Hearn is the "Big Dog" at Albany-Saratoga with last lap pass

MALTA - Is there anything better than a 100-lap race decided by a last-lap pass?

Not for Brett Hearn, or the fans at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Despite starting deep in the field, Hearn got the big break he needed with a restart with five to go, and then charged past Ken Tremont Jr. on the final circuit to win Friday night's CVRA.com 100 sponsored by AAA Northway at the historic Malta track.

The win was the sixth of the season for Hearn at Albany-Saratoga, as he tries to pick up a fourth straight track championship for car owner Vinny Salerno. In addition, by winning two features in a row, Hearn also picked up a $1,300 bonus from sponsor Salisbury Chevrolet as part of its Big Dog Challenge.

The win was also a little revenge for Hearn. Last season, he was leading the CVRA.com 100 when he blew his engine with 12 laps left, giving the victory to Tremont.

The win wasn't without some controversy. After being involved in an accident in his heat race, Hearn was forced to start 28th in the 31-car field, and after the race, he made his feelings quite clear.

“There is a B-main scheduled to be run on the pit board and all of a sudden, the lineup disappears and they don't run one,” Hearn told reporters in victory lane. “The promoter stacked every odd against us that he could tonight, including single-file restarts, and we still came out on top.”

“The pit board said there would be a B-main, if needed,” said promoter Bruce Richards the next morning, after hearing about Hearn's comments. “It's been our policy all year to start everyone in the modified feature. The only time we didn't start everyone was the ROC race, and that wasn't my race.”

Tremont, who had started 12th, was able to use lapped traffic to close in on leader Matt DeLorenzo and finally took the lead on lap 65. Hearn took over the No. 3 spot the next time around, and moved into second when DeLorenzo spun in the third turn on lap 73.

Tremont still had the car to beat, but Hearn got the break he needed when Jeff Trombley brought out the final caution with five laps to go.

Following Hearn and Tremont across the finish line were Ronnie Johnson, Todd Stone and Robert King. King had led the first 14 laps of the feature, and Stone also took a turn on the point.

Completing the top 10 were DeLorenzo, Don Ronca, Jimmy Cottrell, Mike Ronca and Keith Flach.

Mike Tholin picked up his first win of the season in the sportsman feature, outrunning Tony Ballestero, who was filling in for Hollywood Joe Santoro in the Lazzaro Motorsports ride. Rich Ronca was third, followed by Kyle Sheldon and Dustin Delaney. Sheldon cracked the top five for the first time this season.

Rob Langevin and Kim Duell resumed their rivalry in the pro-street stock feature, with Langevin coming away with his fifth win of the season in the 25-lap feature. Duell crossed the finish line second. Jeff Washburn was third, but was later disqualified for failing post-race inspection.

David Emigh nipped Kevin Van Chance to record his second win of the year in the 20-lap limited feature. Dan Older got up for third.

Brett Osgood had his four-cylinder cranked up and won the mini-stock feature, the fourth time this season he's been to victory lane. Mike Duclos, who has been tough to beat at both Albany-Saratoga and Devil's Bowl, was second overall and had the first six-cylinder across the finish line.

Albany-Saratoga has a full card scheduled for Friday, Aug. 11, as the racing will also feature an enduro. In addition to Bikers' Night, the Kids Night that was rained out on July 28 has also been rescheduled for Aug. 11. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.

CVRA.COM 100: BRETT HEARN, Ken Tremont Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Todd Stone, Robert King, Matt DeLorenzo, Don Ronca, Jimmy Cottrell, Mike Ronca, Keith Flach, Don Mattison, Elmo Reckner, Rick Davis, Marc Johnson, John Lutes, Josh Pieniazek, Craig Hanson, Derrick McGrew, Floyd Billington, Dan Humes, Vince Quenneville Jr., Jeff Trombley, No. 76, Todd Ryan, Jim Becker, Don Ackner, Jimmy Davis, Ron Proctor, John Proctor, Mike Perrotte, No. 24. DNS: Jack Johnson, Frank Hoard Sr.

SPORTSMAN: MIKE THOLIN, Tony Ballestero, Rich Ronca, Kyle Sheldon, Dustin Delaney, Tim Hartman, Jack Gentile, Brian Gerrain, Whitey Slavin, David Peek, Chris Busta, Matt Depew, Stan Lemiesz, Mike Pinke, Ken Anatriello, Cass Bennett, Joe Budka, Neal Erickson, Chris Johnson, Tyler Curtis, Paul Dunham Jr., Dick Bisson, Tom Jeffalone. DQ: Robert Perry.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: ROB LANGEVIN, Kim Duell, Bill Smith IV, Lori Cary, Jon Turco, Jimmy Eaton, Bernie Companion, Cale Kneer, Rob Yetman, Darrell Carl, Jeremy Pitts, Charles Towslee, Dean Charbonneau, Brian Holbritter, Greg McGill, Fred Shippee Sr., Gene Wetherington, Matt Anatriello. DQ: Jeff Washburn.

LIMITEDS: DAVID EMIGH, Kevin VanChance, Dan Older, John Morris Jr., Jim Monroe, Rich Burke, Pete DeFiglio, Mike Ostrander, John Filarecki, Jeff Monroe, Robert Bublak, Mike Wilber, Gerald Conroy, Mark Burch, Dan Petronis, Mark Gross, Curtis Condon, D.J. Brundige, Jim Monroe Jr., Nick Lussier, T.J. Pierce, No. 4, John Russo. DQ: Brian Ashline.

MINI-STOCKS: BRETT OSGOOD (4), Mike Duclos (6), Ken Hollenbeck (4), Travis Tromans (4), Andy Hickok (4), Kevin Lukasik (6), Mike Cranston (4), Charlie Stoddard (4), Justin Ramsey (4), Chris McCarthy (6), Dan Lorenc (6), Shane Marks (4), Rennie Noradki (6), Jim Daniels (4), Jason Dickson (4), John Baldwin (4), Pete Willis (6), Blake Williams (6), Mike Duggan Jr. (4), Ted Fitzpatrick (4).