ROMANO TAKE FIRST WIN 2004
For the first time since August 17, 2002, A.J. Romano stood in victory lane at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway. On that night almost two years ago now, Romano won both ends of double features. Actually his win at Fonda on Saturday, May 8 could have been his second win of the weekend but a slight mistake in lap traffic at Albany Saratoga the night before cost him a possible win while he was leading the event there.
“I thought about the Albany Saratoga deal with five laps to go but luckily we got here in victory lane tonight at Fonda,” Romano said. “After such a bad 2003 season, Skip (Seymour) and I decided to make a change to a Bicknell car and it has paid off. I would also like to thank my father Andy, my brother Mike, and my entire family.”
Other winners on the night were Bobby Hackel (sportsman), Kevin Ward (pro stock), George Catanzano (IMCA), Guy Klob and Luke Horning (street stock), and Dave D’Agostino in the Eye Rock 500 a race for blind people.
Radio station WPYX PYX-106 sponsored the third annual Eye Rock 500 with all proceeds from the fund raising event going to Camp Abilities, a camp for blind and deaf children. The PYX-106 morning team of Bob Wolf, John Mulrooney, and Ellen Z were all on hand to help raise funds for the camp.
Regular drivers at the Track of Champions in all divisions served as coach drivers to help make a dream come true for the blind drivers. The regular drivers who took the time to help out included Alton Palmer, Erik Nelson, Jeff Barker, Elmo Reckner, Derrick McGrew, Rob Noviczski, Steve Akers, Drew Fallis, Hondo Carpenter, Howard Smith, Nick Stone, Dan Nolin, Tim Clemons, Steve Welch, Mike Budka, Jr., and Joe Williams.
Craig Hanson started on the outside pole of the 30-lap modified feature taking the lead as the green flag was thrown. Two and three wide racing was taking place early on behind the leader as Bobby Vedder, Don Mattison, Tony Pepicelli, Alton Palmer, and Romano all battled closely for position.
Romano was able to get by Palmer for the fifth spot on lap six as the yellow was out for the first time one lap later. On the restart, Pepicelli got by Mattison for the second position with Romano now third. On lap twelve, Romano got by Pepicelli for second and was catching the leader when the yellow came out again on lap thirteen.
On the restart, Romano was the new leader as Pepicelli took over the second spot from Hanson with Vedder also getting by for third. Bobby Varin took advantage of being in the top five in modified points to get into the feature as a guaranteed starter after having problems in his heat race. Varin started the feature in the twenty-eighth spot and methodically made his way through the field into the seventh spot on lap eighteen.
While Varin was making his move into the top five with five laps to go, Dave Lape who had won the last two modified feature events at Fonda was also making his way to the front slipping into the sixth position at that point. Romano wasn’t about to make a mistake two nights in a row as he cruised on to victory over Pepicelli, Vedder, Varin, and Palmer.
“As good as the Troyer car was for years, the Bicknell car is definitely the way to go now,” Romano said. “I was really a little bit off tonight but I told some other people tonight that we were gaining on it every week. “I want to thank all of my sponsors and everybody for sticking with me as I struggled through last season.”
Robert Perry and sportsman division rookie T.J. Clemons started the sportsman feature on the front row with Perry taking the early lead. Clemons ducked under Perry for the lead in turn two on the second lap and got the position which he held until lap five when Perry took over the point again in turn four. While Perry stretched his lead out to full straightaway by lap nine, Bobby Hackel was making his way to the front sitting in the third position after starting tenth.
The one and only yellow flag of the event was thrown on lap ten closing up the field, giving Clemons and Hackel one last shot at the leader. Hackel got by Clemons on lap eleven for second with John McAuliffe following him through for third. Hackel was up to Perry’s rear nerf bar with five laps to go and one lap later made a move on the inside of turn three to take the lead. Hackel led the rest of the way for his first win of 2004 followed by Perry, McAuliffe, Drew Fallis, and Clemons.
