Tremont, who had one win in 2013 at the Malta speedway, started fifth on the field.  After partaking in some good racing with Rich Scagliotta and Keith Flach, Tremont would acquire the race lead on the 15th circuit.  He appeared to have it covered.

But Brett Hearn, who started the event from the same side, but 10 spots back, had some different ideas, and was working his way up through the field.  Around the same time Tremont took the lead from Flach, Hearn was pouncing on Scagliotta and Brian Gleason.  Soon afterwards Hearn was all over Tremont.

The feature was extended by two laps due to the night’s theme and the two put on a fantastic battle to the very end with Tremont coming across the finish line just feet a head of Hearn’s Madsen Motorsports automobile.

“I see him stick his nose in there,” said Tremont regarding Hearn’s presence.  “I was having a little bit of trouble with that hole up in three — how to hit that exactly because every time you hit it, it kind of threw the car for a little bit of a loop —  but thankfully we got through it and got it done.”
Hearn, Scagliotta, Ronnie Johnson  (from 16th) and Pete Britten rounded out the top five.

From the drop of the green flag Joey Scarborough set the pace for the 25 lap Sportsman feature event.  Scarborough was holding off some serious moves by Fred Proctor, as the event was caution plagued for a brief period in the early stages.

As the front two played, and dealt with the caution laps it was Jack Gentile, Mike Jeske and Nick Lussier swapping top five positions.  But Cody Bleau, who started 13th, was coming up through the field with great speed.  By the 9th circuit Bleu had the Greg Davis owned mount in fourth place.  Coming down for the white flag Scarborough, Bleau and Proctor were three-wide.  And with one lap remaining on the Adirondack Tire counter Bleau took the race lead and the $700 win.

“I thought Proctor was going to get me on that last lap,” said Bleau.  “He got the high line to work — they are class acts and it was awesome to race down to the wire with them. Gentile and Jeske followed the three across the finish line.

Matt Pappa is well on his way to be asked to vacate the Novice Sportsman ranks (3 wins and you have to advance to the Sportsman class).  Pappa secured the race lead on lap 9 of the 12 lap event and went on to his second consecutive victory.

“I started sixth and there were two cars in front of me — side by side — it was hard to get around them so I went up high and thought I could find a groove up there,” said Pappa.  “I didn’t want to go back up there again after I got up front but I protected the bottom pretty well.  It was a good run between me and the #18 (Zach Daurio). Colin Bokus, Timothy Davis and Chris Murray rounded out the top five.

The 25 lap Pro Stock feature event wouldn’t disappoint.  On the start it was all Dean Charbonneau with racing action so fierce at some points you couldn’t even tell who was leading.  On lap 7 the lead changed and it was Ed Thompson in the front spot.  Despite challenges from Byron Wescott and Ken Martin, Thompson took his second career win. “The car was great tonight,” said Thompson.
Martin, a two-time winner already this year, continued his streak and held on for second place. Wescott, Rob Yetman (another two-time winner) and Dean Charbonneau rounded out the top five.

David Shippee dropped from his outside pole starting position to the race lead at the start of the 20 lap Street Stock feature event. Matt Mosher had a brief view from the front row as well before Josh Coonradt took over control of the event on lap 11.  Coonradt, who frequented victory lane several times last season, took his first win of the season. “It handled really good — glad we finally made it here,” said Coonradt. Shippee, Ken Conroy, Scott Lawrence and Dave Stickles rounded out the top five.  Matt Mosher originally crossed the line in third place but was disqualified later in the evening.

