WARD WINS FIRST OF THE SEASON AT FONDA

When the 2003 season began at the Fonda Speedway one very popular driver was back as a regular. Pat Ward decided to travel to Fonda this season and early on led the points for a few weeks before a slump began that pretty much lasted for the remainder of the season.

Last night at the Track of Champions Ward put his 358-modified into victory lane on Farrell Oil/Kendall Oil Night for his first win of the season and his first win at the track since April 15, 2000.

“This feels real good after starting out the season so well and then struggling after that,” Ward said in victory lane. “Fonda has always been my favorite track and the car went anywhere that I wanted it to tonight. We haven’t had a lot of luck this season but tonight we turned it around. I’m looking forward to the 200 tomorrow.”

2003 358-modified track champion Brian Borst started on the pole and immediately took the lead at the drop of the green flag to start the event. Brett Hearn started sixth but got by Dave Camara, Willie Decker, and Alan Johnson for the third spot by the second lap.

Ward was second at that point with he and Hearn catching the leader on lap four and lap traffic coming into play on lap eleven. The top two got by a lap car with no problem but Hearn was held up as the top two got away. On the next lap Tim Fuller slowed with a flat right rear tire bringing out the caution.

On the restart, Ward got by Borst for the lead as Stewart Friesen got by Johnson for the fourth spot on lap fifteen just before another caution flag came out for Dave Camara who slowed on the speedway. Fuller had nowhere to go and got into Camara sending Dave into the turn one wall.

On this restart Hearn slowed in turns three and four with a broken right rear axle causing the cars behind him to pile up with the yellow coming out again. Also involved was Borst who was running second at the time as both he and Hearn were done for the evening at that point.

On the next restart Bobby Varin got by Johnson and was now the second place car after working his way through the field from his sixteenth starting position. Another driver who made his way from the rear of the field was Pete Bicknell who started twenty-third after qualifying through the consolation. Bicknell was sixth on lap twenty-seven after getting by Alex Hoag for the spot.

One final yellow slowed the field on lap thirty-one for debris on the track closing up the field one more time. Varin closed in on Ward with five laps to go when Ward was stuck behind the lap car of Don Mattison. Ward eventually got by but it was now Varin’s turn to be trapped behind Mattison allowing Ward to get away and go on for the victory.

Varin ended up second followed by Johnson, Friesen, and Matt Sheppard.

“I would have had to get by him (Ward) on one of the restarts if I was going to get by him at all,” Varin said after the race. “I lost my power steering about halfway through the race so that made it even more difficult.”

“I was surprised on how much rubber the track took on and how quick it was,” Johnson said. “The car was good but the two guys in front of me were quick and I couldn’t stay with them.”

The caution plagued sportsman feature began with Tim Clemons leading from his outside pole position start. By lap four Clemons held a straightaway lead while John McAuliffe got by Jim Burton for the second position. Michael Ballestero started the event in the fifteenth position but was already up to the sixth spot when the yellow came out on lap eleven.

On the restart, Bobby Hackel blew by both Mike Ketchum and Burton for the third position using the extreme outside groove to make the move work. On a lap fourteen restart, Ballestero was up to second after getting by McAuliffe with Hackel following him through for the third spot.

Hackel got the third position back from McAuliffe one lap later but nobody had anything for Clemons who went on to a convincing win, his fifth of the season over Ballestero, McAuliffe, Tim Dwyer, and Hackel.

The 2003 Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Championship was on the line when the pro stocks went out on the race track for their thirty lap feature. Kenny Gates led the event at the drop of the green flag from his pole position start and he would never look back from there.

Mark Lighthall got by invader John Lazore for the second spot on lap six as Lazore continued to fall back in the field after Chris Morris got by for the third position. Lap traffic came into play on lap sixteen as Lazore got back by Morris and on the next lap sat second as he also got back by Lighthall.

A yellow flag flew with five laps remaining closing up the field allowing Lazore one more shot at the leader. Going into turn three on the final lap Lazore and Gates made contact with Gates getting out of shape. In a classy move by Lazore he let off and let Gates straighten his car out allowing Gates to get away for the win followed by Lazore, Lighthall, Jipp Ortiz, and Morris.

The win for Gates was his fifth of the season at Fonda and his first ever on the DIRT Pro Stock Tour. With his fourth place finish Ortiz was crowned as the 2003 Mr. DIRT Pro Stock Champion.

The twenty-five lap street stock feature was an exciting one despite the eight caution flags that slowed the event. 2003 Fonda Speedway street stock champion Bob VanAernam started on the pole and took the lead as the green flag was thrown to start the event. The first caution of the event was on lap five for a two car crash in the backstretch.

Dave Horning Jr. was the second place car for the early part of the event before Rod Slater got by him. Chris Stalker was the benefactor of contact between Horning Jr. and Slater as he got by both of them for the second position on lap six. Horning Jr. continued to fall back and slowed in turn two on lap nine bringing out the caution again. He was done for the night at that point.