The racing in the pro stock division has been phenomenal in the first few weeks of the season and this week was no different. Six lead changes took place between four drivers with Luke Klob the first to lead from his outside pole starting position. Rob Noviczski took over the point before lap one was completed with an early yellow coming out. Nick Stone started the feature in the tenth position and immediately started to make his way to the front. When the yellow came out again on lap seven it took two tries to get the race restarted as Stone made his way up to second. Stone took over the lead from Noviczski on lap nine after a side by side battle but it was short lived as Noviczski came right back to take over the lead one lap later.
As these two drivers raced side by side, swapping the lead many times as they raced around the ½ mile oval, Kevin Ward was making his way to the front after starting eighth. Ward caught the top two of Stone and Noviczski on lap twelve and many times looked at going right down the middle of the two leaders as they raced side by side. On lap fourteen, Ward made his move past Stone for the lead and survived one more yellow flag on his way to the victory over Noviczski, Mark Lighthall, Stone, and Chucky Dumblewski. It was Ward’s first career win at Fonda after racing at both Lebanon Valley and Orange County in previous years.
Steve Vrooman led the caution filled IMCA feature at the start followed by Dennis Vroman. Steve Bidwell started the event in the ninth spot but it didn’t take him too long to make his way to the front as he took over the third position on a lap three restart after a caution. Bidwell was second on lap four as George Catanzano made his way up to third after starting tenth. Bidwell caught Vrooman on lap six as the two raced side by side for the lead. After three laps of nearly continuous side by side racing, Bidwell was the new leader on lap nine.
Catanzano took over the second position from Vrooman at that point and before long it was another classic battle between Bidwell and Catanzano for the victory. Catanzano was running strong down low while Bidwell raced comfortably up high as these two raced side by side going for the checkered flag. On the inside of turn one on the final lap, Catanzano made the low move stick, took over the lead and went on to victory over Bidwell, Danny Ballard, Vrooman, and Vroman.
Duke McSpirit led the street stock “A” feature at the start until Guy Klob took over the point on the outside of the backstretch before lap one was completed. Dwight Oldorf was next to lead on lap three after a restart but his lead was also short lived as Klob got back by him on lap five on the frontstretch. Klob went on for the win over Ron Tollner, Rocky Warner, Oldorf, and John Babcock. In post race inspection, Tollner was disqualified moving McSpirit into the top five.
Mike Budka, Jr. was the early leader of the street stock “B” feature until lap three when Dan Hartgraves took over the point. Luke Horning took over the lead one lap later and led the remaining laps despite heavy pressure from Frank Guiffre for the win. Guiffre finished a close second followed by Hartgraves, Paul Hughes, and Don Warner. In post race inspection, Hartgraves was disqualified moving John Bradt into the top five.
Eric Vickler led early in the Eye Rock 500 before Scott Flaska took over the lead before lap one was completed. Flaska bobbed and weaved through lap traffic as there were cars all over the race track and led until the final lap when Dave D’Agostino took over the lead and went on to the win over Vickler, Flaska, Marty Kelly, and Brian Weeden.
Next week at Fonda there will be a regular show of racing in all divisions sponsored by Wm. Larned & Sons. Race time will be 6:00 p.m.
There will also be a Test & Tune practice session for all classes this Wednesday, May 12 at 5:00 p.m.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 36 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Don Mattison, Keith Shoemaker, Erik Gall, Craig Hanson, Jack Johnson, Jerry Pennock, Jr.
