As stated earlier in the week, Fonda Speedway management will be making adjustments to the remainder of the 2020 schedule per regulations in place by New York State not allowing spectators of any kind in both the Grandstand and Drive-In areas. As a result, there will be no racing at the speedway on Saturday, July 18 and Saturday, July 25.

We will post an updated schedule through August in the coming days. A reminder: should regulations turn more favorable, the speedway has been granted permission by the Fonda Fair Board to race later into August and September due to the cancelation of the annual Fonda Fair.

All 2020 Season Passes will be honored at full face value for the 2021 season.

Thank you to our fans, racers, staff members and sponsors for the continued support.

FONDA, NY – After a wet Saturday forced the cancelation of the regularly scheduled program at Fonda Speedway, the management team of the ‘Track of Champions’ called an audible and scheduled a ‘Wild Wednesday’ make-up program for THIS Wednesday night, July 15.

The non-points event will feature three divisions: the speedway’s Sunoco Modifieds, Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman and Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks in ‘open’ events.

Sunoco Modifieds will battle 30 laps for $4,000 to win, $500 for 10^th and $250 to take the green flag under a draw/redraw format.

The annual Pro Stock Hondo Classic – a bucket list event for drivers in the division – had been scheduled for this past Saturday but will now take place Wednesday allowing competitors from all neighboring speedways the opportunity to compete.

All drivers are welcome. A draw will determine heat races. American Racer or Hoosier tires are permitted.

Speedway management has posted a $1,000 winner’s share for the event and $75 to take the green.

Hondo Classic organizer Kelly Keefe has gone above and beyond to sweeten the pot for drivers as well. All 29 laps of the main event have been sponsored for a total of $1,088.98.

Position bonuses, from first through 24^th, are worth $1,049 cash.

Special award money ($425) and heat-race money will also be distributed.

Crate 602 Sportsman complete the tripleheader in a 25-lap event paying $1,000 to the winner and $100 to start with a draw/redraw format.

Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps hit the track at 6:45 p.m. Racing gets underway at 7:30 p.m.

Grandstands will be closed for this event per regulations of New York State.

This event will be streamed LIVE on Dirt Track Digest TV (www.dirttrackdigest.tv).

The infield Drive-In will be open on a first-come, first-served basis (no pre-registration required). The fee is $60 per vehicle and includes four limited participant passes. A concession stand will be open in the infield.

Pit admission is $35 for Non-Members and $30 for Fonda Speedway members.

The turn-four open bleachers will be available for pit area attendees to social distance and view the night’s racing. Main grandstands, as previously stated, will be closed.

Next Saturday (July 18) will feature the rescheduled Sampson Motorcar/Yellow Transportation Night with Sunoco Modifieds, Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman, Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks, Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman, Roberts Towing & Recovery Street Stocks and Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds in action.

Since 1953, the ‘Track of Champions’ Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. 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/thefondaspeedwy or follow on Twitter: @thefondaspdwy.

The Cure for Your Weekend Rain-Out Blues…One Wild Wednesday

This WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JULY 15 at Fonda Speedway

Sunoco Modifieds – $4,000 to win, $500 for 10^th, $250 to start – 30 laps

Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman – $1,000 to win, $100 to start – 25 laps

Algonkin Motel Pro Stock Hondo Classic – $1,000 to win, $75 to start – 29 laps (American Racer or Hoosiers permitted)

Open Draw – Non-Points Event – Fonda Speedway Rules Apply

Streamed LIVE on DirtTrackDigest.tv – Infield Drive-In Open ($60 per vehicle includes four Limited Participant Passes) – Grandstand Closed

Gates: 4:30 p.m. – Hot Laps: 6:45 p.m. – Racing: 7:30 p.m.

Pit Admission: $35 (Non-Members) – $30 (Fonda Members)

Due to a high probability of heavy rain and thunderstorms through the late afternoon and evening, management of Fonda Speedway has canceled tonight’s (July 11) racing program.

