By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – This Saturday, June 8 at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway, the Sunoco Modifieds will compete in Twin 20-lap events with $1,500 to win going to the winners of each of those two events. Also on the racing card will be the Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman who will run the rain delayed 25-lap feature from 5/25 along with a regularly scheduled feature event.

The Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman will also be in action along with the Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks (Best of 8 Series event presented by American Racer) and the Trackside Body Works Street Stocks. Racing will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Sunoco Modifieds will run heat races handicapped normally. The first feature will be lined up via the weekly handicapping system with the winner of the first 20-lap event drawing an invert of either four, six, or eight for the second event. The remainder of the field will file in lined up by the order of finish from the first feature.

The Saturday racing program will begin where it does each and every Saturday night, at the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame & Museum where they will welcome last week’s feature winners Brian Calabrese (Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman), Steve Wagoner (Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman), and Stephen Young (Trackside Body Works Street Stocks). The drivers will be on hand with their racecars at the museum beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Hey Kid’s wouldn’t it be awesome if you could have your name on a racecar? This Saturday, June 8 is your chance. Always looking for ways to get kids involved in racing, Alicia Hughes came up with an idea to be able to have kids sign her #730 Pro-Stock and ride along with her for the remainder of the season. Be sure to get to the “Track of Champions” early to come in and etch your name on a real life racecar.

The car will be displayed by the Fonda Speedway Kid’s Club end of the covered grandstands at gate two so come over and check it out and sign your kid’s name to it! Ashley Abeling does a fantastic job with the Kid’s Club so be sure to stop by and say hello!

Also this Saturday June 8, the New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) will hold their annual Safety Awards Night. Drivers in each of the feature events in all divisions who are members of NYSSCA are eligible for the awards, which include $75, a NYSSCA Yearbook, and a NYSSCA hat to the first NYSSCA member across the finish line in each of the feature events in all divisions. The second NYSSCA member across the finish line in each of the feature events in all divisions will receive $25, a NYSSCA Yearbook, and a NYSSCA hat.

There will also be one “Wildcard” award handed out to one lucky driver who is chosen overall and that driver will receive $50, a NYSSCA Yearbook, and a NYSSCA hat. If you are not yet a member of NYSSCA, you can see track representative Bonnie Mortensen before the racing program begins so that you are eligible to receive the awards on Saturday nights. The membership fee is $25.

WHO IS NYSSCA?

The New York State Stock Car Association is a group of area racers dedicated to the betterment of the sport through education and continued support. NYSSCA and its predecessor, the New York State Stock Car Owners and Drivers Club were originally created as “sounding boards” for area racers to voice opinions and to effect change at local speedways. Early 1960’s meetings concerned raising track purses and changing track rules. When NYSSCA was incorporated in 1969, the officers and board members expressed concerns over track safety and insurance matters.

One of NYSSCA’s first projects was to establish a benefit fund to help members who are injured in race related accidents. The fund has easily become one of the most important functions of the organization.

NYSSCA is also highly regarded for its awards banquet. The awards banquet was started in 1964, with some huge, well-remembered events taking place at the Schenectady IUE 301 Union Hall in the early 1970’s. Recent banquets at the Albany Polish Community Center have been just as large as membership climbs to all-time records.

NYSSCA memberships are open to ANYONE – all drivers, owners, fans, press, sponsors, and other members of the racing fraternity!

For more information about the New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) you can go to their website www.nyssca.com

Race Day Information:
Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.
Hot Laps: 6:00 p.m.
Racing: 7:00 p.m.
Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $13.00
Seniors: (65 & Above) $11.00
Kids 11 & Under: FREE
Pit Entry W/Fonda Speedway License: $30.00
Pit Entry W/O License: $35.00
Parking in Speedway Lot: FREE
Concession Stands & Beer Booth Open
Fonda Speedway Novelty Stand: Brand new Fonda Speedway available for purchase.
Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame & Museum
Opens @ 3:30 pm
Admission to the Hall of Fame & Museum: FREE
Check out Their Page for Special Happenings!
Speedway Office Phone: 518-915-4395
Speedway Address: 21 South Bridge Street, Fonda, NY 12068
Speedway E-Mail: fondaspdwy@gmail.com
Speedway Website: www.thefondaspeedway.com
Speedway Twitter: @thefondaspdwy
Speedway Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefondaspdwy

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – A rain out on Memorial Day weekend meant double features for the Sunoco Modifieds at Fonda on Saturday evening with Bobby Varin getting the victory in the rained out event from 5/25 while Stewart Friesen picked up the win in nightcap 30-lap event.

For Varin it was his first win of the 2019 season and the 65th of his career in the division in 22 winning seasons. For Friesen it was also his first win of the 2019 season and the 55th of his career at Fonda in just nine winning seasons.

