ROMANO TIES WIMBLE ON FONDA SPEEWAY ALL TIME WIN LIST
On Wm. Larned & Sons Night at the Fonda Speedway, Mike Romano won the Modified feature, his first of the 2002 season. If you look in the record books it also ties him with Bill Wimble on the all time win list at the “Track of Champions” “Wins are hard to come by here at Fonda,” Romano said in victory lane. “I don’t think that we were running that good but we caught some breaks tonight. We’ll take it knowing that we will have to go back to work to make the car better in order to win some more.”
Other winners on the night included Jim Davis (Sportsman), Jeff Patrick (Pro Stock), Keith Ackerknecht (IMCA), Kenny Barth, Dave Horning, Jr., and John Babcock (Street Stock), and Joe Duncan (4 cylinder Enduro).
Mike Fusco and Ron Proctor made up the front row at the start of the thirty lap Modified main event with Fusco taking the advantage at the drop of the green flag. Alton Palmer started fifth and wasted little time going to the front, taking second from Ron Proctor on lap two.
Fusco was a straightaway ahead when the yellow came out on lap seven. One lap later, another caution came out and at that time Palmer pitted with a problem while running second. After starting eleventh, Mike Romano was now up to second as Jeff Trombley was third after starting thirteenth.
Lap traffic came into play on lap fifteen as Romano closed in on Fusco. On lap seventeen, Romano got by Fusco for the lead in turn two. A yellow on lap twenty-two closed up the field with the top five consisting of Romano, Fusco, Trombley, Dave Lape, and Ronnie Holmes.
On the restart, Tony Pepicelli made heavy contact with the turn three wall bringing out another yellow. Pepicelli was okay. As Romano continued to lead, Bobby Varin was picking off cars one by one on the outside getting by Trombley for third on lap twenty-five as the yellow came out one more time.
Varin got by Fusco for second with two laps remaining but Romano had a good lead and held on for the win followed by Varin, Fusco, Trombley, and Holmes.
Mike Ketchum was the leader of the Sportsman feature as the green flag flew with Mike Frasier and Jim Davis in tow. Davis was third on lap two and took over the second position from Frasier one lap later. Before the next lap was completed Davis was your new leader. As the battle was going on for the lead, Michael Ballestero and Kenny Martin swapped the number six position many times on lap six.
Lap cars came into play on lap eleven as Ryan Odasz moved up to third one lap later. The yellow was out on lap fifteen for a crash involving Ray Zemken and last weeks winner Jim Burton. Odasz and Ketchum were putting on a terrific battle for second the final five laps with Odasz finally getting by with two laps remaining in the feature.
Davis won the event by a half a straightaway over Odasz, Frasier, Ballestero, and Drew Fallis.
Jason Pieniazek started on the pole of the Pro Stock main event with Bobby Gile taking the lead in turn three before lap one was completed. Jeff Patrick who won earlier this season was third on lap one after starting fifth.
Patrick continued towards the front taking second from Pieniazek on lap four as Phlan Hart followed him through. The yellow was out shortly afterwards for Pieniazek who came in contact with the turn four wall ending his good run.
Patrick and Gile were running nose to tail when Patrick got by for the lead in turn two on lap six. At the half way point in the event, Patrick held a half straightaway lead as Gile had a problem and pitted. As Hart and Jay Resch ran side by side for second, Rob Noviczski spun in turn three bringing out another caution flag. Noviczski continued.
Resch was second on the restart and pressured Patrick for the number one position. Scott Govertsen got by Kenny Gates and Hart for third as the yellow came out again with five laps to go in the feature event.
Patrick survived a two lap dash to the checkered flag after a lap eighteen caution and went on for his second win of 2002. Resch, Govertsen, Gates, and Hart followed Patrick under the checkered flag.
Last years Fonda Speedway track champion Steve Bidwell led at the start of the 20-lap IMCA feature event with Keith Ackerknecht and Joe Williams in tow. The top two of Bidwell and Ackerknecht pulled away a little from Williams as the lap counter clicked on lap two.
Williams closed in on the top two by lap five with Bidwell and Ackerknecht running side by side for the lead two laps later. Ackerknecht took advantage on lap eight as Williams also got by Bidwell for second.
A yellow came out with one lap to go closing up the field for a one lap dash to the checkered flag. Ackerknecht held his line and went on to the win with Williams, Steve Hough, Bidwell, and Danny Ballard.
Jim Colson led the Street Stock “A” feature at the start followed by Don Warner and Kenny Barth. Jeff Davis was fifth at the completion of lap one after starting twelfth with Barth taking over second from Warner on lap three.
Barth took over the lead just before the yellow flag came out on lap five and led the remaining laps for his first win of 2002. Davis, Randy Moore, Dave Horning, Sr., and Colson completed the top five.
In Street Stock “B” action, Jamie Tesiero was the early leader until Rocky Warner took over the number one position before the completion of lap one. Using the outside groove in turn four on lap two, Bob VanAernam took over the lead with Dave Horning, Jr., also getting by Warner for the second position.
Horning, Jr. was handed the lead with only one lap remaining in the feature event when VanAernam had a problem with his car and pitted while leading. Horning, Jr. went on for the win followed by Jeff Crosier, Shawn Simmons, Mike Budka, Jr., and Warner.
The action packed Street Stock “C” feature began with Brandon Lehr in the lead which only lasted until the fourth turn of the first lap when John Johnson took over the number one position. Ron Tollner took his turn in the number one position on lap two but Johnson wouldn’t give up and retook the advantage three laps later on the front stretch with a three wide move around Tollner and John Babcock who had joined in on the fun.
Babcock would take over the lead on lap seven and held on to it the rest of the way for the win followed by Johnson, Tollner, Carol Parker, and Shawn Laport.