 

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – On Saturday, July 11 at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway, Sampson Motorcar and Yellow Transportation present a racing card headlined by the 15^th Annual “Hondo Classic” for the Algonkin Pro Stocks paying a minimum of $1,000 to win!

The Hondo Classic is named for Hondo Carpenter, a popular competitor in the Pro Stock division at the Fonda Speedway who lost his life in an ATV accident on July 4, 2005. Each year dozens of supporters of this event contribute to the bonus money that is awarded along with the track purse. According to the competitors, the money is always welcome but the big draw to the event is the bragging rights.

The First Annual Hondo Classic was won by Jim Burton in 2006. Nick Stone is a four-time winner of the event in 2007, 2008, 2016, & 2017 while Kenny Gates is a three-time winner of the event in 2009, 2015, & 2018. Pete Broderson has won the event twice in 2012 and 2014 while Chip Smith (2010), Rob Yetman (2011), Kenny Martin, Jr (2013) and Josh Coonradt (2019) each have one win in the event along with Burton.

Also, on the racing card will be the Sunoco Modifieds, the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman, the Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman, the Roberts Towing & Recovery Street Stocks, and the Four Cylinder Cruisers.

The Infield Drive-In will be open on Saturday, July 11 ($60, first-come, first-served, includes four limited participant passes) or you can watch all the action on Dirt Track Digest TV pay per view.

*The Grandstands will be closed for this event!

Pit Gate admission is: $30.00 for Fonda Members and $35.00 for Fonda Non-Members.

Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. with hot laps at 6:20 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m.

FONDA SPEEDWAY HISTORY FOR THE WEEK OF 7/11

Five years ago, on 7/11/2015 the winners at Fonda were Bobby Varin (Modified), Mark Mortensen (Crate 602 Sportsman), Kenny Gates (Pro Stock), Johnny Young (Street Stock), Ken Hollenback (Four Cylinder Cruisers).

Ten years ago, on 7/10/2010 the winners at Fonda were Ryan Odasz (Modified), Luke Munroe (Open Sportsman), Chip Smith (Hondo Classic for Pro Stocks), Chuck McSpirit (Street Stock), George Catanzano (IMCA), Jeremiah Munson (Crate 602 Sportsman).

Fifteen years ago, on 7/9/2005 the winners at Fonda were Butchie Irwin (Pro Stock), Rocky Warner (Street Stock), George Catanzano (IMCA), and Jeff Richards (Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modifieds). The Modified and Open Sportsman events were both rain delayed.

Twenty years ago on 7/8/2000 the winners at Fonda were Dave Lape (Modified), Mike Frasier (Open Sportsman), Rob Noviczski (Pro Stock), Rob VanAernam (Street Stock “A”), Dave Horning Jr. (Street Stock “B”)< George Catanzano (IMCA), and Laurie Fallis (Powder Puff).

Since 1953, the ‘Track of Champions’ Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. 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/thefondaspeedwy or follow on Twitter: @thefondaspdwy.

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Saturday evening at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway, The Recovery Sports Grill presented a Red, White, & Blue Special racing program in honor of Independence Day. When the final checkered flags flew on the racing activities Stewart Friesen was the winner of the $4,000 to win Sunoco Modified feature while Nick Stone was the winner of $1,776 as the Algonkin Motel Pro Stock feature winner.

Friesen has won every event he has raced in at Fonda in 2020, last weeks racing at Fonda being the exception as he had prior commitments which kept him away. Stone is also the winner of three out of four events so far in 2020, with his only defeat of the season coming a couple of weeks ago.

Other winners on Saturday evening at Fonda were Cody Clark in the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman, Dylan Eldred in the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, Jason Samrov in the Robert’s Towing & Recovery Street Stocks, Joe Trudeau (Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series Antique), Kyle Hoard (Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series Replica Modified), Mike Francisco (Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series Replica Sportsman), and John Roese (Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series Replica Late Model).

DTD TV presented the racing activities live on pay per view while Stephanie May sung a great rendition of the National Anthem to celebrate July 4^th.

