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DANNY VARIN TAKES FONDA WIN ON BENJAMIN MOORE PAINTS NIGHT WITH 2025 TRACK CHAMPIONS ALSO CROWNED

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – Saturday evening at the “Track of Champions” was a night that only dreams are made of for some as the 2025 Track Champions were crowned in all divisions. Benjamin Moore Paints presented the racing program with two first time winners in victory lane after the racing was completed and three first time Track Champions in their respective divisions.

Winners of feature events on Benjamin Moore Night included Danny Varin in the 30-lap Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds (first win of the 2025 season and the 13th of his career in the division), Stephen Gray in the 25-lap Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman (second win of the 2025 season and the second of his career in the division), and Jason Morrison in the 20-lap Leatherstocking Pro Stocks (first win of the 2025 season and the third of his career in the division).

Other winners were Mason Gray in the 15-lap Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman (second win of the 2025 season and the third of his career in the division), Jay Ingersoll (DOHC) and Wayne Russell Jr. (SOHC) in the 12-lap Fonda Fair Four Cylinder division (12th win of the 2025 season and the 21st of his career in the division for Ingersoll and the fifth win of the 2025 season and the 12th of his career in the division for Russell Jr.).

2025 Track Champions crowned on Saturday evening were Alex Yankowski (second consecutive title in the Amsterdam Truck Center Modified division after winning it in 2024), Chad Edwards (fourth career championship in the Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman division after also winning it in 2018, 2020, and 2021 tying him with Rocky Warner in the division with four titles), and Beau Ballard (first career title in the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stock division joining his father Danny Ballard who won the division title in 1994).

Other champions crowned included Corky Warner (first career championship in the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman), Jay Ingersoll (second consecutive championship in the DOHC Fonda Fair Four Cylinder division after winning it back in 2024), and Wayne Russell Jr. (first career title in the SOHC Fonda Fair Four Cylinder division).

The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series was also in action with wins going to Jimmy Fugel (MVVDMS Antiques), Will Reed (MVVDMS Late Models), Scot Straight (MVVDMS Mystiques), Jack Miller (MVVDMS Modified), and Brian Gray (MVVDMS Sportsman). 2025 Track Champions in the MVVDMS Series that were crowned on Saturday evening were Will Reed (MVVDMS Late Model), Scot Straight (MVVDMS Mystiques), Don Briggs (MVVDMS Sportsman), Jack Miller (MVVDMS Modified), and Jimmy Fugel (MVVDMS Antiques).

A fitting tribute to Jim Normoyle was presented by the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks and the Normoyle Family after Jim passed away this past week. Normoyle’s son Kyle Joslin paced the field in Jim’s #74 Pro Stock along with AJ Walters and Ivan Joslin (both are Normoyle’s son in laws) who were right behind Kyle during the pace laps.

Bonuses handed out in the division in Memory of Jim Normoyle included $74 to each heat race winner from Money Family Racing (Kyle Money) along with $100 to each heat race winners from RCK Motorsports (heat race winners were Luke Horning and Ivan Josin).

Bonuses paid to the feature winner (Jason Morrison) were $100 each from Kathleen Nolan, Nick & Gabbi, and Bryan & Jolie Parks along with $74 from Money Family racing (Kyle Money). Online Performance Parts presented $100 gift certificates to the seventh and fourth place feature finishers (Kenny Gates & Beau Ballard) while Pro Wash presented a total of $200, $20 donations to the second through 11th place finishers in the feature event.

Pastor Greg Nitz began opening ceremonies with a prayer followed by The National Anthem sung by Mimi Lazzaro. Julie, Rose, and Heather worked hard to collect a $3,104 payout for the 50/50 which was won by Jim from Middleburg with the other half being donated to the Crossroads Center for Children.

The 30-lap Amsterdam Truck Center Modified feature started with Danny Varin taking the lead at the drop of Joe Kriss’ green flag from his pole position start with Pep Corradi in tow. Third and seventh place starters Rocky Warner and Alex Yankowski moved into the third and fourth positions in the early laps with Varin out to a big lead by Lap 12.

