By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Sampson Motor Car Night on Saturday evening at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway was a special evening for Matt DeLorenzo. The defending Track Champion was able to win his first feature of 2023 in the BBL Companies #3D Bicknell car and in the process took over the point lead by two points with only three events remaining in the regular season.

To top that off it was the 43^rd win of DeLorenzo’s career at Fonda placing him in a tie for ninth place on the All-Time Win list with Bill Wimble.

“I have to thank my brother Mike,” DeLorenzo said in FX Caprara Car Companies victory lane. “He was the only one working on the car today, I met him here at the track. The track was really slick, it was awesome. Great job on the track, it was real racy, and I know what it takes to put this show on. Thanks to the fans it is great to see them come out and support us.”

Other winners on Samson Motor Car Night at Fonda were Clayton DuMond (Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman), Jonathan Feagles (Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman), Ken (SOHC) and Kerrie (DOHC) Hollenback (Fonda Fair Four Cylinders).

Two special events were also held on Saturday evening, the 18^th annual Hondo Classic, honoring the late fan favorite driver Hondo Carpenter put on by Kelley and Kaitlyn Keefe along with the 2^nd Annual BOBCO Memorial Dash honoring the late videographer Bob James put on by Mark Krosky. Kenny Gates was the winner of both events with more coming on those events in a separate release.

Opening ceremonies began with an invocation by Pastor Greg Nitz followed by the National Anthem sung this week by Jenna Sue. The 50/50 ladies did their normal fantastic job with a prize of $2,377 going to Ashley from Gloversville.

The 30-lap Amsterdam Truck Center Modified feature began with pole position starter JaMike Sowle taking the lead at the drop of Joe Kriss’ green flag with third place starter Brian Calabrese in the second position as lap one clicked on the lap counter. One lap later, Calabrese was the race leader after getting by Sowle on the inside of turn four.

Rocky Warner started the event in the fifth position and was up to the third spot at that point when he suffered a flat right rear tire in turn two bringing out the first caution of the event. He had the tire changed and restarted the event at the rear of the field. Calabrese continued to lead on the restart with Alex Yankowski getting up to a top five position after starting ninth.

Bobby Varin brought out the last caution of the race on lap three after slowing in turn three and retired from the event at that point. Matt DeLorenzo started the event in the eighth position and on the restart moved up to the third position from Jack Lehner. Sowle never gave up on the outside line and got back around Calabrese for the lead on lap seven at the finish line.

DeLorenzo got by Calabrese for the second position on lap ten while tenth place starter Demetrios Drellos completed the top five after getting by Lehner for the spot. Just before the halfway point on lap 14, DeLorenzo took the lead away from Sowle on the inside of turns three and four and pulled away to a comfortable advantage. At the halfway point, the top five consisted of DeLorenzo, Sowle, Yankowski, Drellos, and Calabrese.

Despite lap traffic on lap 19 and over the remaining laps, DeLorenzo had no issues and went on to a straightaway win in the BBL Companies #3D over Yankowski, Drellos, Calabrese, and Sowle.

“I got to the front quick and the car was real good,” DeLorenzo said. “I think that getting to the front quickly was the key. It’s tough, I’ve got a lot of seconds this year. Everybody is fast. When asked about possibly winning another Track Championship this year DeLorenzo told Mimi Lazzaro “we’ll just take it race by race and hope for the W.”

Mark Mortensen led at the start of the 25-lap Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman feature from his outside pole starting position with Harry Shaffer second after sharing the front row with Mortensen. On lap three, Shaffer broke something in the right rear of his car and slowed on the backstretch to bring out the caution.

Mortensen maintained the lead on the restart, running so high in turns one and two that he scraped the wall with the right rear of the car. Fourth place starter Clayton DuMond was the new second place car with Troy Zilles in the third position on the restart with Mortensen and DuMond side by side for the lead on lap eight, Mortensen running the outside and DuMond the inside.

At the line to complete lap nine, DuMond got by Mortensen for the lead and stretched out his advantage while Tanner Warner was now pressuring Mortensen for the second position. With five laps to go, DuMond was stuck behind the lap car of Dylan Eldred and that lasted over the remaining laps of the event while Warner was able to get by Mortensen for the second position with two laps to go.

“I didn’t really know what to do with the lap car,” DuMond said. “It didn’t seem like there was much on the outside, so I was just hoping nobody was going to go around the outside of me. I’m not any good on top, I’m a bottom feeder and it worked out for me tonight.”

Warner was right on the rear bumper of DuMond for the lead on the final lap, but DuMond was able to hang on to the lead for his first win of the season and the second of his career in the division in the Sampson Motor Car sponsored #314 DKM car. Warner, Mortensen, Zilles, and Brendan Gibbons completed the top five at the checkered flag.

“Mark (Mortensen) was fast on top, but I knew I couldn’t keep up with him up there,” DuMond said. “I could roll underneath him, so I kept it wound up enough on the bottom to go by him. Every week is a learning experience, but it’s great to put our sponsor Sampson Motor Car in victory lane on their night. This one is for Jerry Sampson. We lost him earlier this year, I asked him to give me a little help tonight and it worked.”

The 15-lap Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman feature began with Brandon Tyler leading lap one until Steve Wagoner took the lead away from Tyler on lap two. Tenth place starter Jonathan Feagles was moving to the front lap after lap in the event and on lap 12 took the lead away from Wagoner on the outside of the backstretch and went on to his third win of the season in the Fitzpatrick Family Ties Auto Sales sponsored #55.

Bob Rowback, Michael Kalkbrenner, Kyle Dingman, and Mike Hill completed the top five at the checkered flag. Wagoner was the actual second place finisher but was disqualified in post-race tech for an illegal coil.

“The car has just been really good every week and everything went right tonight,” Feagles said. I just keep having things happen that really shouldn’t be happening, I got into the back stretch wall tonight and I was just hoping my tire wouldn’t go down but everything else went pretty smoothly. Coming from 10^th to first tonight makes me feel like I did something.”

Ken (SOHC) and Kerrie (DOHC) Hollenback were the winners in the Fonda Fair Four Cylinder feature event. It was the ninth win of the 2023 season for Ken (94^th of his career) and the sixth win for Kerrie (40^th of his career).

Next Saturday, July 29 the CRSA Sprint cars will join all regular divisions on Parks Companies Night at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway.

Fonda Speedway Weekly Report

Miss any action from last week’s racing? The Fonda Speedway weekly report can take care of that. A 90 second summary of the previous Saturday racing action will air throughout the week across seven local radio stations including:

WCSS 1490 & 106.9 in Amsterdam/Schenectady

WIZR 930 & 102.9 in Johnstown/Fonda/Gloversville

WKAJ 1120 & 97.9 in St. Johnsville/Canajoharie

WYVS 96.5 in Speculator and the North Country

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

All races at Fonda Speedway – will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the $150 annual subscription.

