Ronnie Johnson tops field at Albany-Saratoga

MALTA - Watching Ronnie Johnson race is a lot like watching Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz take batting practice. Sooner of later, he's going to knock one out of the park.

R.J. finally came up with the big blow Friday night, overpowering a classy field of 358 modifieds to record his first win of the season in the 35-lap feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway sponsored by the Saratogian.

When the season began, it looked like Johnson was going to be a serious contender for the Albany-Saratoga point championship, as he racked up a pair of thirds in his first two races of the season. A couple of top-five finishes in June also teased the fans at the historic Malta track, but until Friday night, Johnson hadn't been able to find the home run swing.

Marc Johnson moved right to the point in Friday night's feature and set the pace for four laps, until veteran Don Ackner, who had started fourth, took over the lead.

But all eyes were already on Ronnie Johnson, who had started 10th. The former Albany-Saratoga Speedway sportsman champion quickly got the top five and when points leader Ken Tremont Jr. brought out the first caution on lap 10, R.J. was sitting third.

The yellow flag played right into Johnson's hands, as he used the restart to rocket past both Ackner and Marc Johnson to get the lead. And from there, he was untouchable.

Don Ronca took the No. 2 position away from Ackner on lap15, but the two Champlain Valley Racing Association mainstays should have been looking behind them, because defending track champion Brett Hearn was taking the express lane to the front.

Hearn, who had his sights set on the Salisbury Chevrolet Big Dog Challenge, a $1,000 bonus to anyone who can win back-to-back races in the 358 division, dropped Ackner to fourth on lap 23 and took over the second spot one lap later. But by that time, Ronnie Johnson was already working his way through lapped traffic, and Hearn never got close, as Johnson finished nearly six seconds ahead of Hearn at the checkered flag.

Mike Ronca seemed to find another gear in the late going and charged up to finish third, his best finish of the season. Tremont, who had started 22nd in the 24-car field after failing to qualify through his heat, came from the rear twice to finish fourth and Jimmy Davis hit the top five for the first time this year.

Completing the top 10 were Jimmy Cottrell, Tim Clemons (filling in for Elmo Reckner in the 17E), Don Ronca, Ackner and Matt Delorenzo.

Joe Budka looks like he might be on another hot streak, as he recorded his second straight win in the 25-lap sportsman feature. Last year, he won three races a row on his way to a five-win campaign.

Despite starting ninth Friday night, Budka had the lead after just seven laps, and left the rest of the field to battle for second. Matt Depew put on a late charge to grab the No. 2 position, his best finish of the season. Jack Gentile finished third in a wild three-way battle involving points leader Tim Hartman and rookie Joe Santoro, as Gentile, Hartman and Santoro were inches apart as they passed under the checkered flag.

Kim Duell came away with his second win of the year in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature. Unlike the 358 and sportsman features, which were runaways, Duell never got a chance to get off the wheel in the final laps.

Chris Maxon came off the pole and set the pace for the first nine laps, but Jeff Washburn, who has been hanging right with him, moved to the front on lap 10. Duell, who had started eighth, took over the No. 2 spot on lap12 and three laps later, passed Washburn for the lead.

But a caution on lap 17 changed the complexion of the race, as Rob Langevin was able to close right up on the leaders. Langevin drove Duell nuts in the final three laps, but Duell came away with the win by a scant 0.396 second margin.

Jim Monroe Jr. was awarded his second win of the year in the limited feature. Kevin VanChance was the first car under the checkered flag, but was disqualified for failing post-race inspection, as was Curtis Condon, who finished fourth.

Two seemed to be the magic number Friday, as Mike Duclos drove to his second win of the season in the mini-stock feature. Ken Hollenbeck, who was fourth overall, was the four-cylinder divisional winner.

358 MODIFIEDS: RONNIE JOHNSON, Brett Hearn, Mike Ronca, Ken Tremont Jr., Jimmy Davis, Jimmy Cottrell, Tim Clemons, Don Ronca, Don Ackner, Matt DeLorenzo, Todd Stone, Robert King, Marc Johnson, Frank Hoard Sr., Keith Flach, Rick Davis, Vince Quenneville Jr., John Lutes Jr., Todd Ryan, Mike Perrotte, Jeff Trombley, Ron Proctor, John Proctor, Jack Johnson.

SPORTSMAN: JOE BUDKA, Matt Depew, Jack Gentile, Tim Hartman, Joe Santoro, Rich Ronca, Chris Busta, Bran Gerrain, Adam Tranka, Chris Johnson, Whitey Slavin, Mike Tholin, Dustin Delaney, Neal Erickson, Kyle Sheldon, Stan Lemiesz, Scott Duell, Mike Pinke, David Peek, Tyler Curtis, Skip Shippee, Nick Anatriello, Ken Anatriello, Dick Bisson.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: KIM DUELL, Rob Langevin, Cale Kneer, Jeff Washburn, Dan Madigan, Dean Charbonneau, Bernie Companion, Chris Maxon, Bill Smith, Lori Cary, Matt Anatriello, Jeremy Pitts, Greg McGill, Jimmy Eaton, Vince Santoro, Darrel Carl, Russ Miller.

LIMITEDS: JIM MONROE JR., John Filarecki, Jim Monroe, Tom Conroy, John Morris Jr., Mike Minick, Rich Burke, Mike Ostrander, Mike Wilber, D.J. Brundige, Dan Petronis, Ben Durie, Tommy Primeau, Mark Goss, Pete DeFiglio, David Emigh, Dan Older, Paul Mulrain, Nick Lussier, Robert Bublak, Mark Burch. DQ: KevinVan Chance, Curtis Condon.

MINI-STOCKS: MIKE DUCLOS (6), John Willis (6), Kevin Lukasik (6), Ken Hollenbeck (4), Charlie Stoddard (4), Dan Lorenc (6), Jason Dickson (4), Mike Cranston (4), Travis Tromans (4), Ted Fitzgerald (4), Chris McCarthy (6), Roger Newkirk Jr. (4), Alecia Mason (4), Jim Daniels (4), Brett Osgood (4), Andy Hickok (4), Mike Duggan Jr. (4), Justin Ramsey (4), Mike Pope (4), Shane Marks (4).