• QUICK WINS AS SPORTSMAN TAKE CENTER STAGE AT FONDA MODIFIED FEATURE RAIN DELAYED TO JULY 31 AFTER 12 LAPS COMPLETED 7/24/10
• ROMANO WINS AS FONDA BEATS THE WEATHER FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW - 7/17/10
• RYAN ODASZ TAKES CONVINCING WIN AT FONDA - 7/10/10
• SMITH WINS HONDO CLASSIC AT FONDA - 7/10/10
• RECKNER WINS CAREER FIRST AT FONDA - 7/3/10
• THUNDER ON THE THRUWAY SERIES UPDATE - 7/2/10
• BUSY MONTH OF JULY COMING UP AT THE FONDA SPEEDWAY- 7/1/10
• DAVIS WINS FIRST OF THE SEASON AT FONDA 6/19/10
• SAFETY NIGHT AT FONDA THIS SATURDAY JUNE, 12 – 6/11/10
• RJ GETS HIS SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON AT FONDA WHILE PITTMAN WINS EXCITING 410 ALL STAR SPRINT FEATURE – 6/11/10
• FONDA SPEEDWAY RAINED OUT FOR SATURDAY JUNE 5 - ALL STAR SPRINTS TO MAKE APPEARANCE ON WEDNESDAY JUNE, 9 - 6/6/10
• TRIBUTE TO DAVE LAPE AT THE FONDA SPEEDWAY THIS SATURDAY - 6/2/10
• VARIN CELEBRATES THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH A WIN AT FONDA - 5/29/10
• MODIFIEDS ADDED TO ALL STAR SPRINT RACING PROGRAM ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 9 AT FONDA – 5/27/10
• POINT FUNDS GET INCREASED BY LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER - 5/25/10
• HANSON TAKES FONDA MODIFIED WIN TOWNS AND FIFIELD BOTH WIN THEIR THIRD IN A ROW - 5/22/10
• “4” IS MATT DELORENZO’S FAVORITE NUMBER AFTER WIN AT FONDA- 5/15/10
• LOU LAZZARO “THE LEGEND”
  • STATISTICS
  • LAZZARO’S BIO WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER MIMI
  • MIMI’S MEMORIES OF HER DAD
  • LAZZARO’S BEST FRIEND REMEMBERS THE INCOMPERABLE ONE
  • COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS AND FANS
• FIRST ANNUAL LOU LAZZARO MEMORIAL THIS SATURDAY AT FONDA - 5/12/10
• THUNDER SERIES EVENTS FOR THE SPORTSMAN AND PRO STOCK DIVISIONS HIGHLIGHT THIS SATURDAY’S RACING PROGRAM AT FONDA - 5/3/10
• VARIN FIRST TO DOUBLE UP IN 2010 AT FONDA - 5/1/10
• RONNIE JOHNSON USES MOMENTUM TO TAKE FONDA WIN - 4/24/10
• $20,500 POINT FUND ANNOUNCED FOR 2010 THUNDER ON THE THRUWAY MODIFIED SERIES – 4/17/10
• FONDA SPEEDWAY SUFFERS FIRST RAIN OUT OF 2010 - 4/17/10
• VARIN WINS ICE JAM AT FONDA - 4/10/10
• TRADITIONAL ICE JAM EVENT TO OPEN 2010 RACING SEASON AT FONDA
• FONDA SPEEDWAY RELEASES ROBUST 2010 SCHEDULE
• FONDA SPEEDWAY STARTS 2010 RACING SEASON WITH ANNUAL CAR SHOW

QUICK WINS AS SPORTSMAN TAKE CENTER STAGE AT FONDA MODIFIED FEATURE RAIN DELAYED TO JULY 31 AFTER 12 LAPS COMPLETED 7/24/10

ROMANO WINS AS FONDA BEATS THE WEATHER FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW - 7/17/10

RYAN ODASZ TAKES CONVINCING WIN AT FONDA - 7/10/10

SMITH WINS HONDO CLASSIC AT FONDA - 7/10/10

RECKNER WINS CAREER FIRST AT FONDA - 7/3/10

THUNDER ON THE THRUWAY SERIES UPDATE - 7/2/10

BUSY MONTH OF JULY COMING UP AT THE FONDA SPEEDWAY- 7/1/10

DAVIS WINS FIRST OF THE SEASON AT FONDA 6/19/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – In the first three Modified feature events of the 2010 racing season at the Fonda Speedway, Ballston Spa, NY resident Jim Davis was the runner-up finisher before bad luck started to strike the driver of the MP Builders sponsored, Morrison powered #41 Bicknell car.

On Saturday evening all the bad luck finally turned good as Davis took his first win of the season, the seventh of his career at the Track of Champions, and his first since July 19, 2008.

            “I can’t even believe that we are here in victory lane with all of the bad luck we have had recently,” Davis said in victory lane. “I have to thank my sister and my brother in law for this great car, my crew, and my grandfather Dave Vrooman who has been a supporter of mine right from the start. My crew made a lot of changes to this ill handling car after the heat race so I hope they remember what they did.”

Other feature winners on K-Mart Night at the Fonda Speedway were David Towns (Sportsman), John McAuliffe (602 Limited Sportsman), Roy Fifield (Pro Stock), Kevin Buff (UMP Modified), and Rob VanAernam (Street Stock).

During the Fonda Speedway car show this past March at the Rotterdam Square Mall the Danny Ody Racing Team held a contest called “Create a Design” where children could do a drawing of a paint scheme that they wanted Ody to use on his race car for the 2010 season. On victory lane just after warm-ups were concluded on Saturday the winner of the contest Sheyenne Cook came across the track, received a trophy, and posed for pictures with the race car painted to her design.

            It was also NYSSCA Safety Night with $75 awarded to the highest finishing NYSSCA member in each of the feature events in all divisions and $25 to the second highest finishing member. The winning drivers also received a NYSSCA hat and yearbook.

The winners of the prizes were as follows: (first and second respectively) Jim Davis and Dave Lape (Modified), David Towns and Mark Mortensen (Sportsman), John McAuliffe and Adam McAuliffe (602 Limited Sportsman), Roy Fifield and Pete Broderson (Pro Stock), Kevin Buff and Matt Shadic (UMP Modified), Rob VanAernam and Cassidy Wilson (Street Stock). The wildcard winner of $50 was Danny Ody.

            Dave Lape started the 30-lap Modified feature on the pole and jumped to the early lead at the drop of the green flag with Dave Constantino in tow in the John Kollar owned #10%. Davis started the event in the fourth position and moved past Mark Kislowski for the third position by lap four with A.J. Romano also getting by Kislowski for the fourth spot after starting right behind Davis in the sixth position.

            Davis got by Constantino for the second position on lap seven and two laps later was right on the rear bumper of Lape who was now in lap traffic. On lap 11 on the inside of turn three Davis was the new race leader and immediately stretched out his advantage over Lape to a straightaway by lap 14.

            The best race on the track at the mid point in the event was between Constantino and Romano who raced side by side for many laps before Romano was able to get by for the third position on lap 21. Ryan Odasz was also on the move after starting ninth, getting by Constantino for the fourth position on lap 24.

            Just as it looked as the event was going to go clean and green for the entire 30-lap distance the caution was out on lap 27 for a four car wreck in turn one. The accident was triggered when Odasz was trying to get past the lap car of Paul Cirincione who caused Odasz to check up going into turn one and the field to bunch up behind them.

Odasz was tapped from behind by another car causing him to spin and head backwards towards the turn one wall, collecting Dave Camara and Ken McGuire in the process. Constantino just barely got through the wreck but retired from the event one lap later while Camara was able to continue. Odasz and McGuire were done for the night.

On the restart Davis continued to lead while defending track champion Bobby Varin moved from the seventh position to fourth before the yellow came out again on lap 28 for Robert Perry who slowed in turn one setting up a two lap shootout for the win.

Davis was able to pull away from Lape on the restart and went on to the win followed by Lape, Romano, Varin, and Alton Palmer.

“Earlier this season we finished second to some very well funded teams so we knew that if we kept working hard and kept digging that it was only a matter of time before we got here to victory lane,” Davis said. “My crew has been working their tails off and really it feels like October to us already. To race to lap 27 before any cautions come out you never know who is behind you so that makes it tough but getting this win is unbelievable.”

Chad Edwards and Ricky Quick started nose to tail on the inside row for the 20-lap Sportsman feature with Edwards leading lap one. Coming out of turn four on lap two Quick was the new race leader while some of the hot shoes were making their way to the front of the field.

Mark Mortensen started the event in the sixth position and by lap four had just gotten by both Vinnie Sanganetti and Edwards in a sweeping move around the outside of both cars. Two laps later Mortensen was the new second place car after getting by Scot Straight with Quick now out to a comfortable lead.

Current point’s leader and defending track champion started the event in the eighth position and by lap seven had already gotten by Straight for the third spot. Mortensen and Towns were side by side for the second position on lap 12 with the position going to Towns after a lap car blocked the outside path that Mortensen was using on the track.

Towns was the new race leader on lap 13 and once he took the top spot he pulled away from the field leaving Quick and Mortensen to battle for the second position. On lap 14 Mortensen was the new second place car but by that point Towns was long gone as he held a straightaway advantage by lap 16.

Towns took the win, his fifth of the season, fifth consecutive, and the 39^th of his career in the Sportsman division at Fonda tying him with Tim Clemons for second spot on the All Time Sportsman win list at the Track of Champions. Mortensen, Quick, Straight, and Sanganetti completed the top five.

“We bought this car from Vinny Salerno of the 4* team and I really don’t know why he sold it,” Towns said with a laugh on victory lane. “This is a new car for us and that along with Groski power and Integra shocks is what it’s all about. I took my time coming up through the field because I hit the inside Jersey barrier once and didn’t want to do it again.”

            Possibly the best race of the evening came in the 602 Limited Sportsman feature starting with Rick Lamont taking the early lead. After winning his heat race with a very strong car, defending track champion Jeremiah Munson brought out a caution on lap one of the feature when he slowed on the backstretch. Munson was done for the evening at that point.

            On the restart John McAuliffe went from fourth to second while John Scarborough got up to the sixth position after starting 11^th. At the line to complete lap three McAuliffe was the new race leader with Brian Gleason the new second place car after starting seventh. Two consecutive caution flags slowed the event on lap five and on the last restart Scarborough moved into the third position making it a three way battle for the lead.

            McAuliffe and Gleason were side by side for the lead on lap seven just before the final yellow of the event came out for Ray Zemken who was in the inside frontstretch wall. The remaining laps saw a three way battle for the lead as McAuliffe, Gleason, and Scarborough swapped positions many times per lap. On lap 17 of the 20-lap feature the trio was three wide for the lead which McAuliffe was able to hang on to as he went on for his second win of the season over Gleason, Scarborough, Adam McAuliffe, and Tony Farone.

            “That was a tough race, the toughest one I have had in awhile,” McAuliffe said. “The 14 (Gleason) ran a heck of a race, he must be getting some help from Matty (DeLorenzo). I had to run up top to keep the motor wound up and it was great to get the win. We aren’t racing for points this year so we are going to take some time off but hopefully I can get a couple more wins this year.”

            A pair of seven’s played a big role in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature with Chucky Dumblewski the early race leader at the drop of the green flag. Rob Yetman was the second car number seven to hold the lead on lap two before Dumblewski took it back on lap three as these two raced side by side most of the time.

            With Yetman back in the lead on lap five, Rocky Warner made his way past Dumblewski for the second position on lap six with Roy Fifield third after starting eighth. Warner’s car showed signs of smoke right from the start of the event but he was still fast enough to keep up with the leader. After a two lap side by side battle for position Fifield was the new second place car on lap nine after getting by Warner for the spot.

            On the inside of turn four on lap 10, Fifield was the new race leader with Warner also getting by Yetman for the second spot. As Fifield stretched his lead out to a straightaway a new challenger came into play for the second position as Pete Broderson made his way to the front after starting fifth.

            With four laps to go Broderson took over the second position from Warner but the remaining laps featured a four car battle for the second spot between Broderson, Warner, Kenny Gates, and Yetman who raced side by side and nose to tail to the checkered flag. Fifield was the race winner for the fourth time in 2010 and the 18^th time in his career over Broderson, Gates, Yetman, and Warner.

