DeLorenzo picks up second win at Malta

MALTA - Matt DeLorenzo took a tip from a competitor Friday night and came away with his second win of the season in the 35-lap 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Running the low groove early in the race, DeLorenzo switched to the top when he realized a challenge from Ronnie Johnson was imminent, and then survived a late caution to hold off Jeff Trombley for the victory.

After realizing that Johnson was quicker on the top, DeLorenzo switched lanes and even made contact with Johnson's car, which he later apologized for. But the move was the difference between winning and losing for the driver of the BBL Construction 3D.

“When Ronnie Johnson showed me the nose of his car on the outside groove, I got into him a little bit, and really didn't mean to,” said DeLorenzo in victory lane. “He was the one who showed me where the fast line on the speedway was.”

Mike Perrotte, still looking for his first win the season, came off the front row and was setting the early pace while DeLorenzo, who started 11th, was using cautions to pick off cars in bunches, and on lap 15, he moved past Perrotte to get the lead.

Ronnie Johnson, who had started 16th, used a restart on the 17th lap to move into second, and he began putting pressure on DeLorenzo, which prompted DeLorenzo to change grooves.

Johnson had problems of his own, trying to hold off Trombley for second. Trombley finally won that battle on lap 26, and four laps later, the final yellow came out, giving Trombley his shot at the leader.

But this time, DeLorenzo dropped back to the bottom, blocking Trombley's run, and Trombley's only opening was on top. He also switched lanes, but on the final lap, nearly went off the track between turns three and four, allowing DeLorenzo to hit the finish line with some breathing room.

Trombley crossed the stripe second, his best finish of the season. He was followed by Ronnie Johnson, Jack Johnson and Brett Hearn, who came another step closer to his fourth straight track title.

Ken Tremont Jr., who is trying to stay in the hunt for the point championship, had a rough night. He was involved in the first caution and lost a number of laps in the pits before returning to the field. He finished the feature, but only in 17th place.

The new black paint scheme is obviously working for Joe Budka, who drove to his second straight victory in the 25-lap sportsman feature. Budka started ninth, but rocketed his way to the front in the B&H Racing/Schenectady Unit Parts-sponsored small block, snatching the lead away from Matt Depew on lap six.

Depew refused to go away, and hung right with Budka until the end, but there was nothing Depew could do to prevent Budka from picking up his fifth win of the season and 14th of his career at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. The win also moved him into sixth place on the all-time sportsman win list at the speedway.

Following Budka and Depew across the finish line were points leader Tim Hartman, Dustin Delaney and Stan Lemiesz. Lemiesz had a solid run and cracked the top five for just the third time this season.

Rob Langevin switched cars for the third time this year and came away with his seventh win, outrunning Dean Charbonneau in the 25-lap pro-street stock feature. Langevin was filling in for Lori Cary in the hot pink No. 96, as Cary was sidelined with an illness.

Charbonneau came off the front row and appeared headed to the victory, but Langevin overhauled the leader with just two laps to go. Charbonneau finished second, followed by Bernie Companion, Bill Smith IV and Cale Kneer.

Jim Monroe Jr. held off Kevin VanChance to post his second win of the year in the limited feature, and Chris McCarthy notched his fifth win of the season in the mini-stock feature.

MODIFIEDS: MATT DELORENZO, Jeff Trombley, Ronnie Johnson, Jack Johnson, Brett Hearn, Mike Ronca, Don Ronca, Todd Stone, Don Ackner, Mike Perrotte, Robert King, Vince Quenneville Jr., Rick Davis, Craig Hanson, Todd Ryan, Keith Flach, Ken Tremont Jr., Ron Proctor, Frank Hoard Sr., Marc Johnson, John Proctor, John Lutes Jr., Jimmy Cottrell, Chris Vernold. Elmo Reckner. DQ: Josh Pieniazek.

SPORTSMAN: JOE BUDKA, Matt Depew, Tim Hartman, Dustin Delaney, Stan Lemiesz, Chris Busta, Kyle Sheldon, Adam Tranka, Ken Anatriello, Jack Gentile, Chris Johnson, Rich Ronca, Mike Tholin, Neal Erickson, Andy Boniewski, Scott Duell, Brian Holbritter, Paul Dunham Jr., David Peek, Mike Pinke, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Dick Bisson, Joe Santoro, Whitey Slavin.

SPORTSMAN B MAIN: CHRIS BUSTA, Joe Santoro, Neal Erickson, David Peek, Rich Ronca, Paul Dunham Jr., Skip Shippee, Bill Bokus, Tyler Curtis, Colleen Salisbury, David Baranowski, Randy Delaney, Nick Anatriello, John Calcagni Jr., Paul Ashline Sr., Tom Jeffalone.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: ROB LANGEVIN, Dean Charbonneau, Bernie Companion, Bill Smith IV, Cale Kneer, Carl Vladyka, John Turco, Vince Santoro, Dan Madigan, Kim Duell, Charlie Towslee, Jimmy Eaton, Jeremy Pitts, David Peck Jr., Bob Schmidt, Jeff Washburn, Matt Anatriello, Russ Miller, Fred Shippee Sr.

LIMITED: JIM MONROE JR., Kevin VanChance, Jim Monroe, Jeff Monroe, Rich Burke, John Filarecki, Dan Older, D.J. Brundige, Mike Minick, Dan Petronis, John Morris Jr., Curtis Condon, Ken Conroy, Robert Bublak, T.J. Pierce, Nick Lussier, David Emigh, Mike Ostrander, Brandon Emigh, Mark Burch, Brian Ashline, Steve Holcomb, Pete DeFiglio. DQ: Tom Conroy.

MINI-STOCKS: CHRIS MCCARTHY (6), Tim Anagnos (6), Brette Osgood (4), Jim Daniels (4), Travis Tromans (4), Kevin Lukasik (6), Shane Marks (4), Charlie Stoddard (4), Ted Fitzgerald (4), Jason Dickson (4), Mike Cranston (4), Rennie Noradki (6), Pete Willis (6), Ken Hollenbeck (4), Mike Duclos (4), Andy Hickok (4), Dan Lorenc (6), Justin Ramsey (4), John Baldwin (4).