ACK JOHNSON TAKES WIN #140 AT FONDA SPEEDWAY

On a night where Fonda legends Steve Danish, Jeep Herbert, and Otto Graham were at Fonda to do an autograph session for the new book about the Track of Champions, another legend of the speedway visited victory lane for the second time this season.

Jack Johnson was greeted in victory lane by a great ovation from the fans after taking career win number 140 at the Fonda Speedway. Brown’s Ford sponsored the evening’s activities on a night where three of the four features were decided in the final two laps.

“I used to be pretty good at setting up these things (pointing to his racecar) but I have to thank my son Ronnie for his help in setting up my car for the feature event,” Johnson said in victory lane. “I found something on the bottom groove and to win on a night where some of the drivers that I used to race with in my early days of racing were at the track to autograph the new book about Fonda was a thrill.”

Jim Lavalla was the leader at the drop of the green flag in the Modified feature with John Marsh, Jr. in tow. There was a lot of three wide action throughout the field in the beginning of the feature as all of the big names made their way to the front. A.J. Romano made a great move on lap two getting by Tony Pepicelli and Bob Sitterly for third. An early yellow slowed the field on lap three when Eric Gall got out of shape on the front stretch.

Marsh got the lead on the restart only to have the yellow come out again with A.J. now second. After a red flag to realign the field, A.J. Romano was the new leader on the restart only to have the yellow come out one more time. Once the race was restarted yet again, A.J. pulled away to a half a straightaway lead by lap eight but the race proved to be far from over.

The last race at Fonda Speedway was won by Jack Johnson a couple of weeks ago and after starting thirteenth he was up to third on lap fifteen after getting by Craig Criscone. Johnson caught Pepicelli who was now second on lap twenty-two and got by for the position one lap later. Could he catch A.J. and make it two in a row?

Jack used the inside groove to catch the leader with three laps to go and also used the inside groove in turn two to take the lead away from A.J. Jack went on to the win followed by A.J. Romano, Bobby Varin, Pepicelli, and Jeff Trombley.

The URC Sprint cars were in town for the holiday weekend with Gary Golub taking the early lead in the feature event with Dave Gable second. By lap nine, Golub was already in lap traffic on lap nine as Gable spun in turn two bringing out the caution.

On the restart, Tim Hogue was now second and Dave McGough third as the winner of the “B” main, Chris Coyle made his way into the top ten after starting twenty-first. Another yellow and lap traffic caused Golub to slow allowing Hogue to close in. McGough got by Hogue for second on lap twenty as Trevor Lewis came up to challenge for third. Lewis got by Hogue on lap twenty-two for third and one lap later got by McGough for second.

On the next to the last lap of the feature event, Lewis got by Golub for the lead on the inside of turn two and went on to the win. McGough, Golub, Coyle, and Doug Emery completed the top five.

Jim Burton began the Sportsman feature on the pole and that is where he stayed when the green flag came out for the start of the event. Jeremiah Munson was second with a caution out on lap one for a crash in turn two. Burton maintained the lead on the restart and by lap seven he held a half straightaway advantage over Munson. While all of this was going on up front there was also plenty of action towards the back of the pack where Mike Ballestero, Tim Clemons, and Jim Davis made their way to the front.

Ballestero and Clemons followed each other up through the field sitting fourth and fifth respectively at the halfway point of the event while Davis got by John LeClair and Kenny Martin for the eighth spot in one sweeping move at the halfway point in the twenty lap feature event.

Munson began to close in on the leader when lap traffic came into play on lap fourteen making it a very exciting run to the checkered flag. Burton stayed on the bottom groove while Munson tried the outside groove as he knew that was the only way that he was going to get by the leader.

Burton held his line and went on to the win, his first ever victory in a Sportsman car. Munson ended up second followed by Ballestero, Clemons, and Ray Zemken.

The Pro Stock feature began with Jim Normoyle in the lead from his outside front row start. Jay Resch sat in the number two spot on lap two after starting fifth but closed in on Normoyle when the yellow came out on lap four. On the restart, Resch nosed ahead of Normoyle but after running side by side for almost a lap Normoyle took the lead back.

Rob Noviczski used a restart on lap eight to get the third position from Nick Stone as Resch continued to pressure Normoyle for the lead. After starting ninth the car number nine of Hondo Carpenter got by Noviczski for third and soon made it a three way battle for the lead. Chris Morris joined the battle on lap thirteen getting by Carpenter for third after running side by side for a lap.

A yellow flag with five laps to go closed up the field but Normoyle was up to the challenge, for the moment at least. On lap seventeen, Morris made his way by Resch for second and one lap later got the lead away from Normoyle on the inside in turn four. Morris went on to the win followed by Normoyle, Resch, Kenny Gates, and Carpenter.

With thirty-nine Street Stock cars in the pit area three features were run and the first one saw four different leaders before the winner was decided. Shawn Laport began the first feature event in the lead which didn’t last too long as Dave Horning, Sr. took over the top spot before the first lap was completed.

When Horning, Sr. slowed in turn three and entered the pit area with car problems, Jeff Crosier was the new leader only to have another Horning take his turn at leading the event. Dave Horning, Jr. was the new leader on lap five and went on to his first win of the season followed by Crosier, Ron Tollner, Laport, and Dennis Wilson.

