Marc Johnson Continues Roll; Wins Makeup Madness At Malta
Story By: MATT KEITH / ALBANY-SARATOGA SPEEDWAY – MALTA, NY – The weather in the capital district has finally been hot and so is defending Modified track champion Marc Johnson. Johnson made it two in a row at the “Great Race Place” using his trademark low line.
“Unbelievable!” said Johnson. “Stewie is one of the best. The track was awesome.” Johnson also became the first repeat winner in the Modified division taking home the $3,000 pay day sponsored by Bart Contracting Company of Copake, New York.
After a fan chosen inversion gave Johnson the fifth starting spot, “The White Knight” made his way to the second position and began to stalk early race leader Danny Varin, who was subbing for Jeff Rockefeller.
From the 13th starting spot Stewart Friesen, making an appearance at Albany-Saratoga as his NASCAR Camping World Truck series schedule allows, made his way past Johnson and then to the race lead on lap 19. As Friesen worked his Halmar entry through lapped traffic on the high side of the speedway, Johnson was able to duck low underneath and regain the lead for good on lap 28, scoring his 11th career win at the historic Malta oval.
Rocky Warner became the first repeat winner in the Sportsman division on Wednesday night.
Warner took the lead from his sixth starting spot on lap 6 of the 25-lap feature and then held off the challenges of defending track champion Jeremy Pitts to pick up the $1,500 payday courtesy of Sowle Trailer Repair of Fultonville, New York. Connor Cleveland would settle for third with Chris Johnson and Jason Gray rounding out the top five.
In a wild Pro Stock feature Todd Hoffman seemed to have his first feature win in many years in hand until he was spun on the backstretch on lap 20. “Krazy” Kenny Martin appeared to take advantage and motored on to his third win of the season after holding off Kim Duell.
However, at the conclusion of the race it was announced Martin had been penalized two spots for spinning Hoffman, handing the $500 check from Marcy Mangino’s It Works! Network to Duell. Walt Brownell would finish second, Martin third, defending track champion Robbie Speed was fourth and Chucky Dumblewski rounded out the top five.
Gary Derocher picked up his first career win in the Limited Sportsman division. He held off James Meehan who was attempting to pick up his third win of the season, which would have graduated him to the Sportsman division.
Randy Miller became the first repeat winner with a Street Stock victory in a 20-lap feature that was cut thee laps short due to a rash of yellows in the closing laps of the event.
Albany-Saratoga will return to action on Friday night, June 16, with the “Hoosier Daddy” Father’s Day Special featuring the DMA USAC Bear Ridge Midgets, as well as all divisions in action. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. Racing begins at 7 p.m.
“Makeup Madness” Modified Results (35 Laps) – 1) Marc Johnson, 2) Stewart Friesen, 3) Jeff Rockefeller, 4) Brett Hearn, 5) Peter Britten, 6) Ronnie Johnson, 7) Keith Flach, 8) Matt Delorenzo, 9) Bobby Varin, 10) Neil Stratton, 11) Mike Maresca, 12) Rich Ronca, 13) Ray Hoard, 14) Jeremy Wilder, 15) Matt Depew, 16) Jimmy Cottrell, 17) Bobby Hackel IV, 18) Jessey Mueller, 19) Bodie Bellinger, 20) L.J. Lombardo, 21) Mike Mahaney, 22) Don Ronca, 23) Demetrios Drellos, 24) Josh Hohenforst, 25) Ken Tremont Jr, 26) Don Mattison, 27) Ricky Davis, 28) Justin Barber, 29) Travis Billington, 30) Brian Gleason, 31) Kris Vernold, DNS) Elmo Reckner
Sportsman Results (25 Laps) – 1) Rocky Warner, 2) Jeremy Pitts, 3) Connor Cleveland, 4) Chris Johnson, 5) Jason Gray, 6) Daryl Nutting, 7) Chad Edwards, 8) Adam McAuliffe, 9) Dave Constantino, 10) Cody Bleau, 11) Tim Hartman Jr, 12) Mike Ostrander, 13) Brian Calabrese, 14) Brian Pessalano, 15) Christopher Ronca, 16) Robert Bublak, 17) David Schilling, 18) Dan Santabarbara, 19) Pat Jones, 20) Mike Coffey, 21) Dave Baranowski, 22) Joe Orlando, 23) Jack Speshock, 24) Fred Proctor, 25) Jesse Edwards, 26) Ken Conroy, 27) Jamike Sowle, 28) Jon Miller, 29) Nick Lussier, 30) Nick Fretto, 31) Scott Duell, DQ) Andrew Buff, DNS) Floyd Billington, DNS) Jim Introne, DNS) Jack Lehner, DNS) Elliott Lussier, DNS) Josh Neal, DNS) Jim Osgood, DNS) Justin Smith
Limited Sportsman Results (15 Laps) – 1) Gary Derocher, 2) James Meehan, 3) Scott Bennett Jr, 4) Paolo Pascarella, 5) John Stowell, 6) E.J. McAuliffe, 7) Bob Schmidt, 8) Jason Miller, 9) Don Greco, 10) Jerard LeClair, 11) Dan Grignon, 12) Jim Mattison, 13) Mike Parodi, 14) Bobby Gage, 15) Jacob Volpi, 16) Justin Buff
Pro Stock Results (25 Laps) – 1) Kim Duell, 2) Walt Brownell, 3) Kenny Martin, 4) Robbie Speed, 5) Chuck Dumblewski, 6) Brandon Emigh, 7) Nick Arnold, 8) Todd Hoffman, 9) Dan Older, 10) Dave Depaulo, 11) Luke Horning, 12) Ivan Joslin, 13) Devon Camenga, 14) Norm Loubier, 15) Dan Madigan 16) Ernie Greenier, 17) Matt Roberts, 18) Yates Lansing, 19) Josh Rozelle, 20) Darryl Older
Street Stock Results (20 Laps) – 1) Randy Miller, 2) Jim Duncan, 3) John Filarecki, 4) Al Relyea, 5) David Cook, 6) John Hayes, 7) Chase Aussicker, 8) Damon Anderson, 9) David Pelis, 10) Scott Lawrence, 11) Joey Wilson