Lap traffic came into play two laps later with the top five at the halfway point consisting of Varin, Corradi, Warner, Yankowski, and JaMike Sowle. The first caution of the event came out on lap 17 for Sowle and Cody Clark who were in the wall in between turns three and four with Warner, Corradi, Yankowski, and Bobby Hackel IV in the top five at the time of caution.

The yellow was out again with ten laps to go for Jack Lehner who suffered a flat right rear tire. Yankowski moved past Corradi on the restart with Varin pulling away to the victory, his first win of the season and the 13th of his career in the division in the Vertex/Magsarus #93 over Warner, Yankowski, Hackel, and Corradi.

“We really turned this car around the last couple of races,” Varin told Mimi Lazzaro in F.X. Caprara Victory Lane. “We were pretty bad there, last week and this week we were really good. I thought I threw it away on the last lap there, holy mackerel. I just hit the hole, and it bounced with this left side stuff on these cars.”

“I need to thank Charles Tibbitts, Ed Monger, Pete, Mason, and all of the rest of my guys,” Varin continued to say. “I thought that we had one of the best cars last week, the cautions tonight helped keep the right rear cool after blistering and tearing apart a right rear tire last week. I’m really thankful for the guys, they work real hard. We had to change a motor this week, and I really appreciate them.”

Yankowski was crowned as the 2025 Amsterdam Truck Center Modified Track Champion.

Mike Kalkbrenner and Harry Shaffer started the 20-lap Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman feature on the front row with the yellow out before any laps were completed for a wreck in turn two. On the original restart, Kalkbrenner took the lead with sixth place starter Stephen Gray in the second position on lap seven after getting by Shaffer with the yellow coming out shortly afterwards.

Gray took the lead from Kalkbrenner on lap eight and stretched it out to a straightaway lead by lap 15. Gray was in lap traffic three laps later but was never seriously challenged and went on for his second win of the season and the second of his career in the division in the O’Connor Towing #25. Kalkbrenner, fifth place starter Ricky Quick, Shaffer, and 11th place starter Dylan Madsen completed the top five.

“We really needed this one,” Gray said in victory lane. “We’ve been struggling a little bit, the car was alright there, I got out front early in clean air and it helped.”

Chad Edwards was crowned the 2025 Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman Track Champion despite breaking a right rear shock with two laps to go and limping to a 18th place finish. He is now a four time Track Champion in the division after winning the title back in 2018, 2020, & 2021, tying him as a four time champion in the division with Rocky Warner.

Jason Morrison led at the drop of Joe Kriss’ green flag in the tribute to Jim Normoyle 20-lap Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stock feature with Andy Graves behind him in second. Sixth place starter Ivan Joslin was the new third place car on lap three with Graves pressuring Morrison for the lead at the halfway point in the event with Joslin, Nick Stone, and fifth place starter Luke Horning completing the top five at the time.

Morrison made slight contact with the lap car of Nick Danna coming out of turn four on lap eleven with the top three of Morrison, Graves, and Joslin racing close for the lead two laps later in lap traffic. Morrison led the remaining laps for his first win of the season and the third of his career in the division in the Perry Lanes Bowling Center #715 over Graves, Joslin, Beau Ballard, and Stone.

“Very special,” a very emotional Jason Morrison said in victory lane. “I put the Jim Normoyle #74 sticker on the car last night and I told him he was gonna get the ride of his life tonight. So, he got it. First and foremost, my wife and crew, they spend serious time on this car. Jamie and Nick Stone from Online Performance, any questions or problems Nick is always there, he is first class for needing and getting help.”

Beau Ballard was crowned the 2025 Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stock Track Champion for the first time in his career, joining his father Danny Ballard as a Track Champion in the division after Danny won the title back in 1994.

