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FONDA SPEEDWAY WELCOMES NYSSCA, MVVDMS, & THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE NEW LOU LAZZARO BOOK THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 10

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Racing returns to the Fonda Speedway this Saturday, June 10 as Pro Care Total Property Management Company presents NYSSCA Night, a complete program of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series competition plus the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series (MVVDMS) at the “Track of Champions�.

In competition this Saturday will be the Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds, the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman, the Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks, the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders, and the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series (MVVDMS).

The New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) will also present monetary awards to drivers who are members of the organization. In each of the feature events, except the four cylinders, the top finishing NYSSCA member across the finish line will receive $75, and the second NYSSCA member to cross the finish line will receive $50. For the four-cylinder drivers, the top dual cam NYSSCA member, and the top single cam NYSSCA member will each receive $75. There will also be a drawing for a $50 wild card for all NYSSCA members not already receiving cash.

To be eligible for the NYSSCA awards you need to be a member of the NYSSCA organization but if you are not you may sign up with Fonda Speedway NYSSCA representative Bonnie Mortensen who will either be going through the pit area on Saturday to sign up members or at the at the 1B & 1M trailers in the pit area where she will be until hot laps begin.

Anyone is eligible to become a NYSSCA member for $25, which helps support the organization's efforts. In addition to the "NYSSCA Night" at all of their member tracks, the organization also offers a benefit fund to injured members. Any member who is out of work due to an injury sustained at a sanctioned racing event receives $125/week for up to 26 weeks once proper documentation has been received by the organization.

NYSSCA will also be handing out a number of special awards during opening ceremonies this Saturday at Fonda honoring six different people who are very deserving of the awards. Wes Moody will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization with other award winners including Joe Kriss (Dedication to Racing in Memory of Harry Peek), Nick Stone (Dedication to Racing in Memory of Jim Langenback), Payton Talbot (Outstanding Performance), Chris Persons (Dedication to Racing), and Jason Greco (Dedication to Racing).

Matt DeLorenzo will also receive the Overall Outstanding Performance/Driver of the Year Award from NYSSCA at a ceremony to be held later this season while the BBL Companies #3D and the KJG Motorsports #3G teams will receive the Racing Team & Crew of the Year Award, also later this season. NYSSCA Safety Awards will also be given out to drivers in the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS) as well.

NEW LOU LAZZARO BOOK TO BE LAUNCHED AT FONDA THIS SATURDAY

Perhaps the biggest event at Fonda this Saturday, June 10 will be a book signing event for the brand-new book “LAZZARO: The Man and His Machines,� the star-crossed story of the late Lou Lazzaro, champion racer from Utica, New York. The book will be formally launched that night at Fonda with author Moshier and Lazzaro family members on hand to autograph copies.

Written by award-winning Central New York sports journalist Ron Moshier, who covered Lazzaro for decades and inducted him posthumously into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame, the book traces Lazzaro’s legendary career from its modest beginnings as a teenager in the 1950s to his winning ways on dirt and asphalt, and finally to an emotionally charged farewell at Fonda Speedway, the fairgrounds oval dubbed the “Track of Champions.�

Lazzaro was a track champion at Fonda, Vernon’s Utica-Rome Speedway, the old Victoria Speedway in Dunnsville, and Malta’s Albany-Saratoga Speedway. He won 251 Sportsman and Modified features at 21 different tracks in the Northeast, Canada and Florida. Nicknamed “The Monk,� Lazzaro was 64 years old when he recorded the last of his 113 Fonda wins in 1999. He died on May 1, 2000, a few days after falling ill and dropping out of the Fonda feature.

The book will be sold at the Fonda Speedway on June 10 for $30 and there will also be t-shirts, long sleeve tees, and hoodies available as well as decals for sale. If you are unable to attend the book signing this Saturday at Fonda the book can be ordered online www.coastal181.com or by calling Coastal 181 at 877-907-8181 toll free.

Gates will open this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. with hot laps at 6:00 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m. Grandstand Admission will be $13 (Adults) – $11 (Seniors) – Kids 11 and under FREE

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

Infield parking will be available this Saturday at Fonda and you can reserve your spot by going to the Fonda Speedway Facebook page.

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.

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