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 or follow the speedway on Twitter and Instagram: @thefondaspdwy.

7/22/2023 SAMPSON MOTOR CAR NIGHT

AMSTERDAM TRUCK CENTER MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – MATT DELORENZO, Alex Yankowski, Demetrios Drellos, Brian Calabrese, JaMike Sowle, Ronnie Johnson, Jack Lehner, Cody Clark, Chris Curtis, Dave Constantino, David Schilling, Rocky Warner, Dave Camara, Ron Holmes, Stewart Friesen, Bobby Varin, Bobby Hackel IV

1^st win of 2023 and the 43^rd of his career in the division for DeLorenzo who is now tied for 9^th on the All-Time Win List with Bill Wimble.

LAP LEADERS – 1 Sowle, 2-6 Calabrese, 7-13 DeLorenzo

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Sowle, Curtis

SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 25-LAPS – CLAYTON DUMOND, Tanner Warner, Mark Mortensen, Troy Zilles, Brendan Gibbons, Stephen Gray, Chad Edwards, Payton Talbot, Blaine Klinger, Brian Calabrese, Chip Constantino, Jeremy Tyrrell, Matt Perry, Zach Dufel, Michael McCallion, Butchie Irwin, Brett Mortensen, Josh Kane, Don Bellen, John DuMond, Dylan Eldred, Kadon Hohensheldt, Tim Dwyer, Clyde Peek, Wesley Sutliff, Harry Shaffer, Jason Greco (DNS)

1^st win of 2023 and the 2^nd of his career in the division at Fonda for DuMond.

LAP LEADERS – 1-8 Mark Mortensen, 9-25 Clayton DuMond

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Zilles, Edwards, Mark Mortensen

GRECO’S NAPA HARD CHARGER AWARD – Tyrrell +8

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE FOR AGING INC. LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 15-LAPS – JONATHAN FEAGLES, Bob Rowback, Michael Kalkbrenner, Kyle Dingman, Mike Hill, Kirsten Swartz, Chris Kugler, Ryan Sweet, Brandon Taylor, Tim Wilmot, Bobby Rhinehardt, Jim Mallia, Dylan Huston, Gus Kamberelis, Cian DiMezza, John Anderson, Jeff Bobilin, Tyler Bobar, Jason Palombo, Aaron Armitage, AJ Greco, Lance Hill, Corky Warner (DNS), Collin Williams (DNS), Steve Wagoner (DQ coil)

3^rd win of 2023 and the 3^rd of his career in the division for Feagles.

LAP LEADERS – 1 Tyler, 2-11 Wagoner, 12-15 Feagles

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Kalkbrenner, Warner, Rowback

FONDA FAIR FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE – 12-LAPS – KEN HOLLENBACK (SOHC), KERRIE HOLLENBACK (DOHC), Brandon Ely, Len St. Andrews, Wayne Russel Jr., Hayleigh Gates, TJ Marlitt, David Peek-Britten, John Ray, Tim Warner

9^th win of 2023 and the 94^th win of his career in the division for Ken Hollenback

6^th win of 2023 and the 40^th career win in the division for Kerrie Hollenback

LAP LEADERS – 1 Warner, 2-5 Kerrie Hollenback, 6-12 Kerrie Hollenback

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – On Saturday, July 22 at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway, Sampson Motorcar will sponsor the racing program consisting of two very special events. The 20-lap Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock feature will be the 18^th edition of the Hondo Classic in memory of the late Hondo Carpenter featuring a total purse of $2,929.97 in bonuses and lap sponsorships (amount as of the time of the writing of this press release) on top of the regular track purse!

In addition to that the 2^nd Annual Bobco Memorial Dash for Cash in memory of the late, long time Fonda Speedway videographer Bob James who passed away on September 20, 2020, will be held. Organized by Bob’s longtime friend Mark Krosky, the top two finishers in each of the Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock heat races will be eligible to participate in the five-lap dash event.

Bob James was a long-time car owner for Hondo Carpenter so what better night to have a Dash for Cash in his honor than during Hondo Classic Night!

The Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds, Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman, Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders will also be in action with gates opening at 4:00 p.m., hot laps at 6:00 p.m., and racing at 7:00 p.m.

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.

Hondo’s statistics at Fonda included five wins in the street stock division to go along with four wins in the pro stock class. But perhaps what had even more meaning for Hondo was his popularity with the kid’s and the fans, always ready to take a photo with anyone or autograph anything that a fan desired.

The First Annual Hondo Classic was won by Jim Burton in 2006. Nick Stone is a five-time winner of the event in 2007, 2008, 2016, 2017, & 2020 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), Josh Coonradt (2019), Luke Horning (2021), and Beau Ballard (2022) each have one win in the event along with Burton.

Also, this Saturday, July 22nd the 2nd Annual BOBCO Memorial Dash for Cash for Pro Stocks will take place at the Fonda Speedway. Bob James (BOBCO) was very well known as he was the Official Videographer of the Albany-Saratoga, Fonda, Lebanon Valley, Glen Ridge and Devils Bowl Speedways. He videoed at Fonda for over 25 years.

The tower on the roof at Fonda Speedway is dedicated in his memory and is named “The Bobco Video Terrace.” His videos were known to many as “The next best thing to being there.” And they were just that.

James started going to the races with his parents when his mother was pregnant with him, and when he was old enough to remember who the drivers were, his favorites were Harry Peek and Jack Johnson. However, it was one other driver who gave him his first kiddie ride that he will never forget, that was Lou Lazzaro.

He started videoing racing events at Fonda back in 1986 when he got his first video camera. At that time, he would either go on the infield or in turn four to do his videotaping. At the midpoint of the 1992 season at Fonda, the videographer at Fonda left, and James was asked to take over at that time.

James started owning a race car when he and his cousin Hondo Carpenter got into the sport back in 1996 as partners. Their first car was purchased in 1996 which Hondo raced in the street stock division at Albany Saratoga for one year in 1997. Chris Fain built them their next street stock which Hondo ran at Fonda and Albany Saratoga for two or three years before moving up to pro stocks and running only at Fonda.

This year’s BOBCO Memorial Dash has a purse of $3054.00. Same format as last year, Top 2 finishers from each of the 3 heat races. They will redraw for their starting spots in the dash. 6 cars racing 6 laps.

Payout for the BOBCO Memorial event will be as follows:

1^st $1009, 2^nd $759, 3^rd $509, 4^th $409, 5^th $209, 6^th $159

The New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) will also pay a $100 bonus the first NYSSCA member across the finish line in the BOBCO Memorial Dash.

Last year’s winner of the 1^st Annual BOBCO Memorial Dash was Nick Stone.

