ROMANO POCKETS $6000, BALLARD AND DAVIS CROWNED CHAMPIONS
The pit area at Fonda Speedway was full Saturday night as 160 cars attempted to qualify through heat races for the four divisions in action. While the pit area was full of race cars, Mike Romano’s pockets were full of money at the end of the evening as he not only won the 50-lap Modified feature paying $3000 to win but also the Big Block point championship of the three race Big Block/Small Block Challenge series which also paid $3000.
If you figure in Mike’s Big Block/Small Block series feature win back in July he took home $9000 from just those two feature wins and the point title! Tony Pepicelli finished second in the feature event in a Small Block and won the $1000 bonus for being the Small Block Challenge series point champion.
“I want to thank Ric Lucia for running this series and the fans for supporting it,” Mike said in victory lane on Andy’s Service & Speed Shop Night. “This wasn’t a great year for us, but it wasn’t real bad either. The motor in this car tonight was just freshened and was real strong. I almost hate to give it up to my teammate Dave Lape for next year but that is where the engine is going.” The car that Romano won in is sold but he remained optimistic about that. “We’ll get another one that is just as fast or maybe even a little bit faster for next year I’m sure.”
Ray Zemken who is the new driver of the Sam & Linda Smith’s #72VT took the early lead in the Modified feature from his pole position starting spot. Pepicelli started second and took the lead from Zemken in turn three on lap four using the inside groove to get the job done. The Romano brothers Mike and A.J. were passing cars in pairs by lap five as Mike got by Jim Davis and Randy Snyder for the sixth position while A.J. got by Jack Johnson and Dave Lape for eighth.
Craig Criscone and Jeff Trombley both got by Zemken for the second and third positions with Zemken an early dropout from the event as the first caution flew on lap ten. The caution gave the leader a little break as Pepicelli was already in lap traffic but it also put the entire field on his rear bumper. On the restart, Mike Romano got by Trombley and Criscone for second as the yellow came out again for a crash involving four cars in turn four.
Mike Romano rocketed past Pepicelli for the lead on lap twelve as the race was restarted using the outside groove in turn one to get the job done. While Mike immediately stretched out his advantage, A.J. was still making his way to the front getting by Criscone for fourth on lap seventeen as Mike was already in lap traffic. Back in the pack two Fonda Speedway veterans were waging a terrific battle as Jack Johnson and Dave Lape raced side by side at times swapping the eighth position in the process.
Lape got by both Jack Johnson and Snyder for the seventh spot on lap twenty-six just before Snyder slowed on the backstretch bringing out another caution. Jack got back by Lape on the restart but then Lape had another Johnson to deal with as Ronnie Johnson was now racing with him for the seventh position. One more yellow slowed the field on lap thirty-three for Mike Fusco who spun around in turn two in the Magsarus #93.
A.J. Romano and Jack Johnson both got by Trombley late in the event as Mike Romano went on to the win by a straightaway advantage over Pepicelli, A.J. Romano, Criscone, and Jack Johnson.
The Sportsman feature began with Tim Clemons and Tim Mayne on the front row as Clemons took the lead at the start in the Teo car recently purchased from Bryan Goewey by Jake Spraker. The yellow flag was out after lap one was completed and it took four more restarts before another lap was completed, as havoc broke loose as the green flag fell each time. When things settled down, Clemons continued to lead as Fonda Speedway Sportsman track champion Jim Davis made his way up through the field from his fifth place starting position. Davis and Ryan Odasz both got by Steve Akers for the second and third positions on lap three as Clemons held a comfortable lead.
Davis quickly closed in on the leader a couple of laps later and took the lead from Clemons on lap six. Two laps later Davis was in lap traffic, held a straightaway advantage over Clemons by lap ten, and was lapping cars in the top ten by lap eighteen. Davis was extremely quick using the outside groove to set a pace that nobody could keep up with and the race was for second from that point on.
Odasz and Michael Ballestero were waging a great battle for the third position, swapping the spot before Odasz got by Ballestero, Tim Hartman, and another lap car for the third position on lap twenty-five of the thirty lap event. Davis went on to the easy win followed by Clemons, Odasz, Ballestero, and David Towns.
One of the most exciting races of the night was the Pro Stock feature as five lead changes took place with the last one coming for the win just two laps from the end of the thirty-lap event. Joe Mottoshiski was the early leader with Steve Welch second as the green flag flew to start the event. Kenny Gates started sixth but by lap four he got by Jerry Pepper for the third spot.