Walter Cook led the first three laps in the 15-lap Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman feature before Bobby Rhinehart took over the point on lap four. Just as Rhinehardt looked to be on his way to a win, fifth place starter Mason Gray started pressuring Rhinehardt with two laps to go and took the lead on the final lap for his second win of the season and the third of his career in the division in the O’Connor Towing #26 over Rhinehardt, Jim Malia, Camron Hotaling, and seventh place Corky Warner.

It was a very special night for the Gray family with Stephen and Mason both winning feature in their respective divisions. Congratulations to all involved.

“I didn’t know if I was gonna get him (Rhinehardt),” Gray told Mimi Lazzaro in F.X. Caprara victory lane. “He got a little high going down there in turn one, I got under him and was able to get by him.”

Corky Warner was crowned the 2025 Montgomery County Office for Aging Track Champion.

Blake Smart led the first five laps of the 12-lap Fonda Fair Four Cylinder feature with Jay Ingersoll (DOHC) taking over the lead on lap six and going on to his 12th win of the 2025 season and the 21st of his career in the division in the Palmer’s Service Center #97JD.

Wayne Russell Jr. finished fourth overall but was the winner in the SOHC class for his fifth win of the season and the 12th of his career in the division in the Riley Mortuary #54S. Smart finished second overall followed by Len St. Andrews third and Stephen Burka completed the top five in fifth.

Ingersoll was crowned the 2025 Fonda Fair DOHC Track Champion, the second of his career after also winning it last year in 2024 while Wayne Russell Jr. was crowned the SOHC Track Champion for the first time in his career in the division.

The Fonda Speedway is now closed for the annual Fonda Fair. The next event on the schedule is the Fonda 200 weekend starting on Thursday, September 11 and continuing through Saturday, September 13. A complete Fonda 200 weekend schedule can be found on the website www.thefondaspeedway.com

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the history of the Fonda Speedway at 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!

Fonda Speedway weekly feature winners, their race teams, and sponsors are invited the following week to display their cars at the museum and watch their feature win on Flo before the races. The victorious car display can begin as early as 3:00, and you are welcome to arrive and stay as late as your schedule allows.

Please message the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum Facebook page to RSVP or with any questions!

All Fonda Speedway events are broadcast LIVE on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv).

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.

DATE – 8/16/2025 BENJAMIN MOORE PAINTS CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT

18 Entrees
Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds
A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 93-Danny Varin[1]; 2. 79-Rocky Warner[4]; 3. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[7]; 4. 97-Bobby Hackel IV[5]; 5. 21P-Luciano (Pep) Corradi[2]; 6. 27B-Robert Bublak[11]; 7. 85-Jack Lehner[8]; 8. 24-Chad Edwards[10]; 9. 20C-Craig Hanson[6]; 10. 2RJ-Ronnie Johnson[12]; 11. 71-Eric Mack[14]; 12. 3-James Meehan[13]; 13. 76-Jamike Sowle[3]; 14. 4-Cody Clark[9]; 15. 21C-Brian Calabrese[16]; 16. 16-Aaron Jacobs[17]; 17. 22-David Manchester[15]; 18. (DNS) 73-Jimmy Davis

2025 MODIFIED TRACK CHAMPION – ALEK YANKOWSKI

PALMER’S SERVICE CENTER/JAMIE & DENISE PAGE POWER POSITION – $100 Gift Certificate to Online Performance/Stone Motorsports – Chad Edwards

