Vernold gets first win at Albany-Saratoga

MALTA –  Make it an even dozen.

Kris Vernold found the outside groove to his liking, and then survived two restarts with Mike Bruno breathing down his neck to record the first win of his career Friday night in the 35-lap modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Vernold, driving the Kearns Racing No. 97, also became the 12th different winner in the premier division at the historic Malta track this season.

Don Mattison came off the front row and set the pace for the first 15 laps. But Vernold, who had started fifth, found the traction he needed on the outside and took charge on lap 16, after passing Dave Manny and Mattison on consecutive laps.

Bruno, who had started 12th, got around Mattison for second on lap 27, and one lap later, Skip Shippee brought out the yellow, negating Vernold's huge lead and putting Bruno right on Vernold's rear bumper.

Vernold held Bruno off, but another yellow flew with two to go. That caution was brought out by Manny, who had earlier made contact with the rear end of Ken Tremont Jr.'s car. The caution created a two-lap shootout to the finish, but Vernold kept his poise, and beat Bruno to the finish line by 0.442 seconds.

“You have to do whatever is fast here, whether it's the inside or the outside on the track,” said Vernold in victory lane. “I wasn't too happy about the caution (on lap 28) because I knew at that point that I was gone.”

Mattison, Tremont and Leon Gonyo completed the top five.

Hunter Bates took the checkered flag in the 25-lap sportsman feature. The win was his second of the year, as he was also victorious on May 21.

Bates took the lead away from Luke Klob on lap seven and pulled away for an easy victory. Klob, Chris Johnson, Andy Durie and Jason Herrington completed the top five.

Carl Guilefuss picked up his third win of the year in the 30-lap pro-stock feature. Jeremy Houghtaling, still looking for his first win, set the pace for the first 10 laps, but once Guilefuss took over the point, he was in control, as the last 25 laps were run caution-free, allowing Guilefuss to win by nearly two seconds.

Houghtaling finished second, his best run of the season, holding off Chad White. Sheldon Martin and Darryl Carl completed the top five.

The Emigh brothers resumed their family feud in the Renegade feature, with Brandon Emigh holding off brother Dave by about a car length to get his fourth win of the season. An early caution helped Brandon Emigh move out front after just four laps, and he never gave his brother the opportunity to get by. Jon Miller, Dan Petronis and Mike Ostrander completed the top five.

Harold Lavair took the checkered flag in the Bomber Warriors feature, but was later disqualified when he refused to comply with a request by track officials to inspect his car. That gave the victory to Colin Clow.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will be back in action on Friday, Aug. 27, with an enduro added to the regular racing card. The first green flag will fall at 6:45 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: KRIS VERNOLD, Mike Bruno, Don Mattison, Ken Tremont Jr., Leon Gonyo, Don Ronca, Chris Ross, Keith Flach, Andy Lindemann, Rich Ronca, Joe Williams, Todd Ryan, Marc Johnson, Dave Manny, Skip Shippee, Ron Proctor, Jim Ryan, Randy Hotaling.

DENOOYER DASH FOR DASH: DAVE MANNY, Chris Ross, Jim Ryan, Andy Lindeman, Leon Gonyo, Don Mattison.

SPORTSMAN: HUNTER BATES, Luke Klob, Chris Johnson, Andy Durie, Jason Herrington, Fred Proctor, Paul Dunham Jr., Adam Tranka, Jacob Zakrzewski, Jason Rheome, Matt Atwood.

PRO-STOCKS: CARL GUILEFUSS, Jeremy Houghtaling, Chad White, Sheldon Martin, Darryl Carl, Kim Duell, Mike Paquin, Scott Duell, Mike Scorzelli, Jim Monroe Jr.,

RENEGADES: BRANDON EMIGH, Dave Emigh, Jon Miller, Dan Petronis, Mike Ostrander, Dan Older, Justin Demers, Chris Murray, Frank Monroe, Rowdy Birch, Andy Smith, Brian Rogers, Bill Burlingame, Jason Barrette, Jonathan Hayes, Jim Anagnos. DQ: Josh Coonradt.

BOMBER WARRIORS: COLIN CLOW, John Lindblade, Mark Lindblade, Dan Older Jr., Mike Cranston, Jeremy Hayes, Ken Hulbert, Jason Dickson. DQ: Harold Lavair.