LAPE GETS SECOND IN A ROW AT FONDA
On Saturday May 10, local radio station PYX 106 sponsored the evenings racing program at the Fonda Speedway. It turned out to be a night where fifteen blind drivers got their chance to be in the limelight. It was also a night where two rookie drivers in the modified division would have their best runs thus far in the modified feature.
And last but certainly not least it was a night where Dave Lape ended up in victory lane for the 93rd time of his career at the Track of Champions allowing his daughter Jessica to do a roof dance for the second week in a row. It also left his wife Jackie in awe after the feature was completed. “I just can’t believe that all of this is happening,” she said.
“Again I want to thank Andy (Romano), the Roosevelt’s, and Pat Riley,” Lape said in victory lane. “They came together, put a great car under me, and that is the secret here at Fonda.”
Kenny Hanson led at the drop of the green flag with an early yellow slowing the field as lap two was completed. On the restart, Ray Zemken was the new leader with modified rookie Jim Davis now second after also getting by Hanson.
Another yellow came out two laps later with six cars involved in turn two including Mike Romano and Craig Criscone who were done for the evening. Zemken was challenged by Davis as the race was restarted and after a one lap side by side battle Davis was the new leader.
Another modified rookie Ryan Odasz got by Zemken for second on lap seven as Jeff Trombley, A.J. Romano, and Lape battled three wide for the fifth position. Lape finally got by Trombley for the position on lap twelve with Jack Johnson just ahead.
At that point Odasz was the new leader after getting by Davis on a restart after a caution flag was thrown for Robert King who spun on the backstretch.
Lape got by Johnson for the third position on lap fourteen and quickly caught the top two of Odasz and Davis. Lape made quick work of getting by Davis for second on lap seventeen and one lap later used the inside of the speedway in turn three to take the lead.
From that point on it was clear sailing for the Andy’s Speed #22 with the race now for the second position. Lape’s car was working wherever he put it on the speedway whether it be the inside or the outside allowing him to easily get by lap traffic.
Pat Ward who may very well be a Fonda regular this season started the feature just ahead of Lape in the fourteenth position and got by both Davis and Odasz for the second spot with eight laps to go.
At that point Lape held a straightaway advantage with only lap cars between himself and victory lane. Lape ended up winning by a comfortable margin over Ward, Trombley, Odasz, and Davis.
“Last week we started up front but this week it was different as we started in the rear,” Lape said. “We just come back every week and do the best that we can.”
The caution filled sportsman feature began with Jason Memrick as the early leader from his pole position start. Lap four saw the caution come out for the first time in the event for Bobby Hackel and Michael Ballestero who crashed in the backstretch.
It took two more tries to get the feature going again and on the last restart John McAuliffe was the new leader after starting eleventh. Through numerous restarts, McAuliffe retained the lead and went on for the win by 0.424 sec over Tim Dwyer. Josh Pieniazek, Allen Powell, Jr., and Jim Burton completed the top five.
The pro stock feature began with Chucky Dumblewski as the early leader with an early caution flag coming out for several cars that came together in turn two. On the restart, Erik Nelson took over the lead only to have the yellow come back out for another multi car crash in turn three.
Dave Bayes was the leader on this restart with last years track champion Chris Morris already up to fifth after starting back in the twelfth position. Morris didn’t waste any time getting to the front as he ducked under both Rob VanAernam and Bayes for the lead on lap three.
From that point on it was a race for the second position as Morris checked out and at one point in the event held a half track lead over the second place car. The race for the second position was a good one however as Frank Twing, Steve Welch, and Rob Noviczski all took turns at the position.
Noviczski took over the second spot from Welch with four laps remaining in the event with one final caution coming out on lap eighteen for Nick Stone who crashed hard into the turn one wall. Stone wasn’t injured in the accident.
The second position would change one more time before the feature was completed as Morris cruised on to the victory over Welch, Noviczski, Twing, and VanAernam.
George Catanzano was the early leader of the IMCA feature event from his pole position start. Steve Vrooman took over the second position on lap four from Dennis Vroman and two laps later Vrooman was pressuring Catanzano for the lead. That would only last for one lap however as Vrooman spun in between turns one and two on lap seven.
As Catanzano continued to lead, Steve Bidwell was marching to the front after starting the event in the ninth position. Bidwell got by Kevin Buff, Danny Ody, and Joe Williams on lap eight for the third position and before the lap was completed he was second after also getting by Vroman.
It was now a battle between Catanzano and Bidwell who have gotten used to battling for the lead in the IMCA feature events at Fonda over the years. On lap thirteen, Bidwell was alongside the leader and squeezed between the frontstretch wall and Catanzano while bidding for the lead which he would eventually take in turn two.
But the race for the win wasn’t over yet as Kevin Buff also got by Catanzano on lap fifteen and put up a strong challenge for the lead over the final laps. Buff actually took over the lead on lap eighteen using the inside groove in turn four to get the job done. Bidwell was working well on the outside of the speedway however and when Buff’s lane was blocked by a lap car with one lap to go Bidwell retook the lead and went on to the win over Buff, Catanzano, Vroman, and Danny Ballard.
The street stock “A” feature saw Ed Bradt take the early lead which he would hold until lap five when he spun in turn two. Bradt straightened the car out and continued on with Mike Budka, Jr. the new leader. Mike Frasier took over the lead on lap nine and went on to his second win of the season over Ron Tollner, Bob VanAernam, Luke Horning, and Paul Hughes.