            “It has definitely taken me awhile to figure out the Fonda Speedway,” Fifield said in victory lane. “The last couple of years we were breaking down which cost us points but now we are working hard to keep up our maintenance program. The top of the speedway was fast tonight and if someone was going to get around me they were going to have to do it on the inside.”

            The UMP Modified feature started with Kevin Buff leading from his outside front row starting position followed by George Catanzano who started in the second row in the fourth position. When Rob Sansone spun in turn four on lap three it erased the straightaway lead that Buff had built up and put Catanzano on his rear bumper.

            On the restart coming out of turn four Buff slid up in front of Catanzano to maintain the lead but going into turn one Catanzano got into the turn too hard on the inside and slid up the track collecting the cars of defending track champion Jeremy Cramer and Danny Ody. Cramer and Ody were done for the evening while Catanzano continued on at the rear of the field.

            Danny Ballard was the new race leader on a lap eight restart after another caution flag slowed the field, a position he held until lap 10 when something let go in the rear suspension on his car handing the lead back to Buff. Catanzano was riding around with the left side of his car waving in the breeze but was still fast enough to take over the second position from Matt Shadic with five laps to go in the event.

            Buff held his line and fought off heavy pressure from Catanzano on his way to the win, his second of the season and the 17^th of his career at Fonda over Catanzano, Shadic, Aaron Jacobs, and Bob Banks Jr.

            “We have been making changes to this car every week trying to keep up with George (Catanzano) and Matt (Shadic) who have both been real quick this year,” Buff said. “My crew guys Dave and Patrick talked me into making a couple of changes tonight that I really didn’t want to make and it turned out very well.”

            Neil Cosselman led the first two laps of the Street Stock feature before Dennis Joslin took over the lead on the inside of turn four after starting ninth. Rob VanAernam started the event in the 10^th position and by lap five he was already up to the second spot and challenging Joslin for the lead.

            VanAernam was the new race leader on lap 10 and two laps later he and Joslin were swapping the lead many times as the laps clicked off with Joslin able to wrestle it away from VanAernam at that point. Joslin went on for what appeared to be his first career win at Fonda but the victory was taken away after an illegal clutch was found in the car handing the win to second place finisher VanAernam.

            Cassidy Wilson, Cosselman, Randy Moore, and Dave Horning Sr. completed the top five.

            “Running second tonight proved to be pretty important,” VanAernam said. “All during the feature I was thinking to myself how do I get this car to go faster as the track was so slick tonight.”

SAFETY NIGHT AT FONDA THIS SATURDAY JUNE, 12 – 6/11/10

By Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – This Saturday June, 12 at the Track of Champions the Montgomery and Fulton County Traffic Safety Boards will present “Safety Day” from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. featuring demonstrations and exhibits by area law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services, local fire departments, and other community organizations. There will be a ride in the pace car given away along with many other free raffles and giveaways.

            It will also be NYSSCA Night at Fonda with the New York State Stock Car Association giving out their annual “Safety Awards” including $75 to the first NYSSCA member crossing the finish line in each of the feature events along with a NYSSCA hat and yearbook.      The second place finishing NYSSCA member across the finish line in each of the feature events will receive $25 for their efforts and there will also be a $50 wild card prize handed out.

            To receive any of the prizes from NYSSCA you must be a NYSSCA member in good standing for the 2010 racing season. NYSSCA representatives will be on hand early on Saturday to sign up anyone who hasn’t already done so in order for you to be eligible for the prizes

RJ GETS HIS SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON AT FONDA WHILE PITTMAN WINS EXCITING 410 ALL STAR SPRINT FEATURE – 6/11/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – A special mid week two division racing program took place at the Fonda Speedway on Thursday evening with Ronnie Johnson winning his second Modified feature of the season while Daryn Pittman was the winner in the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint car main event in what turned out to be an unbelievable race in the closing laps. The racing program was originally scheduled for Wednesday evening but was rained out and held on Thursday.

            The start of the 30-lap, $3,000 to win Modified main event saw invader Larry Wight take the lead at the drop of Denny Tilison’s green flag with Josh Hohenforst second. Coming into turn four on the first circuit, Hohenforst got underneath Wight for the lead and the next thing you knew the yellow flag was out for Wight who spun in the turn. Wight would continue on at the rear of the field while Hohenforst shared the front row with Danny Varin on the original restart.

            Hohenforst led at the start this time with Ronnie Johnson making a great move down the backstretch to get by three cars on the inside going into turn three to take over the second position after starting fifth. The second caution of the event came out on lap three for A.J. Romano who came to a stop in turn two. Romano was able to continue at the rear of the field. Defending track champion Bobby Varin was on the move early in the Andy Romano/Marv Pedrick owned #97 as well, taking the fourth position from his son Danny on lap five.

            The battle for the lead intensified two laps later with Hohenforst running the outside groove on the speedway and Johnson pressuring him while running right down the middle of the track. On the inside of turn three Johnson made his move underneath Hohenforst and coming out of turn four to complete lap nine was the new race leader. Pat Ward was also on hand for the event and after starting fourth on the grid took over the second position from Hohenforst on lap 10.

            Johnson was in lap traffic by lap 13 of the event with Bobby Varin making his way past Hohenforst for the third position one lap later. That would be as high as Bobby Varin would climb in the field however as he suffered a flat tire and pitted two laps later. Just before the final caution of the event came out on lap 22, Jim Davis moved past Hohenforst for the third position and under the yellow Hohenforst suffered a flat right rear tire costing him a good finish in the event.

            On the restart Johnson pulled away and went on to his 14^th career win at Fonda in the Palmer’s Service Center #2 Teo car followed by Ward, Davis, Michael Storms, Matt DeLorenzo who started all the way back in the 13^th position, Danny Varin, Romano who made his way up to seventh after bringing out the caution on lap three, Jeff Trombley, Dave Camara, and Marc Johnson.

            “Under the caution my father was in turn four signaling me to pick up the pace so I stepped on it on the restart and ran as hard as I could the last eight laps,” Johnson said in victory lane. “This win feels real good too because it pays more than a regular Saturday night.”

            Local favorite Jessica Zemken started the 30-lap All Star 410 Sprint feature on the pole position and at the drop of the green flag was the race leader with Tyler Walker second at the completion of lap one after starting third. By lap four Zemken was a straightway ahead of Walker and already in lap traffic which created havoc for Zemken allowing Walker to close in.

            On lap six Walker made a great move in between turns one and two, going around the outside of both a lap car and Zemken to take the lead. The only caution of the event was out on lap nine for Tim Shaffer who spun on the backstretch while racing for the third position. Shaffer was able to continue on at the rear of the field.

            Daryn Pitman started the event in the fifth position and moved past Zemken for the third spot on the restart, quickly catching the leading car of Walker by lap 12. Lap traffic saved the day for Walker this time as he was able to get through lap traffic quicker than Pittman and stretch out his advantage. By lap 22 Pittman was right back on Walker’s rear bumper and this set up what turned out to be an unbelievable finish between these two great drivers.

            “Lap traffic definitely came into play and when I was in second I had an advantage because Tyler was trying some stuff and I got to see what he was doing while following him,” Pittman said.

At the line to complete lap 23 Walker and Pittman were side by side for the lead and going into turn two Pittman was the new race leader but only for a brief time as Walker made a cross over move to get the lead back going down the backstretch. In turn one with only one lap remaining in the event, Walker made a classic slide job move in between a lap car and Pittman to take the lead but lost it coming out of turn two as his momentum carried him up the track and Pittman was able to take the lead back.

            On the final lap Pittman and Walker were trying anything they could to get through the lap traffic with Pittman making it to the checkered flag first for the $5,000 win, the second 410 sprint car win of his career at Fonda after winning back on July 29, 2003. Walker, Zemken, Aaron Ott, and Fred Rahmer completed the top five.

“I looked at the lap counter and saw lap 22 and that was the last time that I saw what lap we were on as I didn’t even know the race was over but the fans were the real winners tonight as that was a heck of a race,” Pittman said as the crowd gave him a tremendous hand in victory lane. “When I am behind that #17 car it gives me extra incentive to beat it (Pittman said in victory lane after he and Walker recently switched rides.”

“I am not really disappointed with second,” Walker said. “I got beat fair and square but this team is getting it turned around and if we keep working hard the wins will come. We made some wrong guesses with the setup tonight and sometimes you come out a winner and sometimes you come out a loser but we will just keep working hard to get better.”

“I got beat by two awesome race car drivers tonight,” Zemken said. “Following them is a great way for me to learn and that is the only way that I am going to get better. That is my goal to keep running with them and just keep learning.”

            This Saturday June, 12 at the Track of Champions the Montgomery and Fulton County Traffic Safety Boards will present “Safety Day” from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. featuring demonstrations and exhibits by area law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services, local fire departments, and other community organizations. There will be a ride in the pace car given away along with many other free raffles and giveaways.

            It will also be NYSSCA Night at Fonda with the New York State Stock Car Association giving out their annual “Safety Awards” including $75 to the first NYSSCA member crossing the finish line in each of the feature events along with a NYSSCA hat and yearbook. The second place finishing NYSSCA member across the finish line in each of the feature events will receive $25 for their efforts and there will also be a $50 wild card prize handed out.

FONDA SPEEDWAY RAINED OUT FOR SATURDAY JUNE 5 - ALL STAR SPRINTS TO MAKE APPEARANCE ON WEDNESDAY JUNE, 9 - 6/6/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – A heavy thunderstorm came through the Fonda, NY area early Saturday afternoon leaving standing water in turn two of the speedway. With watches and warnings out for severe thunderstorms and possible tornado’s for the remainder of the afternoon and early evening Fonda Speedway management decided to cancel the Dave Lape tribute racing program. It was the third rain out of the season and the Dave Lape tribute program will be re-scheduled for sometime in July with a date to be announced shortly.

            The attention now turns to Wednesday June, 9 when the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint cars will be at the Track of Champions along with a 30-lap $3,000 to win Modified feature event. Pit gates will open on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. with front gates opening at 5:00 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m. In the event of rain on Wednesday the event will be held on Thursday June, 10 at the same times listed above.

            Drivers scheduled to be at Fonda for the 410 Sprint show on Wednesday include current points leader (as of 6/4/2010) Tim Shaffer, Lance Dewease, Greg Wilson, and Tyler Walker who owns the official 410 Sprint car track record with a lap of 15.281 sec. Also on hand will be local favorite Jessica Zemken who is on a hot streak as of late with two feature wins on the Empire Super Sprints (ESS) 360 Sprint car circuit at Utica Rome on May 30 and Autodrome Granby on June 4.

TRIBUTE TO DAVE LAPE AT THE FONDA SPEEDWAY THIS SATURDAY - 6/2/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – This Saturday June, 5 at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway a tribute to one of the track’s racing legends Dave Lape will take place. The Modifieds will compete in Twin 22-lap feature events paying $2500 to win each event with $220 to take the green flag in each event as well, the significance of the 22 being Lape’s trademark car number. All other divisions will also be in action with the green flag waving to begin the special night of racing at 6:00 p.m.

            The Tribute to Dave Lape twin 22-lap feature events will also be a part of the Thunder on the Thruway Modified Series between Fonda and Utica Rome with other events in the series scheduled at Fonda on Tuesday July, 27 (50-lap $5,000 to win with a rain date of July 28); Tuesday August, 3 (60-lap $6,000 to win with a rain date of August 4); and Sunday September, 26 (100-lap $9,500 to win).

One of the Thunder on the Thruway Modified Series events was already held at Utica Rome back on April 18 with Brett Hearn the winner of that event. The remaining events at Utica Rome will be held on Thursday June, 24 (50-lap $5,000 to win); Thursday July, 29 (50-lap $5,000 to win); and Sunday August, 22 (50-lap $5,000 to win).

            Other special events that will be happening on Dave Lape Tribute Night include a couple of Lape’s former cars being on hand including the Fred Burrows owned #22 Champ Car from when the Burrows-Lape team won Fonda Speedway Modified Championships back to back in 1991 & 1992. Doug Mathewson will also be there with his red, white, and blue #22 coupe as it makes its return to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds track.

            Several of Lape’s former car owners, sponsors, family, and friends will all take part in a meet & greet autograph session in the grandstand area so that all of Lape’s fans can meet and talk racing with them. After the meet & greet Lape will drive his old coupe to the pit area for Doug Mathewson to drive to pace the field for the twin 22-lap feature events. Mimi Lazzaro will be singing the National Anthem and Lape’s good friend Lew Boyd will be there to present the “Coastal – 181 Cup” to the overall winner of the twin 22-lap events.

