MIKE FUSCO TAKES CHECKERS IN MODIFIEDS
Mike Fusco lead the first 33 laps of the Modified Feature last week but in a 50 Lap event, it wasn't enough. On a night sponsored by Albany Open MRI and WBUG Radio, he led flag to flag.
At the drop of the green flag, Fusco picked up where he left off a week ago and led the field with a big lead until caution came out on lap 6 for Ken Aanonsen who had hit the first turn wall. On the restart it was Fusco, followed by Ray Zemken, Josh Pieniazek, Chic Chandler and Bob Vedder. Last week's winner, Mike Romano was deep in the field with Jack Johnson and Jeff Trombley who would become factors later in the race. Johnson benefited from the restart gaining several positions, bringing him to 7th.
At the halfway point Fusco had extended his lead to nearly a straightaway. Jeff Trombley, steadily threading the field and the lapped traffic had moved into third and was pressuring Ray Zemken for the second spot. On the backstretch, Zemken went very high, allowing Trombley to slip underneath for the runner up position. Zemken was still having a great night after winning his heat race. Jack Johnson navigated around the lapped car of Jim Davis and set his sights on Zemken, making the pass for third on lap 24.
With four to go, Trombley was cutting into Fusco's huge lead and by the white flag was to his bumper. Trombley wasn't able to take advantage of a last lap restart and Fusco sprinted away to the win, followed by Trombley, Jack Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, and Bobby Varin. Varin, qualifying through the consi, was driving the Spraker owned 1J this week. Rounding out the top ten were Dave Lape, Ray Zemken, Alton Palmer, AJ Romano and Mike Romano.
David Towns takes home 3rd win of the season
Newlywed Erika Munson led the sportsman field in the pace car while last week's winner Jeremiah Munson started in the 14th position.
Josh Hohenforst and Eric Nelson started the feature on the front row, but Nelson grabbed the point at the drop of the flag. A quick caution slowed the field back down as an 8 car melee occurred in turn two with all cars returning.
David Towns, in the All American Tent Rental car, was fast from the start and had gained seven spots before the end of the second lap, now running in the fifth spot. Another tangle occurred, in turn four this time, involving the point leader, John McAuliffe. All would continue on. Robert Perry, after starting 8th, took the lead on the restart with Josh Hohenforst and Towns battling for second. Towns won out and went to the outside of Perry, then dipped low in the turn to take the lead on lap 3. Drew Fallis had gotten by Hohenforst for third and the field had stretched out with Towns leading, followed by Perry, Fallis and Hohenforst. Fallis steadily gained ground on Perry while Munson worked his way through the field, passing Hohenforst for 5th on lap 8.
Last week's early leader, Elmo Reckner, who wrecked hard in turn one last week came back with a great performance this week and was running in the 4th spot by halfway. Drew Fallis, winner of heat race 2 had advanced to second. At the end it was Towns, Fallis, Reckner, Munson and Perry.
Ody wins first of the season
Skip Pabis and Rob VanAernam lead the field to the green field, but Pabis grabbed the lead with Jeff Davis, who started third right behind him and taking the lead before the first lap was completed.
Steve Bidwell, who had started in the 10th spot was up to second on lap two, only to be passed by Kurt Olsen for the runner up spot. Olsen took the lead from Davis while Ody ran the extreme outside line and went 3-wide with Davis and Dan Ballard to take the second spot.
At a halfway restart it was Olsen, Ody, Davis, Ballard, Catanzano and Bidwell. Ody powered by Olsen on the outside on the restart with Olsen trying to regain the point, but just couldn't quite get there. Back a bit, Bidwell was passing Danny Ballard who had gotten by Davis for third. After a caution on lap 16, Bidwell grabbed the lead leaving Ballard and Ody to battle for second. Ody prevailed and set his sights on Bidwell. On a last lap restart Ody pressured Bidwell and finally made the pass on the last lap of the last turn. Ody was followed by Bidwell, Ballard, Olsen, and Steve Vrooman.
Danny Ody tried an innovative approach to fund raising for his race team this year. He "sold" laps to sponsors for $1.00 a lap and thanked all those sponsors in Victory Lane, dedicating his win to them.
Noviczski ends frustration; gets new HRD car to Victory Lane
Rob Noviczski, always a factor at Fonda Speedway changed things up a bit this year, racing the HRD house car instead of the Stinger chassis he has in the past. It took some fine tuning to get it to his liking, but that he did on Saturday night.
Jason Brownell and Dan Rickard were on the front row, but Hondo Carpenter, who started 4th went right to the front. Mark Lighthall, who started behind Hondo made his way to the front, passing Carpenter on the outside on lap 3. The lead duo took quite a lead on the field with the race going on behind them. Butchie Irwin left the track with a flat tire, but was able to return three laps later when the caution came out on lap nine for a spin in turn four involving Bill Dona and Rick Langenback who were running at the tail end of the field. While under caution Mark Lighthall's racer suffered overheating problems eliminating him from competition for the evening.
