5/8/2025
Fonda Speedway
M.W. ROOSEVELT & SON INC./ROOSEVELT’S TOWING PRESENTS A PAIR OF 22-LAP $2,200 TO WIN FEATURES HONORING DAVE LAPE THIS SATURDAY, MAY 10 AT FONDA
By: Ron Szczerba
Fonda, NY – DAVE LAPE
Memorial events are sometimes held on a yearly basis at local speedways, but as sad of a time as it is to hold these events it is also a time to remember those people and how they may have touched or affected your lives. This week is no different as on Saturday, May 10 at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway, a Dave Lape Memorial event will be held at the track that he called home.
The jam-packed racing program at Fonda on Saturday will be presented by one of Lape’s long-time sponsors M.W. Roosevelt & Son/Roosevelt’s Towing highlighted by the Dave Lape Memorial events for the Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds.
All other regular divisions will also be in action on the first night of weekly points for the 2025 season including the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman, the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks, the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman, and the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders.
A Dave Lape Tribute event was held at Fonda back on 5/29/21 with Stewart Friesen winning both of the Twin 22-lap events. Lape passed away in September of 2022 with the first Dave Lape Memorial event held at Fonda on 5/27/23. That evening, a great friend of the Lape Family won that event as well, none other than Stewart Friesen. Last year on 6/8/2024, Brian Pessolano and Demetrios Drellos were the winners of the Dave Lape Memorial Twin 22’s.
The feature winner’s trophy last year in 2024 was a commemorative “Popcorn Machine Trophy.” Popcorn was Dave’s favorite pre-race treat.
“Brian was one of the hugest Dave Lape fans, he used to come up to the house when he first started and I am so proud of him,” Jackie Lape said as she congratulated Pessolano in victory lane.
“This is crazy to win on this night, Dave Lape was my idol growing up, he was my favorite race car driver,” Pessolano told Mimi Lazzaro in victory lane. “Crazy, ironic isn’t it being my first career Modified win.”
“I like popcorn,” Drellos said after his win in Dave Lape Memorial event number two. “That is a cool trophy, I’m glad that I get to go home with one. It is a real good night here for a Fonda legend, it feels cool to win one for someone like Dave.”
The Dave Lape Memorial event this Saturday, May 10 will definitely be a must see event.
The format for Saturday night’s (May 10) Dave Lape Memorial Amsterdam Truck Center Modified Twin 22s has been set.
M.W. Roosevelt & Son Inc./Roosevelt’s Towing present the pair of 22-lap features, paying $2,200 to win each.
The 2025 Dave Lape Memorial will utilize the following procedures:
· Drivers will draw for heat-race starting positions.
· Top heat-race finishers will redraw for the first 22-lap feature.
· Following the first 22-lap feature, the top five finishers will report to the scale. All other drivers will stop on the backstretch.
· The winner of Race No. 1 will draw an invert of four, six or eight. The remainder of the field will start “head’s up” by finish of the first event. Drivers will be lined up for the second feature via the one-way radio.
· Any driver pitting between the first and second feature will start at the rear of the field.
· Both 22-lap events will offer full track and American Racer Cup points.
· This format is designed to save teams money by only utilizing one set of feature tires, instead of bolting on a set for each 22-lap event.
Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman, Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks, Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders will also take part in the 74th point season opener at the Track of Champions.
Race fan Wayne Winsman – with 70 years of Fonda Speedway loyalty – will be honored during the night.
“Fonda is the most exciting racetrack there is,” Winsman said recently. “I get to the track on Saturday nights an hour and a half early, park my car, and read the Area Auto Racing News (AARN) until race time.”
Wayne’s current favorite drivers at Fonda are Stewart and Jessica Friesen. Congratulations Mr. Winsman on your 70 year commitment to the Fonda Speedway.
For the May 10 event, gates open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
Adult Grandstand Admission is $20. Seniors (ages 65 and over) pay $18. Kids 11 and under are FREE.
Reserved Infield Drive-In Parking costs $95 and includes four passes.
For advance tickets and infield reservations, visit the following: https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/1549/tickets/1454802
Pit Admission is $40 (Non-Members), $35 (Members) and $10 Kids (Kids 11 and under).
April 26 rainout wristbands will be accepted on May 10.
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.
Submitted By: Brett Deyo