Varin currently sits fourth on the All Time Modified Win List at Fonda with 65 wins while Friesen moved ahead of Kenny Shoemaker with the victory for sole possession of fifth place on the All Time Modified Win List with 55 wins.

Other winners on Saturday evening who got to celebrate in the Fuccillo Automotive Group Mike Cole Victory Lane included Brian Calabrese in the Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman division ($1,000 to win thanks to Eric Orozco Racing), Steve Wagoner in the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, Luke Horning in the Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks, Stephen Young in the Trackside Body Works Street Stocks, and Cole Lawton in the Four Cylinder Cruisers.

For Wagoner and Lawton it was their first career wins in their respective divisions.

The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS) had four classes of cars in competition on Saturday evening at Fonda including Vintage Antique, Vintage Modified, Vintage Sportsman, and Vintage Late Models. It was also New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) Safety Awards Night for the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS), which is run by Laurie Fallis who does a great job promoting the organization.

The NYSSCA Safety Award consisted of $75, a NYSSCA hat, and a NYSSCA Yearbook for the first Vintage race car across the finish line in the feature event who is a member of the NYSSCA organization and $25, a NYSSCA hat, and a NYSSCA Yearbook to the second Vintage racecar across the finish line in the feature event who is a member of the NYSSCA organization. There will also be a $50 Wildcard Award handed out to a NYSSCA member in the Vintage racecar series.

The winners of the MVVDMS feature events with combined classes running in the same feature event Frank Blanchard (Vintage Antiques), Rob Sanford (Vintage Modified), Bryon Seyfried (Vintage Sportsman), and Malcum Warner (Vintage Late Model).

It was Bicycle Giveaway Night presented by the Fonda Speedway Kid’s Club with Ashley Abeling doing a fantastic job with the Kid’s Club as they gathered a total of 34 bicycles to give away.

The Northville Central School Band performed a great rendition of the National Anthem with three busses necessary to transport the students to the track on Saturday.

The Make-A-Wish of Northeast, NY organization was on hand with a table setup with information about the organization. As a part of the Make-A-Wish of Northeast, NY display, wish kids Mac Palandro and Xzavier Cool were on hand with their families to enjoy the racing action for the evening. Both wish kids were also able to sit in the Make-A-Wish race car of Mark Mortensen who had his #1M car on display at the Make-A-Wish table area.

Ed Biittig Sr. has been doing a fantastic job with a prayer during opening ceremonies and Saturday evening was no different as he said to the crowd “As you all know this track means a lot to me. This week there was a service for race car driver Jim Becker’s Uncle Bruce Becker whose last wish was to make it back to the track under the Brett Deyo era which he was able to do. Folks, we don’t have a clue when it will be over is my message to you tonight.”

A moment of silence was also observed for Bob Rees who recently passed away and was a former competitor at the “Track of Champions”.

Esther LaBelle was the winner of the 50/50 prize for the evening worth $1,606! Esther and her husband Ken are race fans who attend racing at the Fonda Speedway on a weekly basis along with their daughters Amanda and Becky. Amanda actually works for the Greater Amsterdam Volunteer Ambulance Service (GAVAC) and was also at the track on Saturday evening in her role as an EMT. The LaBelle Family are sponsors on the #1M 602 Crate Sportsman car of Mark Mortensen and the #1B Limited Sportsman car of Brett Mortensen.

The 30-lap Sunoco Modified feature rained out from 5/25 was the first race on track after warm-ups with Korey Wilder leading at the drop of Joe Kriss’ green flag. At the completion of lap one it was Ryan Odasz in the lead but that was short lived as he came to a stop in turn four on lap two with the first yellow flag of the event out at that point.

Wilder inherited the lead on the restart while Brian Gleason was second and eighth place starter Danny Varin was third with two more caution flags out on laps eight and 11. On a lap 12 restart, Danny Varin was the new race leader with his father Bobby Varin making his way to the front after starting back in the ninth position, sitting in the fifth position at that point.

As Danny Varin continued to lead the event, Bobby Varin went from fifth to third on lap 13 and one lap later he was the new second place car after getting by Wilder for the spot. When Danny Varin had some misfortune with his racecar on lap 15 and was forced to the pit area, Bobby took over the lead with the attention now focused on 11th place starter Stewart Friesen who was in the top five.

On lap 22, Stewart Friesen was able to get by both his wife Jessica and Wilder for the third position and one lap later he got by Brian Gleason for the second position setting up a classic finish to the checkered flag. Friesen was running lap times a half second quicker than Varin with five laps to go and was closing in fast on the leader.