Dan Hartgraves led early in the street stock “B” feature until Frank Guiffre took over the position on lap three. Carol Parker and Jeff Crosier were staging a whale of a battle for the second position with Crosier finally taking the position on lap eight. Crosier would get alongside Guiffre for the lead on lap nine but after some contact was made Guiffre was able to hold on to the lead and went on for the win over Crosier, Dave Horning, Jr., Parker, and Guy Klob.
The second annual EYEROCK 500 also took place as a benefit for Camp Abilities, a sports camp for children who are blind, deaf-blind, or multi-handicapped. Fifteen blind drivers got the chance to race in the event with regular drivers from Fonda Speedway in the car with them as coach drivers. “Wolf” a D.J. from PYX 106 was also a competitor in the event.
Marty Kelly took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the ten lap event and held that position until the second lap when Scott Flaska took over the lead. Kelly had a very strong car however, retook the lead on lap three and led the remaining laps for the win with his coach driver Mark Burke by his side. Flaska, Kirk Bruce, Wes Askins, and Ray Heydet completed the top five.
The Mohawk Valley Skydivers kicked off the EYEROK 500 as four skydivers dropped from the sky the last one carrying the American Flag as a salute to our country.
Next week a regular show takes place at the Track of Champions with a starting time of 6:00 p.m.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 35 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – Mike Fusco, Ryan Odasz, Dave Lape, A.J. Romano, Craig Hanson
HEAT 2 – Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, Alton Palmer, Ken Hanson, Tony Pepicelli
HEAT 3 – John Marsh, Jeff Trombley, Craig Criscone, Bobby Varin, Erik Gall
HEAT 4 – Pat Ward, Ray Zemken, Brian Borst, Jim Davis, Ronnie Johnson
CONSOLATION – 8 qualify – Robert King, Steve Akers, Bobby Vedder, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Jeremy Mathies, Ron Proctor, Bob Sitterly, Floyd Billington
MODIFIED FEATURE – 30 laps – DAVE LAPE, Pat Ward, Jeff Trombley, Ryan Odasz, Jeff Davis, Jack Johnson, Bobby Varin, A.J. Romano, Brian Borst, Ray Zemken, Ken Hanson, Mike Fusco, Craig Criscone, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Tony Pepicelli, Alton Palmer, John Marsh, Steve Akers, Bob Sitterly, Johnny Marsh, Floyd Billington, Bobby Vedder, Jeremy Mathies, Ron Proctor, Ancel Collins, Robert King, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Romano, Craig Hanson, Erik Gall
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 20 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Jeremiah Munson, Jim Burton, Allen Powell, Jr., Jason Memrick, Tim Dwyer, John McAuliffe
HEAT 2 – Tim Clemons, Bobby Hackel, Drew Fallis, Mike Ketchum, Josh Pieniazek, John Constantino
SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20 laps – JOHN MCAULIFFE, Tim Dwyer, Josh Pieniazek, Allen Powell, Jr., Jim Burton, Tony Farone, Tim Clemons, Jeremiah Munson, Robert Perry, Drew Fallis, Jason Memrick, Mark Mortensen, John Johnson, John Cefala, John Constantino, Elmo Reckner, Dave Towns, Pete Sisler, Mike Ketchum, Bobby Hackel, Michael Ballestero
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 20 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Chris Morris, Jerry Pepper, Bobby Gile, Dan Rickard, Randy Cannell, Chucky Dumblewski
HEAT 2 – Rob Noviczski, Rob VanAernam, Luke Klob, Erik Nelson, Karl Klob, Dave Bayes
PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20 laps – CHRIS MORRIS, Steve Welch, Rob Noviczski, Frank Twing, Rob VanAernam, Hondo Carpenter, Jerry Pepper, Randy Cannell, Bobby Gile, Erik Nelson, Dan Rickard, Dave Bayes, Luke Klob, Chucky Dumblewski, Tom LaPlante, Nick Stone, Kevin Waring, Kenny Gates, Jim Normoyle, Karl Klob
IMCA QUALIFYING – 18 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – George Catanzano, Danny Ballard, Joe Williams, Dennis Vroman, Danny Ody
HEAT 2 – Kevin Buff, Steve Vrooman, Steve Bidwell, Darcy Volans, George Proctor
IMCA FEATURE – 20 laps – STEVE BIDWELL, Kevin Buff, George Catanzano, Dennis Vroman, Danny Ballard, Joe Williams, Danny Ody, George Proctor, Curt Olsen, Steve Vrooman, Billy Ward, Shawn Simmons, Darcy Volans, Randy Moore, Eric Stumpf, Tom Funk, Chris Reckner
STREET STOCK “A” – MIKE FRASIER, Ron Tollner, Bob VanAernam, Luke Horning, Paul Hughes, Brandon Lehr, Mike Burdo, Dan Clemens, Howard Smith, Don Warner, Kathy Bellen, Justin Knight, Chris McMurray, Shawn Laport, Rod Slater, Mike Budka, Jr., Norman Lamphear, Jr., Phil Pearson, John Anderson, Ed Bradt
STREET STOCK “B” – FRANK GUIFFRE, Jeff Crosier, Dave Horning, Jr., Carol Parker, Guy Klob, Ricky Quick, Roger Keeny, Scott Wells, John Bradt, Rocky Warner, Neil Cosselman, Dan Hartgraves, Steve Cosselman, Ron Cummings, Car #26, Donnie Oldick, Sandy Ferrara, John Babcock, Joe Smith
EYEROCK 500 – MARTY KELLY, Scott Flaska, Kirk Bruce, Wes Askins, Ray Heydet, Mark Evans, Steve Labonte, Craig Hitchcock, J.R. Hotaling, Lee Stone, Charlie Richardson, Phil Shallies, Eric Bichler, Wolf, Robert Hunt, Gary Lewis