TROMBLEY WINS FIRST OF 2004 AT FONDA

Like many other drivers have done so far this year Jeff Trombley has struggled to get to victory lane at Fonda Speedway. But like the Country band Alabama said in one of their songs “You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” and last Saturday evening Trombley made his way to checkerboard square for the first time in 2004 and the 30th time of his career at Fonda. BBL Construction and the U.S. Air Force sponsored the racing program and Skylers Dream Team sang the National Anthem on a very exciting evening of racing at the Track of Champions.

“I have to give promoter Ric Lucia and his crew a round of applause for the way they prepared the track surface for tonight,” Trombley said in victory lane. “They put loads of clay on the track this week and I thought that they were nuts but it turned out to be an absolutely perfect surface.”

Ron Holmes and Jim Davis brought the Modified field down to the green flag with Davis the early leader. An early yellow slowed the field at the completion of lap one when last weeks winner Mike Fusco crashed into the turn four wall. He was okay but was done for the night.

Another caution slowed the field on the next lap with Davis maintaining the lead both times as Matt DeLorenzo and Trombley made their way to the front after starting eleventh and fourteenth respectively. DeLorenzo got by both Josh Pieniazek and Billy Osta for the fourth position on lap six as Trombley followed through for the fifth spot.

A very scary accident brought out the red flag on lap eight as Ray Zemken ended up sideways on the front straightaway with the rest of the field bearing down on him. Mike Romano was the first to make contact with Zemken, sending Zemken spinning like a top with Bobby Vedder and Alton Palmer to follow. Palmer flipped over several times but landed on all four wheels as all four cars were done for the night with major damage to all of the cars involved.

When you see a wreck like this one you look in awe at how anyone could get out of their cars unharmed after such a major crash. Credit goes out to all of the car builders and safety equipment that the drivers use in these cars as fortunately everyone was able to walk away.

When the race was restarted Davis was out front with Holmes close by in second while DeLorenzo, Trombley, Osta, and Jack Johnson were waging one heck of a battle in the top five. At the halfway point Davis was still the leader followed by Holmes, Trombley, DeLorenzo, and Johnson.

Lap traffic came into play for the leader on lap eighteen while Trombley got alongside Holmes for the second spot in a close, exciting battle. Holmes held onto the position as DeLorenzo made it a three way battle on lap twenty-three with Davis able to pull away slightly at that point. The yellow flag was out one last time with seven laps to go and Trombley used that to his advantage as he had a really fast race car.

On the restart, Trombley swept around the outside of Holmes for the second position and quickly caught Davis as those two pulled away from the rest of the field and made there own great race for the win. Trombley ducked under Davis in turn two on lap twenty-seven but Davis was able to hold him off that time. One lap later Trombley made the same move stick as he came out of turn two with the lead.

Trombley pulled away from that point on and went on to win by a comfortable margin over Davis, DeLorenzo, Holmes, and Johnson. “We were trying different things with the car the first part of the year and all of the changes that we made to the car were wrong,” Trombley said. “We have hit on something now so we have finally gone the right way with the adjustments.”

Sportsman division rookies Erik Nelson and T.J. Clemons started the Sportsman feature on the front row with Clemons leading early on. David Towns started the event in the fourteenth position but he moved all the way up to the sixth spot by lap two behind Tony Farone. When the yellow came out on lap four Towns was already up to the fourth position behind Clemons, Nelson, and Jim Burton.

On the restart, Towns swept around the outside of all three cars in a great move that gave him the lead with Elmo Reckner now second and Bobby Hackel third. Farone moved into the fourth spot on lap eight as Towns had pulled away to a straightaway lead. With Towns out for a Sunday drive at that point the race for second was a great one between Reckner, Hackel, and Farone as they raced close for the position.

Farone found the low groove to his liking and got by Hackel for the third spot on lap thirteen and then raced side by side with Reckner for the second spot one lap later. Farone took over the second position with five laps to go with Towns now getting into lap traffic. Towns went on to his fourth win of the season followed by Farone, Hackel, Reckner, and Joe Williams.