Fonda Speedway Weekly Report

Miss any action from last week’s racing? The Fonda Speedway weekly report can take care of that. A 90 second summary of the previous Saturday racing action will air throughout the week across seven local radio stations including:

WCSS 1490 & 106.9 in Amsterdam/Schenectady

WIZR 930 & 102.9 in Johnstown/Fonda/Gloversville

WKAJ 1120 & 97.9 in St. Johnsville/Canajoharie

WYVS 96.5 in Speculator and the North Country

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

All races at Fonda Speedway – will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the $150 annual subscription.

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 or follow the speedway on Twitter and Instagram: @thefondaspdwy.

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – The first four editions of the “Firecracker 50” at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway over the span of the last four years have been won by one driver Stewart Friesen. After a rainout on July 2, the race was re-scheduled for Monday evening with a different winner in victory lane this time as Matt Sheppard took his sixth career win at Fonda in the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) event in the HAS #9S Bicknell car.

“What a crazy race,” Sheppard said in victory lane. “Fonda Speedway can be a thorn in anybody’s side, it’s a tough place to get around but when your car is right it’s a lot of fun.”

The STSS Crate 602 Sportsman division was also in action on Monday evening with Payton Talbot taking his sixth win of the season and tenth of his career in the division at Fonda in the Ted’s Body Shop #14T Bicknell car. The win for Talbot was worth $2,000.

“This place this year we’ve been pretty solid,” Talbot said. “But I felt like we struggled a little bit tonight. We had an interesting Saturday, our race got cut short, so this definitely feels great to be back in victory lane.”

Scenic View Campgrounds and Picture Perfect Pools & Spas presented the racing program that began with opening ceremonies with Michael Parent taking a lap on the track in his $25P car with the Canadian flag attached to the car while Mimi Lazzaro sang the Canadian Anthem. Following that Ronnie Johnson took a lap around the track with the American flag attached to his #2RJ car while Lazzaro sang the National Anthem.

A redraw for starting positions on victory lane placed Mat Williamson and Matt DeLorenzo on the front row at the drop of Joe Kriss’ green flag with DeLorenzo the early leader. A quick yellow flag flew on lap two for Jessica Friesen who came to a stop on the front stretch with DeLorenzo choosing the outside line for the restart and maintaining the lead when the race resumed.

Alex Yankowski moved into the second position after getting by Williamson on the restart while seventh place starter Matt Sheppard moved up to the fourth position with DeLorenzo now a straightaway ahead of the second place car. Eighth place starter Max McLaughlin moved into the top five on lap eight while DeLorenzo was in lap traffic with three lap cars blocking the track in front of the race leader as they raced for position.

DeLorenzo was relieved of the lap traffic issue on lap 11 when the caution flew for Brian Calabrese who suffered a flat left rear tire. DeLorenzo again chose the outside on the restart and maintained the top spot while behind him Sheppard and McLaughlin both got passed Williamson for the third and fourth positions.

McLaughlin was next to suffer a flat tire on lap 12 while running fourth, bringing out another caution. He pitted and restarted at the rear of the field. This restart saw a big change in position behind the lead car of DeLorenzo as Yankowski maintained his second spot while Williamson and 11^th place starter Danny Varin both got by Sheppard for the third and fourth positions.

Current point leader Demetrios Drellos started the event in the 16^th position and moved into the top five on lap 16 while Sheppard fell back to the seventh position behind 15^th place starter Stewart Friesen. One lap later Varin was in the wall in turn two bringing out the yellow flag yet again. Varin was okay but was done for the evening at that point. On this restart, Sheppard began his move back up to the front getting by the fifth and sixth place cars of Friesen and Willaimson.

“I felt like I got to rolling a little bit there and got up to third,” Sheppard said. “I kind of pushed into turn one, and then off of turn two everybody just drove by me. I thought that I had a flat right rear tire, the car just wouldn’t even drive around the track, and they were going around me on both sides. When the red flag came out for Varin, I pulled over next to my crew and asked if the right rear tire was flat and they said no.”

At the halfway point in the event DeLorenzo was the leader followed by Yankowski, Sheppard, Drellos, and Friesen. Sheppard was the new second place car on lap 27 after getting by Yankowski and closed in quickly on DeLorenzo who was now in lap traffic. At the finish line to complete lap 28, Sheppard moved past DeLorenzo for the lead while Drellos and Friesen were side by side for the fourth position. Drellos started showing signs of smoke from his #111 on lap 35 and retired under caution one lap later when Chris Curtis brought out the fifth caution flag in the event.

“When we went racing after the red flag the car took off like a missile again and I drove up through the field,” Sheppard said.

Sheppard chose the inside on the restart and held the lead at the drop of the green while Yankowski got by DeLorenzo for the second position. Friesen made a bonsai move on the outside of turn four on lap 37, getting by both DeLorenzo and Yankowski for the second position. Friesen and Yankowski swapped the second position twice with ten laps to go while Sheppard pulled away from the field.

One final yellow flag came out on lap 44 but Sheppard maintained the lead on the restart with Friesen chasing him across the finish line in second to the checkered flag. Yankowski, DeLorenzo, and Williamson completed the top five while Michael Trautschold finished in the sixth position after starting 24^th. The win for Sheppard was the 34^th of his career in the STSS Series.

“The side by side restarts are tough here,” Sheppard said. “And Stewy, this is his house. To line up next to him with a few laps to go I was thinking man is he going to steal another one from me here. But this car was just too strong tonight.”

“We had a lot of work to do tonight,” Freisen said after finishing second. “We drew bad and that threw us behind the eight ball early. I just couldn’t get through the holes; the track was rough in one and two and I couldn’t get through there. Matt could get through there pretty good and clean air was really good. Once he got it, it was a different story. That’s it, second, it really blows.”

“We were good,” Yankowski said after his third place finish. “The cautions just don’t seem to fall our way to get the lead and win a race. But that’s the way it goes. We were able to put ourselves in position and I think we’ve done a good job at that all year long. Last year we had some signs of speed and flashes of success, but we weren’t really that consistent. This year I think we’ve been a lot more consistent.”

The luck of the draw placed Michael Ballestero and Kadon Hohensheldt on the front row for the Crate 602 Sportsman feature with Ballestero taking the early lead. Dylan Madsen spun in turn two bringing out the one and only caution flag of the event on lap two with Ballestero maintaining the lead on the restart. Fifth place starter Payton Talbot moved into the third position on the restart and two laps later he was the new second place car after getting by Hohensheldt.

On lap eight, on the inside of turn two, Talbot took the lead away from Ballestero and pulled away from there to another win. With the race now for the second position, eyes turned to Brian Calabrese who started the event in the 13^th position but moved into the third position on lap nine. Four laps later Calabrese got by Ballestero for the second position but never got close enough to challenge Talbot for the lead even with lap traffic coming into play with ten laps to go.

Talbot scored the victory followed in the top five by Calabrese, Ballestero, 11^th place starter Tanner Warner, and Tyler Peet. For Talbot it was his second win in the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman division.

