.

All the problems that have plagued him during the 2004 season were distant memories as Perrotte held off Ronnie Johnson to record his first victory of the season in the 35-lap 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Dismal is about the only word to describe Perrotte’s season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. He’s been searching for the right combination ever since dropping a Dodge powerplant under the hood of his modified, and until Friday night, nothing had gone right. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Perrotte didn’t even have a top-five finish. His best finish had been a sixth, and that came on the opening day of the season.

That run of bad performances put Perrotte on the pole Friday night, and he led every lap to record his 16th career win in the George Huttig-owned, Adirondack Auto-sponsored small block. But typical of Perrotte’s season, the win didn’t come easily.

While Perrotte was setting the early pace, there was tremendous racing behind him, with Johnson and Ken Tremont Jr. battling with Frank Hoard Sr. for second. Tremont took over the No. 2 position on lap 12, but Johnson was hooked up, and on lap 22, he moved into second place.

By that time, Perrotte had a huge lead, but that went out the window on lap 28, when the caution came out and Johnson had the opportunity to move right to Perrotte’s rear bumper.

Another caution, with three laps to go, brought the crowd to its feet, as it now looked like Johnson had figured out how to get around Perrotte. On the final lap, they were running side-by-side, But Perrotte, running the high groove, got enough momentum built up coming off turn four to beat Johnson to the finish line by less than a car length, 0.056 seconds, to be exact.

Point leader Brett Hearn, who had joined the battle for the lead because of the late cautions, could only sit back and wait for a mistake that never happened. He came across the line third, less than a half-second behind Perrotte.

“The car got tight on me and I bobbled a couple of times,” said Perrotte in victory lane after the win. “It sure would have been nice if those yellows hadn’t come out.”

Tremont, who ran with the lead pack all night, crossed the finish line fourth, and Tim Dwyer was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Matt DeLorenzo, A.J. Romano, Jack Cottrell, Mike Ronca and Ron Proctor.

Thirty-five was obviously the lucky number on Friday night. Perrotte’s car is numbered 35, and Jeff Sukup, who also runs a 35, drove to his first career victory in the 20-lap Line-X Modified feature. Sukup started third in the field, but only needed six laps to snatch the lead away from Chris Garrity. Neal Erickson, who had started 18th, moved into the No. 2 position on lap 13 and began to put pressure on Sukup, but Sukup never lost his poise, and beat Erickson to the finish line by 0.258 seconds. Derrick McGrew made a late charge to get third, with Dick Bisson fourth and Tim Clemons fifth.

There was also a first-time winner in the Amsoil pro-street stock feature, as Robert Langevin picked up his first career victory at Albany-Saratoga in the 30-lap North-South Border War.

Langevin, who also has a win at Devil’s Bowl this season, got a big break late in the race. Bernie Companion had taken an early lead and set a torrid pace, but because of the extra distance, he pulled out with motor problems on lap 26. That gave the lead to Cale Kneer, but he only held the point for one lap, before giving up the lead to Langevin. Langevin still had to deal with Lori Cary, who was glued right to Langevin in the closing laps of the race. But Langevin never bobbled, getting the victory, with Cary 0.028 seconds back in second. Point leader Butchie Irwin got up for third, with Jimmy Eaton fourth and Kneer fifth.

Byron Wescott recorded his second win of the season in the Rentway Limited feature, coming out on top of a good battle with Curtis Condon. Rich Mrzyglod ( six cylinder) and Chris Cary Jr. (four-cylinder) won the Mini-Stock features.

Albany-Saratoga will be back in action Friday night with its big CVRA.com 100-lapper, which will pay $3,000. Because it’s Fan Appreciation Night, regular adult admission of $10 will be in effect. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: MIKE PERROTTE, Ronnie Johnson, Brett Hearn, Ken Tremont Jr., Tim Dwyer, Matt DeLorenzo, A.J. Romano, Jack Cottrell, Mike Ronca, Ron Proctor, Frank Hoard Sr., Don Ronca, Jack Johnson, J.R. Heffner, Don Ackner, Jeremy Markle, Don Scarborough, Randy Hotaling, Gene Munger, Paul Cirincione, Todd Ryan.

LINE-X MODIFIEDS: JEFF SUKUP, Neal Erickson, Derrick McGrew, Dick Bisson, Tim Clemons, Jimmy Cottrell, Tony Ballestero, Stan Lemiesz, Mike Ballestero, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Ken Anatriello, Erik Mack, Jack Swinton, Keith Flach, Mike Tholin, Chris Garrity, Robert Perry, Rick Davis, Joe Budka, Tim Hartman, Rich Ronca.

AMSOIL PRO-STREET STOCKS: ROBERT LANGEVIN, Lori Cary, Butchie Irwin, Jimmy Eaton, Cale Kneer, Henry Tanner, Brian Holbritter, Bob Schmidt, Don Piper, Rob Muscanell, Joe Mottoshiski, Joe Santoro, Scott Duell, Adam Tranka, Tom O’Connor, Bernie Companion, Dean Charbonnean, Vince Santoro, Bobby Gile, Walt Brownell Jr., Chris Maxon, Steve Burega, Matt Anatriello.

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: BYRON WESTCOTT, Curtis Condon, John Morris Jr., Tom Conroy, Chris Busta, John Filarecki, Jim Monroe, Bob Smith, Rich Holmes, Mike Pfau, Richard Burke, Mike Scorzelli, Mike Minick, Bill Burlingame, Kevin Van Chance, Tom Pierce, Adam Stoddard, Lucas MacIsaac, Mike Ostrander, Jeff Monroe, Brian Ashline.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS (SIX-CYLINDER): RICH MRZYGOLD, Elmer Montville Jr., Amanda Clemens, Jeremy Brownell, Randy Mann, Shea Montgomery, Ray Galusha, Brian Myers Jr., Art Howe, Tim Glowowski, Dan Petronis, Tom Brunell, Dan Uber.
PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS (FOUR-CYLINDER): CHRIS CARY JR., Mike Cranston, Matt Depew, Matt Corbiel, John Willis, Lewis Kusalonski, Perry Schaad, Ben Durie, Jamie McCarthy, Randy Senecal, John Baldwin, Kevin Connors.