            The New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) will also reward the first non NYSSCA member crossing the finish line in each feature with a complimentary membership.

            Jim King will be there as well to get those who have supported Lape over the years to share some of the great old stories and memories of the 47 year career that Lape has had as a race car driver, car builder, race promoter, & friend.

            Some of the people that will be on hand this Saturday for the special event include

Bill Wimble, Dick Berggren, Andy Fusco, and Dave Delaney along with former car owners Fred & Louise Burrows, Bobby & Karol Grimm, Don Knapfel owner of the famed #44B, Andy Romano, and long time sponsors Warren and J.R. Roosevelt & Family, Pat Riley, and Mike Buanno.

            According to the latest statistics from Lape’s racing career he started racing go-kart’s in 1959 which lasted up until 1964 when he started racing stock cars in his self owned #22. His first feature win at Fonda came on May 17, 1969 with a total of 19 wins coming in his self owned race car.

            In 1977 Lape piloted the Don Knapfel owned #44B to a total of 23 feature wins at various tracks while one year later he drove the Bob Grimm owned #22 to a total of 26 wins in four racing seasons. R.C. Putman was Lape’s next car owner and together they won a total of 58 features at various tracks in a five year time span.

            Lape’s longest tenure with a car owner came between the years of 1987 and 2002 (16 years total) when Fred Burrows owned the #22 with a total of 55 wins coming during their partnership. Andy Romano was next as a car owner for Lape between 2003 and 2005 with 10 wins added to the Fonda Speedway record books in Romano’s car.

            Alton & Carole Palmer owned a car for Lape for three seasons (2006-2008) and the last two years he has piloted a car owned by himself & Pat Riley. All total Lape has 191 (small & big block combined) feature wins with 119 of them being DIRT sanctioned victories.

            Lape has won at a total of 12 different speedways including Fonda (99 wins), Albany Saratoga (25 wins), Canandaigua (3 wins), Cayuga County (Weedsport 37 wins), Rolling Wheels (9 wins), Utica Rome (8 wins), Orange County (2 wins), Ransomville (4 wins), Drummondville; Five Mile Point; New York State Fairgrounds; and Devils Bowl (1 win at each track).

            Other accomplishments include winning during 20 consecutive racing seasons between 1977 & 1996, winning in each of the past five decades (60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, & 00’s), and 11 Super DIRT Series feature wins.

            Track point titles which Lape has won include 1977 (Cayuga County, Mr. DIRT Championship), 1981 (Utica Rome), 1982 (Cayuga County, Albany Saratoga, Super DIRT Series), 1983 (Cayuga County, Fonda), 1984 (Eastern States 200), 1985 (Utica Rome, Sunoco Championship Trail, Rolling Wheels 200), 1986 (Fonda), 1987 (Fonda), 1989 (Rolling Wheels 200), 1991 (Fonda), 1992 (Fonda), 2003 (Fonda), and 2004 (Fonda).

            2010 is Lape’s 47^th consecutive season competing at the Fonda Speedway with the following all time statistics: 99 wins, 97 second place finishes, 83 third place finishes, 57 fourth place finishes, and 47 fifth place finishes.

            So come out and celebrate the racing career of Fonda Speedway legend Dave Lape this Saturday at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway with racing beginning at 6:00 p.m.

VARIN CELEBRATES THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH A WIN AT FONDA - 5/29/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – On Saturday evening at the Fonda Speedway defending Modified Track Champion Bobby Varin started the Memorial Day weekend with a win at the Track of Champions. For Varin it was his third win of 2010 and the 44^th of his career at Fonda in the Dover Brake sponsored, JPM powered Bicknell car.

            “We have a good little deal going here with this car and team,” Varin said in victory lane. “We are constantly making changes to this car to try and improve it and make it better than it already is.”

            In pre race ceremonies before the green flag flew for the Modified feature the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of silence was observed in celebration of the Memorial Day holiday before the Canadian and National Anthem’s were sung by Mimi Lazzaro in front of a large holiday weekend crowd.

            Other winners on Lucia Specialized Hauling Night at Fonda were David Towns (Sportsman), Adam McAuliffe (first career win in the 602 Limited Sportsman division), Rocky Warner (Pro Stock), Matt Shadic (first career win in the UMP Modified division), Cassidy Wilson (Street Stock), and Justin Barger (the Earl Halaquist Memorial event for the Empire Super Sprints).   

            Paul Cirincione was the leader of the 30-lap Modified event at the drop of the green flag but it was Ryan Odasz who caught the attention of the crowd when he moved to the third position on the backstretch after starting fifth. Todd Morey made a move to the lead on lap two with an early caution slowing the field at that point.

            On the restart Odasz was the new second place car with Jeff Trombley third and A.J. Romano fourth. It didn’t take long for Odasz to get the lead as he did so on lap four on the outside of turn two just before another caution slowed the field. This caution was for Jim Davis who slowed on the backstretch and after making a trip to the pit area he restarted at the rear of the field.

            With four caution flags waving in the first five laps of the event it allowed many of the top runners to make their way towards the front in a short period of time. Varin was one of those drivers as he was already in the seventh position on lap six after starting 14^th. On lap seven Varin took the fifth position away from Ronnie Johnson using the inside groove and then he made the switch to the outside to continue his march to the front.

            One by one over the next three laps of the event Varin made his way to the second position by lap 11 with Odasz now out to a straightaway lead. Lap traffic slowed the leader on lap 14 allowing Varin to close in and two laps later he was the new race leader after getting by Odasz on the inside of turn three.

            Once he got the lead Varin stretched out his advantage to a comfortable margin with the best race on the track now for the second position between Odasz and Trombley. With three laps to go in the race Trombley took the second position away from Odasz but Varin was long gone as he went on to another win.

            Trombley, Odasz, Alton Palmer, and Dave Camara completed the top five.

            “All of the credit goes to my crew as there are a lot of very smart people working on this car,” Varin said. “They do all the work to the car and I just get the pleasure of driving it.”

            Justin Auspelmyer led at the start of the 20-lap Sportsman feature while defending track champion David Towns made a three wide move down the middle of Drew Fallis and Mark Mortensen in turn three to take over the second position on lap one after starting eighth.

            Mortensen took over the third position from Fallis on lap two just before the yellow flag came out for Chad Edwards who crashed hard into the concrete wall in turn one. Edwards was not injured in the wreck.

            On the restart Towns was the new race leader with Mortensen in the second spot after both got by Auspelmyer for position. While Towns continued to stretch out his lead and Mortensen was comfortably in the second spot the best race on the track was for the third position between Rob Langevin and Luke Munroe.

            Towns won the event in the Mell Electric sponsored, Groski powered Teo Pro car by a half track for his fourth win of the season, fourth in a row, and the 38^th of his career over Mortensen, Langevin, Munroe, and Fallis.

            “This Teo car is really going right now,” Towns said in victory lane. “They were telling me on the radio that I had a big lead but I didn’t want to let up the way the track was because if I did I would have ended up in the wall just like Chad (Edwards) did.”

            Brittany Liggett led the first two laps of the 602 Limited Sportsman feature event with an early yellow out on lap two for John McAuliffe and John Scarborough who were involved in a wreck in turn four. Both were able to continue on at the rear of the field. On the second try to restart the event Rick Lamont took over the race lead with Adam McAuliffe second on lap five after starting 12^th.

            Defending track champion Jeremiah Munson was also on the move at this point after starting 13^th sitting in the fifth position by lap seven. Also on lap seven it was McAuliffe who took the lead on the outside of turn four just before the final caution of the event came out on lap 10.

            While running second under the caution flag period Munson came to a stop in turn two and was done for the night with Scarborough all the way up to the fifth position at the halfway point in the event. On lap 14 Scarborough got by both Cody Bleau and Lamont for the second spot and three laps later McAuliffe and Scarborough were racing side by side for the race lead.

            When Scarborough was slowed by a lap car with only two laps to go it allowed McAuliffe to get away slightly and he held on for the first win of his career in the McAuliffe Trucking #234 over Scarborough, Bleau, Ray Zemken, and Lamont.

            “I finally got the monkey off my back,” the first time winner said in victory lane. “I knew that they would be back there and during the final few laps it was either wreck it or win it.”

            The Pro Stock feature began with Pete Broderson the early leader from his outside front row starting spot with Chucky Dumblewski second after starting fourth. Rocky Warner was on the move early after starting sixth and by lap six he was the new second place car after getting by Dumblewski.

            Broderson held a half straightway lead at that point but Warner quickly closed the gap and by lap seven was trying to find a way to get by Broderson for the lead. On lap eight Warner was the new race leader and by lap 12 he stretched out his advantage to a half straightaway.

            A caution on lap 13 took away the big lead that Warner had built up but he held on for the win after the green flag flew again for his first win of the season and the second of his career in the division at Fonda. Broderson, Dumblewski, Rob Yetman, and Roy Fifield completed the top five.

            “I need to dedicate this win to my girlfriend who lost her uncle today,” an emotional Warner said in victory lane. “I have been psyching myself out every week and my son hasn’t helped matters any because he has been psyching me out as well telling me that the only way that I was going to win is if Roy (Fifield) didn’t show up.”

            The UMP Modified feature was led by Matt Shadic at the drop of the green flag from the outside pole position with George Catanzano second after starting fourth. From that point on it was a two car race for the win with only one caution flag slowing the 15-lap event with one lap to go.

            On the restart Catanzano tried every trick in the book to get by Shadic but it was Shadic who took the first win of his career in the division over Catanzano, Kevin Buff, Dan Hartgraves, and Aaron Jacobs. Just after the checkered flag flew Catanzano exploded a motor going into turn one and had to be towed into the pit area.

            “I was just trying to stay low on the track because there was more grip down there,” Shadic said. “Steve had this car set up so that it was on rails on the bottom of the track. I saw George (Catanzano) outside of me a couple of times and I was just hoping to hold him off.”                       

            Neil Cosselman led at the drop of the green flag in the Street Stock feature with Randy Moore second followed by Dave Horning Sr., and Cassidy Wilson. On lap four both Horning and Wilson got by Moore for position and one lap later Horning was the new race leader.

            Horning and Cosselman swapped the lead twice in a two lap span but on lap eight it was Wilson who took over the lead after going three wide by Cosselman and Horning on the backstretch. Wilson went on to his fourth win of the season, his third in a row, and the 17^th of his career at Fonda over Horning, Rob VanAernam, Cosselman, and Dennis Joslin.

            “The track was real tricky tonight, real slippery,” Wilson said. “I was just running the bottom but you really had to try and figure where you were going to make your passes on the track.”

            By the luck of the draw Justin Barger started on the outside pole for the Earl Halaquist Memorial ESS Sprint feature with Bobby Varin who was in the Demitraszek Racing #61 Sprint car moving into the third position at the start after starting fifth. On lap six Jessica Zemken slowed on the backstretch with a flat tire and on the restart the yellow was out again for a spinning car in turn two.

            Chuck Hebing was the new third place car on the restart with Steve Poirier fourth after starting eighth. Poirier was the new second place car on lap 13 after getting by Jason Barney with the final yellow coming out with seven laps to go in the 25-lap event. Barger had two lap cars in between himself and Poirier on the restart but Barger was just too strong and pulled away to an easy win over Poirier, Hebing, Rick Wilson, and Varin completed the top 10.

            “This feels real good,” Barger said after the victory. “I raced this car in the Patriot event at Canandaigua and that track is very similar to this one. The cautions kept my tires cool and I just kept up my momentum on the top throughout the event.”

            Next Saturday at Fonda a tribute to legend Dave Lape is on the racing card with Twin 22 lap Modified features paying $2500 to win each and $220 to take the green. All other divisions are also on the racing card which begins at 6:00 p.m.

            Then on Wednesday June, 9 the O’Reilly All Star Sprints will be on hand along with a 30-lap $3000 to win Modified feature with a starting time of 7:00 p.m.

.

MODIFIEDS ADDED TO ALL STAR SPRINT RACING PROGRAM ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 9 AT FONDA – 5/27/10

FONDA, NY – On Wednesday evening June 9 at the Fonda Speedway a blockbuster two division racing card is on the schedule including The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint cars and the recently announced 30-lap, $3,000 to win Modified feature with a starting time of 7:00 p.m.

