Friesen & Cleveland Take Friday Night Crowns At Albany-Saratoga
Story By: TOBY LaGRANGE / ALBANY-SARATOGA SPEEDWAY Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
MALTA, NY- June 25, 2016- It is rare that Stewart Friesen tops the headlines with a “first” but that is what the Spraker’s resident did Friday night at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Friesen won the 35 lap Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified feature event, his first with the Halmar International team at the Great Race Place and did so after starting 16th in the star studded field.
Connor Cleveland won the Friday Night Lights King of Dirt Sportsman Series feature event. The win was the driver of the Dean’s Electrical/Arrowhead Equipment Troyer machine’s first of the season and was worth $1,250.
In other action Robbie Speed (DIRTcar Pro Stocks), Jason Meltz (Street Stocks) and Travis Billington (Limited Sportsman) were victorious.
C.G. Morey and Rich Ronca led the Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified feature event to the green with Ronca taking the early lead over Kris Vernold, Ricky Davis, Mark Kislowski and Ray Hoard following. Kislowski wasted no time and had the Morris Auto Group machine hooked up on the top side. He was in the second position by lap three and reeling in Ronca. Vernold settled into third with Hoard and Davis completing the top five.
Elmo Reckner took the Wendy’s Restaurant’s machine to fifth on lap 12, dropping rookie Ricky Davis out of the top five. Davis came right back to regain fifth. Kislowski meanwhile was all over Ronca and on lap 16 changed lanes to take the lead from Ronca. Marc Johnson meanwhile came from position number 15 to take over fifth on lap 16. Stewart Friesen closed on Johnson and on lap 19 took over fifth from the White Knight.
Friesen then moved past Hoard and Vernold to move into third. Johnson followed to fourth. Hoard would emerge in fifth with Ronnie Johnson all over him in sixth. Kenny Tremont, Jr. moved past Johnson for sixth on lap 25 and began challenging Hoard. Tremont took the fifth position from Hoard on lap 27.
Up front Kislowski had about a ten car length lead over Ronca who had about the same distance over third place Friesen. Marc Johnson remained fourth and Tremont a distant fifth. On lap 30 Friesen took over second from Ronca and quickly closed on Kislowski. On lap 31 Friesen would take over the lead with Johnson taking second. However before lap 32 could be clicked off Jesse Mueller spun in turn two negating both Friesen and Johnson passes. Friesen would be placed second and Johnson fourth.
On the restart Friesen would take over the lead with Kislowski and Johnson battling for second. In the end Friesen would pick up the win over Kislowski, Marc Johnson, Ronca and Tremont. With 34 Upstate GMC Dealers DIRTcar Modified drivers in attendance heat races were won by Ronca, Kislowski and Cottrell. The consolation event was won by Olden Dwyer.
Connor Cleveland won the Friday Night Lights King of Dirt Sportsman Series 30 lap event. Cleveland and Jack Speshock led the King of Dirt Sportsman Series field to the green with Cleveland taking the early lead over Speshock, Daryl Nutting, Andrew Buff and Chris Schaffer. By lap five Cleveland had opened nearly a straightaway advantage over Speshock. Schaffer gave way to Tim Hartman, Jr. on lap seven as the second generation driver took over the fifth position. Just as Cleveland was catching slower traffic, Cody Hunt spun in turn two on lap eight.
Racing resumed with defending Friday Night Lights race winner Cleveland the race leader over Speshock, Nutting, Buff and Hartman. On lap ten Hartman took over the fourth position and Chris Johnson fifth, forcing Buff out of the top five. Hartman had the Parillo number 22 hooked up on the top side. On lap 12 he took over the third position from Nutting and set his sights on second place Speshock. Tim Hodge and David Schilling tangled on lap 12 to bring out the caution flag.
On the restart Cleveland held the lead with Speshock, Hartman, Johnson and Nutting following. With ten to go Cleveland had a straightaway advantage over Speshock and also entered slower traffic. Even with the slower traffic Cleveland could not be caught, picking up the big King of Dirt Series win. Speshock held on for second, Hartman third, Johnson fourth and Nutting fifth.
A total of 45 drivers entered the event with the $25 to win heat races being won by Speshock, Cleveland, Nick Anatriello and Schaffer. The consolation events were won by Josh Sunn and Mike Coffey.
Robbie Speed picked up his fourth win of the season in the DIRTcar Pro Stock division. Dean Charbonneau and Dan Madigan led the DIRTcar Pro Stock field to the green with Charbonneau taking the early lead over Jeff Washburn and Dan Madigan. Washburn was able to get under Charbonneau on lap two and take over the lead. Brandon Emigh moved past Madigan for third on lap five with Norm Loubier fifth. On lap eight Speed moved past Loubier for the fifth position. Speed continued his charge on lap ten when he took over the fourth position from Madigan.
At the half way point Washburn firmly held the lead over two-time winner Emigh. On lap 14 Speed moved past Charbonneau for third. With ten laps to go Washburn and Emigh caught the tail end of the field and were amidst heavy traffic. On lap 18 Nick Stone moved into fifth, taking the position from Madigan.
By lap 20 Speed had closed a near straightaway gap to the leaders down to about a car length. Speed moved to the outside of Emigh on lap 22 and then as the field clicked off lap 23 he took over the lead. In the end the Speed would pick up the win after starting tenth over Washburn, Emigh, Stone and Dan Older, Sr. The race went caution free. Heat races for the 21 DIRTcar Pro Stocks were won by Charbonneau and Washburn.
