6.1.12 Albany Saratoga Speedway Results
Malta, NY ― It is his job and boy does Brett Hearn make it look easy ― and fun. Hearn started 15th with the Madsen Motorsports automobile and it only took him 17 circuits to land himself in front of the Modified pack to secure the win in the 30-lap Lazarro Auto Body and Herrington Farms sponsored event.
It was Hearn’s fifth win of the eight shows run on the Malta clay for 2012.
Once again Hearn wasted little time coming from the rear. A cluster mess of automobiles [on lap four] found Kenny Tremont, who started 19th with the S&S Asphalt sponsored automobile, getting by the fast running Hearn. But it wouldn’t last, the 16th time around Hearn was sitting in second, another lap later he took the lead.
“We have a great handling TEO car with a perfectly matched Enders small block for this track, it’s just unbelievable,” said Hearn during post race ceremonies.
“We did what we had to do to get to the front, it was pretty crazy ― lots of close calls. Sometimes when it rains like this the center of the corners get slicker then they do normally. I think this probably was as slick as it has been for about four weeks and that’s when this car really takes a shining.”
Matt DeLorenzo was quite impressive. Matty D came from the 25th starting spot to follow Hearn across the finish line. Tremont, who came into the evening in second place in the point standings, was third, while Marc Johnson and Ronnie Johnson rounded out the top five.
Luke Klob led the way when the 25-lap Budget Sportsman feature kicked off, but around the eighth circuit Klob was rolling through the infield area and out of the race lead. Back in the field opening night winner, Derrick McGrew and Tim Hartman were following each other to the front.
Despite a 15th place start Hartman was just outside the top five with only five laps down in the event. He was in third three circuits later, grabbing second on the 10th time around. And after a great show was put on by race leader Jeremy Digert and Hartman for over a handful of laps, Hartman moved into the race lead on lap 19.
The win was Hartman’s first at the Malta oval this season.
“It’s a good feeling being here in victory lane again,” said Hartman. “I’ve got to thank my dad for putting together an awesome car, everybody that works on this car are real loyal.”
Track announcer Mike Warren compared Hartman to his dad, Tim, who has experienced much success at the Speedway.
“He’s a good set-up man ― he taught me well. I know how to run that bottom here and I knew once I got to the front and stayed on the bottom I didn’t think anybody would be able to go around me.”
Derrick McGrew, Jeremy Digert, Jack Gentile, Rocky Warner rounded out the top five.
Kim Duell and Walt Brownell were treating the race fans to a great show in the 25-lap Pro Stock feature event when the rain started to fall. Fortunately it was only a brief inconvenience and racing resumed 20 minutes later. Duell continued his dominance when racing resumed and despite challenges from Dan Older he was still owning it. But as the field came down for the white flag Rob Langevin, who took second on lap 22, took the lead from Duell.
Langevin went on to his third win of the season.
“It was great,” said Langevin. “The idea is to get to the end of the race, survive through all the stuff and get to the end and then you wait for people to slip up and you get underneath them.”
You could throw a blanket over the top three for most of the event ― some great racing. Kim Duell, Dan Older, Rob Yetman, and Walt Brownell rounded out the top five.
Randy Miller took the win in the ‘special 30-lap’ Lazzaro Auto Body and Herrington Farms sponsored race. Miller wasted little time getting up front, already in the ‘mighty-five’ by lap five. Miller took the lead from Josh Coonradt on lap 19 and went on to his second win of the year.
“I didn’t even know the race was 30-laps until we came out here so that was a surprise,” said Miller. “It was fast on the high side, fast on the bottom and I think the rain helped a little bit. Me and my dad figured some things out and the car went good.”
Night Bits: Despite other speedways canceling due to inclement weather and rain falling all around the Capital District area, folks continued to pile into the Malta oval. Raindrops were falling during the start of the qualifying events but it didn’t last longer than a few minutes…… Jeff Trombley has been one to contend with at the ‘Great Race Place’ but Trombley failed to make his way into the feature by way of his qualifying event. Trombley was fast again this week and came from a back-marker spot to finished 6th… Ronnie Johnson’s Palmer Service Center automobile came to a stop on the front stretch during the Modified hot laps session just prior to the feature event. Again, this week Johnson was the fastest in pre-race hot laps… Ronnie’s dad, Jack, was inducted into the DIRTcar Hall of Fame last weekend. Induction ceremonies were held at the DIRTcar Classic Car Museum in Weedsport, NY… Kenny Tremont’s S& S Asphalt sponsored race car was the fastest on the racetrack for hot laps just prior to the feature events… Floyd Billington was sporting a car in the Budget Sportsman qualifying events. Billington spent time at the speedway in years past… On lap 4 of the Pro Stock feature event the rain began to fall, after a 20 minute delay racing was resumed… Albany Saratoga Speedway was the only track racing on Friday night in New York State, all others fell victim to rain.
