By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – This Saturday, June 15 at the Fonda Speedway, The Bill Ag Elimination Match Race event for the Sunoco Modifieds will be held at the “Track of Champions”. This event is held in honor of the late Bill Anagnostopulos who was the owner of the Winners Circle, which is a restaurant in Fonda, NY that is located just around the corner from the speedway, where many drivers and fans frequent after the races on Saturday evenings.

Bill was a great friend to racing and sponsored many drivers at the speedway through the years. On a typical Saturday evening, he would get away from the restaurant to attend the races at Fonda where he had many friends in both the pit area and the grandstands.

On the racing card at Fonda on Saturday, June 15 will be the Sunoco Modifieds, the Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman ($1,000 to win thanks to Eric Orozco Racing), Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks, and the Trackside Body Works Street Stocks.

In honor of Father’s Day, there will also be Father’s Day giveaways with the racing action set to start at 7:00 p.m.

The Bill Ag Memorial Match race event for the Sunoco Modifieds has a unique format to it every year and was the idea of Dirt Track Digest’s own Mike Mallett, George Smith, GT Smith, and Scott Friers. Different sponsors come on board to support the event, which offers a great payout to the participating drivers.

Last year, Bobby Varin and Tim Fuller were the first two drivers to compete against each other in the event with Fuller taking the victory. One by one after that Fuller disposed of the remaining four other drivers and collected a total of $2424.24 for a total of only 10-laps! Fuller had lane choice for every race except for the last one against Hohenforst but was still able to get out front at the drop of the green flag for the big money event.

Bill Anagnastopulos Jr. presented the winning check to Fuller who had this to say to Mike Mallett in victory lane: “When Josh (Hohenforst) got lane choice for the last race I thought that I was in trouble, I was real concerned because he is fast here at Fonda on a heavy track. This event is a little different, it has a lot of pizzazz, and racing needs more of that.”

The Fifth Annual Bill Ag Memorial Match Race event has a list of eligible drivers, kind of. The top five in the Sunoco Modified point standings are automatically in the Elimination Race with one driver chosen from positions six through 10 in points. There’s just one issue, third place driver in points Stewart Friesen will be unable to compete due to competing in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Race at the Iowa Speedway on Saturday.

With Friesen unable to compete, it’s been decided to take the sixth place driver in points to fill the first five drivers. One problem, two drivers are tied for sixth place in points, Josh Hohenforst and David Schilling both with 306 points. In true Elimination Race fashion, Hohenforst and Schilling will have a two lap race with the winner going to the Bill Ag Modified Elimination Race and the loser going to the draw for the sixth through tenth spot in points to round out the Elimination Race.

The two-lap dash will be done right after Sunoco Modified hot laps, so the elimination draw can be set. Both drivers will receive a $100.00 for the two-lap dash. The loser of the dash could find themselves out of the event but Bill Ag would have loved this. Locked in drivers for the event include Rocky Warner, Bobby Varin, Stewart Friesen who will miss the event due to the Gander Outdoor Truck race in Iowa, Danny Varin, and Dave Constantino.

Drivers eligible via the draw include Josh Hohenforst/David Schilling, Craig Hanson, Brian Gleason, and Michael Maresca.

SPONSORS & PRIZES AVAILABLE FOR THE BILL AG ELIMINATION MATCH RACE EVENT:

Win and You’re In
Winner-$200 and In the Elimination Event
$100 Zach Dufel
$100 Dirt Track Digest

Loser-$100 Dirt Track Digest

Round 1- $425
$250 Rick and Tom Kietlinski
$75 Jay DeTraglia
$50 In Memory of Wayne Hazzard
$50 Chrissy Anagnostopulos

Round 2- $637.12
$512.12 In Memory of “Featherfoot” Don Rose
Camp Can Opener
Pat Rose/Bill Rose/James Yesse/Brad Scanlon/Chris J Brown/Chris Kocjan
$75 Jay DeTraglia
$50 Chrissy Anagnostopulos

