LAPE WINS SIXTH MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP AT FONDA

ODASZ AND JOHNSON TAKE MODIFIED WINS

For Dave Lape the 2003 season has been a memorable one. Since teaming up with car owner Andy Romano Lape has been a rejuvenated driver taking three feature wins so far this season. Add one more feature win to that total after a win in the third and final modified feature of PCE Plumbing & Heating night at Fonda on Saturday August 16. The win was the 95th of Lape’s career at the Track of Champions.

Along with that add another point title as Lape won the 2003 modified track title by five points over his teammate Mike Romano. That makes his sixth point title at Fonda in his forty years of competition there with others coming in 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991, & 1992. The final tally shows Lape winning the point title by five points over Romano.

“This feels great,” Lape said after winning the feature and the track championship. “I have a great race team behind me and my crew just worked so hard to get me here today.”

The rain delayed modified feature from August 9 was first on the racing program with Ron Proctor the early leader of the event before an early caution slowed the event. On the restart, Jerry Pennock Jr. was the leader as Jeff Trombley and Dave Lape made their way to the front from the back of the pack.

Modified rookie Ryan Odasz started the event in the fifth spot and on lap two he got by Pennock Jr. for the lead. From that point on Odasz pulled away to a comfortable lead with one final caution coming out with eight laps to go in the event to close up the field. Odasz was untouchable however and went on to his first career modified win followed by Pat Ward, Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, and Bobby Varin.

The first regular modified feature of the night began with Alton Palmer the early leader from his pole position start. By lap four, Palmer had stretched out his lead to a full straightaway while Ronnie Johnson made his way around Jerry Pennock Jr. for the second position.

The yellow flag slowed the event on lap twelve putting Johnson right on Palmer’s rear bumper while Lape was now third. As lap seventeen was completed the duo of Palmer and Johnson were side by side for the lead with Johnson taking the position on the backstretch. Johnson went on to his first win of 2003 and the third of his career in the modified division at Fonda followed by Palmer, Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, and Lape.

The second regular modified feature began with Tony Pepicelli leading from his outside pole position start. Jeff Trombley was the new second place car after getting by Varin for the position with Lape also getting by Varin for third. Trombley and Lape were battling for the second spot with Lape getting by for the spot on lap eight.

When Trombley tried to get back by Lape for the second spot he came in contact with the rear bumper of the #22 causing Trombley to spin and make contact with the turn one wall. Trombley was done for the night as Pepicelli now had Lape on his tail trying to get by for the lead.

Pepicelli and Lape raced hard over the final five laps with Lape taking over the lead coming out of turn four after a restart on lap fifteen. With one lap to go, Pepicelli briefly got back by Lape for the lead but Lape came right back to pass him for the lead and the win. Pepicelli finished second followed by Jack Johnson, Pat Ward, and Mike Romano.

“I got a good bite on the bottom in turn four to get by Tony for the lead,” Lape said. “Once I got out front my car was good on restarts so all of the cautions didn’t bother me too much but I really didn’t know where I stood as far as the track championship until the end of the event when my crew told me that I won the title.”

Brian Borst was crowned as the 2003 Fonda Speedway 358-modified point champion.

It took two tries to get the rain delayed sportsman feature going with Mark Mortensen and Jason Memrick taking turns leading lap one. When Memrick got caught behind a lap car on lap two, Tim Dwyer was the new leader. After a one lap side by side battle with Dwyer on lap three, Tim Clemons was the new leader a lead that he would never relinquish going on to his fourth win of the season followed by Bobby Hackel, Dwyer, Jeremiah Munson, and John McAuliffe.

John Johnson was the early leader of the first regular sportsman feature until Elmo Reckner got by for the lead on lap two. Michael Ballestero worked his way up to the front of the pack and he was the new leader as lap five was completed after getting by Reckner in turn four. Ballestero went on to his second win of the season followed by Dwyer, Munson, Reckner, and Clemons.

Going into the second regular sportsman feature, John McAuliffe led Tim Dwyer by two points. Dwyer used a front row starting position to get the lead as the green flag was dropped to start the event. Clemons got up to the second position on lap three and made it interesting but Dwyer ended up leading flag to flag for his second win of 2003.

With the win Dwyer also won the 2003 sportsman track championship by twelve points over McAuliffe. This is the third sportsman point title for Dwyer who was also the Fonda Speedway sportsman champion back in 1993 & 1994.

Jerry Pepper started the rain delayed pro stock feature in the fourth position and was the leader of the event when lap one was completed. Pepper checked out on the field from that point on and led flag to flag for his first career pro stock win followed by Rob Noviczski, Nick Stone, Frank Twing, and Steve Welch.