Things…  Funny… as you took the drive from Albany to the speedway the sun was shining brightly and the sky was the prettiest shade of blue, but as I pulled into the speedway the sprinkles started to come down, one minute it was sunny and blue and the next minute it was cloudy and spitting lightly but it wouldn’t last more than a few minutes…  While the rains were hitting all the surrounding areas the Malta oval was dry… Tonight was the rescheduled ‘Mike Ronca Memorial’ which consisted of a lot of different things with the late Ronca’s familiar #7 theme to it…  A rare appearance by ‘newlywed’ Robbie Speed who joined the Pro Stock line up and finished eighth in the feature.  According to Speed he was trying out a new setup…   Brett Hearn suffered some heavy sheet metal damage on the initial lap of his qualifying event after contact with Justin Barber.  Hearn remained in the event…   Neil Stratton exited that same race with a flat tire…  With storms looming nearby management canceled the One-on-One Spectator race until another night…  Novice Sportsman driver Chris Murray was scolded a few times during his qualifying event…  Brett Hearn, who when we last raced picked up his 105th career win, was the fastest after pre-feature hot laps…   Keith Flach, who won on the asphalt surface a few years ago, had an impressive early race…  L.J. Lombardo visited since Accord Speedway feel victim to rain…   As part of the ‘Mike Ronca Memorial’ those leading on lap 7 in the feature events received $100…  Keith Flach (Modified), Joey Scarborough (Sportsman), Matt Pappa (Novice Sportsman), Ed Thompson (Pro Stock) and David Shippee (Street Stock)…   NYSSCA and many others donated and were part of the successful memorial event. ..  next week the Pro Stocks will run for appearance points due to the conflicting DIRTcar Pro Stock Series events across the border…

Mike Ronca Memorial Modified Feature Results (37 Laps) – 1) KENNY TREMONT, Jr, 2) Brett Hearn, 3) Rich Scagliotta, 4) Ronnie Johnson, 5) Peter Britten, 6) Brian Gleason, 7) Stewart Friesen, 8) Marc Johnson, 9) Keith Flach, 10) Matt Delorenzo, 11) Bodie Bellinger, 12) Jeremy Wilder, 13) Rich Ronca, 14) Jimmy Cottrell, 15) Neil Stratton, 16) Pep Corradi, 17) Chris Busta, 18) Mark Kislowski, 19) Jeff Trombley, 20) Jamike Sowle, 21) Justin Barber, 22) Ray Hoard, 23) C.G. Morey, 24) Rob Pitcher, 25) John Proctor, DNS) Floyd Billington, DNS) Justin Boehler, DNS) Matt Depew, DNS) Don Ronca

Sportsman Feature Results (25 Laps) – 1) CODY BLEAU, 2) Joey Scarborough, 3) Fred Proctor, 4) Jack Gentile, 5) Mike Jeske, 6) Derrick McGrew, 7) Nick Lussier, 8) Andy Durie, 9) Jeremy Pitts, 10) Mike Tholin, 11) Joe Orlando, 12) Paul Dunham, 13) Mike Ostrander, 14) Connor Cleveland, 15) Dave Baranowski Jr, 16) Scott Duell, 17) Frank Hoard III, 18) Fred Mullberger, 19) John Virgilio, 20) Justin Comes, 21) Nick Anatriello, 22) Brett Wright, 23) Mark Hughes,  24) Leo Sousie, 25) Stan Lemiesz, 26) Dan Santabarbara, 27) Jake Scarborough, 28) Jon Miller, 29) Jack Speshock, 30) Robert Bublak, DNQ) Tony Ballestero, DNQ) Dan Boni, DNQ) Mike Burdo, DNQ) Frank Hoard Jr, DNQ) Elliott Lussier, DNQ) Jim Osgood, DNQ) Skip Shippee, DNQ) Jack Swinton, DNQ) L.J. Lombardo

Novice Sportsman Feature Results (15 Laps) – 1) MATT PAPPA, 2) Zach Daurio, 3) Colin Bokus, 4) Timothy Davis, 5) Chris Murray, 6) Pete Jeske, 7) Brandon Pitcher, 8) Ron Casey, 9) Collin Clow, 10) John Linblade, 11) Wally Potter, 12) Ricky Davis, 13) Alissa Cody, 14) Anthony Alger, 15) Jesse Edwards

Pro Stock Feature Results (25 Laps) – 1) ED THOMPSON, 2) Ken Martin, 3) Byron Wescott, 4) Rob Yetman, 5) Dean Charbonneau, 6) Dan Older, 7) Kim Duell, 8) Robbie Speed, 9) Jeff Washburn, 10) Cale Kneer, 11) Dave Emigh, 12) Dave Depaulo, 13) Matt Freckleton, 14) Pat Cram, 15) Brandon Emigh, 16) Cole Lawton, 17) Walt Brownell