The yellow was out on lap five for Mark Lighthall who was in the turn one wall after invader Danny Sanchez tapped the wall on the inside of turn one and hit Lighthall putting him in the outside wall between turns one and two. That wasn’t the only incident that Sanchez would be in during the race as he also got into Dave Viall forcing him to spin at one point. Viall recovered from the spin and finished the event in strong fashion in his first showing at Fonda Speedway this year.
Gates got by Welch for second on the restart with Rob Noviczski making his way to the front after starting the event back in the ninth position. Noviczski was coming up through the field together with Jay Resch as these two drivers ran side by side for the fourth position for many laps before Noviczski was finally able to take the spot. Gates was battling side by side with Welch for the second spot when Gates got loose in turn three and fell back to sixth on lap fourteen.
At this point in the event the lead wasn’t going to be safe for any driver as three drivers swapped the lead for the next five laps. Welch tapped the rear of the Mottoshiski car in turn two on lap sixteen taking over the lead and relegating Mottoshiski back to the fourth spot. Resch was next to lead on laps eighteen and nineteen before Noviczski made his way to the front on lap twenty.
Just when it looked like Noviczski was on his way to the win Butchie Irwin made a late race charge to the front getting by both Gates and Welch for the second position and pressuring the leader with five laps to go in the event. One final caution was out with two laps to go and on the restart Irwin made his move around the outside of Noviczski on the backstretch for the lead and went on to the win followed by Noviczski, Welch, Viall, and Gates.
Danny Ody led at the start of the rain delayed IMCA feature from July 28 with the yellow flag being waved almost immediately after the start. An original restart ensued with Ody again taking the lead. Steve Bidwell was a strong second and took the lead on lap two as he shot past Ody in turn three.
Ody remained a very close second running well on the outside as Bidwell stuck to the low side of the speedway. Ody regained the lead on lap five while point leader Danny Ballard was making his way to the front after starting twelfth. Ballard got by Billy Ward for the third position on lap twelve as Bidwell was again on Ody’s rear bumper.
Willy Reed was fifth on lap sixteen after starting sixteenth as Ody had the lap car of Joe Williams between himself and Bidwell. As it turns out Williams would become a factor in the outcome of the race. Williams got by Ody with only a couple of laps remaining to get his lap back and from that point on Ody and Bidwell would battle to the end for the win.
Coming out of turn four to the checkered flag, Ody was held up slightly by Williams allowing Bidwell to get alongside the leader and make the pass for the win. Ody ended up second followed by Ballard, Ward, and Reed.
The regular IMCA feature was a twenty-five-lap event and it was Ballard who took the early lead from his inside front row starting position. A couple of caution flags slowed the event in the early stages but Ballard held the lead through all of the restarts. Invader Sean Lias started second and took over the lead from Ballard on lap ten on the outside of turn four.
Ballard stayed close to the leader as Bidwell made his way to the front after starting eighth. Bidwell took over the third position on lap twelve as Ballard got by Lias for the lead two laps later on the inside of turn four. Bidwell got by Lias for second on lap sixteen but had nothing for the leader as Ballard went on to the win followed by Bidwell, George Catanzano, Williams, and Lias.
With the win and a third place finish in the rain-delayed event, Ballard was crowned the 2002 Fonda Speedway IMCA champion.
The Street Stock “A” event saw Ron Tollner take the early lead but it was John Babcock who was making his way to the front after starting eighth. Babcock moved up to second by the halfway point of the ten-lap event and quickly caught the leader as Tolner’s car was showing signs of smoke. Babcock took over the lead on lap six and went on for the win followed by Rocky Warner, John Johnson, Roger Keeny, and Rich Harkins.
With a sixth place finish, Jeff Davis was crowned the 2002 Fonda Speedway Street Stock point champion. Earlier in the season Jeff’s brother Jim was crowned as the 2002 Fonda Speedway Sportsman track champion marking the first time that brothers have won point titles at Fonda in the same year.
Bob VanAernam led the Street Stock “B” feature as the race began. As lap one was completed the yellow was out and on the restart Ed Bradt took the advantage at the start. Bradt’s lead was short lived as VanAernam retook the lead as the cars entered turn three. Albany Saratoga Speedway invader Roy Fifield pressured the leader for the final laps of the event and when VanAernam was slowed by a lap car on the final lap coming out of turn four Fifield ducked low to take the lead and the win followed by VanAernam, Guy Klob, Dave Horning, Sr., and Buck Gasner.
