The drought is over for Mike Perrotte

MALTA - The more things change, the more they stay the same, at least with Mike Perrotte.

When Perrotte won his first modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in 1986, his car owner was George Huttig. When Perrotte recorded career win number 17 on Friday night, he was still thanking Huttig.

“I've had the same crew for 20 years and the same car owner since 1985, and they just never gave up,” said Perrotte in victory lane after the win.

Perrotte used a restart on the 24th lap to take the lead away from Dave Camara and went on to end nearly a four-year winless streak in the 35-lap 358-modified feature on Spring Championships night.

A heavy thunderstorm in the morning and humid conditions all day created a very heavy racing surface, which played right into the hands of an old veteran like Perrotte.

“The track was back to the way it used to be in the '80s,” said Perrotte, who sits eighth on the all-time win list at the Malta track.

Ron Proctor and Jimmy Cottrell provided the early excitement in the 358-modified feature, swapping the lead twice before Cottrell cut a tire and had to go to the pits.

Camara, who started 12th, moved into the lead on lap 11 while Elmo Reckner, Jeff Trombley, Brett Hearn, Proctor and Perrotte were waging a heated battle right behind him.

Perrotte took the low line around both Hearn and Proctor to move into third on lap 19, and then grabbed the No. 2 position away from Reckner.

Although Camara had a huge lead by that time, a wreck on lap 23, involving Proctor, Trombley and Ken Tremont Jr., bunched the field and gave Perrotte the opportunity he needed.

Perrotte took the lead following the restart, and Camara now had his hands full with Hearn, who was looking for his third straight win. But Hearn and Camara came together on lap 26, ending Hearn's night and allowing Perrotte to pull away for the victory.

Camara was second, his best finish of the year, while Matt DeLorenzo, who hadn't hit the top five since winning on opening night, crossed the finish line third. They were followed by Todd Stone and Tremont.

“We're getting there, but we need to seal the deal,” said Camara, who is back running on the Champlain Valley Racing Association fulltime this season after a long hiatus. He hasn't won a 358-modified feature at the Malta track since May 30, 2003.

Defending track champion Mike Ketchum recorded his second straight win in the 25-lap sportsman feature. Joe Santoro set the pace for the first seven laps before relinquishing the lead to Josh Hohenforst. A caution on lap13 allowed Ketchum to join the lead pack, and he took the lead for good just four laps later. Hohenforst hung on for second, with Kory Sandstedt third, Santoro fourth and Rich Ronca fifth.

Scott Duell, who has had three second-place finishes in the budget sportsman division this season, finally picked up his first win of the season in the 25-lap feature in that division. Duell dominated the race, leading from flag-to-flag and beating runner-up Jimmy Eaton by over four seconds. Al Williams had his best run of the year and finished third.

Lori Langevin extended her winning streak to three races in the pro-street stock class , taking the lead on lap 21 of the 25-lap feature when leader Walt Brownell dropped out with mechanical problems, and holding off Cale Kneer and Kim Duell.

Dan Older picked up his second victory of the season in the limited division, and Elmer Montville won the mini-stock feature. The Central New York Mini-Sprints were also in action on a busy Friday night, with Jim Broderick getting the victory.

Albany-Saratoga will be holding Kids Night on Friday, June 13. The racing action will include all divisions, and there will also be an enduro.

MODIFIEDS: MIKE PERROTTE, Dave Camara, Matt DeLorenzo, Todd Stone, Ken Tremont Jr., Keith Flach, Robert King, Mike Ronca, Don Ronca, Don Mattison, A.J. Romano, Marc Johnson, Elmo Reckner, Jimmy Cottrell, Jack Johnson, Brett Hearn, Robert Allen, Jeff Trombley, Ron Proctor, Ronnie Johnson, John Proctor, Tony Kawalchuk.

SPORTSMAN: MIKE KETCHUM, Josh Hohenforst, Kory Sandstedt, Joe Santoro, Rich Ronca, Chris Busta, Mike Tholin, Mark Kislowski, Rob Langevin, Matt Depew, Tyler Curtis, Ken Anatriello, Pep Corradi, Pat O'Hanlon, Skip Shippee, Jack Gentile, Bill Bokus, Stan Lemiesz, Dave DaPaolo, Dave Manny, Corey Gilligan, Erik Mack.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: LORI LANGEVIN, Cale Kneer, Kim Duell, Vinnie Santoro, Kevin Van Chance, Bernie Companion, Pete Broderson, Ed Thompson, Rob Yetman, Charles Towslee, Walt Brownell, Bill Smith IV, Daryl Carl, Jim Monroe, Mike Paquin, Jeff Washburn, Greg McGill, Phil DeFiglio, Mike Migliori, Randy Miller.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: SCOTT DUELL, Jimmy Eaton, Al Williams, Ricky Quick, Bryan Davis, Mike Burdo, Matt Hyde, Anthony Marro, Scot Straight, Nick Hotaling, D.J. Brundige, Jeremy Dygert, John Avery, Mike Grogan, Tim Anagnos, Cullen Howe, Chuck Dickinson, Frank Corradi, Ron Ayotte.

LIMITEDS: DAN OLDER, John Filarecki, Mike Ostrander, Mark Lester, Dan Pertonis, John Morris Jr., Jon Miller, Shane Marks, Mark Dwyer, Andrew Durie, Rich Howe, Amanda Clemens, Brian O'Reilly, Ken Conroy, Yule Cook, Mark Burch, Brian Ashline, Dave Billings, David Cook, Jordan Jeffalone, Dan Carlton, Megan Purstell.

MINI-STOCKS: ELMER MONTVILLE, Justin Demers, Jason Dickson, Travis Tromans, Michelle Catone, Charlie Stoddard, Ray Galusha, Dan Older Jr., Ken Schroeder, Erin Older, No. 1, Mike Cranston.