Romano breaks through at Malta


MALTA -- For years, A.J. Romano spent his Saturday nights competing on dry, slick track surfaces. So when Albany-Saratoga Speedway came up a little slick Friday night, Romano was right at home.

Romano took advantage of the track conditions and a front-row starting position to nail down his first victory of the season in the 35-lap 358 modified feature at the Malta track. The victory was Romano's first at Albany-Saratoga Speedway since Sept. 10, 2004.

A little pre-race strategy set the tone for Romano's impressive win. “We were set up to run the bottom,” he said after the race. “When Bruce (promoter Bruce Richards) watered the top of the track (prior to the feature), I figured it would be better to run up there.”

So Romano kept the Bill Lake Modular Homes-sponsored small block stuck to the very top of the race track, giving room on the bottom. But no one could take advantage of the opening.

Mike Ronca had his small block hooked up again and was involved in a good battle with rookie Tim Hartman, who won the sportsman championship last year, and Gene Munger for a good portion of the race. Hartman held the No. 2 spot until a restart on lap 22 allowed Ronca to move into second, but he never got a shot at Romano, who took off when the green flag came back out and cruised to victory.

Ronca came across the line second, his second straight top-five finish, and his best finish since Sept. 5, 2003, which was the last time he sat in victory lane.

“When they realigned us for the restart, I saw there was only A.J. ahead of me, and I thought I could at least stay with him,” said Ronca after the race.

Matt DeLorenzo put on a good show, charging from his 16th starting spot to finish third, with Marc Johnson fourth and Hartman fifth.

The finish will juggle the point standings, as Jack Johnson, Ken Tremont Jr. and Matt Sheppard, who held down the top three spots in the point standings at the beginning of the night, finished 14th, 13th, and ninth, respectively.

With a large field of modifieds/sportsman on hand, many drivers were forced to qualify through the B main, which was won by Tony Kawalchuk.

Defending track champion Brett Hearn also had to qualify through the B main, and was never a factor, after starting 26th in the bulky field. He finished 10th.

Jeff Washburn made it two in a row in the pro-street stock division, outrunning Bernie Companion to win the 25-lap feature.

Washburn took the lead away from Charles Towslee on the white flag lap after it looked like Towslee was going to come away with his first career win.

Nick Lussier picked up his first win of the season in the 20-lap limited feature, breaking Jim Monroe Jr.'s stranglehold on the division. Lussier got the lead on lap three and then held off a persistent challenge from Monroe, who had won four of the first five features.

Paul Dunham Jr. picked up his second straight win in the budget sportsman class, and Phil DeFiglio notched another win of the season in the mini-stock division.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be holding the double-point Spring Championships on Friday, June 8, with all divisions in action. Racing will begin at 6:45 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: A.J. ROMANO, Mike Ronca, Matt DeLorenzo, Marc Johnson, Tim Hartman, Gene Munger, Jim Davis, Todd Stone, Matt Sheppard, Brett Hearn, Vince Quenneville Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Ken Tremont Jr., Jack Johnson, Don Ronca, Frank Hoard Sr., Elmo Reckner, Tony Kawalchuk, Rich Ronca, Matt Depew, Rob Langevin, George Foley, Keith Flach, John Proctor, Don Mattison, Don Ackner, Ron Proctor, Jeff Trombley, Mike Tholin, Eric Mack.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: JEFF WASHBURN, Bernie Companion, Jim Monroe, Carl Vladyka, Kim Duell, Darrell Carl, Cale Kneer, Dan Madigan, Vince Santoro, Kevin VanChance, Josh Joseph, Matt Anatriello, Randy Miller, Charles Towslee, Jimmy Eaton, Bill Smith IV, Greg McGill, Tom Stack, Frank Twing, Lori Cary, Jesse Edwards.

LIMITEDS: NICK LUSSIER, Jim Monroe Jr., John Filarecki, Rich Burke, Brandon Emigh, Dan Petronis, Dan Older, Jeff Monroe, Steve Burch,. Ben Durie, Steve Holcomb, Ken Conroy, Ed Bradt, Charles Primeau, Bill Burlingame, D.J. Brundige, Brian Ashline, Curtis Condon, Mike Duclos, Mike Ostrander, Dave Emigh, T.J. Pierce, Mark Burch, Mike Minick.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: PAUL DUNHAM JR., Angela Hoard, Mike Visconti, Ralph Denison, Bryan Davis, Jared McMahon, Frank Hoard III, Kate Groff, Al Williams, Kris Bradbury, Fred Proctor, Chuck Allen, Brandon Jacobsen.

MINI-STOCKS: PHIL DIFIGLIO (6), Brette Osgood (4), Travis Tromans (4), Jason Dickson (4), Shane Marks (4), Ryan Veitch (4), Andy Hickok (4), Dan Lorenc (6), Car No. 16 (4), Ray Galusha (6), Dan Older Jr. (4), Rennie Noradki (6), Jason Rheome (4), Ted Fitzgerald (4), Michelle Catone (4), Mike Cranston (4), John Baldwin (4).