ROMANO WINS CONTROVERSIAL MODIFIED FEATURE
On Snap-On Tools Night at the Fonda Speedway, a dominant car and a controversial finish both played a part in the Modified feature event. The dominant car was driven by A.J. Romano who went on to his first win of the 2002 season. The controversial finish came when the yellow and the checkered flag came out simultaneously on lap twenty-nine of the scheduled thirty lap event.
After everything that could happen has happened to A.J. Romano so far this season, he won the Modified feature event on Saturday night in dominating fashion. “This feels good. It seemed like it has been forever since we won last,” A.J. said in victory lane. “As the track got slicker my car hooked up better and I’d like to thank my crew for working so hard through all of the tough times this season.” A.J. Romano’s last win at Fonda came on August 18, 2001.
Billy Gray and John Marsh, Jr. swapped the lead at the start of the Modified feature until A.J. Romano took control on lap three. Mike Fusco charged past Kenny Hanson and Jerry Pennock, Jr. for third on lap three and one lap later was second after getting by Gray.
A.J. held a straightaway advantage at the lap six point in the event with second place runner Fusco a straightaway ahead of Gray who was now third. Lap traffic came into play for the leader on lap nine as Jack Johnson and Jeff Trombley battled for fourth, swapping the position twice before Johnson took over the spot for good on lap thirteen.
Gray and Johnson ran side by side for third at the halfway point with Johnson taking the position for good on lap seventeen. Last weeks winner Bobby Varin got by Trombley and Gray for fourth on lap nineteen as A.J. continued to dominate the event. Dave Lape started nineteenth after qualifying for the feature through the consolation event but came up through the field quickly battling with Trombley for the fifth position over the final ten laps of the event.
Yellow flags on laps twenty and twenty-two slowed the event but nothing was going to stop Romano on this night, not even another caution. When Varin slowed on the frontstretch on lap twenty-nine, the yellow and the caution flag came out simultaneously. The fans booed and were upset about the event ending this way but it was considered as an official event with A.J. taking the win.
Fusco, Johnson, Mike Romano, and Trombley completed the top five.
Jeff Holt led at the start of the twenty lap Sportsman feature but unfortunately slowed on lap nine on the front straightaway handing the lead over to Jeremiah Munson. Michael Ballestero made his way into the third position on lap six and quickly closed in on the leader.
Ballestero took over the lead on a lap twelve restart, making a move to the inside of Munson in turn four. Tim Clemons got by Munson for second on lap fourteen as he had a brand new Bicknell car running very well. Clemons closed in quickly on Ballestero and briefly took over the lead in turn two with one lap remaining.
In turn three, Ballestero retook the position and went on for the win followed by Clemons, Ryan Odasz, Bobby Hackel, and Jim Davis. Clemons was later disqualified for not allowing the tech inspectors to inspect his engine properly, moving everyone up one position and moving Munson into a top five finish.
Hondo Carpenter took the lead at the start of the Pro Stock feature with the yellow coming out before lap one was completed when Jerry Pepper spun in turn four, collecting five other cars in the process. On the restart, Jim Normoyle was the leader with last years track champion Rob Noviczski all over Carpenter for the second position.
Normoyle had a straightaway lead when Carpenter spun in turn two while running second bringing out the yellow flag again. Normoyle held the lead on the restart with Noviczski second and Chris Morris third. After starting last in the feature event, last weeks feature winner Butchie Irwin made his way to the front, taking the lead in turn four on lap ten after getting by Noviczski and Normoyle as the yellow came out again.
Irwin was a straightaway ahead when the yellow came out again on lap thirteen with Noviczski, Kenny Gates, Morris, and Scott Govertsen running in the top five. Morris made a late race charge to the front, taking the second position away from Noviczski with three laps to go but Irwin was too far ahead and took his second win in a row and third of the season. Morris, Noviczski, Gates, and Govertsen completed the top five.
It took three tries to start the IMCA feature with Danny Ody the early leader when the race finally began. When the caution came out on lap four it was for last years track champion Steve Bidwell who spun on the frontstretch. Bidwell pitted and didn’t return.
On the restart, last weeks winner George Catanzano was the new leader with Dennis Vroman now second. Catanzano was a straightaway ahead on lap twelve when Danny Ballard took over the second position from Ody.
Ballard closed the distance on the leader to a few car lengths as the white flag came out but Catanzano went on to his second win in a row followed by Ballard, Ody, Vroman, and Willy Reed.
Dave Horning, Sr. was first to lead the Street Stock “A” feature with Jim Colson a close second. When Dave Horning, Jr. made a three wide move to the inside of both Colson and Horning, Sr. on the backstretch, contact was made causing Horning, Sr. to spin while Colson took over the lead. Horning, Sr. spun three hundred sixty degrees and continued on.
Colson stretched his lead out to a comfortable margin but when the yellow flag came out on lap eight it closed up the field and gave Horning, Jr. a shot at the leader. Horning, Jr. took advantage of the opportunity, took over the lead and went on to the win followed by Colson, John Johnson, Horning, Sr., and Denver Wilson. Colson was later disqualified moving everyone up one position and putting Paul Hughes into the top five.
Ricky Quick led at the start of the Street Stock “B” feature event, leading the first four laps before Bob VanAernam took over the number one position. Jo Jo Donato moved into the second position and pressured the leader during the last three laps of the event but VanAernam held on to the lead and got the win followed by Donato, Randy Moore, Carol Parker, and Ed Bradt. Moore was disqualified following the completion of the event putting Scott Wells into a top five finish.