According to their website The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint car organization is one of the premier sprint car sanctioning bodies in the United States of America and is owned by Illinois businessman Guy Webb. Now in their 29th year of operation, the All Stars take pride in their reputation of providing highly competitive, fair, exciting racing for outlaw sprint cars.

The “outlaw racer” designation goes back to the 1930's when any driver not belonging to a particular racing club was considered an “outlaw.” About 400 drivers participate in All Star races yearly in front of an average of 5,000 spectators per event.

The typical All Star race program consists of time trials, qualifying heat races, a Dash and C, B and A Main events, determined by the number of cars signed in for an event.

            Prize money adds up to $1.5 million in a season. Over $200,000 cash is paid out by point fund sponsors to those drivers and owners who finish highest in the point standings, with an additional $100,000 worth of contingency prizes provided by many supporting companies.

            There have been four 410 Sprint events held at the Fonda Speedway in the past with the winners of those events being Shane Stewart (2002), Daryn Pittman (2003), Craig Keel (2005), and Danny Lasoski (2006). Tyler Walker holds the 410 Sprint track record with a lap of 15.281 seconds.

POINT FUNDS GET INCREASED BY LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER - 5/25/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – Local business owner Mike Sowle has stepped up and added $3000 to the total point fund for the Thunder on the Thruway Modified Series which is already in progress between the Fonda and Utica Rome Speedway's. Sowle Trailer Service (STS) stickers will now be seen on our local Modified race cars from this point on.

            STS provides the finest in truck and trailer repair in the Central New York area as they can do both major and minor repairs including collision work, sandblasting, painting, and service work. To get in touch with STS you can call them at (518) 725-3148.

            In addition Sowle is also stepping up to help the 602 Limited Sportsman division at Fonda by contributing $1500 to their point fund total in 2010.

            The management team of the Fonda Speedway along with promoters Ric & Laura Lucia would like to thank Mike Sowle, his family, and staff at STS for their contribution to both point funds in 2010.

            So far in the 2010 season only one Thunder on the Thruway Series has been run at the Utica Rome Speedway where Brett Hearn was the winner of the event. The first series race at the Fonda Speedway will take place on Saturday June, 5 with Twin 22-lap events paying $2500 to win each in a Tribute to Fonda Speedway legend Dave Lape.

            Other Thunder on the Thruway Series Modified events will be held at Fonda on Tuesday July, 27 (50-lap $5,000 to win with a rain date of July 28); Tuesday August, 3 (60-lap $6,000 to win with a rain date of August 4); and Sunday September, 26 (100-lap $9,500 to win) with events at Utica Rome to be held on Thursday June, 24 (50-lap $5,000 to win); Thursday July, 29 (50-lap $5,000 to win); and Sunday August, 22 (50-lap $5,000 to win).

HANSON TAKES FONDA MODIFIED WIN TOWNS AND FIFIELD BOTH WIN THEIR THIRD IN A ROW - 5/22/10

“4” IS MATT DELORENZO’S FAVORITE NUMBER AFTER WIN AT FONDA- 5/15/10

 By Ron Szczerba

 FONDA, NY – On Saturday evening the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway celebrated a special night in memory of Lou Lazzaro along with many of his family members and old friends alongside. Lou’s daughter Mimi Lazzaro and Matt Noles (Rainmaker Productions) planned the special event with Jim King back in the tower to honor his old friend, the driver that he named the “Incomparable” Lou Lazzaro.

When it was all said and done and the checkered flag flew on the 44 lap Modified main event it was Matt DeLorenzo in victory lane in the BBL Companies sponsored #3 where he received a check for $4,444.44 from Fonda Speedway promoter Ric Lucia and the winners trophy which was sponsored by Lou Boyd of Coastal 181, both who were also good friends of Lazzaro’s.

“We started way back tonight and there are probably a few people who are not real happy with me right now,” DeLorenzo said in victory lane. “I had to bump into a few people to get to the front tonight but it is a special night and I really wanted to win this race. Both of my daughters are here with me tonight too so that made it even more special.”

“I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and also thank the Lazzaro family for sharing Louie with us,” Lucia said.

“This night is a little about you and a lot about Lou Lazzaro so remember this win as one of the special ones in you’re racing career,” Boyd said to DeLorenzo after the win.

A special eight lap Dash 4 Cash was also held with Bobby Varin winning the event which was sponsored by Rainmaker Productions (Matt Noles and his wife Lindsay). The event was for former Modified Track Champions who were still active and was worth $444.44 to Varin.

Mimi Lazzaro sang the National Anthem just before the Modified feature and thanked all of the people at the track for their support for the event from the fans to the drivers. After the anthem Matt Noles said “if you look up the word incomparable in the dictionary the definition states that it is something beyond comparison and that was Lou Lazzaro so in honor of him gentleman start your engines.”

Other winners at Fonda on Lou Lazzaro Memorial Night were David Towns (Sportsman), Ray Zemken (602 Limited Sportsman), Roy Fifield (Pro Stock), George Catanzano (UMP Modified), and Cassidy Wilson (Street Stock).

The winners of the four Modified heat races were given a $400 check for their efforts from four different businesses. Heat one was won by Jeff Trombley (race sponsored by Lucia Specialized Hauling), heat two by Erik Nelson (race sponsored by Morris Auto Group), heat three by Bobby Varin (sponsored by Jumpin’ Jack’s Pro Speed), and heat four by Dave Camara (race sponsored by Mike’s Five Corners Coastal).

During the pace laps before the start of the event a replica of one of Lazzaro’s cars paced the field and when the green flag flew it was Erik Nelson taking the lead from his pole position start. After starting third Elmo Reckner quickly moved into the second position and began pressuring Nelson for the lead by the second lap. On lap three on the outside of the backstretch Reckner was the new race leader while mid pack many of the front runners were swapping positions trying to make their way to the front.

The red flag was out on lap five for a three car wreck on the frontstretch involving Craig Hanson, Alan Barker, and Robert Perry. Coming out of turn four Hanson made contact with the wall and spun around, coming to a stop facing the field. Barker had nowhere to go and made head on contact with Hanson while Perry also made contact with one of the cars. Nobody was injured in the accident.

On the restart Reckner continued to lead with Marc Johnson making a great move into the second position after restarting sixth. After starting the event in the 14^th position Jim Davis who was the point leader coming into the night got by both Tony Pepicelli and Josh Hohenforst for the third spot on lap 10 and one lap later he was the new second place car after getting by Johnson.

With Reckner a half track ahead at that point Davis had his work cut out for him but unfortunately his night came to an early end on lap 14 when he slowed in turn two and drove the car into the pit area. Pepicelli got by Johnson for the second position at that point with Reckner in lap traffic by lap 15.

After starting 13^th DeLorenzo made his way into the third position on lap 21 after getting by Johnson while Danny Varin also got by Johnson for the fourth spot while Alton Palmer completed the top five. Both Pepicelli and DeLorenzo were catching the leader by the lap 28 point in the event with DeLorenzo the new second place car after getting by Pepicelli for the spot. Two laps later DeLorenzo was on Reckner’s rear bumper challenging for the lead.

Coming out of turn four on the inside of the speedway on lap 31 DeLorenzo passed Reckner for the lead while Danny Varin and Bobby Varin were trying to advance their positions as well. Both Danny and Bobby got by Reckner for the second and third positions with only a few laps to go while DeLorenzo was out to a half track lead. At the checkered flag it was DeLorenzo the winner followed by Bobby Varin, Danny Varin, Pepicelli, and Dave Camara.

While DeLorenzo was going through tech after the race a replay of Lou Lazzaro’s last win was played over the sound system. Jim King called that race and the excitement in his voice as he called the race was unbelievable. At the completion of the tape a huge ovation came from the crowd just before victory lane ceremonies began.

“So far this season I have been trying to save my car for the end of the race and people have been getting away from me so tonight I raced all out from the start,” DeLorenzo said. “I think that I may have a broken torsion bar because the car was laying over on me towards the end.”

“We tried something different with the right rear on the car tonight and now we know that we need to go back to where we were,” Bobby Varin said. “I was spinning the tires the whole race as we couldn’t get a hold of the track tonight, I couldn’t really even touch the throttle. We fell one spot short but it shows what a great team that Dave Cruickshank has here with two Dover Brake sponsored cars finishing in the top three.”

“I started 11^th and had a long way to go to make it through the field,” Danny Varin said. “I hit the outside wall towards the end of the race and almost lost it and my temperature was up so I think that we may have a hole in the radiator.”

            Rob Langevin led the first three laps of the 20-lap Sportsman feature while David Towns worked his way up to the third position by lap two after starting eighth. On lap four he got by Drew Fallis for the second position and shortly afterwards Towns was the new race leader after getting by Langevin for the point.

            While Towns pulled away to a comfortable lead Luke Munroe was working his way up from his seventh starting position, getting by a cluster of slower cars early on to get into the fourth position. Just before the halfway point Monroe was the new second place car after getting by Langevin with Towns now a straightaway ahead.

Munroe was never able to mount a challenge on Towns who went on to the 36^th win of his career and his second consecutive victory over Munroe, Langevin, Chad Edwards, and Mark Mortensen.

“A couple of weeks ago we made a lot of changes to this new Teo Pro car and the Groski power has been awesome,” Towns said. “Groski has been with me for seven years now and this win is even sweeter because it came on Lou Lazzaro Memorial Night.”

John Heidrich who is a rookie competitor in the 602 Limited Sportsman division this year was the early race leader from the pole at the start of the feature event. After starting the race in the 12^th position defending track champion Jeremiah Munson moved into the second position on lap five after getting by Adam McAuliffe. The yellow flag was out on lap six and on the restart Munson got by Heidrich for the lead.

At that point Ray Zemken was in the third position but he also continued his march to the front after starting 10^th. When the final yellow of the event came out on lap 13 it closed the gap between Munson and Zemken and on lap 14 Zemken used the inside groove on the back stretch to take over the lead. Zemken went on to his first win of the season and the fourth of his career over Munson, McAuliffe, John Scarborough, and Heidrich.

The Pro Stock feature was led at the start by Pete Broderson with Shane Henderson in tow after both drivers started the event from row one. Roy Fifield started sixth and by lap two was already in the second position and looking for the lead. In his patented outside groove on lap five, Fifield was the new race leader after getting by Broderson.

Rob Yetman started the event in the eighth position and on lap eight he got by Broderson for the second spot with defending track champion Kenny Gates up to third. Gates got by Yetman for the second position with seven laps left but there was no catching Fifield who went on to his second consecutive win and the 16^th of his career over Gates, Yetman, Ivan Joslin, and Broderson.

“I knew with the good jump that we got at the start that we had a good shot at winning tonight,” Fifield said in victory lane. “It is hard leading for so long though because you never know who is behind you or how close they are to you.”

The UMP Modified feature began with George Catanzano as the race leader with the yellow flag out on lap two. Catanzano led on the restart and pulled away from that point on with the best race on the track for the second spot between Kevin Buff and defending track champion Jeremy Cramer

Cramer got by Buff for the second position but never got close to Catanzano who went on to his first win of the season and the 43^rd of his career over Cramer, Buff, Matt Shadic, and Howard Smith.

“We are still trying to figure this car out,” Catanzano said. “Tonight the car was good but I am not sure whether the track is that much different because I haven’t been here in awhile or if the car is that far off.”

Randy Moore led the first three laps of the Street Stock feature with Cassidy Wilson up to the second position by lap three after starting 10^th. On the outside of turn two on lap four Wilson was the new race leader and from that point on he pulled away to an easy win, his second of the season and the 15^th of his career at Fonda.

Dave Horning Sr., Chuck McSpirit, Rob VanAernam, and Dennis Joslin completed the top five.

LOU LAZZARO “THE LEGEND”

Ron Szczerba

This is a story that I wrote back in 1999 that was published in the June 1999 edition of the Redline Motorsports Magazine. With the Lou Lazzaro Memorial event coming up this Saturday at Fonda I dug it out of the archives and thought that I would send it out for people to read again. I contacted Mimi Lazzaro and asked if this would be okay to send out and she said that it was so please enjoy the story and use as necessary in any publications or websites.

            Lou Lazzaro started racing forty-seven years ago.  The first time that he ever raced was at a track up near Richfield Springs, N.Y.  His nickname “The Monk” came as a mistake.  “Somebody started calling me “The Monk” and I never corrected him on it so it has stuck with me ever since,” Lazzaro said.

