Hearn Returns to Victory Lane

MALTA - Reputation alone isn't going to do Brett Hearn much good at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season. He's going to have to work for everything he can get.

Hearn recorded his first win of the season in Friday night's 35-lap Bobcat of Saratoga 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, but only after digging in and doing everything he could to hold off Ken Tremont Jr., who had won the 100-lap season opener the previous week. In fact, Tremont was so quick during the closing laps that even Hearn was looking for answers after taking the checkered flag.

“We had a good car tonight, but we still need to get better at the end of the race,” he said in victory lane after notching his 71st career win at the historic Malta track

The race did give Hearn a little vindication. The previous week, he was leading the 100-lapper before an ignition coil went bad, sending him to the pits and allowing Tremont to get the first win of the season.

Hearn had another little skirmish Friday night. On the first lap of the feature, Hearn made contact with Keith Flach in the fourth turn, doing some damage to the rear quarterpanel of the car. But it wasn't enough to put a crimp in the performance of the Vinny Salerno-owned, Delaney Construction-sponsored small block.

“This week, we were one second faster than we were last week, but that was because of the difference in the track,” said Hearn.

Don Ronca and Vince Quenneville Jr. kept the fans entertained until Hearn and Tremont got things sorted out. Ronca started on the pole, gave up the early lead to Quenneville, and then moved back out front on lap 12. But two circuits later, Hearn moved into the lead.

Tremont, who started 14th, took over the No. 2 position on lap 31, following a lap 29 restart when Mike Perrotte lost a wheel. Tremont put the nose of the S&S Asphalt small block inside Hearn on a couple of occasions during the final four laps, but ran out of time in his bid for a second straight win.

Following Hearn and Tremont across the finish line were Ronnie Johnson, Quenneville and A.J. Romano. Completing the top 10 were Jeff Trombley, Jack Johnson, Matt Delorenzo, Craig Hanson and Ronca.

Joe Budka, who was one of the hottest drivers in the sportsman division at the end of the 2005 season, picked right up where he left off, romping to a victory in the first sportsman feature of the season. Budka, who had an early exit from the opening-night 100-lapper, started eighth in the 25-lap sportsman feature, took the lead away from Matt Depew on lap eight and went on to a four-second margin of victory, recording his 10th career win in the division.

Ricky Davis, who had started third, hit the finish line second, followed by defending point champion Tim Hartman, Depew and Mike Ballestero.

Vince Santoro picked up his first career win in the 25-lap pro-street stock feature. Cale Kneer started in the front row and stayed out in front for 21 laps. But Santoro, who had been running second since lap 11, finally made his move with four to go to get the lead for good.

Ron Langevin finished third, with Jimmy Eaton fourth and Jeff Washburn fifth.

Jeff Monroe held off Pete DeFiglio to win the 20-lap limited feature. Monroe started on the pole and led wire-to-wire, but DeFiglio, who was looking for his second straight win, moved into the No. 2 hole on lap12 and was all over Monroe during the final eight laps of the feature. But Monroe hung tough, finishing with a 0.334-second margin of victory.

The mini-stocks were also in action, with Ken Hollenbeck winning the fourth-cylinder division and Randy Manhey taking the checkered flag in the six-cylinder class.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action Friday, with all divisions competing. The pro-street stocks will be running a 50-lap feature.

BOBCAT OF SARATOGA MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Ken Tremont Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Vince Quenneville Jr., A.J. Romano, Jeff Trombley, Jack Johnson, Matt Delorenzo, Craig Hanson, Don Ronca, Mike Ronca, Elmo Reckner, Don Ackner, Don Scarborough, Frank Hoard Sr., Todd Ryan, Rich Salisbury, Keith Flach, Tony Kawalchuk, Marc Johnson, Mike Perrotte, Todd Stone, Jimmy Cottrell, Jimmy Davis, Ron Proctor, Gene Munger.

SPORTSMAN: JOE BUDKA, Ricky Davis, Tim Hartman, Matt Depew, Mike Ballestero, Chris Busta, Erik Mack, Dustin Delaney, Dick Bisson, Mike Tholin, Jack Gentile, Stan Lemiesz, Brian Gerrain, David Peek, Ken Anatriello, Neal Erickson, Whitey Slavin, Robert Perry, Paul Dunham Jr., Chris Johnson, Cass Bennett, Rich Ronca, Mike Pinke, Scott Duell.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: VINCE SANTORO, Cale Kneer, Rob Langevin, Jimmy Eaton, Jeff Washburn, Don Williams, Dean Charbonneau, Bernie Companion, Greg McGill, Lori Cary, Matt Anatriello, Charles Townslee, Walt Brownell Jr., Dave Madej, Ed Thompson, Dan Madigan, Bill Smith IV, Mike Jeske, Mark Dresher, Chris Maxon.

LIMITEDS: JEFF MONROE, Pete DeFiglio, John Filarecki, Jim Monroe, Mike Pfau, Kevin Van Chance, Rich Holmes, Nick Lussier, Dan Older, John Morris Jr., Dan Petronis, Ken Conroy, Mike Minick, Rich Burke, Curtis Condon, Dave Emigh, Robert Bublak, Steve Mulrain, Mark Emigh, D.J. Brundige, Tom Pierce, Bob Smith, Tommy Primeau.

MINI-STOCKS (FOUR-CYLINDER): KEN HOLLENBECK, John Baldwin, Roger Newkirk, No. 188, Mike Cranston, Travis Tromans, Chris Greene, Charles Stoddard, Joe Baker, Alecia Mason, Tim Sayers, Jason Dickson, Jim Daniels, Shane Marks, Justin Ramsey.

MINI-STOCKS (SIX-CYLINDER): RANDY MANHEY, Mike Duclos, Chris McCarthy, T.J. Brunell, Kevin Lukasik, John Willis, Ron Zagata, Amy Benacquista, Harvey Williams, No. 60, Shane Anagnos.