ROMANO BROTHERS BATTLE DURING BIG BLOCK/SMALL BLOCK CHALLENGE
It seems like every time the Romano brothers Mike and A.J. get together and race for a win at Fonda Speedway they put on a whale of a show for the fans in attendance. Last night on Budweiser Night at Fonda was no exception as they put on a great battle for the win. Unfortunately there can only be one winner but a little luck did come into play to decide the winner on this night.
"My car has been running better lately as we have been trying a lot of different things to make it better. Lap cars held me up and allowed A.J. to get by but I guess the breaks evened out as I got the lead back when he broke," Mike said in victory lane. "Jeff was fast but this was a big block track if you ran up on top where I was running. I want to thank my crew who worked hard this week in order to get the car ready after running Albany Saratoga on Tuesday."
The second race of the Big Block/Small Block Challenge series at Fonda began with John Marsh, Jr. and Billy Gray taking turns at the lead with Gray in the top spot at the completion of lap one. Jeff Trombley who was in Roger Savoie’s small block after not being happy with the way his big block was running took over the lead on lap two.
Many yellows slowed the event in the first ten laps, with restarts upon restarts due to one of the front row starters getting a jump on the other causing the starter to put out the yellow again. When the front row was brought under control, Trombley led but Mike Romano was challenging on the outside groove where his car was running strong.
On lap eight on the inside of turn four, Romano switched grooves moving to the inside and taking over the lead. Romano held a straightaway lead by lap ten with lap traffic coming into play five laps later. Mike’s brother A.J. started fourteenth but moved to the front quickly taking over the second position from Trombley on lap seventeen.
A.J. trailed Mike until the Andy’s Service #97 was slowed by a lap car on lap thirty-five allowing A.J. to get the lead. Mike was running strong on the outside and kept pace with A.J. as Tony Pepicelli and Jack Johnson battled with Dave Lape for the fourth spot. Pepicelli would get by Lape for the position but Lape held Johnson at bay for the fifth spot.
With ten laps to go, A.J. slowed with a motor problem allowing Mike to assume the lead and go on to his second win of the 2002 season. Only the top eight cars finished on the lead lap. Lape was running fourth when a broken axle sidelined him with six laps to go. Trombley finished second and received a $500 bonus for being the first small block across the finish line.
Mike Ketchum took the early lead in the Sportsman feature event with an early yellow slowing the event at the completion of lap one. Kenny Martin took over the lead on lap three on the inside in turn two but that would only last one lap as Ketchum would get back by the #93 of Martin in the same spot on the track for the lead. Ryan Odasz and John McAuliffe started the event in the ninth and fifteenth positions respectively but by lap three they were running third and fourth.
Both Odasz and McAuliffe got by Martin for the second and third positions at the lap five point and one lap later Odasz took over the lead on the frontstretch as he and Ketchum passed under the starters stand. John McAuliffe took over second from Ketchum on lap ten but never got close to Odasz as he went on to the win, his first of the season.
Bobby Gile was the early leader in the Pro Stock main event with an early yellow out at the completion of lap five. On the restart, Jay Resch was the new leader with Kenny Gates now second. Gates took over the lead on the outside of turn four on lap nine but the lead was short-lived.
Chris Morris started the event in the eighth position and by the halfway point was pressuring Gates for the lead. On the inside of turn four, Morris made his move and took over the lead on lap ten. The winner of the last two Pro Stock features at Fonda, Butchie Irwin took over second on lap twelve after getting by Gates.
Morris and Irwin were side by side for the lead in turn one on lap seventeen when Irwin lost the back end of his car, slid sideways and ended up in the infield. He was able to return to the race but his chance for the win was gone. Morris led the final three laps for his second win of the season.
As Danny Ody led the IMCA feature at the start, last weeks winner George Catanzano battled with Steve Bidwell for the third position. As those two battled, Kevin Buff took the lead briefly in turn two on lap four but Ody retook the top spot as the cars entered turn three.
As Catanzano and Bidwell battled side by side, contact was made between the two with Joe Williams and Catanzano both getting by Bidwell for third with the yellow coming out. On the restart, Steve Hough briefly took the lead only to have the starter throw the yellow again because he didn’t like the start.
Danny Ballard spun on the backstretch on lap twelve, went around three hundred sixty degrees, and continued on. The yellow came out again and under the yellow Catanzano and Williams were playing bumper cars out on the speedway. The result was left front damage to Catanzano’s car and a black flag for Williams as both were done for the night.
When Ody slowed with mechanical problems on lap seventeen, Hough took over the lead but the race to the win wasn’t over yet. Ballard came back from his spin to take over the lead with two laps to go and went on to his first win of the season.
Shawn Simmons led every lap of the Street Stock "A" feature but the win was by no means an easy one as John Babcock was second on lap four and pressured the leader over the final three laps. Simmons was able to hold on for the win, his third of the season.
Rocky Warner took the lead at the start of the Street Stock "B" feature with the red flag coming out before the first lap was completed for a crash in turn three. Rocky’s dad Don Warner was t-boned by Paul Hughes resulting in a helicopter being called in to take Don to the hospital. Don was conscious but was complaining of hip and lower back pain. Jeff Davis was also involved in the crash and was done for the night.
When the race was restarted, Rocky Warner decided to restart the feature in the rear of the field while Bob VanAernam took the number one position when the green flag fell. On lap three, Rocky was already in the second position and three laps later took over the lead. Rocky went on to a very special career first win and dedicated it to his dad Don.