“It took me a little while to figure out the groove,” Talbot said. “After that we were good. I felt more comfortable on the bottom than I did on the top tonight.”

“I just want to thank everybody,” second place finisher Brian Calabrese said. “I wake my wife up every morning at 2:30 when I come home after working on the race car, so I really want to thank her. This is fun, you can’t really forget where you came from. Thanks to Brett (Deyo) for allowing us to run the crates. The cars are equal and it’s all about the drivers.”

“Just couldn’t hang on,” third place finisher Michael Ballestero said. “We didn’t tighten the car up enough and it got real loose on us, so I was just trying to hang on there. This is our first time here this year so maybe we’ll come back and get them next time.”

Action returns to the “Track of Champions” on Saturday, July 22 when Sampson Motor Car presents the prestigious Hondo Classic for Pro Stocks along with the BOBCO Dash. All other divisions will also be in action with a start time of 7:00 p.m.

Fonda Speedway Weekly Report

Miss any action from last week’s racing? The Fonda Speedway weekly report can take care of that. A 90 second summary of the previous Saturday racing action will air throughout the week across seven local radio stations including:

WCSS 1490 & 106.9 in Amsterdam/Schenectady

WIZR 930 & 102.9 in Johnstown/Fonda/Gloversville

WKAJ 1120 & 97.9 in St. Johnsville/Canajoharie

WYVS 96.5 in Speculator and the North Country

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

All races at Fonda Speedway – will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the $150 annual subscription.

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 or follow the speedway on Twitter and Instagram: @thefondaspdwy.

BOB HILBERT SPORTSWEAR SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES (STSS) FUELED BY SUNOCO PRESENTED BY SCENIC VIEW CAMPGROUNDS & PICTURE PERFECT POOLS & SPAS

SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES (STSS) FIRECRACKER 50 – 50-LAPS – MATT SHEPPARD, Stewart Friesen, Alex Yankowski, Matt DeLorenzo, Mat Williamson, Michael Trautschold, Max McLaughlin, Cody Clark, Billy Decker, Rocky Warner, Dillon Steuer, Marc Johnson, Steve Bernier, JaMike Sowle, Tyler Dippel, JR Hurlburt, Chris Curtis, David Schilling, Francois Bernier, Tim Fuller, Demetrios Drellos, Michael Parent, Bobby Hackel IV, Brian Calabrese, Danny Varin, Ronnie Johnson, Jessica Friesen

1^st win of 2023 and the 6^th of his career at Fonda for Sheppard

LAP LEADERS – 1-27 DeLorenzo, 28-50 Sheppard

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Parent, Hackel IV, Sheppard, Clark

CONSOLATION RACE WINNERS – Schilling, Sowle

DID NOT QUALIFY – Jack Lehner, Mike Mahaney, Brian Pessolano, Bobby Varin, Tanner VanDoren, Dave Constantino, Dave Camara, Keith Flach, Tucker O’Connor, Ron Holmes, Don Bellen

SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES (STSS) CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 25-LAPS – PAYTON TALBOT, Brian Calabrese, Michael Ballestero, Tanner Warner, Tyler Peet, Brendan Gibbons, Chad Edwards, Chip Constantino, Kadon Hohensheldt, Blaine Klinger, Dan Santabarbara, Michael Kalkbrenner, Joe Toth, Troy Palmer, Stephen Gray, Dylan Madsen, Brett Mortensen, Roger Hummer, John DuMond, Butchie Irwin, Michael McCallion, Matt Perry, Derrick McGrew Jr., Chris Kugler, AJ Greco, Clayton DuMond, Clyde Peek

6^th win of 2023 and the 10^th of his career in the division for Talbot

LAP LEADERS – 1-7 Ballestero, 8-25 Talbot

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Ballestero, Greco, Santabarbara, Talbot

CONSOLATION RACE WINNER – Edwards

DID NOT QUALIFY – Gordon Smith, Josh Allen, Greg Crooker, Jeremy Tyrrell, Ben Feldman, Wesley Sutliff, Jeff Bobilin

GRECO’S NAPA HARD CHARGER AWARD – Edwards +14

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Cody Clark started the 2023 racing season in a new ride, in a new division after moving up to the Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds in the Laudy Hoyenga #4. Impressive runs throughout the season placed Clark sixth in points going into Saturday evenings events at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway and when the checkered flag flew to complete the 30-lap $4,000 to win F.X. Caprara Car Companies Thunder on the Thruway Series event, he entered victory lane as the 142^nd different driver to win at Fonda in a total of 1427 events.

“I have such a good group of people behind me I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for them,” Clark told Mimi Lazzaro in victory lane. “Thank you to Laudy Hoyenga for giving me the opportunity to drive his car, all the guys at DKM, my wife and kids who put up with a lot of crap, all of my crew and sponsors. This is a lot more work than the Sportsman car was.”

Other winners on AIM Autism/One Zee Tees Autism Awareness Night were Butchie Irwin (Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman), Shane Playford (Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks), Tim Wilmot (Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman), Ken (SOHC) and Kerrie (DOHC) in the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders. For Irwin, Playford, and Wilmot it was the first win of their careers in their respective divisions.

Illyria Escher sang the National Anthem after Pastor Greg Nitz’ prayer to begin Opening Ceremonies with the 50/50 girls doing an amazing job as always with the $2,518 prize won by Samantha from Spencertown.

A redraw for starting positions placed Cody Clark and Dave Camara on the front row for the start with Clark taking the early advantage in the caution plagued event. When the caution came out on lap two for Jessey Mueller who slowed with a flat tire, the restart led to a lead change with Alex Yankowski getting by Clark for the number one spot.

By lap seven, Yankowski was a straightaway ahead of Clark and two laps later he was in lap traffic, running so high on the track that he nearly got into the wall in between turns one and two on lap ten. Somehow he saved the car, got it straightened out, and continued on. At the halfway point Yankowski was the leader followed by Clark, Ronnie Johnson, 12^th place starter Matt DeLorenzo, and ninth place starter Stewart Friesen.

Three consecutive yellow flags flew through lap 19 with Yankowski choosing different lines for the restart each time, the last restart choosing the inside groove to maintain his lead. Behind the leader the race for the top five was a good one with DeLorenzo and Friesen swapping positions numerous times over a couple of laps with both drivers getting by Johnson for the third and fourth positions on lap 21.

Demetrios Drellos started the event in the 15^th position and got by Johnson for a spot in the top five on lap 22 with the best race on the track at the time occurring for the third position between DeLorenzo and Friesen. The final in a total of six yellow flags came out on lap 27 for Rocky Warner who got into the wall in turn two while running seventh. On the restart, Yankowski maintained the lead until the next lap when he went down low coming out of turn four allowing Clark to get by for the lead on the outside to complete lap 28.

Yankowski and Clark made contact as the pass was made with Clark throwing sparks out of the left rear over the final two laps. Clark was able to cross under the checkered flag first despite the damage with Yankowski, Drellos, DeLorenzo, and Friesen completing the top five.

