5.4.12 Albany Saratoga Speedway Results
May 4, 2012: Malta, NY — Just rewind the race video from the week before — the race result will be the same. Modified sensation Brett Hearn and Bobby Hackel can’t do anything wrong at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. On Friday night the duo secured their second consecutive success stories at the Malta oval.
Brett Hearn, who came from the 15th starting position, entertained the race fans as he briefly went up and over the race surface in the second turn in the early stages of the 35-lap feature event. But by the 10th lap around the surface Hearn was comfortable — and it showed. The Madsen Motorsports car was moving.
On a lap 19 restart Kenny Tremont lost the second place spot to Hearn after he went high and it cost him a few positions in the field – Hearn slid into second place. And with 10 laps remaining he took over the main spot and onto the win.
“I got it back together and started working my way up towards the front,” said Hearn of the early race mishap. “It was a heck of a race. I was using every bit of the racetrack and then some.”
The win was Hearn’s 99th at the Malta speedway.
Prior to Hearn making his appearance known, it was all about Mark Kislowski. He owned the night — until then. Kislowski brought the Morris Auto Group automobile to a win in his qualifying event, was impressive all evening, and held the race lead until Hearn took over.
Super runs by Donnie Corellis and Jeff Trombley, both were holding onto top five runs when mishap on lap 19 saw Corellis go high and up and over the bank while Trombley took a slow roll into the pit area.
Matt DeLorenzo, Kenny Tremont and Ronnie Johnson rounded out the top five.
Once again the Budget Sportsman cars were plentiful — and again, Bobby Hackel was one of the dominant automobiles. Hackel started out in 15th and by lap five he was already in third place — shortly before the 10 to go mark he was sitting in the race lead.
“We had to work for that one — that was good,” said Hackel during post race ceremonies. “We finally figured out a groove and once we did it was easier because the car was so good last week that we came up with a win and it was the same way again this week.”
Scott Duell’s eighth place starting spot put him up front early on in the 25 lap Budget Sportsman feature event. Duell, who took an early race command in his qualifying event, did the same for the feature until Hackel took over the lead.
Jeremy Pitts, Mike Ostrander and Tim Hartman in the B-Dry sponsored automobile rounded out the top five.
Nice run for Ostrander, a former full fender driver, who’s run on Friday night was only his third open wheel ride.
After a rough start to the 2012 race season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway it was finally Rob Yetman’s time. Just like in past weeks, Yetman’s Lazzaro’s Auto Body sponsored machine was fast — this time he finally had a little luck on his side.
Yetman, who started the 25 lap Pro Stock feature event on the outside of the front row, owned his qualifying event and did just the same for the finale.
“We haven’t been doing well so we got to start up front,” said Yetman. “I’m pretty rough on my crew during the week in the garage — you want to win and that’s where it is won, in the garage, so I have to thank them.”
Yetman is happy to be back on the Malta clay where success has been plentiful.
“It’s great to see dirt back on this place,” said Yetman. “Everybody in the stands is loving it. I don’t think many people liked that blacktop — this is the way to go.”
Kim Duell, who joined his son on the qualifying event win list for the evening, was behind Yetman’s black and neon green machine the entire time. Duell also run under the Lazzaro Motorsports banner.
Last week’s feature event winner Chad Jeseo, Dean Charbonneau and Bill Smith rounded out the top five.
Despite appearing that he was losing some of his race lead on a few occasions during the 25 lap Street Stock feature event, Josh Coonradt remained in control and took his second victory lane celebration.
Bits: Albany-Saratoga Speedway race announcer Dan Martin was celebrating a moment on Friday night. Martin won his first Pro Stock event at the Malta speedplant 26 years ago… There were two red flag events during the race program. Once for a fire on Brandon Emigh’s Pro Stock during the feature event, the second coming when Andy Durie suffered a bad crash on the frontstretch… lots of rain fell in the Saratoga area on Friday a.m. playing havoc with the track prep team…. a surprise head turner was Brett Wright who just started in the open wheel cars this season. Wright’s only experience comes from racing go-karts — he won his qualifying event.
Modified Heats: (10 Laps) 1. Rich Ronca, 2. Mark Kislowski, 3. Dustin Delaney
MODIFIED Feature: (35 Laps) 1. BRETT HEARN, 2. Mark Kislowski 3. Matt Delorenzo 4. Kenny Tremont 5. Ronnie Johnson 6. Mike Perrotte 7. Todd Stone 8. Donnie Corellis 9. Dustin Delaney 10. Jason Herrington 11. Don Ronca 12. Marc Johnson 13. Bodie Bellinger 14. Rich Ronca 15. Keith Flach 16. Hector Stratton 17. Bob Savoie 18. Pep Corradi 19. Chris Johnson 20. Jimmy Cottrell 21. Chris Busta 22. JC Flach 23. Matt Depew 24. Cass Bennett 25. Justin Barber 26. Joe Williams 27. Jeff Trombley 28. Elmo Reckner 29. Neil Stratton DNS Brian Whittemor
Budget Sportsman Heats: (8 Laps) 1. Jack Speshock, 2. Brett Wright, 3. Mike Jeske, 4. Mike Tholin, 5. Scott Duell
Budget Sportsman B-Main (10 laps) — Race #1: 1. Robert Bublak, Race #2: Jack Swinton
BUDGET SPORTSMAN Feature: (25 Laps) 1. BOBBY HACKEL IV, 2. Scott Duell 3. Jeremy Pitts 4. Mike Ostrander 5. Tim Hartman 6. Mike Burdo 7. Jack Swinton 8. Mike Tholin 9. Robert Bublak 10. Derrick McGrew 11. Anthony Marro 12. Brian Gleason 13. Brett Wright 14. Paul Dunham 15. DJ Brundige 16. Dave Baranowski Jr. 17. Dan Santabarba 18. Jon Miller 19. Mike Jeske 20. Joey Scarborough 21. Jeff Rockefeller 22. Chuck Dickinson 23. Pete Carlotto 24. Stan Lemiesz 25. Matt Shadic 26. Jack Speshock 27. Jack Gentile 28. Mark Hughes 29. Fred Proctor
Pro Stock Heats: (8 Laps) 1. Rob Yetman, 2. Kim Duell
PRO STOCK Feature: [25 Laps] 1. ROB YETMAN 2. Kim Duell 3. Chad Jeseo 4. Dean Chargonneau 5. Bill Smith 6. Rob Lavgevin 7. Ken Martin 8. Walt Brownell 9. Bernie Campanion 10. Jay Fitzgerald 11. Jeff Washburn 12. Kevin VanChance 13. Dave Emigh 14. Dan Older 15. Jim Franklin 16. Brandon Emigh 17. Johnny Donnelly 18. Joe Santoro DNS Chip Smith
STREET STOCK Feature: (20 Laps) 1. JOSH COONRADT 2. Randy Miller 3. Yule Cook 4. Rowdy Burch 5. Ken Conroy 6. Dave Stickles 7. Jody Thew 8. JT Ronner 9. Justin Smith 10. Jon Hayes 11. Jay Severson 12. John Lindblade