Round 3- $425
$250 Harry and Shelly Shaffer
$100 Chrissy Anagnostopulos
$75 Jay DeTraglia

Round 4- $425
$250 Swagger Factory Apparel/Michael Jackson
$100 Chrissy Anagnostopulos
$75 Jay DeTraglia

Final Round- $1,100
$1,000 Dirt Track Digest
Mike Mallett/Gt Smith/George Smith
$100 Jay DeTraglia

$100 1st driver eliminated- Sheila Dornburg
$100 2nd driver eliminated- One Zee Tees
$100 3rd driver eliminated- Gary and Cindy Eckerson
$100 4th driver eliminated- Mimi Lazzaro
$100 Final driver eliminated- Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series/Laurie Fallis

Final Driver Chosen by Draw- $100 donated by Dirt Modified Nostalgia Tour/Thomas Coughlin

Last Man Left (Last Driver Chosen for Final Round) $100 In Memory of Vern Wagoner- donated by Pat Rose

Fastest Elimination Race Lap- $100 donated by Larry Wrobel Sr.

1st Heat Race Winner- $100 One Zee Tees
2nd Heat Race Winner- $100 In Memory of Bill Ag
3rd Heat Race Winner- $100 In Memory of Bill Ag

7th Place Modified Feature- $100 Chrissy Anagnostopulos
16th Place Modified Feature- $100 Chrissy Anagnostopulos

Modified Feature Hard Charger- $100
In Memory of Bill Ag

Oversized Winner’s Check Donated by JK Motorsports Concepts and Sign Design/Jeff Karabin

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: www.facebook.com/thefondaspdwy

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.

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Years ago race tracks used to hold Twin 20 racing programs to “spice up” their racing cards on a yearly basis. Though they are not held as much now as they were before, the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway held one of those racing programs on Saturday evening under the BD Motorsports Media management banner.

Once the final checkered flags flew on the evening it was Danny Varin and Stewart Friesen (Sunoco Racing Modifieds), Brian Calabrese (held over 602 Crate Sportsman feature from 5/25) and Cody Clark (Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman regular feature), Rich Christman (Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman), Luke Horning (Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks Best of 8 Series presented by American Racer), and Jason Samrov (Trackside Body Works Street Stocks) standing in the Fuccillo Automotive Group Mike Cole Memorial victory lane.

It was also New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) Safety Awards Night with Modified drivers Friesen and Dave Constantino taking home some extra cash from the organization along with Clark and Tony Farone (602 Crate Sportsman), Christman and EJ McAuliffe (Limited Sportsman), Horning and Ivan Joslin (Pro Stocks), and Samrov and Stephen Young (Street Stocks).

Prizes handed out by NYSSCA organization members on hand Dan Wood (President), Jann Ivancic-McGaffin (Vice President), and Bonnie Mortensen (Fonda Speedway Track Representative) included $75, a NYSSCA hat & Yearbook to the first NYSSCA member across the finish line in the feature events along with $25, a NYSSCA hat, and Yearbook to the second NYSSCA member across the finish line. Pep Corradi was also awarded a $50 Wildcard award from the organization.

Taking part in the opening ceremonies for the evening were Miss Fonda Fair 2018 Julia Marrone, Jaiden Farrington (Jr. Miss Fonda Fair), Chloe Lyons (Princess), and Sydney Arminio (Jr. Princess) with Marrone doing a great job singing the National Anthem in front of the big crowd on hand. The 50/50 prize for the evening went to Jen Spraker from Meco and was worth $2,224!

The Fonda Speedway Kid’s Club held a very special event on Saturday evening, partnering with Buck Gasner and his race team along with his sponsor Something Fishy Aquarium to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis in honor of Paige and Eric Tooker. Drivers went through the grandstands with their helmets during intermission to collect for the great cause.

The first Sunoco Modified Twin 20 started with Ryan Odasz leading from his pole position start at the drop of Joe Kriss’ green flag with outside pole position starter Pep Corradi in second. The yellow was out just after lap one was completed for Corradi who came to a stop in turn three and was done for the evening at that point.