Friesen had a ton of momentum built up on the outside of turn three on the final lap and was able to get alongside of Varin coming out of turn four. A scrape with the wall in turn four may have scrubbed off enough speed on Friesen’s car and Varin went on for the win by 0.11 seconds in the Palmer’s Service Center #76 Teo car and was followed in the top five by Stewart Friesen, Gleason, Jessica Friesen, and Michael Maresca.

“I ran the same line on the track for the whole race,” Varin told Mimi Lazzaro in victory lane. “The track was just a little off tonight but it was fast. Heads up to the track crew for trying something different. Our car was fast and we caught a couple of brakes. I saw him (Friesen) on the outside of me in turn four in a daredevil ride on the cushion but I’m definitely glad to put this Palmer’s Service Center car in victory lane.”

The regularly scheduled 30-lap Sunoco Modified feature began with Ryan Odasz the race leader at the drop of the green flag in his self-owned #88 car after issues with the Nelson Motorsports ride in the first feature. Craig Hanson started the event in the fifth position and was the new second place car on lap three with third place starter Pep Corradi, sixth place starter Danny Varin, and 10th place starter Stewart Friesen completing the top five.

Varin and Friesen swapped the fourth position a couple of times before Varin settled in that spot on lap eight. They both got by Corradi for the third and fourth positions respectively with the yellow flag out for Varin on lap nine as he slowed on the backstretch. Hanson led the race on the restart with Odasz and Friesen getting hooked together briefly and falling back to the fifth and sixth positions respectively.

Hanson held a comfortable advantage on lap 10 when all of a sudden the caution came out for Michael Maresca who suffered a flat tire and on this restart Hanson continued to lead while David Schilling and Rocky Warner made their way into the top five after starting seventh and 13th respectively.

Warner and Friesen both got by Schilling for the second and third positions at the halfway point in the event with the yellow out again on lap 18 for Darwin Greene who came to a stop on the backstretch. Friesen took the second position away from Warner on the restart as Hanson continued to lead the event with the caution out again on lap 24.

Friesen put heavy pressure on Hanson when the green flag flew to restart the race and on lap 25 used the inside groove in turn two to duck under Hanson and take over the race lead. With three laps to go Friesen pulled away to a straightway advantage until a caution came out for Corradi in turn four.

Warner got by Hanson for the second position on the restart as Friesen continuing to lead with one final caution out with one lap to go for Odasz and Maresca who tangled in turn four setting up a one lap dash to the finish. Friesen maintained the lead on the restart and went on for the win in the Halmar #44 over Warner, Schilling, Hanson, and 12th place starter Bobby Varin.

Friesen celebrated on the roof of the #44 car with a DKM flag in hand and then climbed down to talk with Mimi Lazzaro afterwards. “This is a great DKM racecar so hats off to those guys along with a great small block from Billy the Kid,” he said. “I’m glad to be back here in victory lane at Fonda, it’s been a tough couple of weeks. Thanks to the “Black Flag Crew”, we are going to celebrate tonight.”

The $1,000 to win thanks to Eric Orozco Racing Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman feature was an epic side by side battle for three quarters of the 25-lap event with two tries needed to get the race underway. Joe Orlando took the lead at the drop of the green flag after starting on the pole with Kurtis Hohensheldt in the second position.

Coming down the front straightaway to complete lap four, fifth place starter Brian Calabrese went three wide to the inside of Orlando to take the race lead with fourth place starter Andrew Buff also getting by Orlando for the second position. The red flag was out on lap seven for a three car crash on the backstretch involving Thomas VanVorst, Harry Shaffer, and Kathy Bellen who had rolled over on her roof. All drivers were okay and not injured.

12th place starter Tim Hartman Jr. was the new third place car on the restart as Calabrese and Buff began their side by side battle for the lead which lasted throughout the remainder of the race. Buff took away the race lead on lap eight, getting by Calabrese on the outside of the front straightway as the lap was completed.

On lap 15, Calabrese took the lead away again and he and Buff remained side by side at times over the closing laps of the event. 11th place starter JaMike Sowle took the third position away from Hartman Jr. as they swapped the position a couple of times before Hartman Jr. took over the third spot for good with five laps to go.

Calabrese was able to put some distance between he and Buff in the closing couple of laps to take his second career win at Fonda in the Mason LM Contractor sponsored #21C over Buff, Hartman Jr., 15th place starter Chad Edwards, and Sowle.

“This is unbelievable,” Calabrese said in victory lane. “We’ve been struggling with the American racer tires and had some bad luck last night at Albany Saratoga. Buff showed me the outside tonight and I am living a dream right now. This one actually means more than my first win here at Fonda which came after a disqualification.”

John Young led the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman feature at the start from the pole position but at the completion of lap one it was third place starter Steve Wagoner who was the new race leader with eighth place starter Dylan Eldred second by the halfway point in the 20-lap event.