Street Stock Results (20 Laps) – 1) JOSH COONRADT, 2) David Shippee, 3) Ken Conroy, 4) Scott Lawrence, 5) Dave Stickles, 6) Damon Anderson, 7) Kenny Towne, 8) Justin Smith, 9) Chase Aussicker, 10) Jim Cutler, 11) Randy Miller, 12) Fred Harris, 13) Bill Duprey, 14) Jay Severson, 15) Rowdy Burch, 16) Jody Thew, 17) John Hayes, 18) Jason Barrett, 19) Paul Braymer, 20) Nathan Dahoda, 21) Yule Cook, DQ) Matt Mosher

“It’s very frustrating but it’s out of our hands,” said DeVore regarding his battle with Mother Nature.  “It’s out of our control and all we can do is just try to make the best of it.”

Moments between raindrops don’t seem to last long lately and that isn’t helping DeVore, who is also responsible for getting AS’s sister track, Lebanon Valley Speedway, race ready as well.

“We had rain on Monday, rain on Tuesday and today the track still needs to dry out before you can even think about working on it and then it is going to rain again tomorrow,” said DeVore on Wednesday afternoon from his office at the West Lebanon property.  “I am going to do everything humanly possible to race on Friday.  The fans want it, we want it ― and the drivers haven’t had a chance to get any momentum going this year.”

Otherwise, DeVore is happy.

“We’re happy with what we’ve done so far this year,” said DeVore.  “We appreciate all the fan and drivers’ support and we are hoping for a stretch of good weather ― when we race it’s been good but we just don’t do it enough ― it’s  so frustrating.”

Join DeVore and team on Friday night when they host the rescheduled ‘Mike Ronca Memorial’ event.  Ronca’s familiar #7 will be the theme for the second annual event.  A $100 bonus will be awarded to the leaders of lap 7 for all divisions while the Sportsman race will offer $700 to the race winner.  The Modified purse has $700 added and bonus money for the second and third place finishers in the Modified feature event as well.

“We drove this car a couple of weeks ago to a ninth (May 17) and that’s really unlike us,” said the speedway’s winningest driver.  “We brought that home and analyzed every nut and bolt to try and get this car right and I think we nailed it tonight.”

Pappa got to pose for victory lane photos later in the night after securing his first win at the Malta oval in a full sized automobile on the dirt surface.

“It feels great to be back in victory lane,” said Pappa who is driving the 20jr.  “I’ve won here a couple of times on asphalt but now we’re in the big car on dirt and it’s even more fun.  I definitely have to thank Brett Hearn for teaching me everything I know right now.”

Come out and see if the duo can do it again on Friday night when Albany Saratoga Speedway hosts the Mike Ronca Memorial.  Ronca’s familiar #7 will be the theme for the second annual event.  A $100 bonus will be awarded to the leaders of lap 7 for all divisions while the Sportsman race will offer $700 to the race winner.  The Modified purse has $700 added and there is bonus money for the second and third place finishers in the Modified feature event as well.

Pit gates open at 4:00 p.m. with the grandstands opening at 5:00 p.m. Race time is 7:00 p.m.  The front gate is $10 for adults, kids under 12 are $2.00.  Entry in the pit area is $20 for members and $25.00 for non-members.

Don’t forget on Sunday management will offer the rescheduled ‘Electric City Riders AMA Motorcycle & 4-Wheeler Races and Swapmeet’ to the Malta site.  The gates for Sunday’s event open at 8:00 a.m.  Racing begins at noon.

Ray Hoard was fast right from the start of the ‘emerald silk’ flag being thrown in the 35-lap finale for the Modifieds.  And Hoard made Hearn, the winningest driver at the Malta oval, spend quite a bit of time looking at his back bumper before Hearn eventually went on to take the lead (lap 22) and the win.

“He was real quick,” said Hearn, whose win was his 105th at Albany Saratoga Speedway.  “I didn’t really know what I was going to do but finally I put a good lap together and he slipped a little bit and that was the only thing I needed.”

Matt Depew had an outstanding run as he followed Hearn across the finish line.  Jeff Trombley came from outside the sixth row to finish third, with past feature winner Marc Johnson and Ray Hoard rounding out the top five.