Harry Shaffer was the winner of the 50/50 worth $1,458!

At the intermission Farmers Insurance threw out some goodies to the fans in the grandstand, thanks to them for their support of the Fonda Speedway.

Joe Kriss threw the green flag to start the 30-lap Sunoco Modified main event with the yellow out before the field reached turn one when Michael Maresca and Pep Corradi were connected together just outside of turn four with one car on top of the others front end. Both cars were able to continue at the rear of the field.

Craig Hanson led on the second attempt to get the event going from his outside front row starting position with Roger Henion Jr. and Sunoco Modified Rookie Adam McAuliffe in tow. Larry Wight and Stewart Friesen started the event back in the sixth row and came to the front together, Wight in the top five at the lap 12 point in the event with Friesen right behind him in sixth.

Lap traffic came in to play for the leaders at that point with Hanson, McAuliffe, Josh Hohenforst, Henion, and Wight completing the top five. Friesen went in between both Wight and a lap car to take away the fifth position on lap 13 and one lap later he also got by Henion for the fourth position.

The top three of Hanson, McAuliffe, and Hohenforst pulled away from the rest of the field until lap 14 when both BBL Companies team cars of Matt DeLorenzo and Brian Gleason suffered flat tires bringing out the caution flag. On the restart both Friesen and Wight moved up to the third and fourth positions with Friesen able to also get by McAuliffe for the second spot.

On the inside of turn four on lap 16, Friesen was able to take the lead away from Hanson and from that point on the race was for the second spot as Friesen pulled away to a big lead. Wight took the third position away from McAuliffe on lap 19 and one lap later he also got by Hanson for the second position while Friesen was out to a six second advantage over the rest of the field.

Attention turned to Jessica Friesen at that point as she started the event in the 10^th position but moved into the fourth spot on lap 21. Three laps later she was the new third place car after getting by Hanson for the spot. Stewart Friesen was running so high in turns one and two that he was almost hitting the wall with his right rear with one final caution out with three laps to go for Sunoco Modified Rookie Rich Christman who suffered a right rear flat tire.

Stewart Friesen led on the restart and led the remaining laps for his third win of the season and the 63^rd of his career at the “Track of Champions” in the Halmar sponsored #44 Bicknell powered by Billy the Kid Engines. Wight, Jessica Friesen, Hanson, and defending Sunoco Modified Track Champion Rocky Warner completed the top five in the event.

“You could race all over the track tonight,” Friesen said in victory lane as his son Parker did a dance on the roof with the checkered flag in hand. “It’s nice to see fans back here at Fonda tonight and great to see Jess get a great third place finish. Thanks to my Halmar team for all their hard work on these two Modifieds. It is truly a team effort.”

Dan Santabarbara led at the start of the 25-lap Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman feature with Thomas VanVorst in tow after starting third. Fourth place starter and Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman Rookie competitor EJ McAuliffe took the second spot away from VanVorst on lap four and two laps later nosed ahead of Santabarbara at the finish line to lead lap six.

On lap nine the caution was out for Brian Calabrese who lost a left front tire and drove to the infield out of harms way. He then drove back on the track on the backstretch to get the caution flag to fly slowing the field for the first time in the event. On the restart, sixth place starter Cody Clark took over the race lead and at the halfway point in the event the top five consisted of Clark, McAuliffe, VanVorst, 12^th place starter Chad Edwards, and Santabarbara.

Clark’s straightaway advantage closed with the caution out on lap 17 for Tony Farone who suffered a left rear flat. On the restart the caution flew again for a four-car wreck in turn two involving Santabarbara, Nick Scavia, Michael McCallion, and Brendan Gibbons. The restart was single file this time with Clark able to hold off the challenges of Edwards to take the victory in the Upstate Motorsports #4 Teo car for his first win of the season and the eighth of his career in the division over Edwards, VanVorst, Tucker O’Connor, and JaMike Sowle.