As Wagoner stretched out his advantage over Eldred each lap in the caution free event, seventh place starter Brett Mortensen was picking off cars lap after lap sitting in the third position on lap 14. That’s the way the finish would play out with Wagoner taking his first career win in the Doug’s Pools & Spa’s #32 over Eldred, Mortensen, ninth place starter EJ McAuliffe, and 10th place starter Rich Christman.

Cassidy Wilson led from the outside pole at the start in the Algonkin Motel Pro Stock feature with fourth place starter Andy Graves in tow. On lap two the first yellow flag was out for Ivan Joslin and Kenny Gates who had nowhere to go when a car slowed on the backstretch and spun to avoid contact. Gates was able to continue while Joslin was done for the evening.

On the restart, sixth place starter Justin Knight was the new second place car with eighth place starter Nick Stone in third. On the outside of turn two on lap five, Knight was the new race leader for one lap only as Stone led the following lap six. When Stone slowed on the backstretch one lap later, Knight took over the lead again with Wilson second and 12th place starter Luke Horning now third.

Horning went three wide to the outside of both Wilson and Knight to take over the race lead on lap eight and with five laps to go he held a straightaway advantage over Knight. Horning took his third win of the 2019 season and the 17th of his career at Fonda in the Catalytic Recovery sponsored #97 over Knight, ninth place starter Chuck Dumblewski who got the third position on the final lap, seventh place starter Josh Coonradt, and Wilson.

“The track was super-fast tonight,” Horning said. “I just had to get up there on the outside and let it bite.”

Stephen Young led at the start of the 15-lap Trackside Body Works Street Stock feature after starting on the outside pole with the yellow out on lap five. As Young continued to lead, Cliff Haslun and Jason Samrov were side by side for the second position on laps six and seven with Samrov eventually getting the spot.

Another yellow on lap 13 for Michael Arnold who suffered a flat right rear tire, set up a green, white, checkered finish with Young leading the remaining laps in the event for his first win of the 2019 season and the second of his career in the division over Samrov, Haslun, Arnold, and Zach Sorrentino.

Cole Lawton took the lead at the completion of lap one in the Four Cylinder Cruiser feature and never looked back as he led every lap for his first career win in the division at Fonda. Ken Hollenbeck was second followed by Wayne Russell, Riley Pedrick, and John Napoli.

Next week at Fonda it will be New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) Safety Awards Night with all divisions in action including Twin 20’s for the Sunoco Modifieds ($1,500 to win each), the Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman, the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, the Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks (Best of 8 Series Presented by American Racer), and the Trackside Body Works Street Stocks.

Racing will begin on Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Since 1953, the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. Now under the management of BD Motorsports Media LLC, the speedway will operate weekly on Saturday nights from April through August plus several special events. Fonda Speedway is located on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds off New York State Thruway Exit No. 28 at 21 S. Bridge Street Fonda, NY 12068.

Fonda Speedway is on the web at www.thefondaspeedway.com. To learn more, call the office at 518.915.4395, like Fonda Speedway on Facebook www.facebook.com/thefondaspdwy or follow on Twitter: @thefondaspdwy.

SUNOCO MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH – RAIN DELAYED FROM 5/25/2019 – 30-LAPS – BOBBY VARIN, Stewart Friesen, Brian Gleason, Jessica Friesen, Michael Maresca, Rocky Warner, Josh Hohenforst, Korey Wilder, Cody Bleau, Matt DeLorenzo, Craig Hanson, Steve Akers, Dave Constantino, Darwin Greene, Scott Huber, Vinny Sanganetti, David Schilling, Demetrious Drellos, Danny Varin, Pep Corradi, Willy Decker, Dylan Scribner, Aaron Jacobs, Ryan Odasz, Elmo Reckner, Jimmy Horton (DNS), Mike Gular (DNS), Rusty Smith (DNS)

SUNOCO MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH – REGULAR FEATURE FROM 6/1/2019 – 30-LAPS – STEWART FRIESEN, Rocky Warner, David Schilling, Craig Hanson, Bobby Varin, Cody Bleau, Danny Varin, Matt DeLorenzo, Jessica Friesen, Dave Constantino, Korey Wilder, Steve Akers, Scott Huber, Brian Gleason, Vinny Sanganetti, Michael Maresca, Ryan Odasz, Pep Corradi, Elmo Reckner, Darwin Greene, Dylan Scribner, Aaron Jacobs, Josh Hohenforst, Willy Decker (DNS), Demetrious Drellos (DNS)

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Ryan Odasz, Craig Hanson, Danny Varin

SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH ($1,000 TO WIN THANKS TO ERIC OROZCO RACING) – 25-LAPS – BRIAN CALABRESE, Andrew Buff, Tim Hartman Jr., Chad Edwards, JaMike Sowle, Adam McAuliffe, Mark Mortensen, Nick Scavia, Kurtis Hohensheldt, Aaron Burton, Cody Clark, Kale Groff, Tony Farone, Dan Santabarbara, Corey Cormier, Joe Orlando, Kathy Bellen, Thomas VanVorst, Harry Shaffer, Tim Dwyer, Brian Pessolano, Mike Jackson, Brian Borst, Griffen Mansmith (DNS), Josh DeMagistris (DNS)

HEAT RACE WINNERS: JaMike Sowle, Kurtis Hohensheldt, Tim Dwyer

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE FOR AGING INC. LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH – 20-LAPS – STEVE WAGONER, Dylan Eldred, Brett Mortensen, EJ McAuliffe, Rich Christman, John Young, Bill Port, Brendan Gibbons, Spencer Rapp, Alan Hanson, William August

HEAT RACE WINNERS: No Heat Races Were Run

ALGONKIN MOTEL PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH – 20-LAPS – LUKE HORNING, Justin Knight, Chuck Dumblewski, Josh Coonradt, Cassidy Wilson, Jason Morrison, Jim Normoyle, Devon Camenga, Randy Cosselman, Kenny Gates, Jamie Warner, Andy Graves, Alicia Hughes, Nick Stone, John Roese, Buck Gasner, Ivan Joslin, Bill Knapp (DNS)

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Nick Stone, Cassidy Wilson

TRACKSIDE BODY WORKS STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH – 15-LAPS – STEPHEN YOUNG, Jason Samrov, Cliff Haslun, Michael Arnold, Zach Sorrentino, Robert Wilmont, Justin Taylor, Dave Horning Sr.

FOUR CYLINDER CRUISER FEATURE – 12-LAPS – COLE LAWTON, Ken Hollenbeck, Wayne Russell, Riley Pedrick, John Napoli, Zach McSpirit, TJ Marlitt, Josh Samrov DQ

MOHAWK VALLEY VINTAGE ANTIQUE FEATURE FINISH – FRANK BLANCHARD, Ed Docskalik, Tex Gorden, Mark Reardon, Alan McDonald

MOHAWK VALLEY VINTAGE REPLICA FEATURE FINISH – ROB SANFORD, BRYON SEYFRIED, John Flach, Dan Wood, Jay Lais, Stanley Wetmore, Mike Francisco, John Constantino, Dan Karl, MALCUM WARNER, Marv Blackwell, Bill Liese, George Palmer, Carl Cram, Scott Gathier, Tex Gorden (DNS)

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – On Saturday June 1, the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway will host something called “Mystique Rush” with a full night of racing action in all divisions along with the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds Series. On this night, the Fonda Speedway Kids Club will also have a Bicycle Giveaway and Make-A-Wish of Northeast NY will have a display setup handing out information about their wonderful organization and collecting donations as well.

On the racing card for Saturday, June 1 at Fonda will be the make-up Sunoco Racing Modified feature from May 25 along with the regularly scheduled Sunoco Racing Modified feature, the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman ($1,000 to win thanks to Eric Orozco Racing), the Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc. Limited Sportsman, the Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks, the Trackside Body Works Street Stocks, and the Four Cylinder Cruisers.

Racing action will start at 7:00 p.m. with the Northville Central School performing the National Anthem during pre-race ceremonies.

The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series will have four classes of cars in competition including Vintage Antique, Vintage Modified, Vintage Sportsman, and Vintage Late Models. It will also be New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) Safety Awards Night for the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series, which is run by Laurie Fallis who does a great job promoting the organization.

The NYSSCA Safety Award will consist of $75, a NYSSCA hat, and a NYSSCA Yearbook for the first Vintage race car across the finish line in the feature event who is a member of the NYSSCA organization and $25, a NYSSCA hat, and a NYSSCA Yearbook to the second Vintage racecar across the finish line in the feature event who is a member of the NYSSCA organization. There will also be a $50 Wildcard Award handed out to a NYSSCA member in the Vintage racecar series.

Vintage Series drivers will be able to sign up to join the NYSSCA organization this Saturday at the draw table and NYSSCA stickers must be present on the racecar to be eligible for the awards after the race. NYSSCA is an organization that helps all drivers, owners, crewmembers, safety crew members, staff at the track, along with family members and fans in the grandstands.

What does NYSSCA do for you? For $25, if you as a member are ever injured at the track and are unable to work, you will receive a benefit fund check of $125 a week for up to 26 weeks. So please be a part of an organization that gives back when a racing family member is in a time of need because you never know what could happen at the racetrack.

The Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum has made the claim of bringing the past back to life on a weekly basis over the past few years. This Saturday afternoon, their slogan becomes a reality as they welcome the stars and cars of the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series to the museum. Starting at 4:00 p.m., the hotrods of Stanley Wetmore, Scott Gauthier, George Palmer, Tony Kamburelis, Tex Gordon, Alan McDonald, Carl Cram, John Constantino, Malcum Warner, Frank Blanchard and Ed Docskalik will be on hand at the museum according to an early week release with the possibility of more cars joining them last minute.

As a part of the Make-A-Wish of Northeast, NY display, wish kids Mac Palandro, Xzavier Cool, and Dawson Koehler will be on hand. Dawson received his “Wish” from the organization a few years ago when a tree house was built at his home by Tom Thorne, Tom Thorne Jr., David Rogers, and Ken Ruff. Dawson had a bone marrow transplant which saved his life with his sister Courtney Koehler donating the bone marrow after it was determined that she was a 100% match to her brother.

Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman driver and 2011 Fonda Speedway 602 Sportsman Track Champion Mark Mortensen, who is a relative of Dawson’s through Mark’s stepfather Ron Szczerba, will have his racecar on hand at the Make-A-Wish display from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. as Mark proudly carries the Make-A-Wish of Northeast, NY sticker on his Mortensen Motorsports #1M racecar.

RACE DAY INFORMATION:
Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.
Hot Laps: 6:00 p.m.
Racing: 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $11.00
Seniors: (65 & above) $9.00
Kids 11 & Under: FREE
Pit Entry W/Fonda Speedway License: $30.00
Pit Entry W/O License: $35.00
Parking in Speedway Lot: FREE

Concession Stands & Beer Booth Open

Fonda Speedway Novelty Stand: Brand new Fonda Speedway available for purchase.

Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum
Opens @ 3:30 pm
Admission to the Hall of Fame & Museum: FREE
Check out Their Page for Special Happenings!

Speedway Office Phone: 518-915-4395
Speedway Address: 21 South Bridge Street, Fonda, NY 12068
Speedway E-Mail: fondaspdwy@gmail.com
Speedway Website: www.thefondaspeedway.com
Speedway Twitter: @thefondaspdwy
Speedway Facebook: Fonda Speedway

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – Traditions on Memorial Day vary from family to family but may consist of the following: parades, cook outs, and of course Sprint Car Racing at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway!

This Saturday May 25 at Fonda, the A-Verdi Storage Containers Patriot Sprint Tour will be in competition for the Earl Halaquist Memorial event. After a one-season hiatus, the Patriots are back at the Fonda Speedway located in Fonda, NY, which is now under the promotional operation of Brett Deyo. They will head to the Montgomery County fairgrounds for the Earl Halaquist Memorial, an event that pays $3,000 to win and $300 to qualify. Lap money will also awarded.

Also racing at the Fonda Speedway on Saturday, May 25 will be the Sunoco Racing Modifieds, the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman, the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, the Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks, and the Trackside Body Works Street Stocks with racing starting at 7:00 p.m.

As a special tribute to the Veterans and military, Brendan Gibbons of Gibbons Military Motors will have two of his jeeps on display for the evening. One of the jeeps according to Gibbons will be a 1945 Willys MB, nicknamed “Lil’ Buddy”, which saw service with the US Army in WWII. This jeep was restored by Brendan and Richard Gibbons (WWII veteran) in 2010.

The other jeep that will be on display is a 1942 Willys MB, nicknamed “Dolly.”, which saw service with the United States Marine Corps and US Army during WWII along with postwar service with the US Airforce in Europe. This Jeep was restored in 2011 by Brendan and Richard Gibbons.

Gibbons appears in parades around the local area with his Jeeps, this past week appearing in the Memorial Day parade in Scotia, NY. That evening Gibbons and his friend Brett Mortensen piloted the Jeeps in the parade with Taylor LaPlante also driving the Jeeps during some events.

Sprint car driver Josh Flint, who is a veteran, will also have his #41 Sprint Car at the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame & Museum at 4:00 p.m. when the museum opens so please stop and see Josh, thank him for his service, and wish him good luck in his racing endeavors in 2019 including Saturday evening at the Fonda Speedway! Sprint cars are cool to look at up close and personal with the huge wing on top of them so here is your chance to get a close up look at the Josh Flint Sprint Car!

Below is a history of the Earl Halaquist Memorial event, which appears on the Patriot Sprint Tour website www.patriotsprinttour.com

With permission from Mike Emhof of the Patriot Sprint tour, here is Earl Halaquist as Remembered by Michael Monnat.

By the first time I saw Earl Halaquist race a sprint car for the United Racing Club (URC) in 1960 at the Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, New York, he was already half-way through his career. Yet, at that point, he hadn’t even begun to receive national notoriety. That all changed with the dawn of the Sixties and his prodigious and overwhelmingly spectacular use of George Nesler’s sprint car racing equipment.

