Hearn returns to victory lane

MALTA - There are two sure things about summer in Saratoga County, N.Y. Jerry Bailey is going to ride a lot of short-priced favorites at Saratoga Race Course, and Brett Hearn is going to put together a hot streak at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Hearn, who had a record-setting season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway last season, put himself right back in the thick of the points race Friday night by posting his fifth victory of the season in the 358 modified feature at the Malta track.

It’s been easy to follow Hearn’s pattern so far this season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway - three bad weeks and a victory. After winning on May 16, he didn’t get back to victory lane until June 20. Another three-race gap, and a victory on July 19.

But don’t be surprised if Hearn’s victory on Friday lights a fire under the Madsen Motorsports team. They’ve gone back to a successful setup on the Teo small block, and Hearn has always been at his best during the dog days of summer.

Because of his latest three-week run, Hearn started eighth in Friday night’s feature, but for a long time, it looked like he was going to take a backseat to Todd Ryan.

No one has had worse luck at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season than Ryan. One week, he lost what looked like a sure victory when he blew a tire with three laps left. At the CVRA vs. The World Big Block/Small Block Challenge, he lost a qualifying spot in one of the consolation races after a run-in with Bobby Varin, which denied Ryan a shot at any payoff at all.

But he started on the pole Friday night and set the pace until Hearn finally got the lead with five laps to go. During the final laps of the race, Hearn pulled away to a comfortable 3.165 second margin of victory. Don Mattison got past Ryan on lap 31 and finished second, the second time this season he’s finished in the runner-up position.

Ryan came away relieved with a third-place performance, his first top-five finish since finishing second to Dave Camara on May 23. Matt DeLorenzo came across the finish line fourth while Ronnie Johnson, back behind the wheel of his own car for the first time this season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, was fifth.

Completing the top 10 were Camara, Scott Noel, Ken Tremont Jr., Ray Hoard and Frank Hoard Sr.

Tremont was able to retain his lead in the point race, but Hearn, the defending track champion, is back in second place and trails Tremont by just 13 points, with the double-point Midseason Championships on the line Friday night.

Mechanical problems in the heat races forced Don Ackner, Randy Hotaling and Mike Ballestero to look for rides for the feature. Ackner landed in the sportsman car of Randy Salisbury, Ballestero was behind the wheel of Dan Bublak’s sportsman and Hotaling caught a ride in Gary Gates’ sportsman. But Ballestero and Hotaling were knocked out in a tangle with Chuck Higley on the first lap of the feature, and Ackner ran just three laps in Salisbury’s car.

Tim Hartman once again took all of the suspense out of the 20-lap sportsman feature. Coming out of the eighth position, Hartman rocketed to the front after just seven laps and outran Jason Herrington to post his third straight win and seventh victory of the season. Tony Ballestero, reunited with car owner Percy Barber a week earlier, finished third in his 2003 debut, with Jimmy Cottrell fourth and Derrick McGrew fifth.

Hartman was nearly a half-second faster than the rest of the field, with the exception of McGrew. Hartman’s best lap was an 18.041, while the second-fastest time of the feature was McGrew’s 18.093. The next closest driver was Herrington, who ran an 18.495.

Adam Tranka posted his first career victory in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature, and he did it the hard way, coming out of the 12th starting position. Steve Burega, still looking for his first win of 2003, started on the outside pole and set the pace for the first 10 laps, but Tranka had steadily worked his way through the pack, and had moved into the No. 2 position by lap eight.

Three circuits later, and Tranka had the lead for good.

Roy Fifield, who had started 14th, made a strong run late in the race and came away with a second-place finish, getting the No. 2 position away from Hollywood Joe Santoro on lap 18. Chris Maxon got up for third, with Carl Vladyka fourth and Burega fifth. Santoro, who hasn’t been to victory lane since May 9, slipped to sixth.

Byron Westcott held off Jeff Monroe to notch his fourth victory of the season in the 15-lap hobby stock feature. Adam Stoddard was a distant third

Luke MacIsaac dominated the cruiser division feature, posting a 4.986 second victory over Rich Mrzyglod for his second six-cylinder victory of the season. Mike Minick was third overall, and the winner in the four-cylinder class.

The Central New York Mini-Sprints were also in town Friday night, with Bryan Howland of Auburn winning the feature.

Double points will be on the line in all divisions Friday night when Albany-Saratoga Speedway holds its Midseason Championships and Rock 'n Race Night. The format will consist of features only in all divisions, and the night will end with a concert by the popular Burners UK band.

Fans should also mark Friday, Aug. 1 on their calendars, as that night will mark the second appearance of the Empire Super sprints at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

MODIFIEDS: BRETT HEARN, Don Mattison, Todd Ryan, Matt DeLorenzo, Ronnie Johnson, Dave Camara, Scott Noel, Ken Tremont Jr., Ray Hoard, Frank Hoard Sr., Ron Proctor, Mike Perrotte, Tom Proctor, Jack Cottrell, Jack Johnson, Gene Munger, Mike Ronca, Tim Laduc, Don Ackner, Mike Ballestero, Chuck Higley, Randy Hotaling.

SPORTSMAN: TIM HARTMAN, Jason Herrington, Tony Ballestero, Jimmy Cottrell, Derrick McGrew, Neal Erickson, Dan Bublac, Ken Anatriello, Ed Pieniazek Jr., Fred Proctor, Gary Gates, Mike Pinke, Jeff Sukup, Stan Lemiesz, Dick Bisson, Bill Cody, Rich Ronca, Erik Mack.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: ADAM TRANKA, Roy Fifield, Chris Maxon, Carl Vladyka, Steve Burega, Joe Santoro, Matt Anatriello, Butchie Irwin, Bob Schmidt, Jimmy Eaton, Charlie Koenig, Lori Cary, Vince Santoro, Bernie Companion, Don Daniels, Mike Paquin, Dean Charbonneau, Cale Kneer, Scott Duell, Tom O’Connor.

HOBBY STOCKS: BYRON WESTCOTT, Jeff Monroe, Adam Stoddard, Chris Busta, Jim Monroe III, Dan Daniels, Bob Smith, Jim Monroe Jr., Robert Ross, John Laviolette, Mike Scorzelli, Mike Tholin, John Morris Jr., Kevin Sawyer, Bill Burlingame, Shannon Donnelly, Mike Carman.

CRUISERS: LUKE MACISAAC, Rich Mrzyglod, MIKE MINICK, Jon Atwell, Kevin Connors, Emerson Ostrander, Matt Corbiel, Jason Duncan, Tracy Ash, Chris Carey, Brittany Ladd, Jeremy Brownell, Robert Bublac Jr., Brian Myers, Mitchell Cranston, Jamie McCarthy.