Van Vorst was disqualified in post-race inspection moving Defending Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Track Champion Tim Hartman Jr. into the top five.

“We’ve been struggling,” Clark told Mimi Lazzaro in victory lane. “But we’ve been doing our homework and been on the phone to a lot of different people about it as well. This is our first victory lane with our daughter Maelynn Alivia, so this is a special one for sure.”

Heat race events qualified the field for the first time in 2020 in the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman feature event with Dylan Eldred leading at the start. Just after lap one was completed, the red flag was out for Carter Gibbons who flipped his car in between turns one and two with a couple of other cars also involved. All drivers were okay after the incident.

On the restart, Eldred continued to lead with Spencer Rapp the new second place car after starting fifth. The yellow was out again on lap three for Bill Port who came to a stop on the backstretch and on this restart Stephen Gray was the new third place car after starting 15^th while two time winner in 2020 Brett Mortensen also made his way into the top five after starting ninth.

Eldred pulled away to a big lead by the lap eight point in the event with the best race on track being the one for the second spot between Rapp, Gray, and Mortensen. The final yellow of the event was out on lap 12 when something broke in the left front of Mortensen’s car ending his great run. The yellow was out again on the restart when Gray spun his car in turn two while running third but it was Eldred who led the rest of the way after the restart as he captured his second career win in the division.

Rapp, John Young, Clayton DuMond, and Yule Cook completed the top five in the event. Horti-Care Landscaping Services paid out a $100 bonus to the winner and a $50 bonus to the second through fifth place finishers so thanks to them for their support of the Fonda Speedway.

The 25-lap Algonkin Motel Pro Stock feature began with Chuck Dumblewski leading at the drop of the green flag with Jason Morrison in tow after they started the event on the front row. Defending Algonkin Motel Pro Stock Track Champion Luke Horning started the event in the 10^th position and was in the top five on lap three with 12^th place starter Nick Stone right behind Horning in the sixth position.

Just as Stone got by Horning for a spot in the top five, Devon Camenga moved past Morrison for the second spot. Stone continued to pass cars at will, taking the third position away from Morrison on lap eight and two laps later the second spot away from Camenga. The top four of Dumblewski, Stone, Camenga, and Horning were together racing for the lead on lap 12 with Dumblewski and Stone racing side by side for the lead.

Stone was working the inside groove while Dumblewski stayed on the outside but it was the inside groove that was the place to be as Stone took over the lead on the inside of turns three and four on lap 13. Horning took over the second position on lap 16 after getting by Dumblewski but Stone was a straightaway ahead with a clear track ahead of him as he went on to his third win of the season and the 49^th of his career in the division at Fonda over Horning, Dumblewski, Camenga, and 11^th place starter Josh Coonradt.

“This track has been different almost every time we get on it, but we’ve been hitting the setup each time,” Stone said. “Tonight, I just kept the car straight and went for it.”

Defending Robert’s Towing & Recovery Street Stock Track Champion Jason Samrov was the winner of the 15-lap Street Stock feature event on Saturday after leading every lap of the event for his first win of the season and the 14^th of his career in the division over Al Relyea, Dave Horning Sr., Josh Samrov, and Lou Gancarz.

Tonight, Sunday July 5 the $10,000 “Firecracker 50” for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series North Region will take place at the Fonda Speedway. The event was rained out last Wednesday evening and will also consist of a STSS Sportsman event paying $2,000 to the winner. Racing begins on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m.

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.

Since 1953, the ‘Track of Champions’ Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. 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/thefondaspeedwy or follow on Twitter: @thefondaspdwy.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Rob Sherlock Roofing, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Escape RV, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, MJK Home Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Velocita, WELD Racing & Wilwood.