            His car number four came about because there was originally a four-partnership deal in the car.  “Before I had even gone racing there was a number four out of the garage that I had started hanging around and when he gave up racing I took over the number,” he said.

            When he first started racing, Lazzaro used to build and do everything by himself, including the engine work, and to this day he still does the engine work himself.  “I have the machine work done and then I assemble the engine myself,” he said.  “It saves money but it never works out when I let somebody else do everything.”

            Enders did the engine that is in the car now originally and it was wrong right from the beginning.  “We ran an entire year and he kept telling us this and that and when I took it apart I found the problem,” Lazzaro said.  “And when I showed it to him he didn’t want to make good by it.”  Since that time Lazzaro has done everything himself.

            As far as the car itself, Lazzaro says that it isn’t really any more sophisticated than it was before.  “The setup is basically the same as when I ran springs in the back.”  His current car is a 1998 Teo Pro Car.

            Lou says that year after year racing is getting to be more and more about money and if you don’t get any financial help from someone you aren’t going to be able to make it on your own, even if you win a lot.  “You need help.”

            Currently helping out on the car as far as sponsors go are Dan Marrone, Mike’s Five Corners (Mike McKeon), and Peter Bianco, Jr. who is not only a sponsor but also the crew chief.  Other crewmembers include George Biancosino, Dick Bidwell, Lou’s girlfriend Tina Zappia, his daughter Mimi, and his son Peter.  Lazzaro also has two other sons (Louie and Danny), and two other daughters (Laurie and Franny).

            Dan Marrone has been a friend of Lazzaro’s for over thirty years.  Marrone is a retired Ford Motor Company worker and they have always been friends.  “He made a few bucks in the stock market and started backing me,” Lou said.  Mike McKeon backed Lazzaro for ten years under his Five Corners business but after going through some financial troubles Marrone took over and has been a real asset.

            Lazzaro admits that he needs the financial backing or he wouldn’t be able to race.  “But my physical condition is a never ending thing, trying to keep pace with the young guys,” he said.  “I don’t know if it goes along with the age or what but I am starting to feel it more and more when I race, I can’t race the way I really want to race.”

            At one time back in 1984, Lazzaro had Crohn’s Disease, which causes chronic inflammation of the digestive track, of the lower small intestine, and colon.  He almost died because of it.  At Fonda they had a benefit for Lou where a racecar was being raffled off and in tribute to him they did a four abreast parade lap before the feature.

                For Lazzaro it was a special win, although as he said they are all special and he felt real good about it.  “The fans at Fonda are a great bunch of fans and I like winning for them, for my crew, and for myself.”

            In the pit area after his win there were a couple of drivers who went over to congratulate Lazzaro along with a bunch of fans.  “Some of the fans I haven’t seen in quite a while so it was nice to see them again.”

            Lazzaro was also named the Driver of the Week on the This Week On DIRT television program although he was surprised by that because of the success that another driver also had that weekend when he won three feature events in the same week.  “I figured that he would be named the Driver of the Week,” Lou said.

            Lazzaro has career wins in the last five decades (50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, & 90’s) and wins at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway in the last four of them.  “So now we have to try and get one next year,” he said.

            A little bit of trivia thanks to Ed & Betty Biittig states that Lazzaro’s first ever top five finish at Fonda came in 1957.  Also, out of the 957 features run at Fonda, Lazzaro has finished in the top five 303 times.

            Winning felt real good to Lazzaro and he didn’t think that it had been that long (June 30, 1994) since he last won a feature at Fonda.  “The time went by awful fast,” he said.

STATISTICS

            Lou Lazzaro has won an estimated 250 races at twenty-four tracks in four states and Canada.  He has a total of ten track championships, four at Fonda, three at Utica Rome, two at Victoria, and one at Albany Saratoga.

            He was the New York State NASCAR point champion once in the Sportsman division in 1964 and three times in a Modified in 1969, 1971, and 1972.  He also won the All Star League title in 1968 and 1971.

            His best season was in 1969 when he had eleven wins and finished third or better in fifteen of sixteen races at Fonda.  His biggest win was the 1978 Eastern States 200 at Orange County in Middletown.  Thanks to Ed and Betty Biittig for the information above.

LAZZARO’S BIO WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER MIMI

In 1952, Lou Lazzaro won his first race (a heat race) at South Columbian Speedway in Mohawk, NY. He was only 17 years old at the time and it was the first time he had ever gotten into a race car.

In 1955 he won his first feature race at the Brewerton Speedway in Brewerton, NY under the alias of his brother Nick Lazzaro as Lou was under the age of 21, NASCAR rules.

He scored his second feature win at Victoria Speedway located in Duanesburg, NY under the alias of Peter Bianco Jr., the name of his best friend, because it was a non-NASCAR track.

On May 20, 1961 Lazzaro claimed his first victory at the Fonda Speedway with his last win also coming in May on May 15th, 1999.

The colors for the #4 race cars came from Proctor High School in Utica New York where Lazzaro attended school, the #4 signifying the quartet of partners involved in the car including Lazzaro himself, Junior Bianco, George Frattasio, and Vinnie Maugeri.

Lazzaro was known as "Muggs" in the group when one day someone misunderstood the name and called him "Monks".  From then on the name stuck with him.

It is fitting that Louie, who was arguably the most successful driver in the east in the 1960s, continued racing right up until the end. It was also fitting that the end came at Fonda Speedway which he called home every Saturday evening and was victorious 113 times in just 50 years!

His records and accomplishments are far too extensive to list, but some of his greatest accomplishments were running the Permatex 300 in 1970 on the famed Daytona Motor Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. In 1978 Lazzaro took home the prestigious victory of the Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Orange County NY.

Lazzaro was also part of the elite All Star Racing League taking home many a victory in that club. In 2000 when Lazzaro passed away, he was entering his sixth decade of racing. This year in 2010 we will celebrate the career of a racing Legend while also remembering some of his competitors that deserve the recognition they have yet to receive.

MIMI’S MEMORIES OF HER DAD

            “I have been thinking about doing an event like this for dad and all last year we talked about it,” she said. “Matt took the initiative to get the ball rolling and it is going to be an enormous event. We threw a lot of things out there, spoke to the Lucia’s about it and they were very gracious to all of our ideas.”

            “Dad was a low budget guy and that is why we scheduled the event for only one feature event to make it for the regular Saturday night guys instead of running more than one event on the same night. He always looked out for the fans and took time for them every Saturday night at the track until the lights were turned out. We have lost a lot of that now.”

            “No matter how he did out on the track he always took time afterwards to see every person that came into the pit area to see him. I will always remember standing on the infield before the start of the feature and as soon as the white flag came out to signify that the race would be started the next time around he would wave to me before every single race.”

FONDA SPEEDWAY PROMOTER RIC LUCIA’S MEMORIES OF LAZZARO

            “Everyone remembers Louie as more of the local home town racer,” Lucia said. “He did travel but for the most part people remember him racing mostly at Fonda, Utica Rome, and Albany Saratoga. He was from a by gone era now and this Saturday night will be a celebration of that era.”

            “I was a little bit closer to Louie than some people thought or knew. I had a motor that I put together that he used a few times so one time he came, picked up the motor, and put it in his race car. A couple of weeks later he came by and he made me some home made spaghetti sauce like nothing that you have ever had in this world.”

            “It was things like that, that nobody ever knew about that I will always remember along with going out to Utica to see him while he was sick to spend a little bit of time with him.”

SPECIAL MOMENTS REMEMBERED BY THE RAINMAKER MATT NOLES

            “My favorite memory of Louie was when he beat Kenny Tremont Jr. in the early 90’s at Fonda along with his last win when he held off Romano for the victory,” Noles said. “He did so much with so little and when he was out of the cockpit I remember how he treated his fans. He would stop and sign autographs and he had passion for the sport which is something that I believe is lacking now.”

            “Last year when I was involved in the Hondo Classic for the late Hondo Carpenter I thought why hasn’t anyone had an event like this for Lou Lazzaro. I approached Mimi about the event and we threw the idea out there to Ric & Laura Lucia at Fonda and so far there has been an overwhelming and humbling response. This event is all for Lou’s family, the fans, and for Fonda Speedway as well. I want people to remember where the sport of racing came from as Louie was one of the founding fathers of the sport.”

            “I grew up on Main Street in Fonda and since 1983 I have been going to the races there. My fondest memories of the Fonda Speedway growing up were the drawings of the track champions on the ticket booth out front. Now I live 300 miles away in New Hampshire but the Fonda Speedway is one part of my childhood that I have left and I want to hold on to that part of my childhood for as long as I can.”

            “It took a 28 year old kid from New Hampshire to get the ball rolling on this event for Louie and although I knew how big of a fixture he was at Fonda I didn’t know how big this event would become. It is going to be an awesome event and I am really looking forward to it.”

LAZZARO’S BEST FRIEND REMEMBERS THE INCOMPERABLE ONE

            “Mimi called me about doing this event and I was honored because Louie and I were best friends,” Jim King said. “The first modified that he drove was the #71 that was owned by my father Bill King, Dick Bennett, and Bernie Myrusky. Louie made a career out of beating Bill King owned cars.”

            “I was able to read the Eulogy at Lou’s funeral and I also called his last win at Fonda. His last win stood the Fonda Speedway on its ear and that was a lot of fun. I used to call him the “Incomparable Lou Lazzaro” and there are so many memories of back when he used to race. This event is long overdue and we are going to make something special out of it.”

            So come out to the Fonda Speedway on Saturday May, 15 and be a part of history as the first annual Lou Lazzaro Memorial celebrates the racing career of the “Incomparable Lou Lazzaro”.

COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS AND FANS

            Sponsor Dan Marrone has known Lazzaro for about forty years.  “I really got to know him at the Victoria Speedway,” Marrone said.  “The way he ran, how he was careful with the other drivers, and was always a good sport really impressed me.”  When he went into the pits to see him, Lazzaro was really humble and that also impressed Marrone.  That was back in the sixties.

            Marrone started helping out Lazzaro on the lighter side at first but after awhile he got into it more and more.  When track announcer Jim King asked Marrone what he thought about the win Dan told him that “the last five laps I drove the car.”  “I was shaking, full of sweat, out of wind and tomorrow morning I an going to call my cardiologist and tell him what a great job he did because I am still here,” Marrone said.

            In victory lane, Lazzaro thanked Marrone and gave him the winning trophy.  Marrone also told me that soon you will see the law firm of Andrew Cappocia on the #4 as a sponsor.  Marrone also helps out with sponsorship on Steve Burega’s Pro Stock.

            Lazzaro’s girlfriend Tina Zappia has been a fan of his since she was nine years old.  When she was twenty, they dated a couple of times and after staying away from the races for thirteen years she came back last year.  “And we have been together ever since.”

            Fonda Speedway head starter Dick Sweet said that Lazzaro was one of the first race car drivers that he ever followed from Fonda years ago.  “Just to be the head starter at Fonda and to give him the checkered flag after his feature win was unbelievable.”

            Terri Mohrman who is the EMT Supervisor at the Fonda Speedway said “He is my all time favorite and after he won I was so excited that I couldn’t stand it.”  “I have been coming to Fonda since I was four and he was the first driver that I ever liked.”

            Kathie Traudt has always been a Lazzaro fan through thick and thin since she started coming to Fonda.  “I went to buy a video of his win and I told the person that sold me the video that the last time I bought a video was when he last won back in 1994,” Traudt said.  “They must have told announcer Jim King about that because he made a remark over the public address system that I must be a real fan if that is the only time that I buy a video is when Louie wins.”

            Eleven-year-old A.J. Filbeck thought that Lazzaro winning was alright and that the crowd standing up and cheering like they were was pretty wild.  When asked if he was one of those people that was going wild he said “yes.”

            “I came to Fonda before Lou Lazzaro came to Fonda, right after they opened,” Tony Dunadee said.  “I lived just outside of Utica and when Lazzaro started coming to Fonda I cheered for him because he was a local guy.”

            Dunadee’s family got to know Lazzaro and they have followed him around all of these years.  Dunadee also spent time in the pit area with Lazzaro but when they moved the pits from the infield to where they are now at Fonda he stopped going into the pit area.  He also traveled with Lazzaro when he could.