The Street Stock “C” event began with Rod Slater taking the early lead. Jeff Davis started last in the event but by the lap three point in the event was the new leader. John Babcock moved into the second position at that point and pressured the leader over the final two laps. Davis went on to his sixth win of the season followed by Babcock, Shawn Simmons, Kenny Barth, and Slater. Slater was later disqualified allowing Jeff Crosier to get the fifth finishing position
Ken Hollenbeck was the four cylinder Enduro winner.
Next Saturday at Fonda, Budweiser presents the fifty lap Big Block/Small Block Challenge for the Modifieds along with all other divisions also in action. There will also be a fireworks display with all of the action beginning at 5:30 p.m.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 30 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Jerry Pennock, Jr., Mike Fusco, Mike Romano, Jack Johnson, John Marsh, Jr., Bob Sitterly
HEAT 2 – Bobby Varin, Billy Gray, Ken Hanson, Alton Palmer, John Marsh, Bobby Vedder
HEAT 3 – Jeff Trombley, Tony Pepicelli, Erik Gall, A.J. Romano, Ronnie Johnson, Randy Snyder
CONSOLATION – 6 qualify – Dave Lape, Craig Criscone, Craig Hanson, Joe Geniti, Ron Proctor, Jim Lavalla
MODIFIED FEATURE – 30 laps – A.J. ROMANO, Mike Fusco, Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, Jeff Trombley, Dave Lape, Billy Gray, Tony Pepicelli, Ken Hanson, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Bobby Varin, Craig Criscone, Erik Gall, Randy Snyder, Bobby Vedder, Ron Proctor, Todd Morey, Bob Sitterly, John Marsh, Joe Geniti, John Marsh, Jr., Chic Chandler, Craig Hanson, Jim Lavalla, Ronnie Johnson, Alton Palmer
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 29 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Michael Ballestero, Tim Clemons, Jim Burton, Jeff Holt, Kenny Martin, Jessica Zemken
HEAT 2 – Bobby Hackel, Jeremiah Munson, Steve Akers, Elmo Reckner, Alan Powell, Jr., John McAuliffe
HEAT 3 – Ryan Odasz, Mike Ketchum, Jim Davis, Jeff Jones, Tony Farone, John LeClair
CONSOLATION – 6 qualify – Doug Hutchison, Josh Pieniazek, Drew Fallis, John Constantino, Pat O’Hanlon, Tim Adair
SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20 laps – MICHAEL BALLESTERO, Ryan Odasz, Bobby Hackel, Jim Davis, Jeremiah Munson, Steve Akers, John McAuliffe, Jim Burton, Mike Ketchum, Jeff Jones, John LeClair, Elmo Reckner, Kenny Martin, Josh Pieniazek, Tony Farone, Alan Powell, Jr., John Constantino, Drew Fallis, Doug Hutchison, Tim Adair, Pat O’Hanlon, Joe Perrotti, Jeff Holt, Jessica Zemken, Tim Clemons
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 19 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Hondo Carpenter, Chris Morris, Jay Resch, Mark Lighthall, Bobby Gile, Jerry Pepper
HEAT 2 – Jim Normoyle, Jeff Patrick, Scott Govertsen, Rob Noviczski, Kenny Gates, Mark Sullivan
PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20 laps – BUTCHIE IRWIN, Chris Morris, Rob Noviczski, Kenny Gates, Scott Govertsen, Hondo Carpenter, Joe Mottoshiski, Bobby Gile, Mark Lighthall, Rob VanAernam, Nick Stone, Frank Early, Jr., Dan Rickard, Jerry Pepper, Jeff Patrick, Jim Normoyle, Jay Resch, Jay Ingersoll, Phlan Hart, Mark Sullivan
IMCA QUALIFYING – 17 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – Steve Bidwell, George Catanzano, Danny Ballard, Danny Ody, Dennis Vroman
HEAT 2 – Joe Williams, Skip Pabis, Todd Goldstein, Steve Hough, Joe Hallenbeck
IMCA FEATURE – 20 laps – GEORGE CATANZANO, Danny Ballard, Danny Ody, Dennis Vroman, Willy Reed, Joe Hallenbeck, Joe Williams, Todd Goldstein, Skip Pabis, Curt Olsen, Jason Miller, Bob Wilkie, Darcy Volans, Steve Hough, Steve Bidwell, Pete Knapp
STREET STOCK “A” – 10 laps – DAVE HORNING, JR., John Johnson, Dave Horning, Sr., Denver Wilson, Paul Hughes, Pete Sisler, Car #22, Chris McMurray, Car #31, Guy Klob, Justin Labombard, Buck Gasner, Rich Walters, Jim Colson
STREET STOCK “B” – 10 laps – BOB VANAERNAM, Jo Jo Donato, Carol Parker, Ed Bradt, Scott Wells, Todd Dunston, Don Warner, Rocky Warner, Donnie Oldick, Thom Schmidtmann, Jason Samrov, Neil Cosselman, Ricky Quick, Brandon Lehr, Randy Moore
STREET STOCK “C” – 10 laps – JEFF DAVIS, John Babcock, Shawn Simmons, Kenny Barth, Jeff Crosier, Shawn Laport, Joe Smith, Mike Burdo, Jamie Tesiero, Brian French, Mike Budka, Jr., Rod Slater
FOUR CYLINDER ENDURO – KEN HOLLENBECK, John Holden, Laurie Fallis, Rudy Stemple, Mike Flynn, Mike Lovelace, John Duncan, Greg Taylor, Vernon Wagoner, Kerrie Hollenbeck, Roger Newkirk, Johnny Duncan, Joe Duncan