HEAT 2 – Ryan Odasz, Bobby Vedder, Alton Palmer, Tony Pepicelli, Mike Fusco, Ronnie Holmes
HEAT 3 – Jeff Trombley, A.J. Romano, Dave Lape, Kenny Hanson, Ken Aanonsen, Jim Davis
MODIFIED CONSOLATIONS – 3 qualify
CONSI 1 – Robert King, Matt DeLorenzo, Chic Chandler
CONSI 2 – John Marsh, Sr., Mario Clair, Ray Zemken
WPYX PYX-106 MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – A.J. ROMANO, Tony Pepicelli, Bobby Vedder, Bobby Varin, Alton Palmer, Dave Lape, Jeff Trombley, Mario Clair, Craig Hanson, Kenny Hanson, Ronnie Holmes, Jack Johnson, Matt DeLorenzo, Don Mattison, Robert King, Steve Akers, Jim Davis, Mike Fusco, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Josh Pieniazek, John Marsh, Sr., Erik Gall, Wayne Figler, Ray Zemken, Ken Aanonsen, Keith Shoemaker, Derrick McGrew, Chic Chandler, Ryan Odasz
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 27 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Keith Flach, Tony Farone, Robert Perry, Bobby Hackel, Pete Sisler, John Johnson
HEAT 2 – David Towns, John McAuliffe, Jim Burton, T.J. Clemons, Randy Meka, Ricky Quick
HEAT 3 – Drew Fallis, Elmo Reckner, Joe Williams, Erik Nelson, Mark Kislowski, John Cefala
WPYX PYX-106 SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20-LAPS – BOBBY HACKEL, Robert Perry, John McAuliffe, Drew Fallis, T.J. Clemons, Elmo Reckner, Tony Farone, David Towns, Jim Burton, Keith Flach, Michael Ballestero, Erik Nelson, Mark Kislowski, Pat O’Hanlon, Joe Williams, John Constantino, John Johnson, Randy Meka, John Cefala, Pete Sisler, Ricky Quick, Jim Meka, Keith Nichols, Bubba Barber, Jeremiah Munson, Tom LaPlante, Mark Mortensen
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 21 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Luke Klob, Steve Welch, Mark Lighthall, Butchie Irwin, Hondo Carpenter, Joe Duncan
HEAT 2 – Kenny Gates, Kevin Ward, Rob Noviczski, Chuck McSpirit, Rod Slater, Nick Stone
WPYX PYX-106 PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20-LAPS – KEVIN WARD, Rob Noviczski, Mark Lighthall, Nick Stone, Chucky Dumblewski, Kenny Gates, Joe Duncan, Luke Klob, Hondo Carpenter, Chip Smith, Chuck McSpirit, Pat Zimmer, Rod Slater, Steve Welch, Cale Kneer, Jason Brownell, Bill Dona, Butchie Irwin, Roger Keeny
IMCA QUALIFYING – 21 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – Steve Vrooman, George Catanzano, Danny Ballard, Dennis Vroman, Danny Ody
HEAT 2 – Jeff Davis, Kurt Olsen, Rob VanAernam, Steve Bidwell, Tom Funk
WPYX PYX-106 IMCA FEATURE – 20-LAPS – GEORGE CATANZANO, Steve Bidwell, Danny Ballard, Steve Vrooman, Dennis Vroman, Tom Funk, Danny Ody, Bob Wilkie, Darcy Volans, Aaron Jacobs, Carol Parker, Rob VanAernam, Kenny VanWert, Chris Reckner, Malcolm Warner, Kurt Olsen, Jeff Davis, Kevin Buff, Eric Stumpf, Eric Taber
WPYX PYX-106 STREET STOCK “A” FEATURE – 12-LAPS – GUY KLOB, Rocky Warner, Dwight Oldorf, John Babcock, Duke McSpirit, Brian Cosselman, Steve Cosselman, Neil Cosselman, Mark Sullivan, Jr., Sam Surnear, Ron Cummings, Cassidy Wilson, Jeff Crosier, Tim Veeder, Ed Bradt, Ron Tollner
WPYX PYX-106 STREET STOCK “B” FEATURE – 12-LAPS – LUKE HORNING, Frank Guiffre, Paul Hughes, Don Warner, John Bradt, Bob VanAernam, Howard Smith, Mike Budka, Jr., Mike Burdo, D.T. Pickard, Joe Smith, Phil Pearson, Ulysses Taylor, Ian Joslin, Howie Clark, Dan Pollock, John Quintana, Dan Clemens, Dan Hartgraves
WPYX PYX-106 EYE ROCK 500 – 8-LAPS – DAVE D’AGOSTINO, Eric Vickler, Scott Flaska, Marty Kelly, Brian Weeden, Gary Lewis, Wes Atkins, Norm Nilsen, Pearl, Crosby, Mark Evans, J.R. Hotaling