On the restart, fifth place starter Josh Hohenforst was the new second place car while Stewart Friesen, who started 13^th, was all of a sudden up to the fourth position with a great run on the outside after the race was restarted. Friesen was the new third place car on lap three after getting by Vinny Sanganetti for the position while Hohenforst was now challenging Odasz for the lead.

Hohenforst made a move on the inside of turns three and four on lap nine to take the lead away from Odasz with Friesen also getting by Odasz for the second position at that point. At the halfway point in the event Hohenforst was the race leader followed by Friesen, Odasz, Dave Constantino, and ninth place starter Matt DeLorenzo.

Hohenforst was held up for just a second by a lap car on lap 15 in turn three allowing Friesen to get by on the inside for the lead, but the race wasn’t over yet. Hohenforst got to the inside of Friesen in turn four on the final lap coming to the checkered flag in a drag race to the finish but Friesen held on for his second win of the season and the 56^th of his career at the “Track of Champions.”

Hohenforst, Constantino, Danny Varin, and DeLorenzo completed the top five in the event.

“That was a lot of race track right there,” Friesen said after exiting his #44 Halmar DKM Cyclone car. “They made it such a wide track for the feature that I got up on the fourth row on that restart and picked up some spots. We have been all over the dart board with this car but thanks to DKM, Billy the Kid power, and Integra shocks we are standing here tonight.”

The second feature had an inverted start of four positions as picked by Friesen in victory lane after the first feature with Danny Varin starting on the pole and taking the early lead. The only caution of the event was on lap two for Michael Maresca who had something break in the rear of the car in turns one and two and came to a stop on the backstretch.

Varin continued to lead on the restart in the Magsarus T-Rex Express #93 but behind him there was a three way battle brewing for the second position between Constantino, Hohenforst, Friesen, and sixth place starter Rocky Warner. Friesen and Warner swapped the fourth position a few times before Friesen finally got the position for good on lap five.

Friesen then made a slide job pass on Constantino in turn two for the second position with Warner also getting by Constantino for the third position at that point. Varin held a half straightaway advantage at the halfway point with Friesen, Warner, Constantino, and David Schilling completing the top five.

After working on Friesen for the second position for many laps, Warner finally got the second position with four laps to go and was able to close in on the leader but couldn’t get by as Varin went on to his eighth career win at Fonda in the Ed Munger owned car with Warner, Friesen, Hohenforst, and DeLorenzo completing the top five.

“This feels good,” Varin said in victory lane. “We have been struggling and on a drought for awhile but the last couple of weeks we have got it together. I learned to just slow life down a little and worry about what the car wants. As far as the race for second, I could care less what was going on behind me I’m standing here in victory lane.”

The Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman feature from 5/25 started with Joe Orlando in the lead with a red flag out for a wreck involving Griffen Mansmith and Andrew Buff in between turns three and four with Buff ending up on his roof before any laps were completed. All drivers were okay.

On the restart, sixth place starter Mark Mortensen and eighth place starter Chad Edwards both made great moves on the outside to get into the third and fourth positions respectively. Unfortunately the caution was out again just after lap one was completed for a multi car wreck in turn four with Tony Farone getting over on his roof. Farone and all of the other drivers involved in the wreck were okay.

The race was restarted as an original start relegating Mortensen and Edwards back to their original starting positions back in the field. Orlando led again on this restart with fourth place starter Brian Calabrese the new second place car on lap seven after he got by Kurtis Hohensheldt for the position with Edwards also getting by for the third spot. At the halfway point in the event Orlando was the leader followed by Calabrese, Edwards, Hohensheldt, and Brian Borst.

Orlando got into lap traffic on lap 18 of the 25-lap event with Calabrese able to close in quickly because of it. On the inside of the front stretch at the finish line to complete lap 21, Calabrese was the new race leader and he went on to his second consecutive win of the season and the third of his career at Fonda in the LM Mason Contractors #21C over Orlando, Edwards, Hohensheldt, and 12^th place starter Tim Hartman Jr.

