Jumpin' Jack in Victory Lane

MALTA - They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but in Jack Johnson's case, the old tricks are still working just fine.

Jumpin' Jack, celebrating his 40th season in racing, showed once again why he's the winningest driver in the history of Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night, recording his first win of the season in front of a standing-room-only crowd on American Pride Night.

A run of bad luck had put Johnson sixth in the starting grid for the 35-lap feature, and two early restarts were all he needed to quickly get to the front, taking the lead away from Jeff Trombley on lap five.

One of those early cautions involved points leader Matt DeLorenzo, who then had to drop to the rear of the field.

Also capitalizing on the early restarts were Ken Tremont Jr. and defending track champion Brett Hearn, who had started 13th and 16th, respectively. Tremont took the No. 2 position away from Trombley on lap 12, and Hearn broke into the top three eight laps later.

By the time Hearn worked the Delaney Construction small block into second place, Johnson had a full straightaway lead and although lapped traffic allowed Hearn to close the gap in the final circuits of the 35-lap feature, Johnson came away with his 88th career victory at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Hearn finished second, followed by Tremont, Ronnie Johnson and Trombley. Completing the top 10 were Vince Quenneville Jr., Robert King, Keith Flach, DeLorenzo and Jimmy Davis.

The sportsman division ran two features, including the rained-out event from the previous Friday. Chris Busta picked up his first career victory in the first feature and another teenager, Dustin Delaney, drove to his second career win in the second.

Busta, who moved to open-wheel cars last season after winning the track championship in the limited division in 2004, jumped out of the six hole and came away with a very popular victory in the first 20-lapper, outrunning David Peek to get the victory. Busta celebrated his win with a roof dance on the front straightaway.

Delaney started on the pole and led flag-to-flag in the second sportsman feature, keeping Mike Tholin at bay to get his first win of the year. Busta capped his satisfying night with a third-place finish in the second event.

The pro-street stocks also ran a pair of features, with Lori Cary and Cale Kneer getting the victories. Although the win was the second of the season for Cary, it was the first time she actually went under the checkered flag first, as her first win this year came as the result of a disqualification. Kneer's win was the first of his career at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Cary got a good break in the first feature. Kneer and Scott Duell were battling for the lead late with two laps left in the race when they came together in turn one, with Duell going over the bank and Kneer spinning in the turn. That gave the lead to Cary, who had been sitting third at the time, and she came away with the victory.

Following Cary across the finish line were Dan Madigan and Darrel Carl, while Bernie Companion and Cary were inches apart for second and third in the nightcap.

The limiteds also did a holiday weekend double-dip. John Morris Jr. held off Tom Conroy to get his first win of the year in the first feature, and Curtis Condon continued his hot streak in the second event, driving to his second win of the year. Again, Conroy was second.

Chris McCarthy recorded his second win of the season in the mini-stock class. Brett Osgood was second overall in his four-cylinder, giving him his second divisional victory.

Besides a gigantic fireworks display, the night also included a 50-lap enduro, with David Billings taking the checkered flag.

All divisions will be back in action on Friday, July 7, when Albany-Saratoga holds Black Flag Night. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: JACK JOHNSON, Brett Hearn, Ken Tremont Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Jeff Trombley, Vince Quenneville Jr., Robert King, Keith Flach, Matt DeLorenzo, Jimmy Davis, Don Ackner, Elmo Reckner, Todd Stone, Frank Hoard Sr., Tony Kawalchuk, Todd Ryan, Marc Johnson, Jimmy Cottrell, Derrick McGrew, Mike Perrotte, John Lutes Jr., Rick Davis, Craig Hanson, Ron Proctor, John Proctor, Mike Ronca, Don Ronca.

SPORTSMAN (FROM JUNE 23): CHRIS BUSTA, David Peek, Tim Hartman, Stan Lemiesz, Chris Johnson, Dustin Delaney, Mike Tholin, Cass Bennett, Ken Anatriello, Adam Tranka, Matt Depew, Erik Mack, Bill Bokus, Tyler Curtis, Andy Boniewski, Jeff Sukup, Scott Duell, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Brian Gerrain, Mike Pinke, Joe Santoro, Joe Budka, Neal Erickson.

SPORTSMAN: DUSTIN DELANEY, Mike Tholin, Chris Busta, Whitey Slavin, Stan Lemiesz, Erik Mack, Brian Gerrain, Scott Duell, Matt Depew, Ken Anatriallo, Tim Hartman, Joe Santoro, David Peek, Kyle Sheldon, Neal Erickson, Jack Gentile, Rich Ronca, Brian Holbritter, Kris Savoie, Nick Anatriello, Adam Tranka, Andy Boniewski, Dick Bisson, Cass Bennett, Chris Johnson, Joe Budka, Dave DePaulo.

PRO-STREET STOCKS (FROM JUNE 23): LORI CARY, Dan Madigan, Darrell Carl, John Bates, Dean Charbonneau, Matt Anatriello, Jeremy Pitts, Cale Kneer, Kim Duell, William Smith IV, Jeff Washburn, Russ Miller, Gene Wetherington, Jimmy Eaton, Vince Santoro, Charlie Townslee, Bernie Companion, Greg McGill, Chris Maxon.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: CALE KNEER, Bernie Companion, Lori Cary, Kim Duell, William Smith IV, Dean Charbonneau, John Bates, Mark Dresher, Gene Wetherington, Chris Maxon, Tom Stack, Dan Madigan, Charlie Townslee, Vince Santoro, Darrell Carl, Matt Anatriello, Russ Miller, Jeremy Pitts, Jeff Washburn.

LIMITEDS (FROM JUNE 23): JOHN MORRIS JR., Tom Conroy, Jim Monroe, Mike Ostrander, Pete DeFiglio, Dan Petronis, Kevin Van Chance, John Filarecki, Dan Older, Mike Minick, Jim Monroe Jr., Amanda Clemens, Tommy Primeau, Richard Burke, David Emigh, Paul Mulrain, Nick Lussier, Jeremy Brownell, Brandon Emigh, Charlie Primeau, Mark Burch, Bob Smith.

LIMITEDS: CURTIS CONDON, Tom Conroy, Kevin VanChance, Dan Petronis, Mike Ostrander, Jim Monroe Jr., T.J. Pierce, Pete DeFiglio, Mike Minick, Jim Monroe, John Morris Jr., Rich Burke, John Filarecki, Nick Lussier, D.J. Brundige, Robert Bublak, Tony Condon, Mike Wilber, Ben Durie, Mark Burch, Dan Older, Luke MacIsaac, Steve Holcomb, Dan Uber.

MINI-STOCKS: CHRIS MCCARTHY, Brett Osgood, Pete Willis, Travis Tromans, Charlie Stoddard, Kevin Lukasik, Roger Newkirk Jr., Andy Hickok, T.J. Brunell, Chris Greene, Mike Cranston, Ken Hollenbeck, Shane Marks, Jim Daniels, Jason Dickson, Alecia Mason, Mike Duggan Jr., Tim Anagnos, Dan Lorenc, Mike Duclos, John Baldwin.