RPW Exclusive: Kenny Tremont & Marc Johnson Claim Double Features At Albany-Saratoga Friday

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – MALTA, NY – With double features Friday night at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway for the Modifieds, everyone was wondering if a driver could sweep both races.

If you asked Kenny Tremont after the first feature, it was a distinct possibility as he took home the held-over “Stan ‘Da Man” 32-lap Modified main. The “Sand Lake Slingshot” was licking his chops to make it a sweep until the ” White Knight,” Marc Johnson, swooped in during the regularly-scheduled main event and rained on his parade.

Matt Depew took the early lead in the first feature but Tremont was the car on the move, coming from his seventh starting position. As he was charging his way to the front, the caution flew for Brett Hearn who received a tap from Hector Stratton and spun between turns oen and two. The cars in the middle of the pack were getting very racy on the tacky surface.

On the restart, trouble plagued the third place man in points, Ronnie Johnson, as he went spinning in turn one and was sent to the rear as well.

Tremont took over the top spot on lap 12, going to the low side to take command from Depew.

RJ’s tough night continued right around this time as well, as, once again, the driver of the #2RJ found himself going in the wrong direction.

Young Bobby Hackel race side-by-side with Depew for a number of laps, finally grabbing the second spot and began to reel in the #115. As the laps clicked off, though, nobody got anywhere near the multi-time track champion, as Tremont took home the “Stan The Man” 32.

The victory was Tremont’s 75th career triumph at the “Great Race Place.”

“I had a great starting spot and that helped,” Tremont said. “We had a really good car tonight.”

Hackel’s great run didn’t go as planned though, as the #97 machine slow in turns three and four on the final lap. The engine in the Killer Crate’s machine let go and he limped home for a ninth place finish.

Brian Gleason came home in the second spot for his best run of the season with Keith Flach, Jessey Mueller and Depew rounding out the top five.

The night’s regular 35-lap main event rolled with Elmo Reckner jumping out front to the lead. He was soon pressured by the high-flying Bodie Bellinger, who had rocketed into the second spot.

By lap eight, Bellinger was knocking on Reckner’s back bumper. The young pilot was using the extreme high line and gave a run on the outside coming off of turn two but could not complete the pass.

Caution flew near that point for Matt DeLerenzo who had a flat tire, giving Bellinger a chance on the on the restart. As they fired, Reckner and Bellinger went side-by-side. Contact was made between the two, putting Bellinger over the edge a bit of the backstretch.

While the front runners were battling it out, the two cars on the move were first feature winner Kenny Tremont and former track champion, Marc Johnson. Both were marching towards the front coming from 15th and 13th, respectively.

By lap 12, Tremont had worked his way to second and caught the leader Reckner, making the pass for the lead. Marc Johnson made his way to second and had his sights set on Tremont.

Johnson was reeling in Tremont as the laps began to wind down, going to the inside of the 115. The two raced door-to-door until Johnson cleared the leader to make the pass. However, it wasn’t over yet. The great equalizer…lap traffic.

Ultimately, Johnson was flawless with Tremont waiting for him to make a mistake…a mistake that never came as Johnson denied the 115 a sweep on the night.

This was the second win in three races for Johnson who took the recent Short Track Super Series event at the speedway.

“The bottom side was working,” Johnson said. “The car was a little tight on the bottom, but it was a heck of a race with Kenny.”

The night was tough for two of the top point-getters, Brett Hearn and Ronnie Johnson. Neither driver cracked the top 5 in either feature. That’s something you just don’t see everyday.

It was, however, a sweep of sorts on the night for the Johnson Brothers as Chris Johnson went from his 12th starting position to the top, claiming his third win of the year in the Sportsman division.

“The car was really good,” he said. “There are a lot of great cars here, and when you can win against them, it’s just awesome.”

This was the second time that both Johnson brothers won on the same night.

Darryl Nutting, Pat Jones, Andrew Buff and Mike Coffey rounded out the top 5.

The Pro Stock feature went to a first-time winner at the “Great Race Place,” but someone familiar with victory lane, former Lebanon Valley champion Jay Corbin.

Corbin took the lead and hid as second through sixth were running side-by-side, bumper-to-bumper.

A caution flew, bunching up the field. On the ensuing green, third place runner Kim Duell was shuffled back in ninth. However, he charged back to the front.

In the end, Corbin wouldn’t be denied on this night, claiming his first win at the track. Duell muscled his #14 to second with Dan Madigan taking third. Point leader Kenny Martin had a quiet night, coming home in fourth with Norm Loubier rounded out the top 5

“We’ve been close a lot of times but something always goes wrong,” Corbin said. “I was beginning to dought myself, but finally got here.”

The Limited Sportsman feature was won by Stephen Kneer. Kneer made a strong pass on the outside of Gary VanAlstyne for the victory with two laps to go. Paulo Pascarella, Dylan Bokus, VanAlstyne and Jeff Jenkins were the other top finishers.

The Native Pride Street Stock Series feature went to Jimmy Duncan followed by Al Relyea, Damon Anderson, Jeff Meltz Jr. and Scott Lawrence. The Empire Lightning Sprints made their way to the track on Friday and it was Doug Norrie getting the victory.

Notes:

Finally, we had great weather for a night of racing.

It was Nostalgia night at the track with a variety of some older cars on display. That was really neat to see. There was even an old sedan with the beer keg in the back that was the fuel cell.

Drivers of the past were on hand signing autographs. The likes of CD Coville, Bob Hackel, Brian Ross, George Proctor, Wes Moody, and Win Slavin all took part in the signing session. It was an honor meeting these great racers and to thank them for the years of memories. Friday was a super event for the fans.

One thing that was a special part of the Nostalgia festivities was the presence of an original painting of photographer John Grady who just recently passed away. It was a thing of beauty in person. Rest in Peace Mr. Grady.

Next week is our final points night at Albany-Saratoga so make sure you get out to see who will be crowned champions.