Three different leaders took turns leading the first regular pro stock feature with Bobby Gile being the first after taking the lead at the start. Chris Morris led as lap five was completed and it looked as though he may be on his way to the win. Kenny Gates had other ideas however, took the lead with one lap to go, and went on to his third win

of the season followed by Morris, Welch, Noviczski, and Butchie Irwin.

Butchie Irwin borrowed a ride in the Karl Klob #77 and made the deal work taking the lead in the second regular pro stock feature at the drop of the green. Irwin led every lap taking his first win of 2003 followed by Welch, Gates, Noviczski, and Morris. With his fifth place finish Morris was crowned the 2003 pro stock champion his second consecutive crown after winning it last year.

George Catanzano was the winner of the 20-lap IMCA feature event followed by Danny Ballard, Steve Bidwell, JoJo Donato, and Kurt Olsen. For Catanzano it was his third consecutive win and fourth of the 2003 season.

Jay Sperry won the first street stock feature of his career in the street stock “A” event and was followed by Chris Stelker, Mike Budka Jr., Brian Cosselman, and Dan Clemens.

Roger Keeny was also a first time winner in the street stock “B” feature followed by Neil Cosselman, Mike Burdo, Howie Clark, and Mike Walters.

Bob VanAernam won his fourth street stock feature of the season in the street stock “C” feature followed by Rocky Warner, Frank Guiffre, Dave Horning Jr., and Steve Cosselman.

The IMCA and street stock championships at Fonda will be decided on September 27.

Fonda Speedway will now be dark until Saturday September 13 as the annual Fonda Fair comes to town.

MODIFIED QUALIFYING – top 15 in points automatically qualified for A-Main

MODIFIED B-MAIN – 10 laps – 9 qualify for A-Main – JOHN MARSH, Mike Fusco, Ray Zemken, Jim Davis, Dustin Purdy, Keith Shoemaker, Bob Vedder, Floyd Billington, Chic Chandler

MODIFIED FEATURE RAIN DELAYED FROM 8/9/03 – 30 laps – RYAN ODASZ, Pat Ward, Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, Bobby Varin, Jeff Trombley, Dave Lape, Tony Pepicelli, Ronnie Johnson, Bob Sitterly, Brian Borst, Jerry Pennock Jr., John Marsh, Chic Chandler, Bob Vedder, Ray Zemken, Steve Akers, Erik Gall, Mike Fusco, Todd Morey, Craig Criscone, A.J. Romano, Brian Gathen, Ron Proctor, Jim Davis, Alton Palmer, Robert King, Ken Aanonsen

REGULAR MODIFIED FEATURE #1 – 20 laps – RONNIE JOHNSON, Alton Palmer, Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, Dave Lape, A.J. Romano, Ryan Odasz, Jeff Trombley, Tony Pepicelli, Bobby Varin, Jerry Pennock Jr., Pat Ward, Brian Borst, Mike Fusco, John Marsh, Dustin Purdy, Jim Davis, Brian Gathen, Bob Vedder, Floyd Billington, Ray Zemken, Chic Chandler, Todd Morey, Ancel Collins, Keith Shoemaker, Steve Akers, Bob Sitterly

REGULAR MODIFIED FEATURE #2 – 20 laps – DAVE LAPE, Tony Pepicelli, Jack Johnson, Pat Ward, Mike Romano, A.J. Romano, Bobby Varin, Ronnie Johnson, Ryan Odasz, Dustin Purdy, Brian Borst, John Marsh, Jim Davis, Todd Morey, Ray Zemken, Floyd Billington, Jerry Pennock Jr., Mike Fusco, Steve Akers, Chic Chandler, Alton Palmer, Aaron Jacobs, Bob Vedder, Bill Cody, Jeff Trombley, Brian Gathen, Ancel Collins, Keith Shoemaker, Bob Sitterly, Erik Gall

SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – top 15 in points automatically qualified for A-Main

SPORTSMAN B-MAIN – 10 laps – 9 qualify for A-Main – JEFF HOLT, Mike Ketchum, Pete Sisler, John Cefala, Dennis Pennock, Louie Fagant, John LeClair, Randy Meka, John Herman

SPORTSMAN FEATURE RAIN DELAYED FROM 8/9/03 – 20 laps – TIM CLEMONS, Bobby Hackel, Tim Dwyer, Jeremiah Munson, John McAuliffe, Mark Mortensen, Jessica Zemken, Drew Fallis, Josh Pieniazek, Elmo Reckner, John Johnson, John Cefala, Jeff Holt, Pete Sisler, Dennis Pennock, Louie Fagant, Randy Meka, John Herman, Billy Osta, Robert Perry, John Constantino, Jason Memrick, Michael Ballestero, Bob Rees

REGULAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE #1 – 15 laps – MICHAEL BALLESTERO, Tim Dwyer, Jeremiah Munson, Elmo Reckner, Tim Clemons, Jessica Zemken, Bobby Hackel, John McAuliffe, Mike Ketchum, Josh Pieniazek, John Johnson, John Cefala, Robert Perry, Dennis Pennock, Pete Sisler, Randy Meka, Louie Fagant, John LeClair, Jeff Holt, Billy Osta, Mark Mortensen, John Herman, John Delap, John Constantino

REGULAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE #2 – 15 laps – TIM DWYER, Tim Clemons, Jeremiah Munson, Jessica Zemken, Bobby Hackel, John McAuliffe, Elmo Reckner, John Johnson, Mike Ketchum, Josh Pieniazek, Robert Perry, Dennis Pennock, Randy Meka, Pete Sisler, Louie Fagant, John Herman, Michael Ballestero, John Delap, John Constantino, John Cefala, Billy Osta

PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – top 15 automatically qualified for A-Main

PRO STOCK B-MAIN – 10 laps – 9 qualify for A-Main – MARK LIGHTHALL, Frank Twing, Dave Viall, Joey Duncan, Dave Bayes, Butchie Irwin, Roy Fifield, Joe Mottoshiski, Chuck McSpirit

PRO STOCK FEATURE RAIN DELAYED FROM 8/9/03 – 20 laps – JERRY PEPPER, Rob Noviczski, Nick Stone, Frank Twing, Steve Welch, Hondo Carpenter, Erik Nelson, Kenny Gates, Rob VanAernam, Chucky Dumblewski, Chris Morris, Dan Rickard, Luke Klob, Bobby Gile, Dave Viall, Joey Duncan, Eric Ellis, Chuck McSpirit, Tom LaPlante, Dave Bayes

REGULAR PRO STOCK FEATURE #1 – 15 laps – KENNY GATES, Chris Morris, Steve Welch, Rob Noviczski, Butchie Irwin, Dave Viall, Jerry Pepper, Luke Klob, Frank Twing, Bobby Gile, Erik Nelson, Rob VanAernam, Dan Rickard, Tom LaPlante, Dave Bayes, Joey Duncan, Chucky Dumblewski, Nick Stone, Joe Mottoshiski, Mark Lighthall, Roy Fifield, Chuck McSpirit, Hondo Carpenter, Eric Ellis

REGULAR PRO STOCK FEATURE #2 – 15 Laps – BUTCHIE IRWIN, Steve Welch, Kenny Gates, Rob Noviczski, Chris Morris, Jerry Pepper, Luke Klob, Dave Viall, Bobby Gile, Joe Mottoshiski, Erik Nelson, Dan Rickard, Roy Fifield, Rob VanAernam, Hondo Carpenter, Chuck McSpirit, Tom LaPlante, Dave Cook

IMCA QUALIFYING – 17 total cars – 5 qualify

HEAT 1 – Danny Ballard, George Catanzano, Dennis Vroman, Shawn Simmons, Bob Banks Jr.

HEAT 2 – JoJo Donato, Steve Bidwell, Kevin Buff, Kurt Olsen, Jeff Davis

IMCA FEATURE – 20 laps – GEORGE CATANZANO, Danny Ballard, Steve Bidwell, JoJo Donato, Kurt Olsen, Steve Vrooman, Bob Banks Jr., Skip Pabis, Kevin Buff, Eric Stumpf, George Proctor, Dennis Vroman, Tom Funk, Walter Cook, Jeff Davis, Shawn Simmons, Aaron Jacobs

STREET STOCK “A” FEATURE – 10 laps – JAY SPERRY, Chris Stelker, Mike Budka Jr., Brian Cosselman, Dan Clemens, Mark Sullivan Jr., Chris McMurray, Joe Smith, Justin Knight, Garnet Prescott

STREET STOCK “B” FEATURE – 10 laps – ROGER KEENY, Neil Cosselman, Mike Burdo, Howie Clark, Mike Walters, James Horning, T.J. Marlitt, Robert Miller, Jim Colsen, Brandon Lehr, Dan Hartgraves, Ed Bradt

STREET STOCK “C” FEATURE – 10 laps – BOB VANAERNAM, Rocky Warner, Frank Guiffre, Dave Horning Jr., Steve Cosselman, Rod Slater, Don Warner, Carol Parker, Jeff Crosier, Luke Horning, Guy Klob, John Bradt, John Babcock