“Two in a row this is awesome,” Calabrese told Mimi Lazzaro in victory lane. “Cars were getting by me on the original first start but I just kept racing and the restarts afterwards definitely helped me. I’m still learning all of this and I just kept dialing front brake into it, saw the lap cars coming, and was able to get by for the win.”

After flipping his racecar in the first feature event, Tony Farone and crew made repairs and won his qualifying heat race for the second feature putting his #18 on the pole for the second 25-lap event. Farone wasted no time taking the early lead with Brian Borst in tow at the drop of the green flag.

After starting fifth, Nick Scavia was the third place car when the yellow came out on lap seven for Tim Hartman Jr. who slowed on the backstretch. He would go to the hot pit for repairs and restart at the rear of the field.

On the restart, Farone continued to lead as Cody Clark came up on the outside from the sixth position to second with Brian Calabrese now in the top five after starting 14^th. With three laps to go, Clark closed in on Farone and with one lap to go Clark went three wide on the inside of both Farone and a lap car for the race lead.

Clark went on to the win in the North Hudson Woodcraft #4 Teo car over Farone, Borst, Scavia, and Calabrese for his first win of the season and the seventh of his career in the division at Fonda.

“We’ve been struggling this year,” Clark said in victory lane. “The last two weeks have been decent but we are a low budget team and we just do what we can.”

The Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman feature began with an early caution flag for Spencer Rapp who got together with Brett Mortensen on the backstretch with Rapp done for the night at that point while Mortensen pitted on the hot pit road to make repairs and continued on at the rear of the field.

John Young was the race leader on the restart from his pole position start with another caution flag out at the completion of lap one for Bill Port who was in the wall between turns one and two. Port was okay and continued on at the rear of the field. Young led again on this restart with sixth place starter Steve Wagoner the new second place car and challenging Young for the lead on lap four, running side by side for position.

Young held the lead position for two more laps until Wagoner took the lead away on the outside of turn four with eighth place starter Rich Christman now in the third position. Christman went from third to first on lap seven to take the race lead away and went on to his second win of the season over Wagoner, EJ McAuliffe, Brendan Gibbons, and John Young. In postrace inspection, Wagoner was disqualified for not having a rev box moving Mortensen into the top five.

The Algonkin Motel Pro Stock feature, which was a Best of 8 Series event sponsored by American Racer, began with Bill Knapp the early leader. Nick Stone started the event in the sixth position and went to the outside immediately, going three wide to the lead as lap one was completed. Ivan Joslin and Cassidy Wilson were the second and third place cars early on with 10^th place starter moving to the front quickly.

Horning was able to get by both Wilson and Knapp for the third position by lap eight with Stone out to a straightaway advantage on lap 11. Horning was the new second place car on lap 14 after getting by Joslin for the spot with the yellow out with four laps to go closing up the field. Horning got by Stone for the lead on the inside of turns three and four and went on to his fourth win of the season and the 18^th of his career at Fonda over Joslin, Josh Coonradt, Stone, and eighth place starter Kenny Gates.

“I caught the 82 (Wilson) and I just settled in behind him,” Horning said in victory lane. “Then I made a slide job pass to get by him and raced hard with the 49 (Joslin) before I found some grip on the bottom and was able to get by Nick for the lead. Tonight it was all about finesse where last week you really had to be up on the wheel.”

A red flag at the start slowed the Trackside Body Works Street Stock feature when Michael Arnold got on his roof in turn three. Arnold was not injured but was done for the evening at that point. On the restart and for the first two laps of the event, Cliff Haslun was the race leader before Jason Samrov took control of the race with a pass on the inside of the back stretch on lap three.

Stephen Young took away the lead briefly on lap six, but when the lap was officially scored it was Samrov who got back by Young for the lead in a great side by side battle. Samrov led the remaining laps for his first win of the season and the ninth of his career at Fonda over Young, Haslun, Zach Sorrentino, and Robert Wilmont.