            “My oldest son predicted that Lazzaro was going to be a good driver and he has cheered for him ever since,” Dunadee said.  “Louie is a born racer.”  Dunadee also said, “the best show in the whole country is at Fonda Speedway.”

            Fonda Speedway track announcer Jim King said that Lou Lazzaro was one of his dad’s best friends.  “The first Modified that Lazzaro ever drove was my dad Bill King’s out of Gloversville,” King said.  “He is a special guy to us, as not only a great race driver but as a family friend.”

            King felt very privileged to be at Fonda to do that race (Lazzaro’s win on May 15), especially to call the end of the race.  King also said that he was glad that Shane (backup announcer Shane Andrews) was there because he was suffering from a bad cold.

            “I got through the first fifteen laps okay, turned it over to Shane for about ten laps, and then he gave it back to me,” King said.  “To call those last few laps was a real opportunity for me as an announcer.”

            Lazzaro’s last win at Fonda in 1994 was also one that King announced, along with many others.  “I was also involved in a lot of them when he raced at the Victoria Speedway on Wednesday nights and we used to pit next to each other,” King said.  “We have always been very close.”

FIRST ANNUAL LOU LAZZARO MEMORIAL THIS SATURDAY AT FONDA - 5/12/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – This Saturday May, 15 one of the most anticipated events of the 2010 racing season will take place at the Fonda Speedway when speedway management along with Melissa Lazzaro and Rainmaker Productions (Matt Noles) presents the first annual Lou Lazzaro Memorial event.

            As a tribute to Lazzaro on Saturday evening the Modifieds will run a 44-lap $4,444.44 to win feature event with a 26 car starting field. All other divisions will also be in action with racing starting at 6:00 p.m.

            Lazzaro was a fixture at the Track of Champions along with many other speedways in the northeast and beyond and the date of May 15 is exactly 11 years to the day since he won his final feature event at the famed Montgomery County Fairgrounds speedway on May 15, 1999.

            Lazzaro’s all time statistics at Fonda include 113 career wins with the first one coming on May 20, 1961. He had a total of 30 racing seasons where he won at least one feature event and he also won a total of four track championships back in 1964, 1969, 1977, & 1978.

Prior to the race on Saturday a Meet & Greet with drivers and fans will be held at the Checkers Out Speedway on Route 30A in Johnstown. Drivers will be on hand to sign autographs and talk with fans from noon to 4:00 p.m. Drivers and fans can race at the track for $10.00 on Saturday afternoon as Checkers Out Speedway owner Don Greco is waving the registration fee and cutting $5 from his normal prices for this special event.

A raffle of racing items will also be held at Checkers Out to help raise the remaining money for the winners share for the Lou Lazzaro Tribute Race. Some of the items available will be Dave Camara stickers, an autographed John Scarborough quarter panel, an autographed C.D. Coville panel, a Lou Lazzaro victory trophy from the 1970’s, a Metal Petals sculpture made of ¼ inch thick steel tube of an old Lazzaro #4 with many more items also available! This event should be a lot of fun and a great time to get re-acquainted with some folks you may have not seen in a while!

Jim King will return to Fonda as the evening’s announcer with Mike Mallett along side.  Jim will be reading the Eulogy that he wrote and read at Lazzaro’s funeral. A moment of silence will also be observed in order to read the names of drivers who have passed away that have given the Fonda Speedway the name it currently holds as the “Track of Champions”.

There will be vintage race cars on display from the Mid State Antique Stock Car Club and the Mid State Vintage Stock Car Club. Mr. Ken Goewey will also be bringing his vintage midget and sprint car for display. These cars will get some “non-competitive” time on the track to run a few laps as well.

There will also be a “DASH 4 CASH”. The dash for cash is a special race in memory of “The Monk” Lou Lazzaro which will feature former Fonda Speedway Track Champions that are still active. They are Jack Johnson, Dave Lape, Bobby Varin, Dave Camara, Matt DeLorenzo, and Jeff Trombley. One other driver will also make the field by a special “fan vote.” This eight lap event is a winner take all $444.44 to win event sponsored by Rainmaker Productions (Matt Noles).

THUNDER SERIES EVENTS FOR THE SPORTSMAN AND PRO STOCK DIVISIONS HIGHLIGHT THIS SATURDAY’S RACING PROGRAM AT FONDA - 5/3/10

By: Ron Szcerba

FONDA, NY – On Saturday May, 8 the first in a series of Sportsman and Pro Stock events in the Best of Four Thunder Series will take place at the Fonda Speedway. The series is a joint venture between the Fonda and Utica Rome Speedways with a separate set of points being kept for the series events with the point champion in both the Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions receiving $1,000 while the second and third place finishers will receive $600 and $400 respectively.

            Only one of the Thunder on the Thruway Series Sportsman events was run last season at Fonda with Luke Munroe the winner of the event while the second race in the series was rained out. One event was held at Utica Rome as well with Jason Rood taking home the win. In 2009 Fonda Speedway regulars David Towns and Mark Kislowski shared the Thunder Series Sportsman title after tying each other in the final point standings.

            With all of the rain outs between the two tracks last season Tom Denton was the winner of the only Thunder on the Thruway Pro Stock Series event held which was run at Utica Rome with no champion being determined in 2009.

            The 2010 Thunder on the Thruway Modified Series already got underway on Sunday April, 25 at the Utica Rome Speedway with Brett Hearn taking the $5,000 win followed by Tim Fuller, Jimmy Phelps, Bobby Varin, and Pat Ward. Fonda regulars in the field and their finishes included Ronnie Johnson (ninth), Danny Varin (11^th), Jeff Trombley (12^th), Jim Davis (14^th), and Matt DeLorenzo (17^th). The point champion in the Modified Thunder Series will receive $8,000 at seasons end.

            The remainder of the Thunder on the Thruway Series Modified events will be held at Fonda on Saturday June, 5 (50-lap $5,000 to win); Tuesday July, 27 (50-lap $5,000 to win with a rain date of July 28); Tuesday August, 3 (60-lap $6,000 to win with a rain date of August 4); and Sunday September, 26 (100-lap $9,500 to win) with events at Utica Rome on Thursday June, 24 (50-lap $5,00 to win); Thursday July, 29 (50-lap $5,000 to win); and Sunday August, 22 (50-lap $5,000 to win).

            The other Thunder on the Thruway Series Sportsman event at Fonda will be held on Sunday September, 26 while the two events at Utica Rome will be held on Sunday August, 22 and Friday September, 10.

            The other Thunder on the Thruway Series Pro Stock event at Fonda will be held on Sunday September, 26 while the two events at Utica Rome will be run on Tuesday July, 13 and Friday September, 10.

VARIN FIRST TO DOUBLE UP IN 2010 AT FONDA - 5/1/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – On Saturday evening at the Fonda Speedway defending Modified Track Champion Bobby Varin took his second win of the season at the Montgomery Fairgrounds ½ mile track, taking the lead just before the halfway point in the 30-lap event and going on to his 43^rd career win at the Track of Champions. It was a special victory for Varin who is now tied with the legendary Bill Wimble in the seventh spot on the All Time Modified Win List at Fonda.

            “This win is special and it feels great because the race track was a tough one again tonight,” Varin said. “The reason that it is so special is because it ties me on the All Time Win List with one of my all time heroes Bill Wimble.”

            Other winners on a special evening of racing at Fonda that saw two of the features decided on the final lap of the event were David Towns (Sportsman), John Scarborough (Limited Sportsman 602 Crate), Roy Fifield (Pro Stock), and Rob VanAernam (Street Stock).

            Ronnie Holmes and the legendary Dave Lape started the Modified feature event on the front row with Holmes grabbing the early lead while Craig Hanson bolted into the second position from his second row starting position. After starting seventh Danny Varin was the car on the move early as he took over the second position from Hanson on lap three. One lap later Danny Varin was the new race leader after getting by Holmes for the spot in turn four.

            After starting in the sixth position A.J. Romano was the new third place car on lap six with Bobby Varin fourth after starting 10^th with the yellow flag out for a wreck in turn one involving last week’s winner Ronnie Johnson, Ryan Odasz, Paul Cirincione, and Jeremy Wilder. Nobody was injured in the wreck but Cirincione and Wilder were both done for the evening while Johnson and Odasz were able to pit and continue on at the rear of the field.

            On the restart, Romano took over the second position while Bobby Varin made a three wide move in turn four to take over the third spot with Romano getting by Danny Varin for the lead on the high side of turn four on lap seven. By lap 11 Romano had built up a straightaway lead over Bobby Varin who was now in the second spot with Danny Varin third and Jim Davis fourth after starting 15^th.

            The red flag was out on lap 13 for a two car crash in turn four involving Darwin Greene and Alton Palmer. Coming out of turn four something broke on the Greene #1 slowing him down considerably with Palmer going over his front end and launching in the air, flipping over into the infield. Neither driver was injured.

            On the restart Romano chose the outside lane with Bobby Varin alongside and when the green flag flew it was Bobby Varin who was the new race leader.

            “I knew that A.J. would take the outside on the restart as he is a tough competitor and likes to run the cushion,” Varin said. “Under the caution I tried to pick spots on the track where I could run so that I could get underneath A.J. in turn four and coming out of the turn I could pull in front of him and it all worked out for me.”

            While Bobby Varin pulled away to a big lead Davis and a new challenger Matt DeLorenzo were both moving through the field. Davis took over the second position at the halfway point with DeLorenzo fourth after starting 11^th. With a few laps remaining Bobby Varin was in lap traffic but made it through okay as he took the checkered flag for the win in the Dover Brake sponsored #00 Bicknell car followed by Davis, DeLorenzo, Romano, and Danny Varin. Ronnie Johnson who was involved in the early caution made it all the way back up to sixth in the 28 car starting field.

            “A.J. got away from me at one point so I figured that I would just settle in and keep my tires cool so that I could make a run at him at the end,” Varin said. “But that caution worked out for us and was the turning point in the event.”

            Ricky Quick took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 20-lap Sportsman feature from his outside pole starting position with Chad Edwards second after starting in the second row in the third spot. On lap two Justin Auspelmyer was the new race leader with last week’s winner Luke Munroe in the fourth position after starting eighth.

            David Towns started the event in the seventh position and on lap four used the outside of the speedway to get around both Edwards and Auspelmyer to take over the lead. While Towns was pulling away in the lead Munroe continued his march to the front, taking over the second position on lap 10 but his good run came to an end two laps later as he came to a stop in turn three to bring out the only caution of the event.

            On the restart Towns pulled out to a comfortable lead while Edwards and Quick settled in to the second and third positions. Two drivers that weren’t satisfied with their positions were John McAuliffe and Mark Mortensen who continued to pass cars right up to the checkered flag.

            Towns went on to his first win of the season in the Mell Electric sponsored Groski powered #6 Teo Pro Car and the 35^th of his career moving him up to the third spot on the All Time Sportsman Win List at Fonda. Edwards, Quick, McAuliffe, and Mortensen completed the top five.

            “Last week we struggled with this new car so along with my crew we got together and made a lot of changes to the car this week,” Towns said. “The changes definitely woke the car up as it was really hooked up on the outside of the track.”

            The Limited Sportsman 602 Crate feature event began with Chip Constantino leading early until lap two when Korey Wilder took over the point after starting third. “The Jet” John Scarborough started the event from the inside of the third row and by lap three was already in the second position after getting by Constantino. After a one lap side by side battle for the lead, Scarborough was the new race leader on lap four after getting by Wilder on the inside of turn four.

            Two consecutive yellow flags slowed the field on lap five and when the race got going again Robert Bublac took over the second position from Wilder with Tony Farone following him through for the third spot. At the halfway point of the 20-lap event Scarborough was out to a half straightaway lead but Bublac was closing in quickly and right on Scarborough’s rear bumper by lap 12.

            Using the outside groove to make up time Bublac got by Scarborough for the lead in turn two with Wilder and last week’s winner Jeremiah Munson now in the third and fourth positions. When Bublac got out of shape on the front stretch with a lap car nearby with less than five laps to go it allowed Scarborough to close in and on the final lap the yellow flag flew for Brittany Liggett who came to a stop on the front stretch.

            On the restart Scarborough took over the lead and went on to the win, his first of the season and the first of his career in this division. Bublac, Munson, Wilder, and Derrick McGrew completed the top five.

            “He (Bublac) ran a heck of a race,” Scarborough said in victory lane. “He got away from me and that yellow flag was the saving grace of the race for me. On the restart I knew that I only had one shot going into turn four and I took advantage of it. I believe that this division (602 crate) is the division of the future but I’m not sure if it is the division of the future for the Jet.”