Donnie Oldick took the lead at the start of the Street Stock “C” feature that was marred by a flip in turn two by Paul Hughes as the race began. Hughes was not injured in the wreck. Oldick led lap one before Randy Moore took over the lead on lap two as Shawn Simmons made his way to the front after starting eighth. Simmons was second by lap three, took over the lead one lap later, and went on for the win followed by Moore, Jo Jo Donato, Rod Slater, and Carol Parker.
The next event on the Fonda Speedway schedule will be River Rage 2002 on Saturday and Sunday October 19 & 20. On Saturday warm-ups will start at noon with 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stock, Street Stock, and IMCA divisions all in action. Then on Sunday the McDonald’s 200 for Big Block Modifieds will take center stage along with a 30-lap Pro Stock open. Racing on Sunday will start with warm-ups at noon.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 50 total cars
HEAT 1 – Mike Romano, Mike Fusco, Jack Johnson
HEAT 2 – Todd Ryan, Randy Snyder, Lee Gagliardi
HEAT 3 – Dave Lape, Craig Criscone, John Marsh, Jr.
HEAT 4 – Jeff Trombley, Tony Pepicelli, Craig Hanson
HEAT 5 – Jim Davis, Ray Zemken, Gus Schmidt
CONSI 1 – A.J. Romano, Ronnie Johnson, Jim Rothwell
CONSI 2 – Randy Hotaling, Todd Morey, Chuck “CV” Elms
CONSI 3 – Don Mattison, Don Ronca, Billy Gray
CONSI 4 – Ron Proctor, Gary Edwards, Harry Shaffer
MODIFIED FEATURE – 50 LAPS – MIKE ROMANO, Tony Pepicelli, A.J. Romano, Craig Criscone, Jack Johnson, Jeff Trombley, Ronnie Johnson, Dave Lape, Jim Davis, Ron Proctor, Randy Hotaling, Gus Schmidt, Don Ronca, Billy Gray, Chuck “CV” Elms, Jim Rothwell, Gary Edwards, Craig Hansen, Harry Shaffer, Lee Gagliardi, Todd Morey, Mike Fusco, Randy Snyder, John Marsh, Jr., Todd Ryan, Don Mattison, Ray Zemken, Mike Dillenbeck
DNQ – John Alberti, Chic Chandler, Rich Gilpatrick, Ancel Collins, Tim Clemons, Joe Geniti, Ken Aanonsen, John G. Wolfe, Jim Lavalla, Pat DaBiere, Skip Fox, Floyd Billington, Ken Hanson, Stan Lemiesz, Keith Shoemaker, Ted Teal, Jeff Sukup, Erik Mack, Ron George, Jr., Mark Pullen, John Marsh, Scott Noel
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING
HEAT 1 – Jeff Jones, Tim Mayne, David Towns, Ted Layton
HEAT 2 – Michael Ballestero, Jamie Christian, Steve Akers, Tim Hartman
HEAT 3 – Ryan Odasz, Robert Perry, Elmo Reckner, Randy Delaney
HEAT 4 – Rick Mill, Jim Davis, Tim Clemons, Tom Perrago
CONSI 1 – Bobby Hackel, Doug Hutchison, Allen Powell, Jr., Ryan Larkin
CONSI 2 – Kenny Martin, Alan Houghtaling, Josh Pieniazek, John LeClair
CONSI 3 – Drew Fallis, Frank Harper, Billy Osta, Frank Greco
SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 30 laps – JIM DAVIS, Tim Clemons, Ryan Odasz, Michael Ballestero, David Towns, Steve Akers, Rick Mill, Jamie Christian, Josh Pieniazek, Jeff Jones, Tim Mayne, Kenny Martin, Elmo Reckner, Tim Hartman, Drew Fallis, Billy Osta, Randy Delaney, Frank Harper, Ryan Larkin, Frank Greco, Alan Houghtaling, Bobby Hackel, Ted Layton, Jeff Holt, Allen Powell, Jr., Doug Hutchison, John LeClair, Tom Perrago. DNS – Robert Perry