Frank Guiffre was the new second place car on the restart and immediately began pressuring VanAernam for the top spot. With three laps to go Guiffre tried the outside groove to get around VanAernam but VanAernam was able to hold him off at that point. Guiffre went right back to the outside on the next lap and this time made the move stick as he got by VanAernam for the lead on the backstretch.

Guiffre went on for the feature win, his first of the season followed by VanAernam, Don Warner, D.T. Pickard, and Dan Hartgraves.

2003 Fonda Speedway IMCA Track Champion George Catanzano started the twenty-five lap IMCA feature on the outside pole and took the lead at the start of the event. One caution slowed the event on lap four when Jeff Davis ended up in the turn one wall.

Danny Ballard and George Proctor got by Dale Caswell for the second and third positions on lap five as Catanzano was already a straightaway lead. By lap sixteen Catanzano was out to a half track lead and went on for an easy win lapping up to the sixth place car. It was the seventh win of the 2003 season for Catanzano and his sixth consecutive win since August 2 of this year.

Ballard finished second followed by Proctor, Aaron Jacobs, and Steve Vrooman.

358-MODIFIED TIME TRIALS – 56 cars took time – TIM FULLER 20.045, Pat Ward 20.342, Brett Hearn 20.351, Alan Johnson 20.353, Willie Decker 20.398, Matt Sheppard 20.428, Dave Camara 20.823, Justin Haers 20.827, Matt DeLorenzo 20.885, Bobby Varin 21.005, Alex Hoag 21.008, Mitch Gibbs 21.008, Stewart Friesen 21.022, Chad Brachmann 21.109, Dale Planck 21.157, Bobby Hackel 21.231, John Kollar 21.241, Rich Pratt 21.255, Darryl Ruggles 21.263, Jerry Pennock Jr. 21.293, Pete Bicknell 21.303, Randy Chrysler 21.323, Ted Lamb 21.325, Todd Morey 21.334, Dustin Purdy 21.335, Ronnie Johnson 21.346, Brian Borst 21.352, Jim Davis 21.355, Jason Barney 21.364, Chic Chandler 21.442, Randy Hotaling 21.512, Derrick McGrew 21.515, Kevin Crave 21.594, Mike Dillenbeck 21.600, Ray Zemken 21.650, Kayle Roubidoux 21.660, Don Mattison 21.661, Steve Akers 21.681, Josh Pieniazek 21.734, Todd Ryan 21.786, Lucas Baker 21.850, Rick Mill 21.864, Matt Quinn 21.911, Floyd Billington 21.956, Ben Bushaw 21.963, Denny Young Jr. 21.989, Lee Gagliardi 22.005, Pat DaBiere 22.087, Guy Sheldon 22.092, John Harrison 22.096, Neil Erickson 22.399, Bill Cody 22.442, Scott McCoy 22.467, Mark Pullen 22.552, Brian Whittemore 23.027, Alan Houghtaling 68.244, Jack Johnson NO TIME

MODIFIED HEATS – 3 qualify

HEAT 1 – Brett Hearn, Randy Chrysler, Matt DeLorenzo

HEAT 2 – Alan Johnson, Jason Barney, Bobby Varin

HEAT 3 – Willie Decker, Alex Hoag, John Kollar

HEAT 4 – Matt Sheppard, Mitch Gibbs, Rich Pratt

HEAT 5 – Stewart Friesen, Dave Camara, Jerry Pennock Jr.

HEAT 6 – Justin Haers, Brian Borst, Chad Brachmann

MODIFIED CONSOLATIONS – 2 qualify

CONSI 1 – Jim Davis, Don Mattison

CONSI 2 – Ted Lamb, Derrick McGrew

CONSI 3 – Pete Bicknell, Chic Chandler

MODIFIED FEATURE – 50 laps – top 14 redrew for starting positions – PAT WARD, Bobby Varin, Alan Johnson, Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Pete Bicknell, Justin Haers, Jason Barney, Tim Fuller, Dale Planck, Chad Brachmann, Willie Decker, Mitch Gibbs, Josh Pieniazek, Rich Pratt, Alex Hoag, Matt DeLorenzo, Jim Davis, Chic Chandler, Don Mattison, Derrick McGrew, Ray Zemken, Darryl Ruggles, Brian Borst, Brett Hearn, Dave Camara, Jerry Pennock Jr., Randy Chrysler, Steve Akers, Ted Lamb, Bobby Hackel, John Kollar

SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 42 total cars – 4 qualify

HEAT 1 – Jim Burton, Billy Osta, Rick Mill

HEAT 2 – Tim Clemons, Bobby Hackel, Kenny Stafford, Alan Houghtaling

HEAT 3 – John McAuliffe, Frank Harper, Tim Sears, Drew Fallis

HEAT 4 – Mike Ketchum, Jeremiah Munson, Tom Perrago, Jason Memrick

HEAT 5 – Eldon Payne Jr., Tim Dwyer, Michael Ballestero, Scott George

SPORTSMAN CONSOLATIONS – 3 qualify

CONSI 1 – Adam Ferri, Lance Willix, Pat O’Hanlon

CONSI 2 – Paul Carey, Clayton Brewer III, Russ Hefti

SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 30 laps – TIM CLEMONS, Michael Ballestero, John McAuliffe, Tim Dwyer, Bobby Hackel, Mike Ketchum, Jim Burton, Jeremiah Munson, Paul Carey, Tim Sears, Alan Houghtaling, Pat O’Hanlon, Brian Sage, Frank Harper, Billy Shantel Jr., Eldon Payne Jr., Jessica Zemken, Adam Ferri, Russ Hefti, Clayton Brewer III, Lance Willix, Tom Perrago, Rick Mill, Tony Farone, Scott George, Drew Fallis, Jason Memrick, Billy Osta, Mark Majewski, Kenny Stafford

PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 5 qualify

HEAT 1 – Kenny Gates, Chris Morris, Pete Stefanski, Roy Fifield, Brian Kotarski

HEAT 2 – Mark Lighthall, Nick Stone, Butchie Irwin, Buddy Hencke, Marc Therrien

HEAT 3 – John Lazore, Joe Mottoshiski, Dave Schultz, Bill Lobdell Jr., Bob Ely

HEAT 4 – Rob Yetman, Jipp Ortiz, Jim Normoyle, Roger Chrysler, Mike Williams

PRO STOCK CONSOLATIONS – 5 qualify

CONSI 1 – Frank Twing, Dan Mayer, Jay Corbin, Tom Kuck, Chuckie Dumblewski

CONSI 2 – Joey Ladouceur, Jim Langenback, Dave Bayes, Dave Tiedman, Erik Nelson

PRO STOCK FEATURE – 30 laps – KENNY GATES, John Lazore, Mark Lighthall, Jipp Ortiz, Chris Morris, Butchie Irwin, Roy Fifield, Rob Yetman, Joey Ladouceur, Joe Mottoshiski, Dan Mayer, Jim Langenback, Nick Stone, Jim Normoyle, Mike Williams, Jay Corbin, Roger Chrysler, Marc Therrien, Dave Tiedman, Chuckie Dumblewski, Dave Schultz, Pete Stefanski, Buddy Hencke, Tom Kuck, Erik Nelson, Frank Twing, Dan Rickard, Dave Bayes, Bill Lobdell Jr., Mitchell Jock, Brian Kotarski

STREET STOCK QUALIFYING – 40 total cars – 5 qualify

HEAT 1 – Bob VanAernam, D.T. Pickard, Jeff Crosier, Roger Keeny, Jeff Hager

HEAT 2 – Dave Horning Jr., Chris Stalker, Brian Hotaling, Luke Horning, Pete DeFiglio

HEAT 3 – John Bradt, Mike Tholin, Neil Cosselman, Bob Palmer, Ed Hatch

HEAT 4 – Rod Slater, Frank Guiffre, Dave Horning Sr., Don Warner, Steve Cosselman

STREET STOCK CONSOLATIONS – 5 qualify

CONSI 1 – Merv Blackwell, Howard Smith, Paul Harding, Jay Sperry, Sam Seurner

CONSI 2 – Scott Wells, Dan Clemens, Brian Cosselman, Paul Engwer, Dan Hartgraves

STREET STOCK FEATURE – 25 laps – FRANK GUIFFRE, Bob VanAernam, Don Warner, D.T. Pickard, Dan Hartgraves, Bob Palmer, Merv Blackwell, Jeff Crosier, Ed Hatch, Paul Hardy, Rod Slater, Dan Clemens, Scott Wells, Howard Smith, Sam Seurner, Mike Tholin, John Bradt, Chris Stalker, Joe Smith, Pete DeFiglio, Brian Cosselman, Steve Cosselman, Brian Houghtaling, Dave Horning Jr., Neil Cosselman, Paul Engwer, Jeff Hager, Dave Horning Sr., Roger Keeny, Luke Horning

IMCA QUALIFYING – 4 qualify

HEAT 1 – Aaron Jacobs, Danny Ballard, George Proctor, Kevin Priest

HEAT 2 – George Catanzano, Dale Caswell, Shawn Simmons, JoJo Donato

IMCA FEATURE – 25 laps – GEORGE CATANZANO, Danny Ballard, George Proctor, Aaron Jacobs, Steve Vrooman, Dale Caswell, Shawn Simmons, Kevin Priest, Darcy Volans, Jeff Davis, Walter Cook, JoJo Donato, Rob VanAernam, Carol Parker

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