4/30/2025
Fonda Speedway
THUNDER ON THE THRUWAY THREE RACE MINI-SERIES KICKS OFF AT FONDA THIS SATURDAY, MAY 3
By: Ron Szczerba
Fonda, NY – Despite a valiant effort by speedway management and the track crew last Saturday night, rain nixed Saturday night’s scheduled 74th anniversary point season opener at the Fonda Speedway. Now, attention turns to Saturday, May 3 at the iconic “Track of Champions”.
The F.X. Caprara Car Companies Thunder on the Thruway Series – now featuring a trio of events at Fonda – kicks off with Round No. 1 on Saturday night. Higher-paying events are on the docket for the Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds, Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman and Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks.
The Thunder on the Thruway Series has been around since 2008 when it was known as the Go-Green NMX Series. In 2009 the series was known as the Dual Track Thunder Series before the current title was started in 2010 and it was run under the Thunder on the Thruway Series title in 2011, 2021-2024. It will run as the Thunder on the Thruway Series again in 2025 as a three-race mini-series at Fonda on 5/3, 6/21, & 8/9.
The history of Thunder on the Thruway Series champions since the start of the series shows Brett Hearn as Modified champion in 2008 (only the Modifieds ran the series back then); Bobby Varin (Modified) and David Towns (Open Sportsman) in 2009; Stewart Friesen (Modified), Bill Trexler Jr. (Open Sportsman), and Rocky Warner (Pro Stock) in 2010; Stewart Friesen (Modified) and Rocky Warner (Pro Stock) in 2011; Stewart Friesen (Modified), Chad Edwards (Crate 602 Sportsman), and Nick Stone (Pro Stock) in 2021; Alex Yankowski (Modified), Payton Talbot (Crate 602 Sportsman), and Nick Stone (Pro Stock) in 2022; while in 2023 Yankowski, Talbot, and Stone repeated as series champions.
Last year in 2024, Michael Maresca (Modified), Talbot (Crate 602 Sportsman), and Kenny Gates (Pro Stock) were the Thunder on the Thruway Series Champions in their respective divisions.
Win lists for the Thunder on the Thruway Series since its inception find a total of 44 Modified events held with 15 different drivers winning those events. Stewart Friesen leads the way with a total of 17 wins followed by Matt Sheppard with five wins, Matt DeLorenzo with four wins, Brett Hearn and Billy Decker each with three wins, Ronnie Johnson and Bobby Varin each with two wins. Single event wins in the series have gone to Pat Ward, Tony Pepicelli, Willy Decker, Jim Gabriel Jr., Larry Wight, Max McLaughlin, Cody Clark, and Michael Maresca.
A total of five Open Sportsman events have been held in the series with four different drivers winning those events led by Luke Munroe with two wins; Jason Rood, Matt Janczuk, and David Towns each with one victory.
A total of 23 events have been held in the series in the Crate 602 Sportsman division with eight different drivers winning those events led by Matt Janczuk and Payton Talbot each with seven wins. Cody Clark is next in line with three series wins followed by Chad Edwards with two victories. Jason Greco, Butchie Irwin, Tyler Peet, and Brendan Gibbons all have one win apiece.
Thirty-One total events have been held in the Pro Stock division with 15 different drivers winning those events led by Nick Stone with eight wins. Following behind Stone with their amount of wins in parenthesis are Beau Ballard (5); Kenny Gates (3); Tom Denton, Rob Yetman, and Luke Horning (2); Chip Smith, Rocky Warner, Shawn Frost, Glenn Forward, AJ Walters, Shane Playford, Devon Camenga, Bret Belden, and Andy Graves (1).
Saturday’s Thunder on the Thruway Series events will feature the following laps and winning payouts:
· Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds – 30 laps, $4,000 to win
· Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman – 25 laps, $1,500 to win
· Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stock – 20 laps, $1,000 to win
Track points will kick off for each of the speedway’s weekly divisions including the Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders. Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds will be back in a make-up event from last Saturday.
Wristbands from April 26 will be honored for May 3, despite the increased grandstand and drive-in admission for the Thunder on the Thruway Series event.
Adult Grandstand admission for May 3 is $20 for Adults, $18 for Seniors (ages 65 and over) and Kids 11 and under are FREE.
Infield Drive-In admission is $95 and includes four passes.
Pit admission is $40 (Non-Members), $35 (Members) and $10 (Kids ages 11 and under).
For May 3 Infield Drive-In reservations or advance tickets, click the following link: https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/1549/tickets/1454790
Since 1953, the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. The speedway operates 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: @thefondaspdwy or Instagram: @fondaspeedway.
Submitted By: Brett Deyo