Albany Saratoga Speedway’s 2012 Modified Rookie of the Year, Bodie Bellinger, settled for sixth place after an impressive night running with the front of the field for the entire event.

Scott Duell was fast right from the start of the 25 lap Sportsman feature event but Jeremy Pitts had other plans.  Pitts, who was involved in some great racing action throughout the event with Duell, Dave Baranowski, and Mike Tholin ― went on to score his second trip to victory lane for 2013.

“I actually lost the rear brakes when I had contact with another car, all I had was front brakes,” said Pitt’s during post race ceremonies.  “That was fun.”

Not the win he was looking for ― but another impressive 2013 stat for Duell who finished in second place.  Mike Tholin, Brett Wright and Dave Baranowski rounded out the top five.

The night didn’t start out as good as it ended for Novice Sportsman driver Matt Pappa.  He spun during his qualifying event but rejoined the field and scored a qualifying spot for the 15-lap finale.  Pappa started the event from seventh and was the race leader on the 13th time around the 4/10th mile oval, taking his first win in the new division and on the same night as his mentor Brett Hearn.

“It feels good to win the same night as Brett Hearn,” said Pappa in victory lane with his 20jr automobile. Jesse Edwards, Pete Jeske,  John Linblade,  and Timothy Davis added valuable lap time as they rounded out the top five.

Walt Brownell owned the 25 lap Pro Stock feature event.  Brownell took the lead from the drop of the green but after showing some smoke on the 14th time around, he gave the lead up to Dan Older.  Unfortunately Older had Kenny Martin breathing down his back.  Martin got a taste for victory a few weeks back, taking his first career win, and he was looking for another.  And on the 19th lap the $800 to win event belonged to Martin.

“They say the first one is the hardest to get but let me tell you that was a long dragged out one to get,” said Martin.  “This car is beautiful ― I love running this one.”

What a run between the top three in the later stages of the 30-lap Street Stock feature event.  Eventual race winner, Justin Smith, Josh Coonradt and Bill Duprey didn’t disappoint. You could throw a blanket over the three of them at several points during the event and there was some beating and banging all the way across the finish line.

“I got a tooth pulled out yesterday and I felt like hell all day long and every time I turned around it was yellow ― yellow ― yellow,” said Smith of his first win.  “In the first turn I lost a piece of my exhaust out there but it ran good and I’m happy to be here finally.”

Jay Resch easily won the 15 lap 4 Cylinder feature event but was disqualified later in the evening.  Past winner at Albany Saratoga, Todd Goldstein, was awarded win honors.

Another great gesture by the folks at Sowle Trailer Repair who put up some extra cash for the Modified, Sportsman and ProStock feature events.  The Modifieds raced for $2,500, the Sportsman $1,500 and the Pro Stocks for $800…  an appearance by Lebanon Valley Speedway racers  Rob Pitcher (Modified), Mike King (Modified) and Ricky Duzlak (Pro Stock)…   Australian Peter Britten made himself known in the second modified qualifying event.  On the third time around Britten did an impressive high-side move to pick off several cars and land himself the race lead and QE win… Connor Cleveland was forced to advance from the Novice Sportsman division to the Sportsman class since he secured three feature wins… Cleveland easily qualified in his first Sportsman QE … Fellow Novice Sportsman racer Jack Bublak was missing from action due to attending an event in Englishtown, NJ… … NYSSCA paid bonus money to members of the organization that finished in select spots…  Modified hot laps showed Brett Hearn as the fastest car prior to the feature event…  the Modified feature event winner receivee a guaranteed starting spot in the Eastern States Weekend event…  Ken Tremont Sr. was celebrating his 75th birthday…  ‘Happy Birthday Big Ken’…  Andy Durie was shown the way to the pits after some ‘under caution’ contact with Derrick McGrew…  Cody Bleau started last in the Sportsman show and finished sixth…

