Jack Johnson gets first win of 2005 

MALTA - Usually, it’s the son who follows in the father’s footsteps. But that theory was turned around Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

After watching his son, Ronnie, post back-to-back victories the previous two weeks, veteran Jack Johnson decided it was time to show that father still knows best, getting his first win of the season in the 35-lap Bobcat of Saratoga modified feature to highlight Friday’s Spring Championships.

Johnson, the winningest driver in the history of the historic Malta track, sat in victory lane for the 85th time in his career and picked up double points in his quest to win his first Albany-Saratoga track championship since 1983.

Frank Hoard Sr. set the early pace, with Todd Ryan and Mike Ronca in tow, but Johnson was on the move early. After starting 13th, he had worked his way into the top five after 10 laps.

A caution for Jack Cottrell on lap 10 changed the complexion of the race. For one thing, it allowed Johnson to close up on the top four cars, and for another, Brett Hearn went to the pits to have some front end damage checked. Hearn was able to rejoin the field before the green came out, but the rear of the field wasn’t the place to be.

On lap 15, Hearn and Keith Flach came together in turn four, and this time, the damage to Hearn’s car was severe enough to put him out for the night. That was Hearn’s first DNF of the season after six straight top-five finishes.

Two laps later, Jumpin’ Jack moved around Ronca for second and set his sights on Hoard. Hoard did everything he could to try to hang onto the lead, but Johnson finally made the pass for the lead on lap 26. A caution with four laps left gave Hoard one final shot, but Johnson had the Witz Roofing 12A humming, and pulled away to an almost two-second margin of victory.

"I got some good breaks coming through the field, and I saw that Hoard was having problems in the middle of the track as it was starting to polish over," said Johnson after his win. "I put a good run on the inside of him, and that was it."

The win, coupled with Hearn’s DNF, gave Johnson the modified point lead.

Hoard finished second, his best finish of the season and his best run since July 2, 2002, when he finished second in a 100-lapper to Jack Cottrell. Ken Tremont Jr. crossed the finish line third, with Jim Davis fourth in the Wade 99 and A.J. Romano fifth.

Completing the top 10 were Ronnie Johnson, Mike Perrotte, Tim Clemons, Don Ackner and Don Ronca.

Teenager Dustin Delaney, who began the season in the sportsman rookie division before showing enough driving skill to move to the regular ranks, pulled off a stunning upset, recording his first career victory in the 20-lap sportsman feature.

Delaney started third, and used a restart on lap five to grab the lead away from Paul Dunham Jr., who had started on the pole.

Tim Hartman, who had started 20th, quickly rocketed through the field and moved into second on lap12 and began reeling in Delaney, but the rookie outdid the veteran this time, holding off Hartman by just 0.073 seconds in a nerve-wracking finish.

Ken Anatriello was third, his best finish of the season, with Jack Gentile fourth and Rich Ronca fifth.

Hollywood Joe Santoro kept his winning streak intact in the pro-street stock division, driving to his fourth consecutive victory in the 25-lap feature.

Bernie Companion was second, the third time this season he’s finished in the runner-up position, and Robert Langevin was third. Brian Ashline had his best run of the year, finishing fourth, and defending track champion Butchie Irwin was fifth.

Thomas Conroy recorded his first career victory in the 20-lap Rentway Limited feature, and Kevin Lukasik picked up his second win of the season in the Pro-Built mini-stock feature.

Conroy started third, jumped right to the lead and led every lap, beating Richard Holmes to the finish line by 0.378 seconds. They were followed by Bob Smith, Mke Pfau and Kevin Van Chance.

Albany-Saratoga will be holding Kids Night on Friday, June 17, which will include the very popular kiddie rides. In addition, Hall of Famer Will Cagle will come out of retirement to try his hand behind the wheel of one of the Mike Perrotte team cars.

BOBCAT OF SARATOGA MODIFIEDS: JACK JOHNSON, Frank Hoard Sr., Ken Tremont Jr., Jimmy Davis, A.J. Romano, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Perrotte, Tim Clemons, Don Ackner, Don Ronca, Craig Hanson, Marc Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, Keith Flach, Bob Savoie, Todd Ryan, John Proctor, Mike Ronca, Derrick McGrew, Brett Hearn Erik Mack, Jack Cottrell, Ron Proctor.

SPORTSMAN: DUSTIN DELANEY, Tim Hartman, Ken Anatriello, Jack Gentile, Rich Ronca, David Peek, Chris Busta, Joe Budka, Neal Erickson, Jimmy Cottrell, Paul Dunham Jr., Bill Cody, Rick Davis, Skip Shippee, Chris Johnson, Dick Bisson, Mike Tholin, Johnny Lutes Jr., Tony Ballestero, Jack Swinton, Ed Pieniazek, Mike Ballestero, Dan Bublak.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: JOE SANTORO, Bernie Companion, Robert Langevin, Brian Ashline, Butch Irwin, Matt Anatriello, William Smith IV, Scott Duell, Lori Cary, Cale Kneer, Bob Schmidt, Don Piper, Vince Santoro, Mark Dresher, Steve Burega, Jimmy Eaton, Dean Charbonneau, Dan Madigan, Adam Tranka, Chip Smith.

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: THOMAS CONROY, Richard Holmes, Bob Smith, Mike Pfau, Kevin VanChance, Tracy Ash, Richard Burke, Jeff Monroe, John Filarecki, Pat Cram, Paul Mulrain, Tom Pierce, Amanda Clemens, Mike Wilbur, Byron Wescott, Jim Monroe, Mike Scorzelli, Mike Minick, Jim Monroe Jr., Lucas MacIsaac, David Emigh, Nick Lussier, Robert Bublak, Curtis Condon, Mark Burch.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS: KEVIN LUKASIK, Randy Manhey, Lewis Kusalonis, Jeremy Brownell, Art Howe, Chris McCarthy, T.J. Brunelle, John Baldwin, Pete Willis, Dan Uber, Amy Benaquista, Ray Galusha, Mike Cranston, Richard Gorman, Kevin Connors, Jason Dickson, Brandon Emigh, Chris Greene, Randy Senecal, Ben Durie, Ryan Pechtel, Mike Duclos.