“The restarts were killing me,” Clark said in victory lane. “I had a 56 compound tire on the car, and it kept cooling off under caution and took a few laps to come back in. Mid race we were rolling pretty good and closing up on the 84Y (Yankowski). I stuck to the top in turn four, I had a good run, and I had my shot to get him, so I just hit my marks on the top. All the credit goes to my guys, I get the easy job to sit in the seat and drive.”

Clark has a total of 17 wins in the Crate 602 division at Fonda, the first one coming on 4/12/2014 and his last on 9/17/2022 before moving up to the Modified division this year.

Stephen Gray led the first lap in the 25-lap Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman feature from his outside pole position start with an early caution out just after the leader completed lap one for Jason Reome, Brian Calabrese, and Tanner Warner in turn four. Reome and Warner were done for the night while Calabrese was able to restart at the rear of the field.

Butchie Irwin took over the lead on the restart on the inside of turn three and four after starting third with another yellow flag out on the second lap for defending track champion Payton Talbot who dropped fluid on the track and was smoking heavily in turn four. Talbot was done for the evening with Irwin leading on the restart and stretching it out to a straightaway lead by lap eight.

Irwin was in lap traffic on lap 13 just before the yellow came out to close up the field. Irwin maintained the lead on the restart and pulled away while attention turned to 15^th place starter Chad Edwards who moved up to fourth on the restart. Edwards gained positions up to the second spot by the time the checkered flag flew with Irwin a straightaway ahead at the finish line in the New Day Motors #117N with Calabrese, Gray, and Chip Constantino completing the top five behind Irwin and Edwards.

“Thanks to Mitchell Poole who revived my racing career,” Irwin said in victory lane. “He had been on us for years to get back into racing and the winter before last he kept prodding me. One day Puppet was with me, and some other guys were in the shop, Mitchell was there, and they just kept prodding me. I said what do you think I should do, and they said do it. I promised him five races, we went and had a good time, had a little success and here we are.”

“This is probably the biggest win he has ever had and I’m very thankful to give it to him,” Irwin continued to say. “I just can’t thank everybody enough; I would not be here if it wasn’t for them. I knew the car would stick and I could do anything I wanted. I really didn’t lift much and when you’ve got something like that here you’re almost unstoppable. No fear, no worries, just go.”

Irwin has a total of 18 wins in the Pro Stock division at Fonda, the first one coming on 8/1/2001 and his last on 8/13/2005 before getting out of racing for a number of years and returning to compete in a Sportsman car. Irwin was also the 2005 Fonda Speedway Pro Stock Track Champion.

Four yellow flags and six lead changes sum up the 20-lap Below Zero Ice Cream feature event with pole position starter Ivan Joslin leading the first two laps. The first lead change occurred on lap three with Shane Playford the new race leader after a two lap side by side battle with Joslin. Joslin led lap four by a nose at the line with Playford leading again on another restart after a caution on lap seven.

At the halfway point, the top five consisted of Playford, Joslin, eighth place starter Nick Stone and ninth place starter Beau Ballard. Stone and Ballard both got past Joslin for the second and third positions on lap 13 and two laps later Playford and Stone were side by side for the lead. Stone took the lead away on the inside of the backstretch with three laps remaining and led the remaining laps for what looked like another win with Ballard, Playford, 10^th place starter Luke Horning, and sixth place starter Kenny Gates completing the top five.

In post-race inspection both Stone and Ballard were disqualified for adjustable idler arms handing Playford his first career win followed by Horning, Gates, Joslin, and seventh place starter Josh Coonradt completing the top five.

“Definitely not the way we want to win,” Playford said after the disqualification of Stone and Ballard. “The car has been fast all year, it seems like come feature time we’re a little bit off. I don’t know what else to say, it was fun.”

Dylan Huston led the first seven laps of the 15-lap Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman feature until lap eight when he ended up getting loose on the track and got into the back stretch wall. He was towed away and done for the night, handing the lead over to Tim Wilmot who started the event in the third position. Wilmot led the remaining laps for his first career win in the division followed in the top five by Lance Hill, Kirsten Swartz, Kyle Dingman, and Michael Kalkbrenner.

“I was just hoping that he wasn’t going to come down and hit me,” Wilmot said in victory lane regarding Huston getting loose and into the backstretch wall.

Wilmot carries a HUNTERSTRONG sticker on his race car and said a special shout out to his buddy Hunter saying, “You’ve got this buddy.”

Ken (SOHC) and Kerrie (DOHC) won the Fonda Fair Four cylinder features in their respective divisions. Brandon Ely was the actual winner of the DOHC class but was disqualified for rear camber handing the win to Kerrie Hollenback.

Monday evening, July 17 the rescheduled “Firecracker 50” event will be held for the STSS Modified and Crate 602 divisions with gates opening at 4:00 P.M. followed by hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7:15 p.m.

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

All races at Fonda Speedway – will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the $150 annual subscription.

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 or follow the speedway on Twitter and Instagram: @thefondaspdwy.

DATE – 7/15/2023 AIM AUTISM/ONE ZEE TEES PRESENTS AUTISM AWARENESS NIGHT – F.X. CAPRARA THUNDER ON THE THRUWAY SERIES

AMSTERDAM TRUCK CENTER MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – $4,000 TO WIN – CODY CLARK, Alex Yankowski, Demetrios Drellos, Matt DeLorenzo, Stewart Friesen, Ronnie Johnson, David Schilling, Chris Curtis, Jessica Friesen, Brian Calabrese, Ryan Odasz, Bobby Varin Bobby Hackel IV, Dave Constantino, Bill August, Rocky Warner, Jessey Mueller, JaMike Sowle, Jack Lehner, Dave Camara, Tucker O’Connor, Pep Corradi, Brian Pessolano, Shawn McPhee, Ronnie Holmes (DNS)

1^st career win in the division for Clark

LAP LEADERS – 1-2 Clark, 3-27 Yankowski, 28-30 Clark

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Curtis, Constantino, Clark

SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 25-LAPS – $1,500 TO WIN – BUTCHIE IRWIN, Chad Edwards, Brian Calabrese, Stephan Gray, Chip Constantino, Brendan Gibbons, Michael McCallion, Brett Mortensen, Tony Farone, Troy Zilles, Jeremy Tyrrell, Clayton DuMond, Matt Perry, Kaydon Hohensheldt, Seth Martin, David Hackett Jr., Harry Shaffer, Josh Kane, Zach Dufel, Mark Mortensen, John DuMond, Payton Talbot, Jason Reome, Blaine Klinger, Tanner Warner

1^st career win in the division for Irwin

LAP LEADERS – 1 Gray, 2-25 Irwin

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Irwin, Clayton DuMond, Shaffer

