Hearn records eighth win 

MALTA - Two weeks without being in victory lane was about all Brett Hearn could stand.

Showing the same dominance that he displayed during the month of July, Hearn picked off his eighth victory of the season Friday night in the 35-lap Bobcat of Saratoga 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Despite showing smoke from his car in the closing laps of the feature, Hearn held off a last-ditch challenge from Jack Johnson to get the victory. “There was probably a ring going bad,” said Hearn after the feature. “It wasn't anything serious. We didn't lose power or anything.”

Hearn made this win look easy. Going right to the top at the drop of the green flag, Hearn picked off cars in bunches and was up to fifth when Jack Cottrell bounced off the inside barrier in the first turn on the eighth lap and brought out the first caution of the night.

Following the restart, Hearn changed lanes and did the majority of his passing on the low side. On lap 10, he moved past Don Ackner for second, and two laps later, he slipped past Frank Hoard Sr. in the second turn for the lead.

For all practical purposes, the race was over at that point. Easily moving through traffic, Hearn opened up a full straightaway lead over Hoard.

But the race wasn't over yet. Johnson, who still had a spec engine under the hood of his modified, had the track come to him in the later stages of the race, and with five laps left, charged past Hoard into second.

That move proved to be advantageous, as Jack's son, Ronnie, brought out the final caution with two laps left, coming to a stop in the fourth turn on lap 33 when he was running fifth.

Jumpin' Jack, who was looking for his second straight win, got the jump on Hearn on the restart, but Hearn then switched lanes, ducking low on the track and forcing Johnson to move to the top, and that slight shift in momentum allowed Hearn, who was trailing a stream of smoke at the time, to come away with the win.

Hoard crossed the finish line third, with Bobby Varin fourth and Don Ackner fifth. Completing the top 10 were Ken Tremont Jr., Mike Ronca, Matt Delorenzo, Keith Flach and A.J. Romano.

Joe Budka almost ended his night with a bonzai move to the front early in the race, but came away with his third victory of the season in the 20-lap sportsman feature.

Budka, who had started 11th, made some quick moves to the front and after two early restarts, was sitting fourth after just four laps.

Disaster nearly struck on lap six. Charging into the third turn, Budka tried to find room on the inside of Ken Anatriello, but Budka caught the left rear of Anatriello's car. Budka's Schenectady Unit Parts-sponsored small block bounced in the air and somehow kept going, but a number of cars piled up behind him, bringing out the caution.

But by keeping his car under control, Budka was able to take the lead on lap nine and he sailed to an easy victory. Jimmy Cottrell, who was spun out by Dan Bublak in the closing laps of the race, was allowed to retain his spot and finished second, with Bublak third, Dick Bisson fourth and Randy Hotaling fifth.

Rob Langevin took the lead away from Cale Kneer on the 13th lap and went on to post his second win of the season in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature. Jimmy Eaton finished third, with Lori Cary fourth and Joe Santoro fifth.

Kevin VanChance held off Mike Pfau to pick up his third win of the year in the Rentway Limited feature. Pfau grabbed the lead on lap seven, but two laps later, VanChance had the lead for good. Following VanChance and Pfau across the finish line were Jim Monroe, Mike Scorzelli and John Filarecki.

Jeremy Brownell recorded his seventh win of the year in the six-cylinder Pro-Built mini-stock feature, and Kevin Connors took the checkered flag for the fourth time in the four-cylinder division.

The big blocks will return to Albany-Saratoga on Friday, Aug. 26, for the sixth leg of the DIRT vs. CVRA big block/small block challenge series. All other divisions will also be in action, with racing starting at 7 p.m.

BOBCAT OF SARATOGA MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Jack Johnson, Frank Hoard Sr., Bobby Varin, Don Ackner, Ken Tremont Jr., Mike Ronca, Matt Delorenzo, Keith Flach, A.J. Romano, Tim Clemons, Ken McGuire, Marc Johnson, Todd Ryan, Ron Proctor, Paul Cirincione, Don Ronca, Craig Hanson, Jack Cottrell, Jimmy Davis, John Proctor.

SPORTSMAN: JOE BUDKA, Jimmy Cottrell, Dan Bublak, Dick Bisson, Randy Hotaling, Neal Erickson, Ken Anatriello, Rick Davis, David Peek, Jamie Proctor, Jack Gentile, Matt Depew, Mike Ballestero, Dustin Delaney, Doug Sheely, Brian Holbritter, Bill Cody, Nick Anatriello, Skip Shippee, Mike Tholin, Tim Hartman, Chris Busta, Tony Ballestero, Rich Ronca, Jack Swinton, Derrick McGrew.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: ROB LANGEVIN, Cale Kneer, Jimmy Eaton, Lori Cary, Joe Santoro, Bill Smith, Butchie Irwin, Scott Duell, Bernie Companion, Dean Charbonneau, Dan Madigan, Steve Burega, Bob Schmidt, Chris Maxon, John Harrison, Dan Bernard, Matt Anatriello, Mark Dresher, Vince Santoro, Jon Bates, Mike Paquin.

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: KEVIN VANCHANCE, Mike Pfau, Jim Monroe, Mike Scorzelli, John Filarecki, Bob Smith, Byron Wescott, Jeff Monroe, John Morris Jr., Curtis Condon, Mike Ostrander, Tom Conroy, Mark Emigh, Adam Stoddard, Steve Mulrain, T.J. Pierce, Dan Petronis, Brian Haas, Jared McMahon, Dave Emigh, Bill Burlingame, Mike Minick, Mark Burch, Richard Burke, Tom Glogowski, Rich Holmes.