Romano wins feature, Hearn takes title

MALTA - A.J. Romano won his second 358 modified feature of the season Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and became Brett Hearn’s best friend in the process.

Romano, who had been mired in a mid-season slump, came out of the seventh starting position and held off veteran Jack Johnson to notch his first win since June 18 to highlight Championship Weekend, which offered double points in all divisions.

Hearn went into the night with a 100-point lead, and opted to compete at another track, rolling the dice that his lead would hold up. The only driver who had a shot at Hearn was Jumpin’ Jack, and he needed a win to earn a share of the 2004 track championship. But with Johnson finishing second, Hearn won the championship by four points.

Other champions crowned on Friday night were Tim Clemons (Line-X Modifieds), Butchie Irwin (Amsoil pro-street stocks), Chris Busta (Rentway Limiteds), Rick Mrzyglod (Pro-Built Mini-Stocks six-cylinder) and Kevin Connors (Pro-Built Mini-Stocks four-cylinder).

The 358 modified feature belonged to Romano, who took the advice of his older brother, Mike, and brought out a new Bicknell chassis in August to try to end his slump. By comparing notes with other Bicknell drivers recently, Romano finally hit on the right combination, and looked as strong as ever Friday night.

Bob Savoie had the Sampson small block on the pole Friday night and led the first six laps, but Romano used two early cautions to quickly get up to second, and grabbed the lead on lap seven.

Johnson, who had started 12th, was up to fourth by lap eight, moved past Savoie for third on lap 11 and then took the No. 2 position away from Don Scarborough on lap 16.

By that time, Romano had opened up almost a full straightaway lead, and was soon in lapped traffic. Although the lapped cars allowed Jumpin’ Jack to close the gap on the leader, they also provided Romano with a comfortable cushion and when Romano hit the finish line for the final time, he was still over a full second ahead of Johnson, posting just his fourth career modified victory at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

“I really didn’t know it was Jack behind me,” said Romano after the race. “I just got out front and went as fast as I could.” Scarborough finished third, with Savoie fourth and Gene Munger fifth.

Like Romano, Derrick McGrew also ended a frustrating slump by driving to his second victory of the season in the Line-X modified feature. McGrew’s only other win this year came on July 25.

McGrew started 10th in the field, but was quick from the start, and had charged up to seventh after just seven laps. He then put the pressure on leader David Peek, and finally moved out on the point on lap 13. Erik Mack, who had started eighth and was never far from the lead group, took over the No. 2 position on lap 15 and did everything he could in the closing laps to try to reel in McGrew, but McGrew finished with a 0.748 second margin of victory, with Peek a distant third.

Dick Bisson came across the line fourth, with rookie Mike Tholin fifth. Clemons finished sixth, which was more than enough for him to win the title.

Irwin wrapped up his second consecutive track championship with a flourish, as he dominated the 20-lap Amsoil pro-street stock feature to record his eighth win of the year .Irwin started 16th in the field, but the Chevy spec engine was again one tough powerplant, as Irwin needed just 13 laps to get to the front and snatch the lead away from Chris Maxon.

Joe Mottoshiski, another convert to the spec engine program, moved into the No. 2 spot on lap 14, but he could only sit and watch as Irwin pulled away for a 2.8 second victory, leaving Mottoshiski with his third runner-up performance since joining the CVRA. Brian Holbritter finished third, followed by Maxon and Vince Santoro.

William Duprey drove to his first career victory in the 15-lap Rentway Limited feature. Jim Monroe Jr. and John Morris Jr. had the fastest cars on the track early in the race, but Duprey, who had started ninth, was on the move early and took over the lead on lap eight. Once Duprey got out on the point, he drove a flawless race, and hit the finish line over three seconds ahead of Morris, with Bob Smith getting up for third.

Elmer Montville Jr. picked up his seventh win of the season in the mini-stock six-cylinder feature, and Jamie McCarthy also rolled a lucky seven, getting his seventh win of the year in the four-cylinder feature.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be holding The 49er on Friday, Sept. 17. The 49-lap feature for both big blocks and small blocks will pay $4,900 to win, and has attracted all the biggest names in the Northeast. Racing will begin at 6:30 p.m.

MODIFIEDS:A.J. ROMANO, Jack Johnson, Don Scarborough, Bob Savoie, Gene Munger, Mike Perrotte, Jack Cottrell, Matt DeLorenzo, Ron Proctor, Mike Ronca, Don Ronca, Frank Hoard Sr., Paul Cirincion, John Kollar, Todd Ryan, Lucas Baker, Randy Hotaling, Scott Noel.

LINE-X MODIFIEDS: DERRICK MCGREW, Erik Mack, David Peek, Dick Bisson, Mike Tholin, Tim Clemons, Joe Budka, Jimmy Cottrell, Tony Ballestero, Keith Flach, Neal Erickson, Tim Hartman, Bill Cody, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Chris Garrity, Rich Ronca, Dan Bublak, Mike Ballestero, Jack Swinton, Ken Anatriello, Ricky Davis.

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

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: WILLIAM DUPREY, John Morris Jr., Bob Smith, Grant Rice, Jared McMahon, Byron Westcott, Kevin Van Chance, Tom Conroy, Jim Monroe Jr., Jim Monroe III, Pat Cram, Chris Busta, Mike Jeske, Shannon Donnelly, Lucas MacIsaac, Tom Pierce, Mike Pfau, David Emigh, Curtis Condon, Gene Wetherington.

PRO-BUILT MINI STOCKS (SIX-CYLINDER): ELMER MONTVILLE JR., Rick Mrzyglod, Jeremy Brownell, Emerson Ostrander, Amanda Clemens, Ray Galusha, Shea Montgomery, Brian Myers Jr., Dan Petronis, Tom Brunell, Dan Uber.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS (FOUR-CYLINDER): JAMIE MCCARTHY, Mike Cranston, Chris Cary Jr., John Baldwin, Matt Corbiel, Randy Senecal, Kevin Connors, Ben Durie, Brett Osgood, Travis Tromans, Perry Schaad, Joe Baker, John Willis, Lewis Kusalonski. DQ: Matt Depew.