Trombley back in victory lane

MALTA - Jeff Trombley added another chapter to “The Year of the Comeback” Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Obviously not believing that only bad things can happen on Friday the 13th, Trombley overpowered some of the best 358-modified drivers in the business and came away with his first win in 17 years in the 35-lap feature.

The last time Trombley was in victory lane at Albany-Saratoga Speedway was May 24, 1991. He joins Don Ronca, who ended an 11-year winless streak, and Mike Perrotte, who ended a relatively short three-year dry spell, as three of the Comeback Kids at Albany-Saratoga this season.

Trombley made this one look easy. Coming out of the four hole, he took the lead on lap five and continually held off Ronnie Johnson to record the fourth victory of his career at the Malta track.

“We have been struggling real bad this year, and have been making a lot of changes to the car,” said Trombley in victory lane after the win. “It's been driving us nuts trying to get this car better, but this will give us a little boost.”

With Trombley in control, Johnson and Tony Kawalchuk were left to battle for second, and they didn't disappoint a huge Friday Kids Night/Awareness Night crowd. A late restart helped Johnson secure the position while Kawalchuk, who skipped racing the previous week to attend his high school prom, was third, his best performance of the season.

Jack Johnson, the winningest driver in the history of the speedway, was fourth, with Dave Camara fifth.

Ken Tremont, who had to pit for a new tire after an early-race incident, got back up for sixth. Completing the top 10 were Ronca, Matt DeLorenzo, Todd Stone and Brett Hearn.

Rob Langevin picked up his second win of the season in the 25-lap sportsman feature. Taking advantage of the Top Gun starting lineup, in which the top 10 drivers from the previous week's feature are locked in, Langevin came off the pole and led all 25 laps of the feature, but it was by no means an easy win, as he had Mark Kislowski glued to his rear bumper. Kislowski tried to make a move on the final lap, but Langevin hit the finish line a nose in front of Kislowski. Josh Hohenforst finished third, with Kory Sandtstedt fourth and Matt Depew fifth.

The pro-street stocks went 50 laps, with Cale Kneer winding up in victory lane for the first time this season, breaking Lori Langevin's three-race winning streak. Kneer started third and had the lead by lap nine. Kim Duell made a late run to grab the runner-up position, with Ed Thompson third, Langevin fourth and Pete Broderson fifth.

Scott Duell picked up his second straight victory in the budget sportsman class. Brian Davis, who keeps knocking on the door, hit the finish line second, his best run of the season that has seen a number of top-fives, and Frank Hoard III was third.

Andy Durie led flag-to-flag to notch his first win of the year in the limited feature, and Justin Demers got the win in the mini-stock class.

The night also featured a 50-lap enduro, with Pat O'Connor taking the checkered flag.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will return to action on Friday, June 20, with all divisions in action. The night will also include one-on-one spectator racing, with fans bringing their cars out of the parking lot to go head-to-head on the speedway.

MODIFIEDS: JEFF TROMBLEY, Ronnie Johnson, Tony Kawalchuk, Jack Johnson, Dave Camara, Ken Tremont Jr., Don Ronca, Matt DeLorenzo, Todd Stone, Brett Hearn, Mike Ronca, Elmo Reckner, John Proctor, Robert King, Don Mattison, Ray Hoard, Mike Perrotte, Marc Johnson, Ron Proctor, Vince Quenneville Jr., Robert Allen, Jimmy Cottrell, Keith Flach.

SPORTSMAN: ROB LANGEVIN, Mark Kislowski, Josh Hohenforst, Kory Sandstedt, Matt Depew, Mike Ketchum, Rich Ronca, Joe Santoro, Tyler Curtis, Pat O'Hanlon, Alex Bell, Andy Boniewski, Dave DePaolo, Chris Busta, Corey Gilligan, Dave Baranowski, Skip Shippee, Dave Manny, Kale Groff, Mike Tholin, Stan Lemiesz, Ken Anatriello, Adm Tranka, Pep Corradi, Jack Gentile, Whitey Slain, Bill Bokus.

PRO-STREET STOCKS (50 LAPS): CALE KNEER, Kim Duell, Ed Thompson, Lori Langevin, Pete Broderson, Kevin Van Chance, Vince Santoro, Daryl Carl, Phil DeFiglio, Mike Minick, Mike Paquin, Jim Monroe, Bernie Companion, Randy Miller, Walt Brownell, Jeff Washburn, Greg McGill, Charles Towslee, Tom O'Connor, Mike Migliori, Jim Groncki.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: SCOTT DUELL, Bryan Davis, Frank Hoard III, Al Williams, Mike Visconti, Paul Dunham Jr., Frank Corradi, Cullen Howe, Jimmy Eaton, Mike Burdo, Anthony Morro, Chuck Dickinson, Ron Ayotte, Pete Carlotto, Angelo DiCarlo, Nick Hotaling, Ralph Denison, Scot Straight, D.J. Brundige, John Avery, Mike Grogan, Randy Davis, Jeremy Dygert, Ricky Quick, Jenelle davis.

LIMITEDS: ANDY DURIE, Mark Burch, Mike Ostrander, Jim Monroe, John Filarecki, Jon Morris Jr., Jon Miller, Jeff Monroe, Brian Ashline, Dan Petronis, Dan Older, David Billings, Yule Cook, Mark Lester, Dan Carlton, Steve Burch, Brian O'Reilly, Amanda Clemens, Rich Howe, Curtis Condon, Jordan Jeffalone, Dave Cook, Rob Purdy.

MINI-STOCKS: JUSTIN DEMERS, Michelle Catone, Chris Murray, Ray Galusha, Mike Cranston, Dan Older Jr., Charlie Stoddard, Jonathan Hayes, Elmer Montville, Jessica Rheome, Chris McCarthy, Jason Dickson, Dave McFarren.