Hearn returns to victory lane

MALTA - Brett Hearn came one step closer to becoming the winningest driver in the history of Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night, when he chalked up his first win of the 2008 campaign in the 35-lap 358-modified feature.

The victory was the 85th of Hearn's career at Albany-Saratoga, moving him within five wins of tying Jack Johnson at the top of the track's all-time win list.

Robert King started in the front row and started cranking out some low 17-second laps on the lightning-quick surface Friday night, while Johnson, who started third in the Palmer Service Center small block, kept constant pressure on the leader.

King was lapping cars by lap eight, but the lack of cautions also helped Hearn quickly move up from his 13th starting position.

Hearn charged past King for the lead on lap 14 and easily held off Ken Tremont Jr. and Johnson to get the win, and become the fourth different winner in as many 358-modified features at the Malta track this season. Ironically, those three future Hall of Famers have combined for 222 career victories at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and also occupy the top three spots on the all-time win list.

Ronnie Johnson and Marc Johnson completed the top five. They were followed by Jeff Trombley, Don Ronca, King, Matt DeLorenzo and Tony Kawalchuk.

Mark Kislowski led flag-to-flag to record his first career victory in the 25-lap sportsman feature. Kislowski started fifth, but used a first-lap restart to get right to the front. A late restart gave Rich Ronca a shot at the leader, but Kislowski held his line to get the victory. Ronca crossed the finish line second, with defending division champion Mike Ketchum third, Ken Anatriello fourth and Mike Tholin fifth.

Defending track champion Lori Langevin drove to her first win of the year in the 25-lap pro-street stock feature. Jim Monroe set the pace for the first five laps, but Kim Duell used a restart on lap six to move into the lead.

Langevin, who had started 14th in the 24-car field, patiently worked her way to the front and was sitting second when the final caution of the race came out on lap 23. Langevin used the restart to get the lead, and came away with her 13th career victory.

Frank Hoard III continued his dominance of the budget sportsman division, picking up his third win in four starts this season. Hoard, who started the year with back-to-back wins before finishing third in the last race, on May 9, took the lead following a restart on lap 12 and outran Scott Duell and Ricky Quick, who qualified through the B main.

Dan Petronis took advantage of a second-row starting position to notch his second win of the season in the limited division, and Justin Demers won the mini-stock feature.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will return to action on Friday, May 30, with a Salute to Veterans Night. All divisions will be in action, with racing starting at 6:45 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Ken Tremont Jr., Jack Johnson, Ronnie Johnson, Marc Johnson, Jeff Trombley, Don Ronca, Robert King, Matt DeLorenzo, Tony Kawalchuk, Dave Camara, Keith Flach, A.J. Romano, Vince Quenneville Jr., Mike Ronca, Todd Stone, Jimmy Cottrell, Dustin Delaney, Mike Perrotte, John Proctor, Don Mattison, Ron Proctor, Don Ackner, Robert Allen, Elmo Reckner.

SPORTSMAN: MARK KISLOWSKI, Rich Ronca, Mike Ketchum, Ken Anatriello, Mike Tholin, Chris Busta, Kory Sandstedt, Ron Langevin, Matt Depew, Bill Bokus, Whitey Slavin, John Willis, Pep Corradi, Josh Hohenforst, Corey Gilligan, Joe Santoro, Adam Tranka, Tyler Curtis, Dave Manny, Kale Groff, Dave Baranowski, Jack Gentile, Stan Lemiesz, Dave DePaulo.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: LORI LANGEVIN, Kim Duell, Ed Thompson, Bernie Companion, Mike Paquin, Jim Monroe, Pete Broderson, Vinnie Santoro, Jeff Washburn, Greg McGill, Bill Smith IV, Phil DeFiglio, Charles Towslee, Mike Minick, Daryl Carl, Jake Losaw, Bob Schmidt, Kevin Van Chance, Walt Brownell, Ron Zagata, Jim Groncki, Tom O'Connor, Cale Kneer, Rob Yetman.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: FRANK HOARD III, Scott Duell, Ricky Quick, Al Williams,. Mike Visconti, Cullen Howe, Fred Proctor Jr., Jared McMahon, Jimmy Eaton, D.J. Brundige, Chuck Dickinson, Matt Hyde, Frank Corradi, Seth Howe, Anthony Marro, Bryan Davis, Peter Carlotto, Scot Straight, Bill Lussier, Jeremy Dygert, Alex Bell.

LIMITEDS: DAN PETRONIS, Ken Conroy, Dan Older, Mike Ostrander, John Filarecki, Curtis Condon, Mark Lester, Andy Durie, Jon Miller, Dave Billings, Brian O'Reilly, James Monroe, Jeff Monroe, Steve Burch, Yule Cook, Megan Purstell, Rich Howe, Mike Duclos, No. 112, Joshua Coonradt, Mark Goss.