CONSOLATION RACE WINNER – Zilles

DID NOT QUALIFY – Dave VanBuren, Wesley Sutliff, Don Bellen, Clyde Peek, Tim Dwyer, Dylan Eldred

GRECO’S NAPA HARD CHARGER AWARD – Edwards +13

BELOW ZERO ICE CREAM PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20-LAPS – $1,000 TO WIN – SHANE PLAYFORD, Luke Horning, Kenny Gates, Ivan Joslin, Josh Coonradt, AJ Walters, Jim Normoyle, Caden Dumblewski, Jason Morrison, Randy Cosselman, John Holmes, Nick Santuccione, Don Collins, Andy Graves, Michael Achzet, Devon Camenga, Gary Silkey, Joe Wilson (DNS), Nick Stone (DQ adjustable idler arms), Beau Ballard (DQ adjustable idler arms)

1^st career win in the division for Playford

LAP LEADERS – 1-2 Joslin, 3 Playford, 4-6 Joslin, 7-8 Playford, 9 Joslin, 10-16 Playford, 17-20 Stone (DQ)

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Coonradt, Gates

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE FOR AGING INC. LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 15-LAPS – TIM WILMOT, Lance Hill, Kirsten Swartz, Kyle Dingman, Michael Kalkbrenner, Jonathan Feagles, Tyler Bobar, Mike Hill, Ryan Sweet, Chris Kugler, John Anderson, Jim Mallia, Jason Palombo, John Santolin, Corky Warner, Dylan Huston, Tim Deffer, Bob Rowback, AJ Greco, Bobby Rhinehardt, Connor Prokop, Brandon Goodell, Brandon Tyler, Maddy Broedel, Steve Wagoner (DNS), Bella Pickard (DNS), Gus Kamberelis (DNS), Brandon Hazzard (DNS)

1^st career win in the division for Wilmot

LAP LEADERS – 1-7 Huston, 8-15 Wilmot

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Swartz, Wilmot, Huston

FONDA FAIR FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE – 12-LAPS – KERRIE HOLLENBACK (DOHC), Corey Valade, John Napoli, Shawn Hemstreet, Billy Hillman, KEN HOLLENBACK (SOHC), Len St. Andrews, Wayne Russell Jr., Tim Warner, Hayleigh Gates, David Peek Britten, Dan Valade, TJ Marlitt, Brandon Ely (DQ rear Camber).

8^th win of 2023 and the 93^rd of his career in the division for Ken Hollenback

5^th win of 2023 and the 39^th of his career in the division for Kerrie Hollenback

LAP LEADERS – 1-2 Kerrie Hollenback, 3-12 Ely (DQ)

CAPTAIN CARL’S LUXURY CRUISES/DONE BETTER POOLS NON-QUALIFIERS RACE FOR SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN CARS – 5-LAPS – Dylan Eldred

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – On Saturday, July 15 the Fonda Speedway hosts the F.X. Caprara Car Companies Thunder on the Thruway Series, a six-race mini-series between the Fonda and Utica-Rome (N.Y.) Speedways.

The Sunoco Modifieds will race 30-laps and a $4,000 payday on Saturday while the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman will compete in a 25-lap $1,500 to win feature event, and the Algonkin Pro Stocks will compete in a 20-lap $1,000 to win feature event.

The Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders will also be in action. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. with hot laps at 6:00 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m.

Before the racing action begins there will be a “Tailgate for the Cause” event as AIM Autism and One Zee Tees presents Autism Awareness Night. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. there will be events including a $15 chicken dinner, raffles of various items, music, a bounce house for the kids, a dunk tank, and more with all proceeds benefitting the Crossroads Center for Children.

The Crossroads Center for Children holds a special place in Stewart and Jessica Friesen’s hearts as their son Parker attended the center after he was diagnosed with Autism. This will be the fourth benefit for the organization held at the Fonda Speedway and organized by the Friesen’s, the first three were a huge success as this one promises to be as well.

So far in 2023 there have been four events held in the F. X. Caprara Car Companies Thunder on the Thruway Series, two at Utica Rome and two at Fonda. Stewart Friesen has one win at each track in the Modified division with Matt Sheppard (Utica Rome) and Max McLaughlin (Fonda) winning the other two events.

Payton Talbot has won three of the four Thunder on the Thruway Series events in the Crate 602 Sportsman division with two wins at Fonda and one at Utica Rome while Matt Janczuk has one win in the division at Utica Rome. Beau Ballard has two wins in the Thunder on the Thruway Series events in the Pro Stock division, one each at Utica Rome and Fonda while Nick Stone and AJ Walters have victories in the other two events.

It’s RACE WEEK at Fonda Speedway! One Zee Tees & AIM Autism present Autism Awareness Night at the Track of Champions Saturday, July 15.

Tailgate for a Cause 1-4 p.m. in the Entertainment Building: Chicken BBQ, Raffles, Music, Bounce Houses, Dunk Tank & More to benefit Crossroads Center for Children

F.X. Caprara Car Companies Thunder on the Thruway Series

Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds – $4,000 to win

Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman – $1,500 to win

Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks – $1,000 to win

Plus:

Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman

Fonda Fair Four Cylinders

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

Grandstand Admission: $15 (Adults) – $13 (Seniors ages 65 and up) – Kids 11 and under FREE

Pit Admission: $40 (Member) or $35 (NASCAR or Fonda Member) – Kids (ages 6-12): $10 – Children (ages 5 and under): $2

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

All races at Fonda Speedway – will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the $150 annual subscription.

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 or follow the speedway on Twitter and Instagram: @thefondaspdwy.

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Not even a break in the 30-lap Amsterdam Truck Center Modified feature with 12-laps to go could deter Demetrios Drellos from getting his first win of the season at Fonda on Saturday evening.

The break occurred when the ambulance had to leave the premises after a scary incident in turn one when Kurtis Hohensheldt flipped his car. The ambulance took Hohensheldt to St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, NY and with no other ambulances available the races could not proceed so the Fireworks display was lit off during that time.

The race stayed clean and green over the final 12-laps with Drellos getting his first win of 2023 and the third of his career at the “Track of Champions”.

“It was like when the lights went out at Afton,” Drellos told Mimi Lazzaro in F.X. Caprara Car Companies Victory Lane. “I said to the guys you might think this is okay but it’s a little nerve wracking for me. We have a good car, we were a little off earlier today, I wish that I could have had a little better showing in the Bill Ag Memorial match races.”

One driver who had no issues whatsoever during the 8^th Annual Bill Ag Memorial match races was RJ Ronnie Johnson who swept all five rounds of the event on his way to a $4,451 payout! Johnson is now a four time winner of the event after victories back in 2016, 2017, & 2021. It is also the third time that Johnson swept every round in the event after doing so back in 2016 & 2021!

“It’s pretty cool to see this event get bigger and bigger every year,” Johnson said. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Bill was a great guy, and it shows who he was with all of this support of this event. It’s just something special. This race has been great to us, it’s an honor to support Bill and his whole family.”