Jason Brownell led lap one of the Pro Stock feature before Nick Stone took over the point on lap two with an early caution flag coming out at that point. On the restart, Kenny Gates who started seventh got by Brownell for the second position and set his sights on the leader. On lap four, Gates was the new leader of the event as last weeks winner Rob Noviczski and Butchie Irwin made their way to the front.

Irwin got by Noviczski for the third spot on lap six and one lap later he also got by Stone for the second spot with Gates now out to a straightaway lead. Irwin kept on cutting into the lead that Gates had built up but could never get close enough to challenge as Gates went on to his fifth win of the season and the twenty-sixth of his career followed by Irwin, Stone, Noviczski, and Hondo Carpenter.

It took three tries to get lap one of the IMCA feature completed with crashes slowing the event each time. Two drivers that had won features earlier this season were involved in those crashes including Danny Ballard and Jeff Jones. Ballard was able to continue but unfortunately Jones was done for the night. When the race finally got going, Steve Vrooman led at the start from his fourth place starting position. George Catanzano started the event in the eighth position but was already up to the second spot on lap two after getting by Rob VanAernam for the spot.

Steve Bidwell was also making his way to the front after starting ninth, sitting in the fourth spot on lap four with Vrooman now out to a straightaway lead. Catanzano’s great run came to an end on lap twelve with smoke pouring out of the #Z1 as he was done for the evening at that point. Nobody had anything for Vrooman on this night as he went on to his first career win in the IMCA division at Fonda over Bidwell, Aaron Jacobs, Danny Ody, and Ballard. It was a very emotional win for Vrooman as he celebrated with his family in victory lane.

Dan Clemens led the Street Stock “A” feature at the start but it didn’t last too long as Rocky Warner was the new leader at the completion of lap one. Bob VanAernam started the event in the tenth position and immediately moved to the front as he was in the second spot behind Warner by lap three. VanAernam raced side by side for the lead with Warner on lap six with Warner able to hold on to the lead at that point. One lap later Warner’s car started smoking heavily and he was forced out of the event at that point with VanAernam taking over the lead. VanAernam led the rest of the way for his sixth win of the season and twenty-ninth of his career followed by D.T. Pickard, Dave Horning Jr., John Bradt, and Howard Smith.

Bill Duprey led early on in the Street Stock “B” feature before Dwight Oldorf took over the lead at the completion of lap one. John Babcock was the new leader on lap two with Phil Pearson taking over the second position on lap five after starting tenth. Babcock and Pearson raced side by side for the lead on lap six with Babcock able to hold on to the lead at that point. On the next lap, Pearson was able to get the lead on the inside of turn two and he led the remaining laps for what looked like his second win of the season.

In post race inspection, Pearson was disqualified for having illegal springs while third place finisher Oldorf was also disqualified for having an illegal spring spacer on his car. Babcock was handed the win, his third of the season and fifteenth of his career over Cassidy Wilson, Bill Lehman, Dick Nichols, and Ivan Joslin.

Roger Newkirk Jr. led the first eleven laps of the 15-lap 4-Cylinder feature event before former Pro Stock competitor Jay Resch took over the lead on lap twelve. Resch went on for the win followed by Newkirk, Randy Davis, Greg Davis, and David Klob.

Next Saturday at Fonda a regular show in all divisions is on the racing card which starts at 6:00 p.m. and will be sponsored by Budweiser. The Sportsman feature will be a 30-lap DIRT Sportsman East Region Series event with series points on the line.

MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 29 total cars – 6 qualify – 5 handicapped

HEAT 1 – Alton Palmer, Jeff Trombley, Bobby Varin, Billy Osta, Tony Pepicelli, Chic Chandler

HEAT 2 – Jim Davis, Bobby Vedder, Matt DeLorenzo, Jerry Pennock Jr., John Marsh Sr., Ryan Odasz

HEAT 3 – Ron Holmes, Ray Zemken, Josh Pieniazek, Steve Akers, Jack Johnson, A.J. Romano

MODIFIED CONSOLATION – 4 qualify – Mike Romano, Mike Fusco, Derrick McGrew, Ken Hanson

