5/1/2024
Fonda Speedway
LOU LAZZARO MEMORIAL NIGHT COMING TO THE FONDA SPEEDWAY THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4
By: Ron Szczerba
Fonda, NY – This Saturday, May 4 at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway, the “Lou Lazzaro Memorial” will be held honoring the “Incomparable” Lou Lazzaro as Jim King used to call him. Lazzaro was a fan favorite; a four-time track champion at Fonda in 1964, 1969, 1977, 1978; and a winner of 113 feature events during his career at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds half mile facility, placing him second on the Modified Division All-Time Win List.
May 4 will also serve as “Opening Night” for the 73rd season of racing at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds after the previous two racing program were cancelled and rained out. The racing program will be presented by Phoenix Heating & Cooling.
There have been a total of seven “Lou Lazzaro Memorial” events held since Lazzaro’s passing, the first one on 5/6/2000 at the Fonda Speedway where Seth Gano scored the first win of his career at the “Track of Champions.” Matt DeLorenzo (4/29/2006 & 5/15/2010) and Stewart Friesen (5/31/2014 & 7/24/2021) are both two time winners of the event at Fonda, while Willy Decker (7/25/2007 at Utica Rome), and Ronnie Johnson (5/21/2016 at Fonda) have one victory apiece in the prestigious event.
The “Thunder on the Thruway Series” events will highlight the racing program including the 34-lap, $4,444-to-win “Lou Lazzaro Memorial” Amsterdam Truck Center Modified feature plus lap money and bonuses (see the complete list at the bottom of this release). The Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman will run a $1,500 to win event while the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks will compete in a $1,000 to win event.
Also on the racing card will be the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman and the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders, the Four Cylinders running double features including the makeup feature from 4/27 with the green flag to start the racing program waving at 7:00 p.m.
The “Thunder on the Thruway Series” is a six race series between the two BD Motorsports LLC racetracks, the Utica Rome Speedway and the Fonda Speedway. The three races at Fonda will be held on 5/4, 6/15, & 7/13 while the three races at Utica Rome will be run on 5/10, 6/21, & 8/17. Back in 2023 the “Thunder on the Thruway Series” Champions were Alex Yankowski (Modified), Payton Talbot (Crate 602 Sportsman), and Nick Stone (Pro Stocks).
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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