Other winners on Dirt Track Digest Night at the Fonda Speedway were Payton Talbot (Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman), Luke Horning (Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks), Jonathan Feagles (Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman), Ken Hollenback (Fonda Fair SOHC Four Cylinder), and Corey Valade (Fonda Fair DOHC Four Cylinder).

David Schilling and Dave Camara started the 30-lap Amsterdam Truck Center Modified feature on the front row with the red flag out at the initial start for a multi car wreck in turn four that occurred when Bobby Hackel IV and Demetrios Drellos got bottled up down low in the turn. Most of the drivers involved were able to continue except for Ronnie Johnson and Bobby Varin.

At the second attempt to start the event, Schilling raced out to an early advantage while seventh place starter Demetrios Drellos made moves to get to the front, getting by Dave Constantino and Dave Camara on the inside of turn four for the second position on lap four. Schilling was out to a straightaway advantage at that point but by lap eight Drellos was closing and closing quickly on the leader.

While Drellos chased Schilling for the top spot, Dave Constantino and Cody Clark were moving up as well, both of them getting by Camara for the third and fourth positions on lap ten. Drellos had caught Schilling at this point and took the lead away on lap 11 with a pass on the inside of the backstretch. By lap 18, Drellos was out to a straightaway plus advantage when Matt DeLorenzo slowed on the frontstretch when he blew an oil line to bring out the caution.

The red flag was out on the restart for Kurtis Hohensheldt who hit the wall in turn one and flipped his car violently. Hohensheldt was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital by ambulance. With no other ambulances available, Fonda Speedway management decided to set off the fireworks display while waiting for the ambulance to return to the track.

When the race resumed, Drellos pulled away to a comfortable lead and went on to his first win of 2023 and the third of his career at Fonda in the Drellos Motorsports #111 over Schilling, eighth place starter Alex Yankowski, Constantino, and Clark. The second place finish by Schilling was put on hold by speedway management for tire testing with samples sent out to Blue Ridge Labs to be examined.

“We tried some stuff tonight and had a good test,” Drellos said. “Hopefully, we can bring back a fast car again next week. You learn a lot of different techniques driving a late model, and a lot of different things that you can do to your car too. Truthfully more racing, I don’t care if it’s a go-kart, it doesn’t matter because it all helps.”

Kadon Hohensheldt led the first two laps of the Swagger factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman feature until fourth place starter Michael McCallion took over the lead on lap three with a pass on the outside of turn two. Stephen Gray and Blaine Klinger also got by Hohensheldt for the second and third positions on lap five with McCallion now out to a straightaway advantage.

At the halfway point in the event, McCallion was setting a quick pace with a comfortable lead until lap 13 when Chip Constantino spun in turn two. Speedway management felt that Chad Edwards had gotten into Constantino to cause the spin, so they put Edwards to the rear for the restart. After another yellow on the restart, the next one was single file with McCallion holding on to the lead when the green flag was dropped.

At this point all eyes were on point leader Payton talbot who started the event in the 18^th position and was running in the top five by lap 14. Lap after lap Talbot would pick off another car, and by lap 18 he was the new second place car after getting by Klinger for the position. With three laps to go, Talbot passed McCallion on the outside of the backstretch and went on to his fifth win of the season and the ninth of his career in the division over McCallion, Klinger, Gray, and Brian Calabrese.

McCallion failed to make weight in post-race inspection and was disqualified after a great run moving Brett Mortensen into the top five.

“This car is awesome,” Talbot said in victory lane. Honestly, I didn’t know if there was gonna be a top side for us tonight. I got a pretty good run off of turn two and I think that is what saved us. I have to thank Mike (Walton) for giving us this rocket ship.”

The best feature of the evening may have been the 20-lap Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock feature with a lot of three and four wide racing action throughout the event. It all began with fourth place starter Shane Playford leading lap one after a four wide battle at the start in turn two. On lap seven, Luke Horning was side by side with Playford for the lead and one lap later Horning was the new race leader.

Playford got the lead back at the halfway point in the event with the top five at that point consisting of Playford, Horning, 10^th place starter Devon Camenga, Andy Graves, and Josh Coonradt. On lap 11, Horning took the lead back from Playford on the inside of turn four with the caution flag out on lap 17 for Kenny Gates who slowed on the frontstretch with a line of fluid dropped on the track. During the caution period, Camenga suffered a left rear flat tire while running second. He went to the hot pit and restarted at the end of the field.

Horning held on for the final three laps for his first win of the 2023 season and the 27^th of his career in the division while Josh Coonradt got by Playford on the final lap for the second position. Playford raced the final lap with his hood popping up in the air but was able to finish third with eighth place starter Ivan Joslin and Jason Morrison completing the top five.

“That last caution came out and I heard those two (Camenga and Playford) were second and third and I said oh man,” Horning said in victory lane. “Devin (Camenga) beat me in the heat race and Shane (Playford) has been kicking my butt all year. It was a little nerve wracking, I just wanted to keep my momentum up on the restarts without bottling anyone up and keep the car straight. There was a lot of bite on the bottom, so I wanted to make sure to hit it straight and get back to the throttle.”

Jonathan Feagles led all 15-laps of the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman feature for his second win of the season and the second of his career in the division. John Anderson, Kyle Dingman, Michael Kalkbrenner, and Bob Rhinehardt completed the top five.

Last week’s winner Corey Valade took the lead on the final lap from Brandon Ely to win the overall Fonda Fair Four Cylinder feature in the DOHC class while Ken Hollenback finished fourth overall but was declared the SOHC winner.

Next Saturday, July 15 One Zee Tees and Aim Autism presents Autism Awareness Night with Thunder on the Thruway events for the Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds, the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman), and the Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks. All other regular divisions will also be in action as well.

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

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 the speedway on Twitter: @thefondaspdwy.

DIRT TRACK DIGEST PRESENTS THE 8^TH ANNUAL BILL AG MEMORIAL NIGHT

AMSTERDAM TRUCK CENTER MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – DEMETRIOS DRELLOS, David Schilling (finish being held for tire testing, samples were sent out to Blue Ridge Labs), Alex Yankowski, Dave Constantino, Cody Clark, Danny Varin, Rocky Warner, Chris Curtis, Pep Corradi, Dave Camara, Jack Lehner, Matt DeLorenzo, Tucker O’Connor, JaMike Sowle, Ronnie Holmes, Kurtis Hohensheldt, Brian Calabrese, Shawn McPhee, Brandon Daley, Bobby Hackel IV, Dale Gray, Brian Pessolano, Ronnie Johnson, Bobby Varin, Ryan Walther, Daniel Morgiewicz (DNS)

1^st win of 2023 and the 3^rd of his career in the division for Drellos.

