9/11/2025
Fonda Speedway
THE 2025 FONDA 200 WEEKEND – IT ALL BEGINS TONIGHT WITH THE “UNDERDOG 33”
By: Ron Szczerba
Fonda, NY – Earlier this month just after the closing of the Fonda Fair, the Fonda 200, since 1955, built by legends, entrenched in history was used as a title by Fonda Speedway management to describe a historic event which will take place at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway on Thursday through Saturday September 11-13. It all begins tonight with the “Underdog 33” event for drivers without a Modified win at any track in 2025
What more could a race car driver or race fan ask for than what the Fonda 200 offers. The historic event at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds offers a big payout for the winner along with the honor of adding their name to the win list of the prestigious event which includes former NASCAR greats Junior Johnson, David Pearson, and Richard Petty who have raced in the event at Fonda and went home as winners of the event.
For the fans, the event produces memories of big name drivers who come and compete in the event that they don’t normally see on a regular Saturday night.
A 100-mile, 200-lap grind that has withstood the test of time, the Fonda 200 at the historic Fonda Speedway is set for its 33rd running this weekend, Thursday through Saturday September 11-13. $22,000 awaits the winner of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco “Fonda 200” on Saturday night, the culmination of a jam-packed three-day weekend of speed at the “Track of Champions”.
According to the Fonda Speedway website, the total purse for the 2025 edition of the Fonda 200, including $1,000 bonuses to the sixth through tenth place finishers from Wegner, for a 33 car starting field, is $106,250!
Thursday, September 11 kicks off with the “Underdog 33” for drivers without a Modified win at any track in 2025 ($2,000 to win), the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman ($500 to win) and the Online Performance Parts/Stone Motorsports Street Stocks ($500 to win). The purse top three ($500, $300, & $200) are all being presented by Online Performance Parts/Stone Motorsports.
All teams are also welcome for open practice rounds in all divisions!
Friday (Sept. 12) features qualifiers for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds, qualifiers for the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman, the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks ($1,000 to win), the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders ($150 to win both Single and Dual Cam), and the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS).
Friday evening concludes with live entertainment in the Entertainment Building by the “Rockwood Band.”
The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS) will honor racings legends and hero’s, David Lape and Will Cagle. Five fun and exciting divisions will make up the MVVDMS racing program including the Antiques, Mystiques, Sportsman, Late Models and Modifieds who will bring the racings past back alive in three thrilling features.
The series will showcase their beautiful cars representing the many eras of racings past. A special commemorative “Tampa Terror” Will Cagle trophy from his victory in the 1966 Langhorne 100-lap 16th National Open was donated by Northeast Stock Car Old Timers (NESCOT) members Bob Hackel, Richard Carpinello, Willard Holman and Al Kugler.
Back in the day, Fonda Speedway was one of the tracks that held the Langhorne qualifier. Kenny Shoemaker was victorious at one of those qualifiers at Fonda back in 1964, and in conjunction with this, each winner will receive a personalized Kenny Shoemaker old-school coat compliments of Al Kugler and Richard Carpinello.
Drivers will receive many cash bonuses from New York’s Butcher Brothers LLC (tow money); Joe Rando’s Dave Lape cash bonuses; Melissa Shoemaker will be donating Kenny Shoemaker hats and cash; NESCOT cash bonuses; the Feature Finish Cash bonus from Richard Carpinello, Al Kugler and Bob Hackel; the Joe Wilson Ford bonus; and New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) cash bonuses.
The MVVDMS is honored to be a part of the historical Fonda Speedway 200 weekend for the first time! Special thanks to the MVVDMS Series 2025 Sponsorship Team, this amazing event could not be possible without them.
Saturday (Sept. 13) kicks off with STSS Modified and STSS Crate 602 Sportsman B-Mains before the Sportsman 40-lap, $2,000-to-win program and the Modified Fonda 200-lap, $22,000-to-win classic. A complete list of former winners of the Fonda 200 and all winners of the events in other divisions held in conjunction with the 200 can be found at the bottom of this press release.
A complete weekend schedule can be found at the following link: https://www.thefondaspeedway.com/fonda200schedule
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.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, please visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com
HISTORY OF THE WINNERS ON FONDA 200 WEEKEND IN ALL CURRENT DIVISIONS SINCE 2019
UNDERDOG 33 – NO RACE HELD IN 2019 & 2020 – Brett Haas (2021), Jack Lehner (2022), Danny Varin (2023), and Max McLaughlin (2024).
602 SPORTSMAN – NO RACE HELD IN 2020 – Tim Hartman Jr. (2019), Chad Edwards (2021), Cody Clark (2022), and Payton Talbot (2023 & 2024).
PRO STOCKS – NO RACE HELD IN 2020 – Nick Stone (2019), and Kenny Gates (2021, 2022, 2023, & 2024).
LIMITED SPORTSMAN – NO RACE HELD IN 2019-2021 – Kyle Dingman (2022), Michael Arnold (2023), and AJ Greco (2024).
FOUR CYLINDERS – NO RACE HELD IN 2020 – SOHC Ken Hollenback (2019, 2021, 2022, & 2023) and Bruce Liddle (2024).
FOUR CYLINDERS – NO RACE HELD IN 2020 – ONLY ONE RACE HELD FOR BOTH CLASSES IN 2019 – DOHC PJ Bleau (2021), Brandon Ely (2022), Jay Ingersoll (2023 & 2024).
HISTORY OF THE FONDA 200
FONDA 200 EVENT WINS
4 - Brett Hearn
3 - Doug Hoffman & Stewart Friesen.
2 - Bob McCreadie, Charlie Rudolph, Jack Johnson, Jimmy Horton, Richard Petty, & Matt Sheppard.
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
Submitted By: Brett Deyo