BBL CONSTRUCTION/U.S. AIR FORCE MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – JEFF TROMBLEY, Jim Davis, Matt DeLorenzo, Ron Holmes, Jack Johnson, A.J. Romano, Bobby Varin, Steve Akers, Billy Osta, Ryan Odasz, Tony Pepicelli, Robert King, Josh Pieniazek, Craig Hanson, Chic Chandler, John Marsh Sr., Jerry Pennock Jr., Dave Lape, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Romano, Ray Zemken, Bobby Vedder, Alton Palmer, Derrick McGrew, Ken Hanson, Mike Fusco

SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 26 total cars – 6 qualify – 5 handicapped

HEAT 1 – Keith Flach, John McAuliffe, Jeremiah Munson, Joe Williams, Chris Garrity, Randy Meka

HEAT 2 – David Towns, Justin House, Robert Perry, Elmo Reckner, Erik Nelson, Mike Bellinger

HEAT 3 – Tony Farone, Jim Burton, T.J. Clemons, Bobby Hackel, Mark Kislowski, Pete Sisler

BBL CONSTRUCTION/U.S. AIR FORCE SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20-LAPS – DAVID TOWNS, Tony Farone, Bobby Hackel, Elmo Reckner, Joe Williams, Keith Flach, Jeremiah Munson, John McAuliffe, Jim Burton, Michael Ballestero, Mark Mortensen, T.J. Clemons, Chris Garrity, Erik Nelson, Josh Hohenforst, John Constantino, Justin House, Pete Sisler, Keith Nichols, Randy Meka, Walter Cook, Bubba Barber, Ricky Quick, Mike Bellinger, Mark Kislowski, Robert Perry

PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 15 total cars – 5 qualify

HEAT 1 – Hondo Carpenter, Rob Noviczski, Jason Brownell, Bobby Gile, Chip Smith

HEAT 2 – Butchie Irwin, Nick Stone, Rod Slater, Kenny Gates, Chuck McSpirit

BBL CONSTRUCTION/U.S. AIR FORCE PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20-LAPS – KENNY GATES, Butchie Irwin, Nick Stone, Rob Noviczski, Hondo Carpenter, Chuck McSpirit, Bobby Gile, Chip Smith, Jason Brownell, Wayne Patrick, Joe Duncan, Rod Slater, Mark Lighthall

IMCA QUALIFYING – 19 total cars – 5 qualify

HEAT 1 – George Catanzano, Danny Ballard, Pete Knapp, Rob VanAernam, Tom Funk

HEAT 2 – Steve Vrooman, Jeff Jones, Steve Bidwell, Aaron Jacobs, Skip Pabis

BBL CONSTRUCTION/U.S. AIR FORCE IMCA FEATURE – 20-LAPS – STEVE VROOMAN, Steve Bidwell, Aaron Jacobs, Danny Ody, Danny Ballard, Tom Funk, Rob VanAernam, Darcy Volans, Kurt Olsen, Jeff Davis, JoJo Donato, Hondo Carpenter, Tom Costanza, Pete Knapp, George Catanzano, Skip Pabis, Carol Parker, Jeff Jones, Chris Reckner

BBL CONSTRUCTION/U.S. AIR FORCE STREET STOCK “A” FEATURE – 12-LAPS – BOB VANAERNAM, D.T. Pickard, Dave Horning Jr., John Bradt, Howard Smith, Dan Clemens, Don Warner, Howie Clark, Rocky Warner, Ulysses Taylor, Pete Broderson, Jack Hamm

BBL CONSTRUCTION/U.S. AIR FORCE STREET STOCK “B” FEATURE – 12-LAPS – JOHN BABCOCK, Cassidy Wilson, Bill Lehman, Dick Nichols, Ivan Joslin, Mark Sullivan Jr., Sam Surnear, Paul Hughes, Luke Horning, Neil Cosselman, Bill Duprey, Jeff Crosier, Phil Pearson, Dwight Oldorf

BBL CONSTRUCTION/U.S. AIR FORCE 4-CYLINDER FEATURE – 15-LAPS – JAY RESCH, Roger Newkirk Jr., Randy Davis, Greg Davis, David Klob, Bob Snyder, Trevor Gavin, Neil Hasbrouck, Lee Chichester, Lynn Wesley, Ellery Ecker, Jeff Kinn, Daphney Pearson