Halaquist had been around the sprint car game since arriving home after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, making his debut in 1946 in Little Valley, N.Y. From that point forward through the Fifties, he raced with sanctions like the Eastern States Racing Association (ESRA), the Big Car Racing Association (BCRA), and URC.

Back to that July night at Five Mile Point, Halaquist didn’t win the feature, but he was impressive getting a second-place finish behind Hal Rettberg. That was only the beginning as the decade that changed the country belonged to the Earl Halaquist/George Nesler duo.

Six URC titles (1962, ’64, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69) impressed the hell out of me and, during that time; I caught every local show and went to a few regional shows, as well. Halaquist won on dirt and asphalt. He won on the big tracks and the bullrings. In short, he won on everything and everywhere; he won 14 features in 1967 alone. Along the way, he garnered 52 URC main events; most coming at a time when ‘having a roof over your head’ meant living at home.

The quiet, unassuming family man from Sidney, N.Y., had a full-time job with Bendix, in addition to running up and down the East Coast chasing feature wins and point titles. He retired after spending 1970 driving midget cars with the American Race Drivers Club (ARDC). I didn’t meet Earl Halaquist in person until 1992 when he was inducted in the We-Go Racing Fan Club Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was inducted into the Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Hall of Fame and, in 2000; he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF).

In 2010, he was posthumously inducted into the URC Hall of Fame. His many skills spoke for themselves and everything about him read ‘class act.’ Earl Satch Halaquist, who was born on September 7, 1925, in Rock Rift, N.Y., died on January 12, 2001, at the age of seventy-five. Great driver, great man. Nothing else needs to be said!

PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE EARL HALAQUIST MEMORIAL EVENT
8/14/2004 – Dundee, NY – Blake Breen ESS/PSG
8/15/2005 – Dundee, NY – George Suprick ESS/PSG
8/12/2006 – Dundee, NY – Chuck Hebing ASCS/PSG
7/22/2007 – Fonda, NY – Justin Barger ESS
8/5/2008 – Fonda, NY – Justin Barger ESS
5/23/2009 – Fonda, NY – Doug Emery ESS
5/29/2010 – Fonda, NY – Justin Barger ESS
5/28/2011 – Fonda, NY – Justin Barger ESS
5/26/2012 – Fonda, NY – Jessica Zemken-Friesen ESS
9/21/2013 – Fonda, NY – Jeff Cook ESS
8/26/2014 – Afton, NY – Chuck Hebing ESS
8/25/2015 – Afton, NY – Matt Tanner ESS
8/23/2016 – Afton, NY – Steve Piorier ESS
8/12/2017 – Fonda, NY – Danny Varin ESS
5/26/2018 – Fonda, NY – Danny Varin ESS

Race Day Information for Saturday, May 25 at the Fonda Speedway:

Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.
Hot Laps: 6:00 p.m.
Racing 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $15.00
Seniors: (65 & Above) $13.00
Kids 11 & Under: FREE
Pit Entry W/Fonda Speedway License: $30.00
Pit Entry W/O License: $35.00

Parking in Speedway Lot: FREE

Concession Stands & Beer Booth Open

Fonda Speedway Novelty Stand: Brand new Fonda Speedway available for purchase.

Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum
Opens @ 3:30 pm
Admission to the Hall of Fame & Museum: FREE
Check out Their Page for Special Happenings!

Speedway Office Phone: 518-915-4395
Speedway Address: 21 South Bridge Street, Fonda, NY 12068
Speedway E-Mail: fondaspdwy@gmail.com
Speedway Website: www.thefondaspeedway.com
Speedway Twitter: @thefondaspdwy
Speedway Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefondaspdwy

For up to date Patriot Sprint Tour information, please be sure to visit www.patriotsprinttour.com and to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and twitter.

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Do you remember back in the 80’s when you used to be able to go to the movie theatre for $1 matinees on weekend afternoons for your entertainment? I used to work part time at a movie theatre that offered that deal but that was for a matinee showing, not for a prime time evening showing!

Well this Saturday, May 18 St. Lawrence Radiology is presenting something a little different at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway called “Dollar Night”. Actually, it is unheard of and is truly something special. $1 admission to the races and it is not a matinee, it is a prime time evening racing program, all divisions in action, with racing starting at 7:00 p.m.

With three racing events in the record books so far in 2019, the competition has been fierce at Fonda with three different winners in the Sunoco Racing Modified division (Matt Sheppard, Dave Constantino, and Rocky Warner), three different winners in the Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman division (Mark Mortensen, Adam McAuliffe, and Tim Hartman Jr.) and three different winners in the Algonkin Motel Pro Stock division (Kenny Gates, Luke Horning, and Ivan Joslin).