Travis Billington won the 20 lap feature event. Billington was the first to lead the event. On lap two a tangle on the front stretch brought out the caution flag and forced a restart. On the restart Billington was the race leader with Jacob Volpi running second. Gary Derocher spun on lap seven to force another restart. On the restart Billington held the lead over Volpi. On lap 13 Zach Daurio took over second from Volpi. In the end Billington picked up the win over Daurio, James Meehan, Volpi and Nick Fretto. With 17 drivers on hand heat races were won by Daurio and Billington.
Jason Meltz won the 20 lap Street Stock feature event. John Filarecki was the first to lead the 20 lap Street Stock feature event. Filarecki led until giving way to Scott Lawrence on a lap eight restart. Meltz took the lead midway through the event and led the rest of the way to pick up his second win of the season. Paul Mulrain finished second with Josh Coonradt third, Lawrence fourth and Filarecki fifth. Heat races for the 22 car Street Stock field were won by Filarecki and Lawrence.
The Albany-Saratoga Speedway returns to action Tuesday evening with Brett Hearn’s Big Show 8. The Super DIRTcar Series for Big Block Modifieds will be on hand along with the Sportsman division. For more information on the Albany-Saratoga Speedway log onto the track website at www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com or visit us on Facebook.
(35 Laps) – 1) Stewart Friesen, 2) Mark Kislowski, 3) Marc Johnson, 4) Rich Ronca, 5) Ken Tremont Jr, 6) Ray Hoard, 7) Brett Hearn, 8) Matt Delorenzo, 9) Ronnie Johnson, 10) Bodie Bellinger, 11) L.J. Lombardo,12) Elmo Reckner, 13) Keith Flach, 14) Neil Stratton, 15) J.R. Heffner, 16) Don Ronca, 17) Brian Gleason, 18) Kris Vernold, 19) Ricky Davis, 20) Jessey Mueller, 21) Jimmy Cottrell, 22) Matt Depew, 23) Demetrios Drellos, 24) Brian Whittemore, 25) Olden Dwyer, 26) Todd Morey, 27) Bill Cody, 28) Anthony Alger, 29) Justin Barber, 30) C.G. Morey, DNS) Cass Bennett, DNS) Tyler Dippel, DNS) Craig Seeley, DNS) Hector Stratton
King of Dirt Sportsman Results (30 Laps) – 1) Connor Cleveland, 2) Jack Speshock, 3) Tim Hartman Jr, 4) Chris Johnson, 5) Daryl Nutting, 6) Jason Gray, 7) Jordan Fornwalt, 8) Chad Edwards, 9) Jon Miller, 10) Cody Bleau, 11) Andrew Buff, 12) Nick Anatriello, 13) Jeremy Pitts, 14) Kevin Chaffee,15) Joey Scarborough, 16) Chris Schaffer, 17) Josh Sunn, 18) Nick Lussier, 19) Mike Coffey, 20) Mike Tholin, 21) Michael Sabia, 22) David Schilling,23) Tim Hodge, 24) Pat Jones, 25) Cody Hunt, 26) Rob Maxon, 27) Luke Klob, 28) Robert Bublak, 29) Adam Pierson, DNS) Cody Clark, DNS) Floyd Billington, DNS) Ken Conroy, DNS) Scott Duell, DNS) Jesse Edwards, DNS) Adam Gage, DNS) Ryan Heath, DNS) Jack Lehner, DNS) Greg McCloskey,DNS) Jim Morgan, DNS) Mike Ostrander, DNS) Tom Princiotta, DNS) John Proctor, DNS) Christopher Ronca, DNS) Justin Smith, DNS) Jack Swinton
Pro Stock Results (25 Laps) – 1) Robbie Speed, 2) Jeff Washburn, 3) Brandon Emigh, 4) Nick Stone, 5) Dan Older, 6) Dean Charbonneau, 7) Walt Brownell, 8) Dan Madigan, 9) Kim Duell, 10) Norm Loubier, 11) Gus Hollner, 12) Chuck Dumblewski, 13) Bill Smith, 14) Dave Depaulo, 15) Nick Arnold,16) Zach Welch, 17) Josh Rozelle, 18) Pete Porter, 19) Kevin Loomis, 20) Ed Thompson, 21) Rob VanAernam
Limited Sportsman Results (20 Laps) – 1) Travis Billington, 2) Zach Daurio, 3) James Meehan, 4) Jacob Volpi, 5) Nick Fretto, 6) Justin Severance, 7) John Stowell, 8) Randy Miller, 9) Gary Derocher, 10) Clint Bonner, 11) Diana Huyck, 12) Bonner, Reggie 13) Steve Burch, 14) Scott Bennett Jr, 15) Derek Bornt, 16) Brandon Pitcher, 17) Rob Lanfear
Street Stock Results (20 Laps) – 1) Jason Meltz, 2) Paul Mulrain, 3) Josh Coonradt, 4) Scott Lawrence, 5) John Filarecki, 6) Jeff Meltz Sr, 7) Paul Braymer, 8) John Morris Jr, 9) Curt Condon, 10) Hunter Sanchez, 11) Damon Anderson, 12) Russ Miller, 13) John Hayes, 14) Chase Aussicker, 15) Mark Burch, 16) Matt Mosher, 17) Joey Wilson, 18) Ron Redmond, 19) David Pelis, 20) Al Relyea, DNS) Jason Barret, DNS) David Shippee