            Chucky Dumblewski and defending track champion Kenny Gates took turns leading lap one before Dumblewski settled into the lead on lap two after a side by side battle. Roy Fifield started the event in the third row in position six and by lap four he was already in the fourth spot.

            Two laps later Fifield got by Pete Broderson for the third position while Rocky Warner and last week’s winner Nick Stone were side by side for the fourth spot. Gates was able to close in on Dumblewski who at one point had a nice lead built up and with five laps to go there was a four car race for the lead between Dumblewski, Gates, Fifield, and Warner.

            Coming out of turn four to the white flag Warner was three wide with Gates and Fifield for the second position and by the time the leaders went into turn three Dumblewski, Warner, Gates, Fifield, and Stone had a five car battle going to the checkered flag.

            Going into turn four to the checkered flag Fifield swung around the outside of Gates, Warner, and Dumblewski to take the exciting win, his first of 2010 and the 15^th of his career at Fonda. Dumblewski, Warner, Gates, and Stone completed the top five.

            “That was an awesome race,” Fifield said in victory lane. “I knew that it would be a tough race and coming down to the wire four wide I didn’t know if I could make the outside work but it did.”

            Defending Track Champion Jeremy Cramer led the 10 car UMP Modified field to the green flag taking the lead at the start of the 15-lap event. On the inside of turn four on lap two, George Catanzano was the new race leader and after a side by side battle for the lead Cramer took over the point on lap five.

            A yellow flag on the final lap for Howard Smith who came to a stop in turn three took away the straightaway lead that Cramer had built up and gave Catanzano one last shot at the win. Going into turn four after the restart Cramer and Catanzano were side by side with contact made but it was Cramer who hung on in the outside groove to take the win over Catanzano, last week’s winner Kevin Buff, Danny Ballard, and Dan Hartgraves.

            For Cramer it was his first win of the 2010 season and the 20^th of his career at Fonda.

            “I was a little bit disappointed that the yellow came out as I was already in turn three when it did,” Cramer said. “I knew that George was going to be there and anytime you can beat him it is a great accomplishment. A month ago I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to race this year and last week I didn’t know which way was up as the car just wouldn’t turn for me. I didn’t know if it was the car or if it was me that was rusty but I have to thank my family as we made a lot of changes to the car this week in order to get here to victory lane.”

            Neil Cosselman led lap one of the Street Stock feature with Dennis Joslin in the second position. Just as Joslin was taking the lead on lap two the yellow flag flew keeping Cosselman in the lead for a little while longer. On the restart Joslin was the new race leader with Dan Pollock the new second place car.

            By lap three Rob VanAernam and last week’s winner and defending track champion Cassidy Wilson were up to the second and third positions respectively with VanAernam the new race leader on lap four. Wilson followed VanAernam by Joslin for the second position and on the outside of turn four on lap nine Wilson was the new race leader after VanAernam was blocked by a lap car.

            Going into turn three on lap 10 something broke in Wilson’s car and he drove to the pit area handing the lead back to VanAernam who went on to the win, his first of the season and the 24^th of his career at Fonda over Chuck McSpirit, Reuben Kennedy Jr., Pollock, and Cosselman.

            “I wasn’t sure what to do with the lap cars,” VanAernam said. “I got so low under one of them that I ended up in the infield on the backstretch but that was when I saw Cassidy (Wilson) drive to the pit area I knew that I would be okay.”

RONNIE JOHNSON USES MOMENTUM TO TAKE FONDA WIN - 4/24/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – Using momentum gained after a victory on Friday evening at the Accord Speedway, Ronnie Johnson took a very fast B-Dry sponsored #2RJ Teo Pro Car to victory lane at the Fonda Speedway on Saturday night for the 13^th time in his career at the Track of Champions.

            “My father was in turn three and during the last caution period he was giving me signals to go low on the speedway,” Johnson said in victory lane. “That was the key to the win as I was able to change my groove and stay ahead the rest of the way.”

            A busy evening at Fonda saw 145 cars in the pit area for the seven division racing program with winners in other divisions including Luke Munroe (Sportsman), Jeremiah Munson (Limited Sportsman 602 Crate), Nick Stone (Pro Stock), Kevin Buff (UMP), Cassidy Wilson (Street Stock), and John Matrafailo (CRSA Sprints).    

            Heads up starts in all divisions on the opening night of points put Dave Constantino on the front row of the Modified feature with Alan Barker alongside. Constantino took the early lead in the event while Jeff Trombley who started alongside Johnson in the second row went three wide around both Barker and Johnson to take over the second position at the start.

On lap two it was Johnson’s turn to go three wide around both Barker and Trombley to take over the second position with the outside groove working well for him at that point. Coming out of turn two on lap three, Johnson got around Constantino for the lead with Jim Davis now third after starting eighth.

Davis took over the second position on lap five from Constantino who brought out the caution at that point after making contact with the turn one wall. Constantino was not injured but was done for the evening. On the restart Johnson maintained the lead with Dave Camara now in the third position after starting sixth.

Matt DeLorenzo started out the evening in tough fashion after barely qualifying in his heat race and being taken off on a hook after going over the scales to weigh the car. The car was repaired and he started the feature event in the 18^th position, moving in to the eighth position on lap 13 after going three wide around two cars.

At the lap 16 point in the event Davis was right on Johnson’s rear bumper as the leaders were in lap traffic with the final caution of the event coming out on lap 18 when Darwin Greene shredded a right rear tire going into turn one. After the restart Davis stayed right on Johnson’s rear bumper until lap 20 when Davis slid up high in turn two allowing Johnson to get away to a slight advantage.

From there on Johnson drove a smooth race to win the feature event, his first win since McDonald’s weekend in 2008 when he swept the final two events of the season in the same weekend. Davis, Camara, DeLorenzo, and Ryan Odasz completed the top five.

Defending Modified Track Champion Bobby Varin also had a tough night, getting into the turn one wall during his heat race and not qualifying in the event. Varin won the Modified consolation to qualify for the feature event, starting 22^nd and finishing a strong sixth.

            “Jimmy (Davis) kept me on my toes as he is a great competitor,” Johnson said in victory lane. “This win feels great and I hope that 2010 is our year and we can get here a lot more this season.”

Defending Sportsman Track Champion David Towns started on the front row and took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the Sportsman feature. Starting alongside of Towns was Luke Munroe who on lap two took the lead from Towns with a pass on the inside in turn four. Towns didn’t let Munroe get too far ahead of him early in the race and almost came in contact with the wall in turn one a few times while trying to keep pace with the leader.

Munroe was in lap traffic by lap eight and with only four laps to go went three wide to get past two of the lap cars on his way to his sixth career win at Fonda. Towns, Mark Mortensen, Vinny Sanganetti, and Jason Memrick completed the top five in the event.

“This car was a rocket, it always is,” Munroe said in victory lane. “Starting on the outside pole really helped along with the dedication and hard work from my pit crew.”

Robert Bublak took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the Limited Sportsman 602 Crate feature from his pole position start. Before lap one was completed Ray Zemken was the new race leader with a pass coming out of turn four followed by John Scarborough who was the new second place car after starting third.

As Scarborough applied heavy pressure to Zemken for the lead, defending track champion Jeremiah Munson moved into the fourth position on lap six after starting eighth. Two laps later Munson was the new third place car after getting by Korey Wilder while at the same time both Zemken and Scarborough were slowed considerably on the front stretch by the lap car of Matt Johnson.

On lap 13 Zemken made it safely past the lap car of Carol Parker but Scarborough wasn’t as fortunate as the front of his car got hooked to the back of Parker’s car with the two coming to a stop against the wall in turn one as the front end of Parker’s car was heavily damaged. Wilder also ended up in the wall at the same time with heavy damage to the front end of his car as well. Parker and Wilder were done for the evening while Scarborough drove away and continued on at the rear of the field.

When the green flag flew again to restart the event Munson pressured Zemken for the lead, Munson using the outside groove while Zemken stayed in the low to middle groove on the track. Going into turn four on lap 18, Munson got alongside of Zemken with the two touching side bars together with Munson taking over the race lead at that point. Munson went on to his seventh career win at Fonda followed by Zemken, Tony Farone, Derrick McGrew, and Bublac.

“It was pretty nerve racking running the outside like that but it paid off,” Munson said. “The caution helped me as it seemed like the car got better when we went back to racing.”

The Pro Stock feature is always one of the best of the racing program at Fonda on any given night and last Saturday’s feature was no exception. Nick Stone was the leader at the drop of the green flag with Rocky Warner in tow. Warner was able to get alongside of Stone for the lead on laps three and four with Stone able to hang on to the lead during the hard fought battle.

Roy Fifield started the event in the 12^th position and by lap nine was third after getting by defending track champion Kenny Gates who slid way up high on the backstretch. On lap 12 Stone, Warner, and Fifield were three wide in turn four for the lead with Stone again able to hang on to it.

With Warner and Fifield battling side by side for the second position over the final five laps of the race it allowed Stone to pull away for the win, the 24^th of his career at Fonda. Fifield, Warner, Ivan Joslin, and Pete Broderson completed the top five in the event.

“I didn’t like all those cautions,” Stone said after the race was slowed two times by yellow flags. “I got into turn four too hard that one time allowing them (Warner and Fifield) to get underneath me but I knew that if I kept up my momentum on the outside I would be okay.”

Kevin Buff led at the drop of the green flag at the start of the UMP Modified feature event with George Catanzano and Danny Ballard side by side for the second position for most of the event. On lap 12 Catanzano was able to secure the second position away from Ballard and set his sights on Buff who was on cruise control in the lead.

On the final lap of the event Catanzano was right on Buff’s rear bumper but at the checkered flag it was Buff who took the 16^th win of his career at Fonda moving him up to the fourth position on the All Time UMP/IMCA Win List over the late Steve Bidwell who has 15 career wins. Catanzano, Ballard, defending track champion Jeremy Cramer, and Dan Hartgraves completed the top five.

“The car felt real good,” Buff said. “This is a brand new car for me this year and it was awesome. The lap traffic really worried me because I knew that George (Catanzano) had to be back there somewhere but he is great to race with and he definitely keeps you up on the wheel.”

Defending Street Stock Track Champion Cassidy Wilson started the Street Stock feature on the pole and led every lap on his way to his 14^th career win at Fonda. The race was only slowed by one caution on lap one when Neil Cosselman flipped his car into the turn three tire barrier. He was not injured in the wreck.

With Wilson out front the race was for the second position with the car on the move being Dave Horning Sr. who started the event in the ninth spot. By lap seven Horning was challenging Chuck McSpirit for the second position with the two side by side for the spot over the final few laps of the race.

Wilson who travels an hour and a half to race his Street Stock car at Fonda every Saturday evening took home the win followed by McSpirit, Horning, Reuben Kennedy Jr., and Rob VanAernam.

“After wrecking this car in the final race of the season last year we were just hoping that we got it straight over the winter,” Wilson said. “As it turns out the car may be even better now than it was before the wreck last year.”

The CRSA Sprint feature began with Billy Jaycox Jr. in the early lead with Craig Rochelle going from fourth to second by lap two. Jeff VanSteenburg started the event in the fifth position and by lap two he was in the third spot. On lap nine VanSteenburg was in the second position after getting by both a lap car and Rochelle in one quick move.

At the halfway point on lap 10 the red flag was out for VanSteenburg who went over the right rear tire of Jaycox while trying to get alongside of him in turn one. VanSteenburg flipped his car and ended up in the wall but was not injured in the accident. When the yellow flag was thrown Jaycox pitted to check his tire situation after the contact by VanSteenburg handing over the lead to Rochelle.

John Matrafailo was the new second place car on the restart after starting the event in the eighth position and on lap 13 on the inside of turn two he took the lead from Rochelle and went on to the win followed by Rochelle, Matt Tanner, Mike Stelter, and Jim McCaffrey.

“The car was definitely a lot better than the driver was,” Matrafailo said after the win. “To keep me sharp over the winter I spent a lot of time racing at the Checkers Out Speedway.”

Next Saturday at Fonda a regular show in all division is on the racing card plus Kiddie Rides with a starting time of 6:00 p.m.