Lazarro Auto Body and Herrington Farms Modified (35 Laps) – 1. Brett Hearn, 2. Matt Delorenzo, 3. Ken Tremont Jr, 4. Marc Johnson, 5. Ronnie Johnson, 6. Jeff Trombley, 7. Chris Busta, 8. Pep Corradi, 9. C.G. Morey, 10. Hector Stratton, 11. Bodie Bellinger, 12. Rich Ronca, 13. Mark Kislowski, 14. Dustin Delaney, 15. Josh Hohenforst, 16. Neil Stratton, 17. J.C. Flach, 18. Jimmy Cottrell, 19. Justin Barber, 20. Keith Flach, 21. Justin Boehler, 22. Erik Nelson, 23. Bob Savoie, 24. Don Ronca, 25. Matt Depew, 26. Jason Herrington, 27. Mike Perrotte 28. Donnie Corellis, 29. Elmo Reckner, 30. Joe Williams, 31. Chris Johnson
Budget Sportsman (25 Laps) – 1. Tim Hartman Jr, 2. Derrick McGrew, 3. Jeremy Digert, 4. Jack Gentile, 5. Rocky Warner, 6. Jeremy Pitts, 7. Bobby Hackel IV, 8. Jack Speshock, 9. Brian Gleason, 10. Mark Hughes, 11. Dave Baranowski Jr, 12. Scott Duell, 13. Paul Dunham, 14. Mike Burdo, 15. Dan Santabarbara, 16. Frank Hoard III, 17. Robert Bublak, 18. Joey Budka, 19. Jack Swinton, 20. Jeff Rockefeller, 21. Adam McAuliffe, 22. Butch Wilcox, 23. Fred Proctor, 24. Cody Hunt, 25. Luke Klob, 26. Chris Murray, 27. Nick Lussier, 28. D.J. Brundige, 29. Mike Tholin
Budget Sportsman B-Main #1 (15 Laps) – 1. Dan Santabarbara, 2. Frank Hoard III, 3. Nick Hotaling, 4. Kenny Aanonsen Jr, 5. Mike Ostrander, 6. Leo Sousie, 7. Larry Niemiec, 8. Mike Pinke, 9. Mike Jeske, 10. Joe Orlando, 11. Bert Film, 12. Milo Campbell, 13. Stan Lemiesz
Budget Sportsman B-Main #2 (15 Laps) – 1. Adam McAuliffe, 2. Robert Bublak, 3. Floyd Billington, 4. Chuck Dickinson, 5. Fred Mullberger, 6. Jon Miller, 7. Rick Lamont, 8. Brett Wright, DNS. Shannon Donnelly, DNS. Andy Durie, DNS. Pete Jeske, DNS. Jim Osgood, DNS. Tom Proctor
Pro Stock (25 Laps) – 1. Rob Langevin, 2. Kim Duell, 3. Dan Older, 4. Rob Yetman, 5. Walt Brownell, 6. Joe Santoro, 7. Bernie Companion, 8. Bill Smith, 9. Brandon Emigh, 10. Chad Jeseo, 11. Ed Thompson, 12. Chip Smith, 13. Dean Charbonneau, 14. Kevin VanChance, 15. Dave Emigh, 16. Ken Martin, 17. William Ostrander, 18. Tony DeRose
Lazarro Auto Body and Herrington Farms Street Stock (30 Laps) – 1. Randy Miller, 2. Paul Mulrain, 3. Yule Cook, 4. Ken Conroy, 5. Josh Coonradt, 6. Dave Stickles, 7. Phil Sherman, 8. Nathan DaHoda, 9. Rowdy Burch, 10. Justin Smith, 11. Jay Severson, 12. Scott Lawrence, 13. Mitchell Sequin 14. John Lindblade, 15. John Hayes
4-Cyl Combined (15 Laps} – 1. Todd Goldstein, 2. Mark Lindblade, 3. Art Clement, 4. Jay Resch, 5. Dan Older, 6. David Frame, 7. Keith Tesiero, 8. Pete Vila, 9. Hunter Sanchez, 10. Anthony Alger, 11. Phil Defiglio, 12. Josh Dupee, 13. Stephen Goodness, 14. Brooklyn Wescott, 15. Scott Blessing, 16. Dave Labarge, 17. P.J. Bleau
4-Cyl Single Cam – 1. Mark Lindblade, 2. Dan Older, 3. Keith Tesiero, 4. Anthony Alger, 5. Josh Dupee, 6. Brooklyn Wescott, 7. Scott Blessing, 8. Dave Labarge
4-Cyl Dual Cam – 1. Todd Goldstein, 2. Art Clement, 3. Jay Resch, 4. David Frame, 5. Pete Vila, 6. Hunter Sanchez, 7. Phil Defiglio, 8. Stephen Goodness, 9. P.J. Bleau