Langevin wins special holiday show at Albany-Saratoga

MALTA - Extra seat time is obviously paying off for Rob Langevin.

Langevin, in just his second full season piloting an open-wheel car after moving up from the pro-street stock ranks, picked up his third victory of the season Thursday night in the 25-lap sportsman feature that highlighted a special 4th of July holiday show at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Despite rain throughout the area, which held down the crowd, the racing at Albany-Saratoga was almost as spectacular as the big fireworks show that lit up the skies.

While Langevin races in the sportsman division on Friday nights, he also runs against the 358-modifieds on Sundays at Devil's Bowl, and the experience is really starting to pay off.

Coming out of his second-row starting spot, Langevin moved out in front on the ninth lap and then held off a final challenge from Mark Kislowski, who got one final shot at the leader when Matt Depew brought out the final caution of the race with five laps to go.

Langevin hit the finish line with a 0.48-second cushion over Kislowski, with defending track champion Mike Ketchum third.

The point standings were also shaken up. Josh Hohenforst went into the race with the lead, but he finished seventh, giving the point lead to Ketchum. Hohenforst dropped to second, while Langevin is now fourth, but just nine points out of the lead.

Kim Duell, making a solid run for the track championship in the pro-street stock division, padded his point lead by coming away with his second win of the year in the 25-lap feature in that class.

Duell, who started seventh, efficiently worked his way to the front and had the lead at the mid-point of the feature, but he never could get comfortable. Former track champion Joe Santoro, subbing for his cousin, Vinny, stayed right on Duell's rear bumper, waiting for the leader to make a mistake, but Duell never bobbled and Santoro had to settle for second, with defending point champion Lori Langevin third.

D.J. Brundige ended his run of bad luck and came away with his first career victory in the 25-lap budget sportsman feature. Brundige, who made the step up from the limited class, started on the pole and led flag-to-flag, beating Scott Duell to the finish line by nearly two seconds. Peter Carlotto hit the stripe third, his best finish of the season.

Dan Petronis picked up his third win of the season and regained the point lead in the limited division. The limiteds ran a special 35-lap feature, but the added distance didn't bother Petronis, who easily outran Ken Conroy and Andy Durie to get the win.

Jason Dickson got the win in the mini-stock feature, and John Heidrich took home the top prize in the 50-lap enduro.

The 358-modifieds will return to action at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday, July 11 on Seniors Night. All other divisions will also be competing, with racing starting at 6:45 p.m.

SPORTSMAN: ROB LANVEGIN, Mark Kislowski, Mike Ketchum, Chris Busta, Ken Anatriello, Mike Tholin, Josh Hohenforst, Kory Sandstedt, Derrick McGrew, Tyler Curtis, Pep Corradi, Joe Santoro, Dave Constantino, Corey Gilligan, Jack Gentile, Bill Bokus, Matt Depew, Patrick O'Hanlon, Rich Ronca, Dave DePaolo, Dick Bisson, Dave Manny, Mike Ballestero, Stan Lemiesz.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: KIM DUELL, Joe Santoro, Lori Langevin, Rob Yetman, Charles Towslee, Walt Brownell, Bill Smith IV, Daryl Carl, Bernie Companion, Ed Thompson, Greg McGill, James Monroe, Jeremy Pitts, Mike Minick, Mike Paquin, Randy Miller, Jim Groncki, Jim Monroe, Bob Schmidt, Kevin Van Chance, Phil DeFiglio.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: D.J. BRUNDIGE, Scott Duell, Peter Carlotto, Mike Visconti, Frank Hoard III, Jimmy Eaton, Cullen Howe, Matthew Hyde, Paul Dunham Jr., Anthony Morro, Churk Dickinson, Fred Proctor, Frank Hoard Jr., Mike Burdo, Don Beckham, Dennis Pennock, Frank Corradi, Greg Decamp, Ralph Denison, Jeremy Dygert, Scott Straight.

LIMITEDS: DAN PETRONIS, Ken Conroy, Andy Durie, Mike Ostrander, Dan Carlton, John Filarecki, Dan Older, Mark Burch, John Morris Jr., Dave Billings, Mark Dwyer, Ben Durie, Richard Howe, Mark Lester, Herb Hopkins, Brian O'Reilly, Yule Cook, Jon Miller, Jeff Monroe, David Cook.

MINI-STOCKS: JASON DICKSON, Ken Hollenbeck, Justin Demers, Michelle Catone, Josh Rheome, Chris McCarthy, Dan Older Jr., Charlie Stoddard, Mike Cranston, Elmer Montville, Ray Galusha, Jessica Rheome.