Jeff Davis led every lap of the second feature after starting twelfth for his third win of the season followed by Bob VanAernam, John Babcock, Mike Budka, Jr., and Don Warner.

Buck Gasner led the third Street Stock feature at the start while Shawn Simmons made his way to the front after starting tenth. On lap five, Simmons used the inside groove in turn three to get the lead, a lead he would not relinquish as he went on to his second win of the season followed by John Johnson, Gasner, Kenny Barth, and Carol Parker.

Next Saturday Fonda Speedway will hold a regular show in all divisions along with a four cylinder Enduro on Wm. Larned & Sons Night starting at 6:00 p.m.

MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 29 total cars – 6 qualify

HEAT 1 – Mike Romano, Alton Palmer, Bob Sitterly, Bobby Vedder, Chris Kokosa, John G. Wolfe

HEAT 2 – A.J. Romano, Tony Pepicelli, Jeff Trombley, Ronnie Holmes, Erik Gall, Paul Cirincione

HEAT 3 – John Marsh, Jr., Bobby Varin, Jim Lavalla, Craig Criscone, Jack Johnson, Randy Snyder

CONSOLATION – 6 qualify – Kenny Hanson, Mike Fusco, Chic Chandler, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Craig Hanson, Ron Proctor

MODIFIED FEATURE – JACK JOHNSON, A.J. Romano, Bobby Varin, Tony Pepicelli, Jeff Trombley, Mike Romano, Ronnie Holmes, Craig Criscone, Alton Palmer, Bob Sitterly, Chris Kokosa, Kenny Hanson, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Ron Proctor, John Marsh, Jr., Paul Cirincione, Craig Hanson, Chic Chandler, Erik Gall, Bobby Vedder, John G. Wolfe, Jim Lavalla, Mike Fusco, Randy Snyder

URC SPRINT QUALIFYING – 37 total cars – 5 qualify

HEAT 1 – Fran Hogue, Dave Gable, Gary Golub, Trevor Lewis, Judi Bates

HEAT 2 – George Suprick, Matt Gerber Kevin Welsh, Kramer Williamson, Ray Staat

HEAT 3 – Junior Martin, Greg Coverdale, Jason Clauss, Danny Massey, Pete Green

HEAT 4 – Tim Hogue, Doug Emery, Dave McGough, Ashley Parlett, Warren Alexson

“B” MAIN – 4 qualify – Chris Coyle, Jeff Foote, Jeff Busby, Mike Haggenbottom

URC SPRINT FEATURE – TREVOR LEWIS, Dave McGough, Gary Golub, Chris Coyle, Doug Emery, Kevin Welsh, Tim Hogue, Danny Massey, Pete Green, Judi Bates, Mike Haggenbottom, Matt Gerber, Greg Coverdale, Jeff Busby, Warren Alexson, Kramer Williamson, Dave Gable, George Suprick, Fran Hogue, Ray Staats, Junior Martin, Jeff Foote, Ashley Parlett, Jim Wyers, Jason Clauss

NO SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING HEATS WERE RUN – TOP 15 HANDICAPPED BY POINTS

SPORSMAN “B” MAIN – 6 qualify – Mike Ketchum, Steve Bidwell, Jeff Jones, John Constantino, Steve Jazeboski, Josh Pieniazek

SPORTSMAN FEATURE – JIM BURTON, Jeremiah Munson, Mike Ballestero, Tim Clemons, Ray Zemken, John McAuliffe, Jim Davis, Ryan Odasz, Drew Fallis, Kenny Martin, Joe Geniti, John LeClair, Jeff Jones, Robert Perry, Jessica Zemken, Elmo Reckner, Steve Akers, Steve Bidwell, Josh Pieniazek, Mike Frasier, Mike Ketchum, Billy Osta, John Constantino, Steve Jazeboski, Jeff Holt, Bobby Hackel

NO PRO STOCK QUALIFYING HEATS WERE RUN – TOP 15 HANDICAPPED BY POINTS

PRO STOCK FEATURE – CHRIS MORRIS, Jim Normoyle, Jay Resch, Kenny Gates, Hondo Carpenter, Rob Noviczski, Nick Stone, Butchie Irwin, Joe Mottoshiski, Phlan Hart, Steve Vrooman, Brent Hallenbeck, Jerry Pepper, Dan Rickard, Frank Early, Jr., Bobby Gile, Mark Lighthall, Tom LaPlante, Dave Tiedman, Jeff Patrick, Scott Govertson, Brian Keough

STREET STOCK “A” – DAVE HORNING, JR., Jeff Crosier, Ron Tollner, Shawn Laport, Dennis Wilson, Joe Smith, Ed Bradt, Hank Morin, Mike Burton, Brandon Lehr, Donnie Oldick, Dave Horning, Sr., Sandy Ferrara

STREET STOCK “B” – JEFF DAVIS, Bob VanAernam, John Babcock Mike Budka, Jr., Don Warner, Rocky Warner, Jamie Tesiero, Randy Quick, Guy Klob, Paul Hughes, Neil Cosselman, Jo Jo Donato, Luke Horning

STREET STOCK “C” – SHAWN SIMMONS, John Johnson, Buck Gasner, Kenny Barth, Carol Parker, Rod Slater, Jim Colsen, Mike Burdo, Wayne Gaige, John Ketchum, Howard Smith, Jason Samrov, Randy Moore