Ronca returns to victory lane


MALTA – In 1984, Bruce Springsteen cautioned that glory days will pass you by.

But Mike Ronca proved Friday night that glory days can also return in the blink of an eye.

Riding a crest of momentum generated by a chassis that definitely works, Ronca held off Matt Sheppard to win Friday night's 35-lap 358 modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Ronca's first victory at the Malta track since Sept. 5, 2003.

Since getting the handle on a Bicknell chassis he purchased from A.J. Romano prior to the 2007 season, Ronca has been having teasing tastes of success, including a second-place finish to Romano on June 1. But he took advantage of a good starting position Friday night and then slammed the door on Sheppard on the final lap to notch his fourth career victory at Albany-Saratoga.

Ronca started fourth and only needed eight laps to overtake polesitter Ron Proctor to get the lead. There was also some tremendous action behind the leaders, as Sheppard, Ken Tremont Jr. and Matt DeLorenzo were working their way to the front.

Frank Hoard Sr. brought out the only caution of the feature on lap 16, helping Sheppard make up ground. Sheppard worked his way around Proctor for second on lap 27 and with five to go, was sitting right on Ronca's rear bumper.

On the last lap, a lapped car blocked Ronca's path on the inside, allowing Sheppard to nearly pull even with the leader, but Ronca slipped past the lapped car and hopped back on the throttle to get the popular victory.

“I knew on the final lap, when the lapped car couldn't decide where he wanted to go, that the outside would be opened up for somebody, and I did see a yellow car on the outside of me,” said Ronca after the win. “Fortunately, I had a little cushion on Matt, and was able to hold him off.”

Following Ronca and Sheppard across the finish line were Tremont, DeLorenzo and Ronnie Johnson, who drove an impressive race after starting 20th.

Completing the top 10 were Tony Kawalchuk, Elmo Reckner, Proctor, Romano and Keith Flach.

Dick Bisson held off points leader Dustin Delaney to notch his second win of the season in the 25-lap sportsman feature. Bisson started 10th, but with the help of a number of early cautions, easily worked his way to the front and had the lead after 15 laps.

Delaney, who started 17th, took over second with 10 to go and hung right with Bisson. But the leader never bobbled, beating Delaney to the finish line by 0.283 seconds. Chris Busta was third, with Chris Johnson fourth and Dave DePaulo fifth. Johnson's performance was his first top-five finish of the season.

Paul Dunham Jr. turned in another strong run in the budget sportsman class, driving to his fourth win of the season. He and Fred Proctor, who finished second, have been the class of the CVRA's newest division this season.

Mike Ostrander drove to his first win of the year in the 20-lap limited feature. Ostrander, who started eighth, was chasing Dan Older until a caution with four laps to go changed the complexion of the race. That restart allowed Ostrander to get the lead, while Older ran into problems two laps later and finished 17th.

Following Ostrander across the finish line were Brandon Emigh, Mark Burch and Ken Conroy. Ostrander became the eighth different winner in the division this season.

Phil DeFiglio picked up his sixth straight win in the mini-stock division, and Eric Bonney took the checkered flag in the enduro.

Albany-Saratoga will return to action on Friday, July 20, with its annual Race & Rock night, with music being provided by Rocking Horse. All divisions will be in action, and it will also be Bikers Night, with all motorcycle riders being admitted free of charge.

MODIFIEDS: MIKE RONCA, Matt Sheppard, Ken Tremont Jr., Matt DeLorenzo, Ronnie Johnson, Tony Kawalchuk, Elmo Reckner, Ron Proctor, A.J. Romano, Keith Flach, Jack Johnson, Jeff Trombley, Brett Hearn, Todd Stone, Jimmy Cottrell, Vince Quenneville Jr., Rick Davis, Don Ronca, Jimmy Davis, Frank Hoard Sr., Tim Hartman, Marc Johnson, Don Ackner, John Proctor.

SPORTSMAN: DICK BISSON, Dustin Delaney, Chris Busta, Chris Johnson, Dave DePaulo, Matt Depew, Stan Lemiesz, Ken Anatriello, Mark Kislowski, Rob Langevin, Rich Ronca, Joe Santoro, Mike Ketchum, Jeff Watson, Tyler Curtis, Pep Corradi, Adam Tranka, David Baranowski, Josh Hohenforst, Mike Tholin, David Peek, Whitey Slavin, Kory Sandstedt, Jack Gentile.

SPORTSMAN B MAIN: JEFF WATSON, Joe Santoro, Rich Ronca, Mark Kislowski, David Baranowski, Adam Tranka, John Willis, Robert Bublak Jr., Andy Boniewski, Colleen Salisbury, Mike Bendetti, Justin Barber, Neal Erickson, Nick Anatriello, Ken Shippee, Corey Gilligan.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: PAUL DUNHAM JR., Fred Proctor, Mike Visconti, Bryan Davis, Chuck Allen, Angela Hoard, Kale Groff, Frank Hoard III, Kris Badbury, Todd Clark, Ralph Denison, Jared McMahon, Al Williams, Brandon Jacobsen, Nick Hotaling.

LIMITEDS: MIKE OSTRANDER, Brandon Emigh, Mark Burch, Ken Conroy, John Filarecki, Jim Monroe Jr., Mike Minick, D.J. Brundige, Dan Petronis, Rich Burke, John Morris, Steve Kahler Jr., Amanda Clemens, Mike Pfau, Bill Burlingame, Andy Durie, Dan Older, Mark Dwyer, Nick Lussier, Paul Mulrain, Tommy Primeau Jr., Curtis Condon, Jeff Monroe.

MINI-STOCKS: PHIL DEFIGLIO, John Baldwin, Car No. 1, Shane Marks, Andy Hickok, Rusty Palmatier, Dan Older Jr., Charlie Stoddard, Mike Cranston, Dan Lorenc, Ray Galusha, Car No. 7e, Rennie Noradki, Ryan Petchel, Travis Tromans, Michelle Catone, Jason Dickson, Justin Reome, Ted Fitzgerald.