Hearn ends Tremont win streak


MALTA – Everyone needs a little time off during the summer, to get away from their weekly routine, and obviously, Brett Hearn is no different.

After taking a week off from competition at Albany-Saratoga Speedway for a little workingman's holiday (competing on the Super DIRT Series), Hearn returned to the Malta track Friday night and ended Ken Tremont Jr.'s three-race winning streak.

Hearn returned to victory lane for the first time since June 29, coming away with his fifth win of the season on Black Flag Night at the speedway. Hearn, who started 13th, only needed 11 laps to get the lead and then put the Vinny Salerno-owned small block on cruise control. Tremont hustled up for second, but he was never a factor.

“We came up a little bit short, and sometimes, that happens,” said Tremont after the race. “But we're not disappointed, because we still had a good night.”

Marc Johnson, who is still looking for his first career win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, was never far from the lead pack. In the beginning, he was competing with John Proctor and Jeff Trombley for the top spot, and for one lap, it was Johnson who was setting the pace. When Proctor and Trombley began to fade, Johnson then had his hands full with Tremont and Hearn, and he didn't have enough for the veterans, but did come away with a fine third-place finish, matching his best performance of the season.

“Marc has been doing a fantastic job this year, and I thought that if he got out front, he might get the win,” said Hearn. “I was just trying to get the lead, hopefully check out and hope that no cautions came out, because I knew they were coming,” said Johnson.

The win was the 83rd of Hearn's career at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, moving him within seven of tying Jack Johnson's all-time record of 90.

Trombley hung on for fourth, while Danny Johnson, making his first appearance of the season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in the Ryan's Express ride, was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Matt DeLorenzo, Jack Johnson, Mike Ronca, A.J. Romano and Tim Hartman.

Chris Busta grabbed the lead with four laps to go and drove to his fourth win of the season in the 25-lap sportsman feature. Andy Boniewski, looking for his first career win, came off the pole and set the pace for the first 20 laps, but Busta's experience paid off in the closing laps of the race.

Rookie Rob Langevin used a restart with three laps to go to get around Boniewski for second, forcing Boniewski to settle for third, his first top-three finish ever. Scott Duell hit the stripe fourth, and Chris Johnson was fifth.

Jimmy Eaton took advantage of a late restart to get the lead and came away with his first win of the season in the 25-lap pro-street stock feature. Cale Kneer was cruising along until Matt Anatriello brought out the yellow with four to go, allowing Eaton to close up on Kneer's rear bumper. That was the break that Eaton needed, as he quickly pulled away from Kneer for the win. Kneer held off Lori Cary for second, with Vince Santoro fourth and Kim Duell fifth.

D.J. Brundige has been doing his best driving at Devil's Bowl on Sundays, but finally broke through at Albany-Saratoga, getting his first win of the season in the 20-lap limited feature. Brundige, who lives a couple of miles away from Albany-Saratoga, charged past Brian Ashline with two laps to go to become the 11th different winner in the division this season. Paul Mulrain got around Ashline on the final lap to finish second.

Alex Bell outran Paul Dunham Sr. to win the budget sportsman feature, and Phil DeFiglio (six-cylinder) and Brette Osgood (four-cylinder) were the winners in the mini-stock division. DeFiglio's win was his ninth in a row.

Albany-Saratoga will be back in action on Friday, Aug. 17, for Summer Meltdown sponsored by Morris Auto Group, which will include a spectacular 107.1 lap enduro sponsored by Froggy 107.1 radio. The enduro will pay $1,007.10 to win. It will also be Kids Night, which will feature bicycle giveaways.

MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Ken Tremont Jr., Marc Johnson, Jeff Trombley, Danny Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, Jack Johnson, Mike Ronca, A.J. Romano, Tim Hartman, Ronnie Johnson, Tony Kawalchuk, Todd Stone, Matt Sheppard, Mike Perrotte, Don Ronca, Keith Flach, John Proctor, Jimmy Cottrell, Jimmy Davis, Rich Davis III, Frank Hoard Sr., Don Ackner, Ron Proctor.

SPORTSMAN: CHRIS BUSTA, Rob Langevin, Andy Boniewski, Scott Duell, Chris Johnson, Mike Tholin, Dick Bisson, Dustin Delaney, Whitey Slavin, Pep Corradi, Ken Anatriello, Tyler Curtis, Mike Ketchum, David Peek, Kory Sandstedt, Dave Baranowski, Matt Depew, Josh Hohenforst, Dave DePaulo, Rich Ronca, Jack Gentile, Brian Holbritter, Mark Kislowski, Adam Tranka, Joe Santoro.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: JIMMY EATON, Cale Kneer, Lori Cary, Vince Santoro, Kim Duell, Darryl Carl, Pete Broderson, Kevin Van Chance, Gregg McGill, Jim Monroe Sr., Jesse Edwards Jr., Josh Joseph, Dan Madigan, Tom Stack, Matt Anatriello, Bernie Companion, Jake Losaw, Chuck Towslee, Randy Miller, Jeff Eashburn, Bill Smith IV.

LIMITEDS: D.J. BRUNDIGE, Paul Mulrain, Brian Ashline, Brandon Emigh, Dan Older, John Filarecki, Ken Conroy, Jim Monroe Jr., Nick Lussier, Dan Patronis, Amanda Clemens, Steve Burch, Rick Howe, Rich Burke, Tony Condon, Rich Holmes, Mark Dwyer, Curtis Condon, Mike Minick, Anthony Marro, Mike Ostrander, Lucas MacIsaac, Andy Durie, Tommy Primeau Jr.,

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: ALEX BELL, Paul Dunham Sr., Angela Hoard, Mike Visconti, John Russo, Jared McMahon, Fred Proctor, John Turco, Mike Burto, Ralph Denison, Bryan Davis, Chuck Allen, Todd Clark, Brandon Jacobsen.

MINI-STOCKS: PHIL DEFIGLIO (6), Brette Osgood (4), Jason Dickson, Mike Cranston (4), Shane Marks (4), Erin Older (4), Dan Older Jr. (4), Jason Rheome (4), Ray Galusha (6), Charlie Stoddard (4), Travis Tromans (4), Michelle Catone (4), Car No. 069, Chris McCarthy, Andy Hickok (4), Dan Lorenc (6), John Baldwin (4), Jamie McCarthy, Ted Fitzgerald (4), No. 91.