The only repeat winners have come so far in the Montgomery County Office for the Aging Limited Sportsman division where EJ McAuliffe has won twice while Brett Mortensen won the first of his career last Saturday in just his third time out in the racecar! Dave Horning Sr. has swept all three of the Trackside Auto Body Street Stock features while Ken Hollenbeck has swept both of the Four Cylinder Cruiser feature events.

Saturday May 18th, is going to be special to say the least! We cannot think of a better night to invite everyone to the “Track of Champions” as St. Lawrence Radiology presents Dollar Night! You get six divisions of racing for ONE DOLLAR! Sunoco Racing Modifieds, Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman ($1,000 To Win Thanks To Eric Orozco Racing), Algonkin Motel Pro-Stocks, Montgomery County Office for the Aging Limited Sportsman, Trackside Body Works Street Stocks, and Four Cylinder Cruisers, all for an admission price of ONE DOLLAR!

So tell a friend, family member, dog, cat, goldfish, or anyone else you can think of and tell them Fonda Speedway is charging ONE DOLLAR to watch a complete show of racing! Let’s rock the “Track of Champions” for ONE DOLLAR!

FONDA SPEEDWAY DOLLAR NIGHT QUESTIONS ANSWERED….
This Saturday, Fonda Speedway and St. Lawrence Radiology present Dollar Night with $1 Grandstand Admission for a complete show of stock car racing!
We wanted to take a few moments to answer some FAQ:

Grandstand Admission is $1. Kids 11 and under are FREE.
Six-Pack Size coolers are permitted. No glass bottles and no outside alcohol permitted. There is a beer booth on site.

Speedway concessions and the Novelty Stand/Store will be open.

All seating is general admission with the exception of Season Ticket holders who have reserved seats. Please respect the reserved seats.

With the outstanding Drivers’ Point Fund 50/50 numbers during the last three weeks, speedway management will guarantee a minimum of $1,000 to the 50/50 winner. It can only go up from there!

Parking in the main lot behind the grandstand is FREE. Once the main lot is full, parking moves across the street where there is a $5 fee as a fundraiser by the Fultonville Reformed Church to benefit #woodwardstrong and Josh and Chelsea Woodward. There is overflow parking available and parking is permitted on village streets so long as “no parking” signs are not posted.

From Pro Stock driver Alicia Hughes: Racers, fans, family, friends…. I just received confirmation from the family of Woodward Strong! For parking on Saturday at the Fonda Speedway, 25% of the parking fee will go to the family. Well I decided let’s come together for this amazing family! The Pro Stock Car #730 of Alicia Hughes will be the Woodward strong car and I will carry the number 5% on Saturday night at Fonda!

Whoever would like to donate to this beautiful family can see Alicia, as she will be walking around the pits and also out in the grandstands! 100percent of the donations will go right back to the Woodward Family! The money that Alicia gets at the end of the night for her finishing position in the feature will go right to the Woodward Family!

Lew Boyd of Coastal 181 will be on hand at Fonda this Saturday, May 18 selling books from his racing bookstore. He will be at the Fonda Speedway Museum in the afternoon with books, videos, and posters on display and then during the evening he will be set up by the grandstands with the same materials! As something special for the night, Lew will also be doing a free giveaway of a whole bunch of kids’ books written by Susan Kelly Hearn.

The coveted book FONDA! will also be on sale for $25 and as one of its authors Lew Boyd will be there to autograph your copy of the book for you!

Race Day Information:
Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.
Hot Laps: 6:00 p.m.
Racing: 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $1.00
Seniors: (65 & Above) $1.00
Kids 11 & Under: FREE
Pit Entry W/Fonda Speedway License: $30.00
Pit Entry W/O License: $35.00
Parking in Speedway Lot: FREE

Concession Stands & Beer Booth Open

Fonda Speedway Novelty Stand: Brand new Fonda Speedway available for purchase.

Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum
Opens @ 3:30 pm
Admission to the Hall of Fame & Museum: FREE

What do last week’s winner’s all have in common? They will all be at the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum this Saturday!

Come join us as we recognize Rocky Warner (modified), Tim Hartman Jr. (sportsman), Ivan Joslin (pro-stock) and Brett Mortensen (limited sportsman) for their feature wins last Saturday night. All four drivers and their race-winning cars will be on hand at 4pm.

Don’t forget that the kids coloring corner is back as well as new additions to our exhibits celebrating the history of the storied ‘Track of Champions.’

Please join us at the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum, where the past comes back to life!

Fonda Speedway Contacts:
Speedway Office Phone: 518-915-4395
Speedway Address: 21 South Bridge Street, Fonda, NY 12068
Speedway E-Mail: fondaspdwy@gmail.com
Speedway Website: www.thefondaspeedway.com
Speedway Twitter: @thefondaspdwy
Speedway Facebook: Fonda Speedway