SUNOCO MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – $4,000 TO WIN – STEWART FRIESEN, Larry Wight, Jessica Friesen, Craig Hanson, Rocky Warner, Michael Maresca, Josh Hohenforst, Matt DeLorenzo, Adam McAuliffe, Dave Constantino, David Schilling, Danny Varin, Mike Gular, Roger Henion Jr., Jeff Heotzler, Devin Willis, Kailee Dimorier, Rich Christman, Tyler Dippel, Brian Gleason, Darwin Greene, Steve Akers, Pep Corradi, Blake Schwarting, Brian Calabrese, Scott Huber, Brian Pessolano (DNS), Don Bellen (DNS), Dylan Scribner (DNS)

Lap leaders – 1-15 Hanson, 16-30 Stewart Friesen

Heat race winners – Schilling, Jessica Friesen, Hanson

SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 25-LAPS – CODY CLARK, Chad Edwards, Tucker O’Connor, JaMike Sowle, Tim Hartman Jr., Joe Williams, Kevin Chaffee, EJ McAuliffe, Tim Dwyer, Charlie Tibbitts, Brian Borst, David Manchester, Anthony Cardamone, Ricky Quick, Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Aaron Jacobs, Kathy Bellen, Scott Zehnaker, Dana Camenga, Mark Mortensen, Dan Santabarbara, Tony Farone, Nick Scavia, Michael McCallion, Brendan Gibbons, Brian Calabrese, Griffen Mansmith, Kurtis Hohensheldt (DNS), Thomas VanVorst (DQ)

Lap leaders – 1-5 Santabarbara, 6-9 McAuliffe, 10-25 Clark

Heat race winners – Mortensen, Santabarbara, McAuliffe

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE FOR AGING INC. LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 15-LAPS – DYLAN ELDRED, Spencer Rapp, John Young, Clayton DuMond, Yule Cook, Pete Nowicki Jr., Kyle Dingman, Jeremy Warren, Stephen Gray, Brett Mortensen, Harold Robitaille, Bill Port, Carter Gibbons, Ted Star, Jeff Lutes (DNS)

Lap leaders – 1-15 Eldred

Heat race winners – Eldred, Rapp

ALGONKIN MOTEL PRO STOCK FEATURE – 25-LAPS – $1,776 TO WIN – NICK STONE, Luke Horning, Chuck Dumblewski, Devon Camenga, Josh Coonradt, Kenny Gates, Bill Knapp, Randy Cosselman, Beau Ballard, Jason Morrison, Rich Crane, Andy Graves, Jim Normoyle, David Emigh, Tanner Warner, Steve Cosselman, Don Collins, Jamie Warner

Lap leaders – 1-12 Dumblewski, 13-25 Stone

Heat race winners – Knapp, Randy Cosselman

ROBERT’S TOWNG & RECOVERY STREET STOCK FEATURE – 15-LAPS – JASON SAMROV, Al Relyea, Dave Horning Sr., Josh Samrov, Lou Gancarz, Michael Arnold, Matt Mosher, Jason Barrett

Lap leaders – 1-15 Jason Samrov

MOHAWK VALLEY VINTAGE DIRT MODIFIED SERIES ANTIQUE FEATURE – 12-LAPS – JOE TRUDEAU, Jimmy Fugel, Jon Marks, Brian Scofield, Chuck Scofield, Frank Blanchard, Mike Wheeler, Mike Cole, Ed Docskalik, Stew Padasso, Mark Reardon, Jon Trudeau, Larry Hoyt, Harley Sheppard, Mike Gray, Don Wells

MOHAWK VALLEY VINTAGE DIRT MODIFIED SERIES REPLICA FEATURE – 15-LAPS – KYLE HOARD (MODIFIED), John Flach, Jon Kuleszo, Merv Blackwell, Randy Delaney, Darral Hulbert, Stanley Wetmore, Mike Francisco (SPORTMAN), Frank Hoard, Mark Hahn, Dave Charczuk, Brian Gray, Gene Wrightstone, Mike Hotaling, John Constantino, Carl Cram, John Roese (LATE MODEL), Scott Gauthier, Will Reed, Adam Warner, George Palmer, Curtis Condon, Joe Millington, Stephon Denton, Dan Wood