Another win for Hearn

MALTA - Brett Hearn took another step toward his third straight track championship at Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night when he walked off with his seventh win of the season in the 35-lap 358-modified feature at the Malta track.

Hearn started 18th in the 23-car field, charged to the lead after just 15 laps and pulled away for one of his easiest wins of the season. The victory was Hearn's seventh this year at Albany-Saratoga Speedway and the 77th of his career.

Hearn came into the night with a two-race losing streak, which has been a rarity since he teamed up with car owner Vinny Salerno prior to the 2004 season. But even the top teams make changes, which helped put Hearn back in victory lane Friday night.

“We have been struggling a little the last couple of weeks, so Vinny decided to revamp the car because he felt the driver was better than the car was,” said Hearn after the race. “Tonight, it was just the opposite. The car was the deciding factor.”

Frank Hoard Sr. set the pace for the first 10 laps, before giving up the lead to Mike Perrotte, who had started third. But Hearn was putting on an incredible show for the fans, needing only 10 laps to charge from 18th to third. Hearn blasted by Hoard for second on lap 12 and only needed three more circuits before he had the lead.

While Hearn was stretching out his advantage, Ken Tremont Jr. was doing everything he could to get into contention. Tremont had also started deep in the field, but was up in the top five by lap 20.

Tremont worked his way up to third by lap 25, but by that time, Hearn had opened up a huge lead over Perrotte, who was coming off a Sunday night victory at Devil's Bowl. When Hearn hit the finish line, Perrotte was nearly five seconds back in second. Perrotte came away with his first top-five finish of the season, and the second-place was his best finish since July 30, 2004, which was the last time he made his way to victory lane at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Tremont hit the stripe third, followed by Ronnie Johnson and Hoard. Completing the top 10 were Marc Johnson, Jimmy Cottrell, Matt DeLorenzo, Robert King and Don Ronca.

Chris Busta drove to his second win of the season in the 25-lap sportsman feature, spoiling strong performances by both Brian Holbritter and Whitey Slavin, who were both looking for their first career wins.

Holbritter moved into the lead on lap eight, but it was Slavin who appeared to have the dominant car. Slavin moved into second on lap 11, taking the position away from Busta, and rocketed into the lead the next time around. But Busta was building up a head of steam, and after moving around Holbritter, took the lead away from Slavin on lap 15.

Busta opened up a comfortable lead, leaving Slavin to hold off Joe Budka for third. Dick Bisson hit the finish line fourth, with Matt Depew fifth.

Rob Langevin sat in for Lori Cary for the second week in a row, and picked up his second straight win in the 25-lap pro-street stock feature. Cary is still recovering from a bad wreck that took place at Lebanon Valley Speedway two weeks ago, but Langevin has been a more than capable relief driver.

Dan Madigan led the first half of the pro-street stock feature, but Langevin, who had started 10th, moved out on the point on lap 15, forcing Madigan to settle for second. Bernie Companion finished third, followed by Kim Duell and Cale Kneer.

Curtis Condon held off Bill Duprey to pick up his fourth win of the season in the 20-lap limited feature, and Chris McCarthy drove to his sixth win of the year in the mini-stock feature.

MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Mike Perrotte Ken Tremont Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Frank Hoard Sr., Marc Johnson, Jimmy Cottrell, Matt DeLorenzo, Robert King, Don Ronca, Elmo Reckner, Mike Ronca, Ron Proctor, Rick Davis, John Proctor, Don Ackner, John Lutes Jr., Todd Ryan, Vince Quenneville Jr., Craig Hanson, Jack Johnson, Keith Flach.

SPORTSMAN: CHRIS BUSTA, Whitey Slavin, Joe Budka, Dick Bisson, Matt Depew, Brien Holbritter, Mike Tholin, Jack Gentile, Dustin Delaney, Ken Anatriello, Neal Erickson, Tim Hartman, Rich Ronca, Stan Lemiesz, David Peek, Chris Johnson, Joe Santoro, Dave Constantino, Tyler Curtis, Cass Bennett, Nick Anatriello, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Andy Boniewski, Mike Pinke.

SPORTSMAN B MAIN: David Peek, Stan Lemiesz, Mike Pinke, Neal Erickson, Dave Constantino, Chris Johnson, Randy Delaney, Kyle sheldon, Paul Dunham Jr., Adam Tranka, David Baranowski, Colleen Salisbury, Dan Carlton, Skip Shippee.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: ROB LANGEVIN, Dan Madigan, Bernie Companion, Kim Duell, Cale Kneer, Jimmy Eaton, Carl Vladyka, Dean Charbonneau, Tom O'Connor, Bob Schmidt, Pete Braderson, Bill Smith IV, John Turco, David Peck Jr., Greg McGill, Russ Miller, Darrell Carl, Matt Anatriello, Vince Santoro.

LIMITEDS: CURTIS CONDON, Bill Duprey, Pete DeFiglio, Kevin VanChance, Jeff Monroe, Mark Burch, John Filarecki, Nick Lussier, Dan Older, Dan Petronis, D.J. Brundige, Jim Monroe, Jim Monroe Jr., John Russo, Mike Wilber, Brian Ashline, Luke MacIsaac, Mike Ostrander, Mike Minick, Rich Burke, John Morris Jr., Steve Burch, Robert Bublak, Paul Mulrain.

MINI-STOCKS: CHRIS MCCARTHY (6), Brette Osgood (4), Travis Tromans (4), Mike Duclos (6), Andy Hickok (4), John Baldwin (4), Mike Cranston (4), Charlie Stoddard (4), Tim Anagnos (6), Dan Lorenc (6), Ken Hollenbeck (4), John Perry (6), Blake Williams (6), Jim Daniels (4), James Roner (6), Ted Fitzgerald (4), Shane Marks (6), Justin Ramsey (4), Alecia Mason (4), Jason Dickson (4).