Next Saturday, June 15 at Fonda the Bill Ag Memorial Modified Match races will take place along with all other divisions in action featuring Father’s Day giveaways. Starting time will be 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 TWIN 20 FEATURE #1 FINISH – 20-LAPS – STEWART FRIESEN, Josh Hohenforst, Dave Constantino, Danny Varin, Matt DeLorenzo, Rocky Warner, Michael Maresca, David Schilling, Bobby Varin, Korey Wilder, Elmo Reckner, Craig Hanson, Brian Gleason, Darwin Greene, Vinny Sanganetti, Steve Akers, Jessica Friesen, Roger Henion Jr., Allison Ricci, Scott Huber, Ed Harris, Cody Bleau, Ryan Odasz, Aaron Jacobs, Pep Corradi

SUNOCO MODIFIED TWIN 20 FEATURE #2 FINISH – 20-LAPS – DANNY VARIN, Rocky Warner, Stewart Friesen, Josh Hohenforst, Matt DeLorenzo, Brian Gleason, Elmo Reckner, Dave Constantino, Bobby Varin, Jessica Friesen, Craig Hanson, Korey Wilder, Steve Akers, Allison Ricci, Darwin Greene, Cody Bleau, Vinny Sanganetti, Ed Harris, Scott Huber, David Schilling, Roger Henion Jr., Aaron Jacobs, Michael Maresca, Pep Corradi, Ryan Odasz (DNS)

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Ryan Odasz, Pep Corradi, Danny Varin

SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (RAIN DELAYED FROM 5/25) – 25-LAPS – BRIAN CALABRESE, Joe Orlando, Chad Edwards, Kurtis Hohensheldt, Tim Hartman Jr., Brian Borst, Mark Mortensen, Cody Clark, Tim Dwyer, Jason Greco, Dan Santabarbara, Adam McAuliffe, Aaron Burton, JaMike Sowle, Thomas VanVorst, Josh DeMagistris, Mike Jackson, Nick Scavia, Tony Farone, Griffen Mansmith, Andrew Buff

SWAGGER FACTORY APPAREL CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN REGULARLY SCHEDULED FEATURE – 25-LAPS – CODY LARK, Tony Farone, Brian Borst, Nick Scavia, Brian Calabrese, Chad Edwards, Mark Mortensen, Adam McAuliffe, Andrew Buff, Aaron Burton, Tim Hartman Jr., Kurtis Hohensheldt, Joe Orlando, Dan Santabarbara, JaMike Sowle, Josh DeMagistris, Jason Greco, Mike Jackson, Thomas VanVorst, Tim Dwyer, Griffen Mansmith

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Tony Farone, Brian Borst, Adam McAuliffe

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE FOR AGING INC. LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH – 20-LAPS – RICH CHRISTMAN, EJ McAuliffe, Brendan Gibbons, John Young, Brett Mortensen, Jack Hamm, Bill Port, Spencer Rapp, Steve Wagoner (DQ No Rev Box)

ALGONKIN MOTEL PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (BEST OF 8 SERIES PRESENTED BY AMERICAN RACER – 20-LAPS – LUKE HORNING, Ivan Joslin, Josh Coonradt, Nick Stone, Kenny Gates, Chuck Dumblewski, Justin Knight, Bill Knapp, David Emigh, Cassidy Wilson, Shane Henderson, Andy Graves, Beau Ballard, Jason Morrison, Randy Cosselman, Reuben Kennedy Jr., Jeff McPhail, Buck Gasner, John Roese, Jim Normoyle, Alicia Hughes

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Luke Horning, Josh Coonradt, Nick Stone

TRACKSIDE BODY WORKS STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH – 15-LAPS – JASON SAMROV, Stephen Young, Cliff Haslun, Zach Sorrentino, Robert Wilmont, Josh Samrov, Michael Arnold, Brittany Celebucki

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