Joe Duncan won the four cylinder Enduro feature event.
Fonda Speedway will be back in action next Saturday with a regular show plus a Ladies Racing League event on Leader Herald Night. The green flag will wave to start the action at 6:00 p.m.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 34 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – Alton Palmer, Kenny Hanson, Chuck Bower, Ron Proctor, Paul Cirincione III
HEAT 2 – Randy Snyder, Mike Romano, Dave Lape, John Marsh, Jr., Jeremy Matthies
HEAT 3 – Bobby Varin, Bob Sitterly, Bobby Vedder, Jeff Trombley, Craig Hanson
HEAT 4 – Jack Johnson, Craig Criscone, Mike Fusco, A.J. Romano, Wayne Figler
CONSOLATION – 6 qualify – Ronnie Holmes, Tony Pepicelli, Keith Shoemaker, Jim Lavalla, Chic Chandler, Chris Kokosa
MODIFIED FEATURE – 30 LAPS – MIKE ROMANO, Bobby Varin, Mike Fusco, Jeff Trombley, Ronnie Holmes, Dave Lape, A.J. Romano, Craig Criscone, Kenny Hanson, Jack Johnson, Ron Proctor, Bob Sitterly, Bobby Vedder, Chuck Bower, Chris Kokosa, Jeremy Matthies, Wayne Figler, Erik Gall, Randy Snyder, Keith Shoemaker, Jim Lavalla, John Marsh, Jr., Chic Chandler, Paul Cirincione III, Tony Pepicelli, Alton Palmer, John Marsh, Craig Hanson.
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 32 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – John McAuliffe, Mike Ketchum, Josh Pieniazek, Ray Zemken, Bobby Hackel
HEAT 2 – Ryan Odasz, Kenny Martin, Tony Farone, Steve Jazeboski, John LeClair
HEAT 3 – Mike Frasier, Jeremiah Munson, Jessica Zemken, Michael Ballestero, Billy Osta
HEAT 4 – Jim Davis, Steve Akers, Drew Fallis, Jim Burton, Tim Clemons
CONSOLATION – 6 qualify – Elmo Reckner, Jeff Jones, John Constantino, Robert Perry, Joe Geniti, Tom Proctor
SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20 LAPS – JIM DAVIS, Ryan Odasz, Mike Frasier, Michael Ballestero, Drew Fallis, Steve Akers, Mike Ketchum, Kenny Martin, Jessica Zemken, Josh Pieniazek, Tony Farone, Tim Clemons, Jeremiah Munson, Billy Osta, John LeClair, Bobby Hackel, Joe Geniti, Robert Perry, John McAuliffe, Elmo Reckner, John Constantino, Ray Zemken, Jeff Jones, Steve Jaseboski, Jim Burton, Tom Proctor.
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 24 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Joe Mottoshiski, Jeff Patrick, Phlan Hart, Chris Morris, Jerry Pepper, Jim Normoyle
HEAT 2 – Scott Govertsen, Nick Stone, Jay Resch, Kenny Gates, Steve Cosselman, Dan Rickard
HEAT 3 – Bobby Gile, Butchie Irwin, Rob Noviczski, Steve Vrooman, Hondo Carpenter, Mark Lighthall
PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20 LAPS – JEFF PATRICK, Jay Resch, Scott Govertsen, Kenny Gates, Phlan Hart, Rob Noviczski, Joe Mottoshiski, Nick Stone, Frank Early, Jr., Jim Normoyle, Rob VanAernam, Steve Vrooman, Chris Morris, Hondo Carpenter, Jerry Pepper, Brent Hallenbeck, Tom LaPlante, Steve Cosselman, Dan Rickard, Bobby Gile, Butchie Irwin, Jason Pieniazek, Mark Lighthall.
IMCA QUALIFYING – 21 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – Steve Bidwell, Jim Rajczi, George Catanzano, Danny Ballard, Fred Proctor
HEAT 2 – Skip Pabis, Keith Ackerknecht, Joe Williams, Steve Hough, Darcy Volans
IMCA FEATURE – 20 LAPS – KEITH ACKERKNECHT, Joe Williams, Steve Hough, Steve Bidwell, Danny Ballard, Jim Rajczi, George Proctor, Darcy Volans, Skip Pabis, Joe Hallenbeck, Pete Knapp, Fred Proctor, Dennis Vroman, Bill Lander, Tom Costanza, Jason Miller, Curt Olsen, Willy Reed, George Catanzano, Kevin Buff, Dan Krajewski.
STREET STOCK “A” FEATURE – 10 LAPS – KENNY BARTH, Jeff Davis, Randy Moore, Dave Horning, Sr., Jim Colson, Don Warner, Donnie Oldick, Ricky Quick, David Trombley, Jr., Ron Cumming, Dennis Wilson, Mike Walters.
STREET STOCK “B” – 10 LAPS – DAVE HORNING, JR., Jeff Crosier, Shawn Simmons, Mike Budka, Jr., Rocky Warner, Guy Klob, Jamie Tesiero, Ed Bradt, Sandy Ferrara, Bob VanAernam, Buck Gasner, Norman Lamphear, Jr., Jason Samrov.
STREET STOCK “C” – 10 LAPS – JOHN BABCOCK, John Johnson, Ron Tollner, Carol Parker, Shawn Laport, Dennis Joslin, Joe Smith, Pete Sisler, Thom Schmidtmann, Justin Labombard, Ron Cumming, Brandon Lehr, Jo Jo Donato, Neil Cosselman.
FOUR CYLINDER ENDURO – JOE DUNCAN, Ken Hollenbeck, Vernon Wagner, Laurie Fallis, Jon Holden, John Duncan, Kerrie Hollenbeck, Mike Earl, Steve Clemons, Mike Wanoux, Greg Taylor.