DNQ – Jim Burton, Mike Keeler, Kevin Crave, Gerald Conroy, Wayne Keys, Art Collins, Jamie Yannone, John Constantino, Jeremiah Munson, Ed Harkins, Mike Ketchum, Bob Rees, Louie Fagant, Tim Adair, Neil Erickson, Paul Dunham, Jr., Steve Bidwell, Jessica Zemken
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING
HEAT 1 – Butchie Irwin, Rob Noviczski, Jerry Pepper, Joe Mottoshiski, Jim Duncan
HEAT 2 – Jay Resch, Kenny Gates, Steve Burega, Mike Fritz, Erik Nelson
HEAT 3 – Dan Sanchez, Dave Viall, Steve Welch, Dick Sweet, Rob VanAernam
CONSI 1 – Mark Lighthall, Mark Sullivan, Randy Cannell, Jay Corbin, Dan Rickard, Chris Kruz,
Tom O’Connor, Art Newman, Jr., Jeff Patrick
PRO STOCK FEATURE – 30 laps – BUTCHIE IRWIN, Rob Noviczski, Steve Welch, Dave Viall, Kenny Gates, Donnie Oldick, Mark Sullivan, Jeff Patrick, Jerry Pepper, Steve Burega, Joe Mottoshiski, Randy Cannell, Erik Nelson, Art Newman, Jr., Tom O’Connor, Jay Corbin, Rob VanAernam, Dan Rickard, Bill Dona, Dick Sweet, Jay Resch, Danny Sanchez, Jim Duncan, Mark Lighthall. DNS – Mike Fritz
DNQ – Chuck Dumblewski, Steve Nickel, Tom LaPlante, Larry Megan, Mike Walters
IMCA QUALIFYING
HEAT 1 – Joe Williams, George Catanzano, Billy Ward
HEAT 2 – Sean Lias, Danny Ballard, Danny Ody
HEAT 3 – Steve Bidwell, Billy Dunn, Willy Reed
HEAT 4 – Keith Ackerknecht, Dennis Vroman, Darcy Volans
CONSI 1 – Steve Hough, Jeff Cleveland, Bob Banks, Pete Knapp, Curt Olsen, Mike Chilson
CONSI 2 – Kevin Klinkowsky, Skip Pabis, Eric Stumpf, Tony Finch, Bob Wilkie, Todd Goldstein
IMCA FEATURE – 25 laps – DANNY BALLARD, Steve Bidwell, George Catanzano, Joe Williams, Sean Lias, Joe Hallenbeck, Billy Ward, Curt Olsen, Billy Dunn, Skip Pabis, Eric Stumpf, Pete Knapp, Jeff Cleveland, Willy Reed, Tony Finch, Mike Chilson, Steve Hough, Darcy Volans, Bob Banks, Bob Wilkie, Danny Ody, Kevin Klinkowsky, Keith Ackerknecht, Dennis Vroman, Todd Goldstein
DNQ – Doug McKane, Tom Funk, Steve Hartman, Chris Reckner, George Proctor, Mike Keeler, John Thayer, Tom Costanza, Steve Healey
IMCA FEATURE RAIN DELAYED FROM 7/28 – QUALIFYING WAS HELD BACK ON 7/28 – STEVE BIDWELL, Danny Ody, Danny Ballard, Billy Ward, Willy Reed, Keith Ackerknecht, Steve Hough, George Catanzano, Skip Pabis, Pete Knapp, Kevin Buff, Joe Williams, Curt Olsen, Joe Hallenbeck, George Proctor, Kevin Cook, Kevin Klinkowsky, Mike Keeler
STREET STOCK “A” – JOHN BABCOCK, Rocky Warner, John Johnson, Roger Keeny, Rich Harkins, Jeff Davis, Brian Stangle, Jeff Crosier, Ricky Quick, Wayne Gaige, Joe Smith, Neil Cosselman, Norman Lamphear, Jr., Sandy Ferrara, Ron Tollner, Mike Burton
STREET STOCK “B” – ROY FIFIELD, Bob VanAernam, Guy Klob, Dave Horning, Sr., Buck Gasner, Don Warner, John Bradt, Kathy Bellen, Jamie Tesiero, Ed Bradt, Denver Wilson, Eric Yager, Ellis Shaffer
STREET STOCK “C” – SHAWN SIMMONS, Randy Moore, Jo Jo Donato, Rod Slater, Carol Parker, Howard Smith, Cory Laport, Donnie Oldick, Pete Sisler, Ron Cumming, Jason Samrov, Bill Yurkewecz, Dave Horning, Jr., Mark Sullivan, Jr., Mike Budka, Jr., Thom Schmidtmann, Jim Colson, Paul Hughes