26 entries
Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman
A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 25-Stephen Gray[6]; 2. 2K-Mike Kalkbrenner[1]; 3. 84-Ricky Quick[5]; 4. 1H-Harry Shaffer[2]; 5. 89-Dylan Madsen[11]; 6. 1M-Mark Mortensen[9]; 7. 12B-Tyler Bobar[13]; 8. 78-Tanner Warner[10]; 9. 15-Greg Havlicek[3]; 10. 63-Chip Constantino[7]; 11. 1D-Kyle Dingman[14]; 12. 12T-Tyler Peet[16]; 13. 74-Matt Perry[18]; 14. 31J-John DuMond[25]; 15. 00X-Josh Coonradt[26]; 16. 1-Steve Akers[8]; 17. 14W-Timothy Wilmot[20]; 18. 10%-Chad Edwards[12]; 19. 55-Jonny Feagles[22]; 20. 5C-Randy Cosselman[4]; 21. 14J-Jeremy Tyrrell[19]; 22. 314-Clayton DuMond[15]; 23. 621-Seth Martin[23]; 24. 99-Clyde Peek[17]; 25. 66-Don Bellen[21]; 26. (DNS) 87J-Ashleigh Tyrell

2025 TRACK CHAMPION CHAD EDWARDS

PALMER’S SERVICE CENTER/JAMIE & DENISE PAGE POWER POSITION – $100 Gift Certificate to Online Performance/Stone Motorsports – Dylan Madsen

GRECO’S NAPA HARD CHARGER AWARD – $100 Gift Certificate to Greco’s NAPA – John DuMond +11

14 entries
Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 715-Jason Morrison[1]; 2. 96-Andy Graves[3]; 3. 49-Ivan Joslin[6]; 4. 15-Beau Ballard[4]; 5. 8N-Nick Stone[2]; 6. 2H-Luke Horning[5]; 7. 35-Ken Gates[7]; 8. 22W-AJ Walters[9]; 9. 81A-Michael Achzet[8]; 10. 1D-Nick Santuccione[10]; 11. 39G-Hayleigh Gates[13]; 12. 28G-Gus Gould[11]; 13. 62-Nick Danna[12]; 14. (DNS) 39W-Matt Wells

2025 TRACK CHAMPION BEAU BALLARD

17 entries
Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman
A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 26-Mason Gray[5]; 2. 618-Bobby Rhinehardt[3]; 3. 13J-Jim Mallia[9]; 4. 98-Camron Hotaling[6]; 5. 797-Corky Warner[7]; 6. 47-Walter Cook[2]; 7. 48-Chayton Young[8]; 8. 4-Zach McSpirit[11]; 9. 32-Owen Mormile[10]; 10. 7A-Steve Wagoner[12]; 11. 24-Kirsten Swartz[15]; 12. 27R-Rusty Baumes[14]; 13. 19Z-Destry Scribner[17]; 14. 92C-Lance Hill[4]; 15. 96B-Jimmy Beach[1]; 16. 87J-Joel Knudsen Jr[16]; 17. 11-Josh Persse[13]

2025 TRACK CHAMPION CORKY WARNER
PALMER’S SERVICE CENTER/JAMIE & DENISE PAGE POWER POSITION – $50 Gift Certificate to Online Performance/Stone Motorsports – Steve Wagoner

GRECO’S NAPA HARD CHARGER AWARD – $50 Gift Certificate to Greco’s NAPA – Jim Malia +6
Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 618-Bobby Rhinehardt[3]; 2. 96B-Jimmy Beach[1]; 3. 26-Mason Gray[7]; 4. 797-Corky Warner[8]; 5. 13J-Jim Mallia[4]; 6. 4-Zach McSpirit[5]; 7. 11-Josh Persse[2]; 8. 24-Kirsten Swartz[6]; 9. 19Z-Destry Scribner[9]

10 entries
Fonda Fair Four Cylinders
A Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 97JD-Jay Ingersoll[9]; 2. 78D-Blake Smart[2]; 3. 26D-Len St Andrews[3]; 4. 54S-Wayne Russell Jr[8]; 5. 8S-Stephen Burka[10]; 6. 29JD-John Ray[1]; 7. 420XS-Tim Warner[6]; 8. 191D-Chris Danylieko[4]; 9. I75D-William Cook[7]; 10. 57S-Jeremiah Paro[5]

2025 SOHC TRACK CHAMPION – WAYNE RUSSELL JR.

2025 DOHC TRACK CHAMPION JAY INGERSOLL

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