Tremont repeats at Albany-Saratoga

MALTA, NY - Drivers at Albany-Saratoga Speedway hadn't seen a dry, slick racing surface for over a month, but it's obvious that Ken Tremont Jr. still knows how to drive on one.

Despite starting 16th and never getting any help from the yellow flag, Tremont caught Todd Stone with two laps to go and picked up his third win of the season Friday night in the Independence Day Celebration at the historic Malta track.

For most of June, the racing surface at Albany-Saratoga Speedway was deep and heavy, a product of the rain that has plagued the Northeast. Rain was also a threat again on Friday, as promoter Bruce Richards opted to cancel his annual fireworks display because of an unpredictable forecast.

But the rain never came, and the track was as racy as ever.

Stone, who hasn't won a race at Albany-Saratoga since 1999, started sixth and only needed six laps to get to the front. Setting a torrid pace, Stone started lapping cars midway through the 35-lap feature.

Tremont, who was driving a new Bicknell chassis that has been sitting in his shop since last winter, was also flying, and broke into the top five on lap 12. He worked his way around Mike Ronca for second on lap 16, but Stone was already a straightaway ahead.

“When I took over second, I thought I was leading,” Tremont admitted after the race.

Tremont switched grooves and started running the top, which worked to his advantage. He slowly started to reel in Stone, and finally was right on his rear bumper with two laps to go. He took the lead coming out of the fourth turn and picked up his second straight win.

“A green-to-checkers race is tough on a dry, slick track,” said Tremont, who moved farther ahead of Brett Hearn in the point race, as Hearn wasn't at the track Friday night, racing instead in a Super DIRT Series race. “I just kept working at it, kept trying and hoping for the best.”

Stone finished second for the second time this season, while Ronca hit the finish line third, the first time he's cracked the top five this season.

Todd Ryan also had his first top-five run of the year, bringing the Percy Barber No. 37 home fourth, and Ronnie Johnson was fifth.

Derrick McGrew led from start to finish to pick up his third win of the year in the budget sportsman feature. Tim Hartman Jr., who started ninth, moved up to second on lap 10 and followed McGrew for the next 15 laps, but couldn't get close enough to challenge for the lead. Jack Swinton was a distant third, with Frank Hoard III fourth and D.J. Brundige fifth.

Darryl Carl survived a rash of restarts to win the 25-lap pro-street stock feature, his second win of the campaign. Walt Brownell Jr. held off Kim Duell for second.

The limiteds ran a pair of features, after the feature on June 19 was postponed because of curfew. Brandon Emigh passed Mike Ostrander on the last lap to get his first win of the year in the first feature, and Dan Older pulled away for his second win of the season in the second 20-lapper.

Emigh and Ostrander put on a heck of a show in the first feature, as Emigh set the early pace before Ostrander moved into the lead on lap 13. But Emigh never backed off, and regained the top spot on the last lap.

Travis Tromans returned to victory lane in the mini-stock division, while Andrew Smith got the win in the Duke stocks.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway will return to action on Friday, July 10 with Seniors Night. All divisions will be in action, and the Empire Lightning Sprints will return to the racing cards.

MODIFIEDS: KEN TREMONT JR., Todd Stone, Mike Ronca, Todd Ryan, Ronnie Johnson, Ron Proctor, Matt DeLorenzo, John Proctor, Marc Johnson, Mike Perrotte, Keith Flach, Don Ronca, Elmo Reckner, Mike Tholin, Floyd Billington, Shaun Pangman, Tony Kawalchuk, Joey Williams, Randy Hotaling, Ken Anariello, Don Ackner, Vince Quenneville Jr., Rich Ronca, Scott Duell, Dave Camara.

BUDGET SPORTSMAN: DERRICK MCGREW, Tim Hartman Jr., Jack Swinton, Frank Hoard III, D.J. Brundige, Bob Bublak, Paul Dunham Jr., Dennis Pennock, Ricky Quick (DIRTcar), Anthony Marro, Dan Santabarbara, Cullen Howe, Scot Straight, Dan Peckham, Pete Carlotto, Chuck Dickinson, Ralph Denison, Jim Introne, Leo Sousie, Ron Ayotte, Chris Rheome, Shannon Donnelly, Jack Gentile (DIRTcar), Mike Burdo, Michelle Catone. DQ: Marc Hughes.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: DARYL CARL, Walt Brownell, Kim Duell, Fred Little, Jeremy Pitts, Mike Paquin, James Monroe, Lori Langevin, William Smith IV, Cale Kneer, Jeff Washburn, Chuck Towslee, Ed Thompson, Kenny Martin, Greg McGill, Jim Monroe, Johnny Rivers Jr., Mike Jeske, Randy Miller, Byron Westcott.

LIMITEDS (From June 19): BRANDON EMIGH, Mike Ostrander, Dan Older, Jon Miller, Jason Wood, Dan Petronis, Mark Burch, Dave Emigh, Brian O'Reilly, Yule Cook, Nathan Dahoda, Justin Demers, Frank Monroe, Ben Durie, Mitch Sequin, Dave Billings, James Ellsworth.

LIMITEDS (regular feature): DAN OLDER, Jason Wood, Ben Durie, Brandon Emigh, Curtis Condon, Dan Petronis, Justin Demers, Luke MacIsaac, Marc Burch, Jordyn Jeffalone, Dave Emigh, Brian O'Reilly, James Ellsworth, Jon Miller, Mike Ostrander.