$20,500 POINT FUND ANNOUNCED FOR 2010 THUNDER ON THE THRUWAY MODIFIED SERIES – 4/17/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – On the eve of the first Thunder on the Thruway Modified Series event at the Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday April, 18 Fonda Speedway promoter Ric Lucia and Utica Rome Speedway promoter Gene Cole announced the point fund for the 2010 Thunder on the Thruway Series of events which will be held between the two speedways this year in the Modified, Sportsman, and Pro Stock divisions.

            The 2010 Thunder on the Thruway Series Modified Champion will receive $8,000 while positions two through six in the final point standings will receive $5,000; $3,000; $2,000; $1,500; and $1,000 respectively.

            A Best of Four Series for both the Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions will also be held this year between the two tracks with the point champions in both divisions receiving $1,000 while the second and third positions in the final point standings will receive $600 and $400 respectively.

            Separate points will be kept for the series which will determine the three Thunder on the Thruway Series Champions in the three different divisions.

             2010 will be the second season that Lucia and Cole have worked together on the Thunder on the Thruway Series with Bobby Varin claiming last years Modified championship while David Towns and Mark Kislowski tied for the Sportsman title.

            With all of the rain outs between the two tracks last season Tom Denton was the winner of the only Thunder on the Thruway Series event held which was run at Utica Rome.

            Last years Thunder on the Thruway Series Modified events at Fonda were won by Tony Pepicelli and Matt DeLorenzo while two other events were rained out with Bobby Varin and Willy Decker taking home victories in the two series events that were held at Utica Rome.

            Only one of the Thunder on the Thruway Series Sportsman events was run last season at Fonda with Luke Munroe the winner of the event while the second race in the series was rained out. One event was held at Utica Rome as well with Jason Rood taking home the win.

            This years Thunder on the Thruway Series Modified events will be held at Fonda on Saturday June, 5 (50-lap $5,000 to win); Tuesday July, 27 (50-lap $5,000 to win with a rain date of July 28); Tuesday August, 3 (60-lap $6,000 to win with a rain date of August 4); and Sunday September, 26 (100-lap $9,500 to win) with events at Utica Rome on Sunday April, 18 (50-lap $5,000 to win); Thursday June, 24 (50-lap $5,00 to win); Thursday July, 29 (50-lap $5,000 to win); and Sunday August, 22 (50-lap $5,000 to win).

            2010 Thunder on the Thruway Series Sportsman events will be held at Fonda on Saturday May, 8 and Sunday September, 26 while the two events at Utica Rome will be held on Sunday August, 22 and Friday September, 10.

FONDA SPEEDWAY SUFFERS FIRST RAIN OUT OF 2010 - 4/17/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – Due to cold temperatures, wind, and showers the racing program at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway was cancelled on Saturday evening for the first time in 2010.

            The season opener for points in all divisions will now have to wait one more week until Saturday April, 24 when all divisions will be in action along with the Capital Region Sprint Car Agency 305 Sprint Cars in a racing program that will begin at the regular starting time of 6:00 p.m.

            Last year Bobby Varin (Modified), Jeremiah Munson (Limited Sportsman 602 Crate), Jeremy Cramer (IMCA), and Cassidy Wilson (Street Stock) all started out their championship season of 2009 with a win on the opening night of points.

            2009 Sportsman Track Champion David Towns and 2009 Pro Stock Track Champion Kenny Gates finished second and third in their respective divisions on the opening night of points last year while Rocky Warner took his first career feature win in the Pro Stock division on that night.

            Last year the CRSA event was rained out on their original date and run one week later in early May with Dylan Swiernik winning the feature event. This year when the CRSA Sprint cars come to Fonda on Saturday April, 24 the top two finishers from the three heat race qualifying events will run in a special four lap Dash for Cash sponsored by Tom & Debbie Hall of Boice’s Fish Fry in Vail Mills, NY with the payout to the six drivers being $100, $75, $50, and $25 to the final three cars.

            On Saturday April, 24 the Fonda Future’s Kid’s Club will also hold an after Easter, Easter Egg Hunt an event that they weren’t able to hold during the traditional Easter weekend because of the early date of the holiday this year.  So come and "Feel the Thunder" at  Fonda Speedway on Saturday April 24 when racing action resumes at the regular 6:00 p.m. starting time.

VARIN WINS ICE JAM AT FONDA - 4/10/10

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – Fonda Speedway opened up their 2010 racing season with the annual “Ice Jam” event on Saturday afternoon and although it was a cold and windy day there was no ice evident as 42 Modifieds attempted to qualify for the 40-lap, $4,000 to win event.  When it was all said and done defending Modified Track Champion Bobby Varin lapped up to the sixth place car as he went on to his 42^nd career win at the Track of Champions in the Dave Cruickshank owned Dover Brake sponsored #00 Bicknell car.

            “We just got this car about three weeks ago so we have been thrashing on it to get it ready,” Varin said in victory lane. “It is tough on a slow track like this to know what line to take but getting through lap traffic was key today as you never know who is behind you or how close they are to you.”

            In other action on Saturday afternoon at Fonda John McAuliffe was the winner of the Limited Sportsman 602 Crate division feature while Rob Yetman took home the victory in a special 12-lap Pro Stock Dash.

            A redraw decided the starting lineup for the “Ice Jam” event after the qualifying events putting Jim Davis and A.J. Romano on the front row. Davis led at the drop of the green flag but lost the lead to Romano before lap one was completed as the outside was the fast way around early on.

            By lap six Romano, Davis, and Varin who was already in the third position after starting sixth were running together for the lead with Varin able to get by Davis for the second spot one lap later while Romano in lap traffic by lap nine. Coming out of turn four to complete lap 10, Varin used the inside groove to take the lead from Romano, a lead that he would not relinquish in the caution free event.

            Dave Camara started the event in the 12^th position and on lap 12 he took over the fourth spot at the same time Davis took over the second position from Romano in lap traffic. At the halfway point in the event Varin held a straightaway lead over Davis, Romano, Camara, and Danny Varin with the leader now in heavy lap traffic.

            Camara made a strong move to get around Romano and two lap cars at the same time to take over the third position on lap 26 while Matt DeLorenzo moved into the top five after starting way back in the 18^th spot. Varin survived heavy lap traffic throughout the remainder of the event and took the win over Davis, Camara, Romano, and DeLorenzo.

            “I just tried to keep the car rolling on the top side of turns one and two but I almost got in the fence late in the race when the top side blew off,” Varin said.

            “The car felt good for the first time out,” Davis said after an impressive second place finish in the Tom & Jackie Sanford owned MP Matt Parenteau Builders sponsored #41. “Finishing second was great and we definitely have a great package here but we have some homework to do to be in the same league as Bobby.”

            “The car was real good and I am very happy with it,” Camara said of the Camara Slate sponsored #26 after his third place finish. “The boys made a bunch of changes to the car just before the feature and I have to thank them for all of their hard work as they get to do all the work on the car while I get to have all of the fun driving it.”

            Regular Sportsman division competitor John McAuliffe led every lap of the Limited Sportsman 602 Crate feature to take his first career win in the class which he was only running in for this week. McAuliffe started on the pole after winning the first heat race in the heads up start feature and once the green flag was thrown the race was for the second position as McAuliffe was on cruise control.

            New 602 Crate division regular John Scarborough started the event in the fifth position and moved up steadily into the second spot by the halfway point as McAuliffe was out to a straightaway lead at that point. McAuliffe fought lap traffic from the halfway point on to the checkered flag but was able to take the win over Scarborough, Ray Zemken, Derrick McGrew, and Korey Wilder.

            “We had the crate motor in the car from Syracuse last year and decided to leave it in just for this week to shake down the new car,” McAuliffe said after the win. “I lost a cylinder in the motor with a couple of laps to go and I was just waiting for someone to come and get by me.”

TRADITIONAL ICE JAM EVENT TO OPEN 2010 RACING SEASON AT FONDA

 By: Ron Szczerba

 FONDA, NY  – On Saturday, April 10 the 40-lap $4000 to win “Ice Jam” event for Modifieds will begin the 59^th year of competition at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway. This year’s event will start at 4:00 p.m. and on the racing card that day along with the Modifieds will be the Limited Sportsman 602 Crate division along with warm-ups for all divisions. The opening day Ice Jam event follows a successful car show at the Rotterdam Square Mall on March 19-21.

            Last year invader Pat Ward bested a 29 car starting field in the Ice Jam feature with Bobby Varin, Michael Storms, Tim Fuller, and Ronnie Johnson completing the top five in the event. Jeremiah Munson was the winner of the 602 Limited Sportsman feature last year, the first win of a six win season on his way to the 2009 602 Limited Sportsman Track Championship.

            In opening day events at Fonda held over the last 58 years, Jack Johnson leads the way with eight opening day victories in 1972, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1994. Following close behind with seven opening day wins is Lou Lazzaro who won events in 1963, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1977, and 1978.

            Two drivers have taken home five opening day wins as Dave Lape (1981, 1984, 1989, 1993, and 1995) and Pete Corey (1955, 1956, 1959, 1962, and 1967) both accomplished the feat. Jeff Trombley has four opening day victories in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2002 while Bobby Varin (2001, 2005), Jim Luke (1954, 1957), C.D. Coville (1979, 1980), Danny Johnson (1990, 2007), and Pat Ward (1996, 2009) have won two times apiece.

            Drivers who have one victory in opening day events at Fonda are Buddy Shuman (1948), Chuck Kotwica (1953), Irv Taylor (1958), Bill Wimble (1960), Tom Kotary (1961), Ken Shoemaker (1965), Don Wayman (1968), Rene Charland (1970), Maynard Forrette (1973), Dave Pelczar (1974), Pep Pepicelli (1975), Jimmy Horton (1985), Bob McCreadie (1986), Mike Romano (1987), Dave Camara (1998), Brett Hearn (2003), Tim McCreadie (2004), Mitch Gibbs (2006), and Matt DeLorenzo (2008).

FONDA SPEEDWAY RELEASES ROBUST 2010 SCHEDULE

The across-the-board schedule includes 26 events on the card at the Track of Champions.  The season revs up with the 12^th annual Ice Jam 40 lap Modified $4000 to win event on April 10, followed by the Season Points Opener for all divisions on April 17. On Tuesday, July 27, The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Tour invades the Track of Champions for the first time.    

The winged sprint cars will fly around the famous half-mile on April 24, May 29, June 9 and September 25.  We’ll all feel the thunder on Wednesday June 9 when the O’Reilly Allstar Circuit of Champions 410 Sprints land. 

Fonda Speedway and Utica Rome Speedway joined forces again and expanded the Thunder Along the Thruway Series to include eight modified races with a chance to win over $45,000.  Four sportsman Thunder Series events and four pro stock Thunder Series events are also on the card. 

Speedway fans can pay Tribute to Legend Lou Lazzaro on May 15 and Legend Dave Lape on June 5.  On August 14 BBL presents the annual Night of Features with all racers fighting for final points in double feature events. 

The vigorous season wraps up with the McDonalds championship finale weekend on September 25-26.  The ESS Sprint champion will be determined on the 25^th and following the 100 lap modified race, the Thunder Along the Thruway Series champions will be crowned on the 26^th.

Check out the Fonda Speedway 2010 racing machines March 19-21 at the Rotterdam Square Mall annual car show. 

FONDA SPEEDWAY STARTS 2010 RACING SEASON WITH ANNUAL CAR SHOW

By: Ron Szczerba

FONDA, NY – On Friday, March 19 through Sunday, March 21 the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway will present their annual car show at the Rotterdam Square Mall. The car show is a great time to meet your favorite driver, get his or her autograph, and see all of the new race cars and paint schemes before they get on the race track for the 2010 racing season. Schedule cards will be available at the car show so that you can keep track of all of the exciting events coming up at Fonda for 2010.

The car show will pave the way for the annual “Ice Jam” event to open the 2010 season in early April when the 59^th consecutive season of racing begins at the Fonda Fairgrounds ½ mile track. The car show is one of the busiest weekends of the year at the Rotterdam Square Mall with the crowds at the mall for the show reminding you of the crowds that you see during the Christmas shopping season.

The 2010 schedule is currently being finalized and will be out very soon. To reserve your spot at the annual car show at the Rotterdam Square Mall you can call the Fonda Speedway office at 382-3115.

On Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14 the Fonda Speedway will also be represented out at the Motorsports Expo car show in the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY. The show is put on by the Gater Racing News publication and is one of the largest shows out in the Central New York area.