Modified Feature Results (35 Laps) – 1) BRETT HEARN, 2) Matt Depew, 3) Jeff Trombley, 4) Marc Johnson, 5) Ray Hoard, 6) Bodie Bellinger, 7) Mark Kislowski, 8) Ronnie Johnson, 9) Matt DeLorenzo, 10) Justin Boehler, 11) Neil Stratton, 12) Ken Tremont Jr, 13) Stewart Friesen, 14) Brian Gleason, 15) Peter Britten, 16) Rich Ronca, 17) C.G. Morey, 18) Jeremy Wilder, 19) Don Ronca, 20) Tony Ballestero, 21) Floyd Billington, 22) Mike King, 23) Pep Corradi, 24) Rob Pitcher, 25) Jimmy Cottrell, 26) Jamike Sowle, 27) Bob McGannon, 28) Keith Flach, 29) Kyle Sheldon, DNS) John Proctor, DNS) Rich Scagliotta
Sportsman Feature Results (25 Laps) – 1) JEREMY PITTS, 2) Scott Duell, 3) Mike Tholin, 4) Brett Wright, 5) Dave Baranowski Jr, 6) Cody Bleau, 7) Frank Hoard III, 8) Connor Cleveland, 9) Nick Anatriello, 10) Jim Osgood, 11) D.J. Brundige, 12) Robert Bublak, 13) Derrick McGrew, 14) Paul Dunham, 15) Luke Klob, 16) Jake Scarborough, 17) Mike Ostrander, 18) Jack Speshock, 19) Joey Scarborough, 20) Joe Orlando, 21) Fred Proctor, 22) Stan Lemiesz, 23) Andy Durie, 24) Jon Miller, 25) Dan Santabarbara, 26) Nick Lussier, 27) Elliott Lussier,28) Mike Jeske, DNQ) Justin Comes, DNQ) Jack Gentile, DNQ) Leo Sousie, DNQ) Jack Swinton
Novice Sportsman Feature Results (15 Laps) – 1) MATT PAPPA, 2) Jesse Edwards, 3) Pete Jeske, 4) John Linblade, 5) Timothy Davis, 6) Brandon Pitcher, 7) Wally Potter, 8) Chris Murray,9) Ricky Davis, 10) Ron Casey, 11) Anthony Alger, 12) Zach Daurio, 13) Bob Schmidt, 14) Alissa Cody, 15) Colin Bokus
Pro Stock Feature Results (25 Laps) – 1) KEN MARTIN, 2) Dan Older, 3) Rob Yetman, 4) Kim Duell, 5) Cale Kneer, 6) Byron Wescott, 7) Dean Charbonneau, 8) Dave Emigh, 9) Jeff Washburn, 10) Brandon Emigh, 11) Ed Thompson, 12) Ricky Duzlak, 13) Cole Lawton, 14) Dave Depaulo, 15) Walt Brownell, 16) Matt Freckleton
Street Stock Feature Results (30 Laps) – 1) JUSTIN SMITH, 2) Josh Coonradt, 3) Bill Duprey, 4) Nathan Dahoda, 5) Scott Lawrence, 6) Paul Braymer, 7) Dave Stickles, 8) Jim Cutler, 9) Damon Anderson, 10) Yule Cook, 11) Randy Miller, 12) Ken Conroy, 13) Ben Newsome, 14) Jody Thew, 15) Matt Mosher, 16) Tyler Michel, 17) David Shippee, 18) Jason Barrett
4 Cylinder Combined Feature Results (15 Laps) – 1) TODD GOLDSTEIN, 2) Steve Ryan, 3) David Frame, 4) Dan Older, 5) Mark Lindblade, 6) Jake Currier, 7) Joe Tallman, 8) Lance Robertson, 9) Christian Mulrain, 10) Phil Defiglio, DNS) Jeff Donnelly Jr, DQ) Jay Resch
4 Cylinder Single Cam Results (15 Laps) – 1) DAN OLDER, 2) Mark Lindblade, 3) Joe Tallman, 4) Lance Robertson, 5) Christian Mulrain, DNS) Jeff Donnelly Jr
4 Cylinder Dual Cam Results (15 Laps) – 1) TODD GOLDSTEIN, 2) Steve Ryan, 3) David Frame, 4) Jake Currier, 5) Phil Defiglio, DQ) Jay Resch

Click on the link to read the PRESS RELEASE for details.