Rod Slater led the first two laps of the Street Stock "C" feature until Kenny Barth took over the lead on lap three. Barth led the rest of the way for his third win of the season.
Next week at Fonda a regular show in all divisions will be on the racing card sponsored by DeCrescente & Saratoga Spring Water. The Northeast Vintage Modifieds will also be on hand and it will be NYSSCA Night with awards handed out to the top finishers in each feature event that are NYSSCA members. A six lap Dash for Cash for non winners in the top twenty in points in the Sportsman division will also be held in honor of Jack Lockhart a long time fan of the Fonda Speedway who recently passed away. Racing action will get the green flag at 6:00 p.m.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 30 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Erik Gall, Mike Fusco, Mike Romano, John Marsh, Jr., Randy Snyder, Todd Morey
HEAT 2 – Jeff Trombley, Ken Hanson, Alton Palmer, Bobby Varin, Dave Lape, Ronnie Johnson
HEAT 3 – Bob Sitterly, Jack Johnson, Tony Pepicelli, A.J. Romano, Billy Gray, Craig Criscone
CONSOLATION – 6 qualify – Jim Lavalla, John Marsh, Sr., Bobby Vedder, Ancel Collins, Chic Chandler, Jerry Pennock, Jr.
MODIFIED FEATURE – 30 laps – MIKE ROMANO, Jeff Trombley, Tony Pepicelli, Jack Johnson, Bobby Varin, Billy Gray, Randy Snyder, Craig Criscone, Bob Sitterly, Todd Morey, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Bobby Vedder, Jim Lavalla, Ken Hanson, Dave Lape, Wayne Figler, A.J. Romano, Chic Chandler, John Marsh, Sr., Erik Gall, Alton Palmer, Ancel Collins, John Marsh, Jr., Mike Fusco, Ronnie Johnson, Rich Pennock
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 28 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Mike Ketchum, John McAuliffe, Doug Hutchison, Jeff Holt, Jim Burton, Jeremiah Munson
HEAT 2 – Jim Davis, John LeClair, Ryan Odasz, Billy Osta, Jeff Jones, Josh Pieniazek
HEAT 3 – Tim Clemons, Kenny Martin, Elmo Reckner, Ray Zemken, Bobby Hackel, Robert Perry
CONSOLATION 6 qualify – Tony Farone, Drew Fallis, Michael Ballestero, Bill Haley, John Constantino, Tim Adair
SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20 laps – RYAN ODASZ, John McAuliffe, Jim Davis, Mike Ketchum, Billy Osta, Elmo Reckner, Kenny Martin, Jim Burton, Michael Ballestero, Drew Fallis, Jeremiah Munson, Jeff Jones, Tony Farone, Bill Haley, Doug Hutchison, John Constantino, Tim Adair, Allen Powell, Jr., Jeff Holt, Bobby Hackel, Robert Perry, Josh Pieniazek, Tim Clemons, Ray Zemken
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 20 total cars – 6 qualify
HEAT 1 – Bobby Gile, Jay Resch, Chris Morris, Hondo Carpenter, Mark Sullivan, Kenny Gates
HEAT 2 – Jeff Patrick, Rob Noviczski, Mark Lighthall, Butchie Irwin, Tom Dembek, Joe Mottoshiski
PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20 laps – CHRIS MORRIS, Jeff Patrick, Jay Resch, Joe Mottoshiski, Rob Noviczski, Scott Govertsen, Nick Stone, Butchie Irwin, Kenny Gates, Steve Welch, Tom Dembek, Mark Lighthall, Rob VanAernam, Dan Rickard, Mark Sullivan, Jerry Pepper, Hondo Carpenter, Rob Rowe, Jim Normoyle, Bobby Gile
IMCA QUALIFYING – 18 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – Billy Wood, Steve Bidwell, George Catanzano, Danny Ballard, Steve Hough
HEAT 2 – Joe Williams, Danny Ody, Joe Hallenbeck, Dennis Vroman, Kevin Buff
IMCA FEATURE – 20 laps – DANNY BALLARD, Steve Hough, Kevin Buff, Steve Bidwell, Skip Pabis, Curt Olsen, Dennis Vroman, Bob Wilkie, Willy Reed, Aaron Jacobs, Joe Hallenbeck, Danny Ody, Joe Williams, George Catanzano, Dan Krajewski, Billy Wood, Darcy Volans
STREET STOCK "A" FEATURE – 10 laps – SHAWN SIMMONS, John Babcock, Ed Bradt, Wayne Lawyer, Jim Colson, Ricky Quick, Donnie Oldick, Pete Sisler, Mike Walters, Mike Budka, Jr., Dave Horning, Jr., Dave Horning, Sr., Mike Skinner, Fred Martin
STREET STOCK "B" FEATURE – 10 laps – ROCKY WARNER, Bob VanAernam, Carol Parker, Denver Wilson, Mike Burdo, Ellis Shaffer, Don Warner, Paul Hughes, Jeff Davis
STREET STOCK "C" FEATURE – 10 laps – KENNY BARTH, Randy Moore, Jo Jo Donato, Ron Tollner, Jeff Crosier, Buck Gasner, Eric Sbrega, Roger Keeny, Rod Slater, Joe Smith, David Trombley, Jr., Neil Cosselman