LAP LEADERS – 1-10 Schilling, 11-30 Drellos

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Schilling, Clark, Corradi

SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 25-LAPS – PAYTON TALBOT, Blaine Klinger, Stephen Gray, Brian Calabrese, Brett Mortensen, Clayton DuMond, Tanner Warner, Chad Edwards, Brendan Gibbons, Jason Greco, Butchie Irwin, Zach Dufel, Kadon Hohensheldt, John DuMond, Tim Dwyer, Chip Constantino, Jeremy Tyrrell, Jason Reome, Wesley Sutliff, Don Bellen, Troy Zilles, Matt Perry, Mark Mortensen, Harry Shaffer, Tavien Blowers, Clyde Peek, Zack McSpirit, Michael McCallion (DQ weight)

5^th win of 2023 and the 9^th of his career in the division for Talbot.

LAP LEADERS – 1-2 Hohensheldt, 3-21 McCallion, 22-25 Talbot

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Edwards, McCallion, Shaffer

GRECO’S NAPA HARD CHARGER AWARD – Talbot 18^th to 1^st.

BELOW ZERO ICE CREAM PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20-LAPS – LUKE HORNING, Josh Coonradt, Shane Playford, Ivan Joslin, Jason Morrison, Andy Graves, Caden Dumblewski, Randy Cosselman, Slater Baker, Devon Camenga, Michael Achzet, Don Collins, Nick Santuccione, Kenny Gates, Beau Ballard, Gary Silkey, Jim Normoyle

1^st win of 2023 and the 27^th of his career in the division for Horning.

LAP LEADERS – 1-7 Playford, 8-9 Horning, 10 Playford, 11-20 Horning

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Camenga, Playford

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE FOR AGING INC. LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 15-LAPS – JONATHAN FEAGLES, John Anderson, Kyle Dingman, Michael Kalkbrenner, Bobby Rhinehardt, AJ Greco, Mike Hill, Tim Deffer, Tyler Bobar, Lance Hill, Tim Wilmot, Kirsten Swartz, Bob Rowback, Corky Warner, Jim Malia, Brandon Tyler, Bella Pickard, Steve Wagoner, Jason Palumbo, Dale Van Allen, Dylan Huston, Aaron Armitage (DNS), Brandon Goodell (DNS)

2^nd win of 2023 and the 2^nd of his career in the division for Feagles

LAP LEADERS – 1-15 Feagles

HEAT RACE WINNERS – Kalkbrenner, Rhinehardt, Dingman

FONDA FAIR FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE – 12-LAPS – COREY VALADE (DOHC), Brandon Ely, Kerrie Hollenback, KEN HOLLENBACK (SOHC), Damien Ward, Len St. Andrews, Tim Warner, Hayleigh Gates, Jacob Kimball, TJ Marlitt, Tom Hill, Brittany Ladd, Wayne Russell Jr., David Peek Britten, John Ray

7^th win of 2023 and the 92^nd of his career in the division for Hollenback

2^nd win of 2023 and the 2^nd win of his career in the division for Valade.

LAP LEADERS – 1-11 Ely, 12 Valade

BILL AG MEMORIAL MODIFIED MATCH RACES

ROUND 1 – Ronnie Johnson defeated Demetrios Drellos

ROUND 2 – Ronnie Johnson defeated Matt DeLorenzo

ROUND 3 – Ronnie Johnson defeated Rocky Warner

ROUND 4 – Ronnie Johnson defeated Alex Yankowski

ROUND 5 – Ronnie Johnson defeated Cody Clark

Johnson also swept the Bill Ag event back in 2016 & 2021 while Tim Fuller swept the event back in 2018.

 

Bill Ag Dash Listing
Round 1				Feature
Random Draw in Pits – Demetrios Drellos (111) (LC)				Lap 1 Leader	David Schilling (20)
Random Draw in Pits – Ronnie Johnson (2RJ)	WINNER
				17th on Lap 2	Jack Lehner (85)
Round 2
Round 1 Winner – Ronnie Johnson (2RJ)	WINNER			3rd on Lap 3	Dave Constantino (34)
1st Pick – Matt DeLorenzo (3D) (LC)
				Lap 11 Leader	Demetrios Drellos (111)
Round 3
Round 2 Winner – Ronnie Johnson (2RJ)	WINNER			11th on Lap 11	Tucker O’Connor (42)
Pick – Rocky Warner (1) (LC)
				Halfway Leader	Demetrios Drellos (111)
Round 4
Round 3 Winner – Ronnie Johnson (2RJ)	WINNER			4th Finish	Dave Constantino (34)
Pick – Alex Yankowski (84Y) (LC)
				5th Finish	Cody Clark (4)
Round 5
Round 4 Winner – Ronnie Johnson (2RJ) (LC)	WINNER			6th Finish	Danny Varin (93)
Last Pick – Cody Clark (4)
				7th Finish	Rocky Warner (1)
Fastest Elimination Lap – Overall	Ronnie Johnson (2RJ)	18.687
				8th Finish	Chris Curtis (35)
Final Driver 7-11 in Points (No Jess Friesen)
Fastest in Hot Laps	Cody Clark (4)	18.183		9th Finish	Pep Corradi (21P)
2nd Fastest in Hot Laps	Bobby Hackel IV (97H)	18.406
3rd Fastest in Hot Laps	Chris Curtis (35)	18.543		10th Finish	Dave Camara (24)
4th Fastest in Hot Laps	Jack Lehner (85)	18.653
5th Fastest in Hot Laps	David Constantino (34)	19.025		11th Finish	Jack Lehner (85)
				12th Finish	Matt DeLorenzo (3D)
Hot Lap Hero	Cody Clark (4)	18.183
	Alex Yankowski (84Y)	18.226		13th Finish	Tucker O’Connor (42)
Heats				14th Finish	JaMike Sowle (76)
Heat 1 Winner	David Schilling (20)
Heat 2 Winner	Cody Clark (4)			15th Finish	Ronnie Holmes (82)
Heat 3 Winner	Pep Corradi (21P)
				16th Finish	Kurtis Hohensheldt (54H)
First Car on Hook	Ronnie Johnson (2RJ)	2nd Heat		17th Finish	Brian Calabrese (21C)
				18th Finish	Shawn McPhee (M2)
				19th Finish	Brandon Daley (44T)
				20th Finish	Bobby Hackel IV (97H)
				21st Finish	Dale Gray (61)
				22nd Finish	Brian Pessolano (24P/15A)
				23rd Finish	Ronnie Johnson (2RJ)
				24th Finish	Bobby Varin (18)
				Last Car on Lead Lap	JaMike Sowle (76)
				1st 1 Lap Down	Ronnie Holmes (82)
				Feature Hard Charger	Kurtis Hohensheldt (54H) – +9, 25th to 16th
				Hard Luck	Kurtis Hohensheldt (54H) – Destroyed Car
				Bill Ag Award	Pep Corradi (21P)