Hearn overcomes broken shock, wins at Malta

MALTA - Most car owners don't like to see their cars come back to the pits with a broken suspension. But if the car makes a stop in victory lane first, the damage doesn't seem to be as bad.

That must have been the way Vinny Salerno was feeling Friday night when his driver, Brett Hearn, picked up his third win of the season in the 35-lap 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, despite breaking a right rear shock early in the race.

This marked the second week in a row that Hearn has had suspension problems on the Delaney Construction-owned small block. The previous week, he had to drop out while he was leading the double-point, 70-lap feature. But this time, the damage he suffered wasn't severe enough to put him in the pits for the night, and he came away with his 73rd career victory at the speedway.

“We were involved in a tangle on the first lap, which broke the right rear shock right off the mount on the bottom of the car,” said Hearn in victory lane. “I was worried about the rear end coming out of the car after that, but once the car got up to speed, it felt good.”

Jeff Trombley, who started third, jumped right out to the lead, but the man on the move early was Ken Tremont Jr., who had started 11th. By the eighth lap, Tremont had the S&S Paving small block up to third, and two laps later, swung around Jimmy Davis to take over the No. 2 position.

By that time, the leaders were already in lapped traffic on the slippery track, which had been turned slick by a drizzle that fell through most of the evening. The first caution of the night came out on lap 17, when Ronnie Johnson came to a stop on the backstretch, and by that time, Hearn had worked his way into the top five from his 15th starting position.

Trombley and Tremont kept the crowd buzzing with some great side-by-side racing when the green came back out, and Tremont moved in front on lap 22.

Despite the broken suspension, Hearn was flying, and took the second spot away from Trombley on lap 27. It only took three more circuits for him to get the lead, moving to the front coming out of the fourth turn.

Hearn hit the finish line 1.180 seconds ahead of Tremont, with Trombley finishing third, his best finish of the season, and the first time he's been in the top three since the opening race of the 2005 season.

Jack Johnson and A.J. Romano occupied the No. 4 and No. 5 positions, respectively. Completing the top 10 were Matt DeLorenzo, Todd Stone, Gene Munger, Davis and Mike Perrotte.

A balky field of 30 modifieds created some exciting heat races, with Frank Hoard Sr., Stone and Trombley leading the way in the qualifying events.

The mini-stocks also got in their feature, with Pete Willis driving to his second victory of the season. Jason Dickson, driving a four-cylinder, was fourth overall and first in his class.

Three heats were also required in the sportsman division, with Tyler Curtis, Chris Busta and Mike Tholin taking the checkered flags. Dustin Delaney won the sportsman B main.

Tom Conroy, Paul Mulrain and David Emigh won the limited heats, with John Filarecki taking the B main.

As soon as the modified feature got the checkered flag, the weather took a turn for the worse, and promoter Bruce Richards had to cancel the rest of the racing card. The remainder of the features will be run on Friday night.

This Tuesday, June 27th the RoC Modified Tour and Empire Super Sprints will load up the pits at Albany-Saratoga for the Taco Bell/Long John Silver's-sponsored RACE FAN'S DREAM. Following that, the special holiday show on Friday, June 30 will also be American Pride Night, with all divisions, including the 358 modifieds, in action. Admission will be $20 per car load from 4 to 6 p.m. Regular admission prices will be back in effect at 6 p.m. The night will include an enduro, and a spectacular fireworks demonstration. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.

In the event of rain on June 30, the racing card will be held on Saturday, July 1, but without the 358 modifieds.

358 MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Ken Tremont Jr., Jeff Trombley, Jack Johnson, A.J. Romano, Matt DeLorenzo, Todd Stone, Gene Munger, Jimmy Davis, Mike Perrotte, Keith Flach, Mike Ronca, Todd Ryan, Elmo Reckner, Robert King, Vince Quenneville Jr., Frank Hoard Sr., Jim Becker, John Proctor, Don Ronca, Craig Hanson, Jimmy Cottrell, Rick Davis, Marc Johnson, John Lutes Jr., Ken McGuire, Ronnie Johnson, Don Ackner.

MINI-STOCKS: PETE WILLIS, Chris McCarthy, Kevin Lukasik, Jason Dickson, John Baldwin, Andy Hickok, Mike Duclos, Tim Sayers, Ken Hollenbeck, Travis Tromans, Mike Cranston, Charlie Stoddard, Dan Lorenc, Roger Newkirk Jr., Richard Lucas, T.J. Brunell, Rene Nordak, Ted Fitzgerald, Shane Marks, Jim Daniels.