The restart brought the field back together with Carpenter in the lead and Noviczski nipping at his heels. The ever present point leader, Kenny Gates restarted in third followed by Joe Duncan, Steve Welch and Nick Stone. On lap 15 Duncan did a 360 on the backstretch and kept going. Noviczski stalked Carpenter for three laps, finally making the pass on lap 17 and leading to the end. He was followed by Carpenter, Gates, Welch and Luke Klob.
A Horning Family Reunion in Street Stock Division
Neil Cosselman had the early lead in the first street stock feature of the evening with the battle going on behind him between Ivan Joslin and Luke Horning. Jeff Crosier, who started near the end of the field was up to fourth by lap 3. Luke Horning went to the outside of Cosselman, then to the inside but the pass wasn't there. Horning took the lead on lap 8 and John Babcock moved into second. A good battle ensued between Crosier, Oldorf and Cosselman. At the line it was Horning, Babcock, Cosselman, Crosier and Howard Smith.
In the second street stock feature, Don Warner started in the lead but was quickly passed by Bob Van Aernam and Dave Horning, Jr. With Van Aernam leading the way, with Horning, Jr. following his every move. Horning tried to get under VanAernam once when he slipped up a little, but he shut the door. With two to go, VanAernam got loose on the front stretch and Horning made contact but recovered, while VanAernam went around and kept going. Horning took home the checkers, followed by Warner, VanAernam, John Bradt and Phil Pearson.
Modified Summary
Heat Race 1 - Alton Palmer, Matt DeLorenzo, Mike Fusco, Jack Johnson, Ken Hanson
Heat Race 2 - Ray Zemken, Bob Vedder, Craig Hanson, Chic Chandler, Jim Davis
Heat Race 3 - Jeff Trombley, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Josh Pieniazek, Ron Holmes, Ken Aanonsen
Feature - 30 Laps: Mike Fusco, Jeff Trombley, Jack Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, Bobby Varin, Dave Lape, Ray Zemken, Alton Palmer, AJ Romano, Mike Romano, Josh Pieniazek, Robert King, Chic Chandler, John Marsh, Craig Hanson, Bob Vedder, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Ken Hanson, Tony Pepicelli, Derrick McGrew, Steve Akers, Jim Davis, Billy Osta, Ron Holmes, Ronnie Johnson, Ken Aanonsen
Sportsman Summary
Heat Race 1 - John McAuliffe, Elmo Reckner, Bobby Hackel, Josh Hohenforst, Rich Salisbury
Heat Race 2 - Drew Fallis, Robert Perry, Jeremiah Minson, Keith Nichols, John Johnson
Heat Race 3 - Eric Nelson, Tim Clemons, Jim Burton, Mark Mortensen, David Towns
Feature - 20 Laps: David Towns, Drew Fallis, Elmo Reckner, Jeremiah Munson, Robert Perry, Bobby Hackel, Jim Burton, John McAuliffe, Josh Hohenforst, Justin House, Keith Flach, Mark Mortensen, Eric Nelson, John Johnson, Mark Kislowski, Dan Bublak, Chris Garity, Tim Clemons, John Constantino, Randy Meka, Rich Salisbury, Keith Nichols, Mike Bellenger, Pete Sisler
IMCA Modifieds Summary
Heat Race 1 - Steve Bidwell, Danny Ody, Jeff Davis, Darcy Volans, Carol Parker
Heat Race 2 - Tom Funk, Rob Van Aernam, John Malloy, Jeff Jones, JoJo Donato
Heat Race 3 - Danny Ballard, Aaron Jacobs, Skip Pabis, Kurt Olsen, Chri Reckner
Feature - 20 Laps: Danny Ody, Steve Bidwell, Danny Ballard, Kurt Olsen, Steve Vrooman, Jeff Davis, Aaron Jacobs, Pete Knapp, Darcy Volans, Rob VanAernam, Chris Reckner, Carol Parker, George Catanzano, JoJo Donato, Tom Funk, Ken Van Wert, Skip Pabis, Nick Candelaria, Dennis Vrooman, Jeff Jones, John Malloy
Pro Stock Summary
Heat Race 1 - Hondo Carpenter, Nick Stone, Steve Welch, Luke Klob, Mark Lighthall
Heat Race 2 - Butchie Irwin, Rob Noviczski, Jason Brownell, Kenny Gates, Dan Rickard
Pro Stock Feature: Rob Noviczski, Hondo Carpenter, Kenny Gates, Steve Welch, Luke Klob, Nick Stone, Dan Rickard, Wayne Patrick, Jason Brownell, Randy Cannell, Joe Duncan, Butchie Irwin, Mark Lighthall, Rick Langenback
Street Stock Summary
Street Stock "A": Luke Horning, John Babcock, Neil Cosselman, Jeff Crosier, Howard Smith, Sam Surnear, Cassidy Wilson, Bill Lehman, Ivan Joslin, Dwight Oldorff, DT Pickard
Street Stock "B": Dave Horning, Jr., Don Warner, Bob VanAernam, John Bradt, Phil Pearson, Paul Hughes, Pete Broderson, Howie Clark, Jack Ha