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Since 1955: Fonda 200 Built By Legends, Entrenched in History

FONDA, NY – Just how entrenched in history is the Fonda 200?

The first Eastern States Weekend at N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway took place in 1962.

The inaugural Super DIRT Week at the Syracuse Mile? 1972.

The debut of the 600-mile grind at Charlotte Motor Speedway? 1960.

Even Bill France’s first Daytona 500: 1959.

When moonshiner-turned-racer Junior Johnson emerged victorious at Fonda Speedway for the first time in the ‘Fonda 200’ the year was 1955. With that, an auto racing tradition was born.

Each September, the venerable fairgrounds facility along the Mohawk River comes to life for a three-day racing festival with on- and off-track activities, camping and more. The 2025 event, sanctioned by the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco, is set for Thursday-Saturday Sept. 11-13.

It’s truly an event built by legends.

No driver enjoyed more success in the Fonda 200 than Brett Hearn, who won the event on four occasions: 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2002.

Stewart Friesen and the late Doug Hoffman each own three Fonda 200 victories. Hoffman’s conquests came in 1990, 1991 and 2001, with Friesen winning in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Six drivers have two Fonda 200 checkered flags on their resume: most recent winner Matt Sheppard (2022 and 2024), Bob McCreadie (1992 and 1993), Charlie Rudolph (1983 and 1985), Jack Johnson (1986 and 1988), Jimmy Horton (1984 and 1994) and Richard Petty (1967 and 1968).

Single-time Fonda 200 winners include Junior Johnson (1955), Steve Danish (1963), Bill Wimble (1964), David Pearson (1966), Lou Lazzaro (1969), Harry Peek (1970), Kenny Brightbill (1987), Mike Romano (1989), Steve Paine (1999) and Kenny Tremont (2000).

The next chapter will be written at the Track of Champions Sept. 11-13.

Activity will begin on Wednesday (Sept. 10) with camper staging and move-in.
On Thursday (Sept. 11), camper move-in will continue with pit parking opening at noon.

Thursday night racing includes the ‘Underdog 33’ for drivers without a Modified win at any track in 2025. Also competing Thursday are the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman and Online Performance Parts/Stone Motorsports Street Stocks. Practice rounds will be available for all other divisions.

On Friday (Sept. 12), Short Track Super Series Modifieds and Sportsman will compete in Qualifying Races in addition to the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks, Fonda Fair Four Cylinders and the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series.

Following the completion of racing on Friday night, the Rockwood Band will perform live on stage starting at 10:30 p.m.

Saturday (Sept. 13) is the grand finale: the Fonda 200. On the Saturday program are the B-Mains for the Modified and Sportsman followed by the 40-lap Sportsman event and Modified 200. A pre-race driver autograph session will kickstart the activities at 3:15 p.m. in the grandstand area.

Sunday (Sept. 14) is set for the 2025 Fonda Speedway Awards Banquet at the Entertainment Building on the fairgrounds. Doors open at 1 p.m. Sunday is also reserved as a potential ‘200’ rain date.

The complete schedule has been Fonda website at: https://www.thefondaspeedway.com/fonda200schedule/

Tickets and camping are on sale now through the speedway website: www.thefondaspeedway.com.

The event will be 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.

Fonda 200 Event Wins

4 - Brett Hearn
3 - Doug Hoffman & Stewart Friesen
2 – Matt Sheppard, Bob McCreadie, Charlie Rudolph, Jack Johnson, Jimmy Horton & Richard Petty
1 - Bill Wimble, David Pearson, Harry Peek, Junior Johnson, Kenny Brightbill, Kenny Tremont, Steve Paine, Lou Lazzaro, Mike Romano & Steve Danish

Fonda 200 Event Winners

1955: Junior Johnson (NASCAR Grand National)
1963: Steve Danish
1964: Bill Wimble
1966: David Pearson (NASCAR Grand National)
1967: Richard Petty (NASCAR Grand National)
1968: Richard Petty (NASCAR Grand National)
1969: Lou Lazzaro
1970: Harry Peek
1983: Charlie Rudolph
1984: Jimmy Horton
1985: Charlie Rudolph
1986: Jack Johnson
1987: Kenny Brightbill
1988: Jack Johnson
1989: Mike Romano
1990: Doug Hoffman
1991: Doug Hoffman
1992: Bob McCreadie
1993: Bob McCreadie
1994: Jimmy Horton
1995: Brett Hearn
1997: Brett Hearn
1998: Brett Hearn
1999: Steve Paine
2000: Kenny Tremont
2001: Doug Hoffman
2002: Brett Hearn
2019: Stewart Friesen
2021: Stewart Friesen
2022: Matt Sheppard
2023: Stewart Friesen
2024: Matt Sheppard

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