Ward Wins At Fonda, Checkers also go to Burton, Hall, Nichols and Pepper
April 15, 2000- Fonda, NY- Pat Ward of Genoa, NY took home the checkers at Fonda's Saturday afternoon Andy's Speed Shop sponsored event for the big block modifieds. Ward started third and was challenging front runner, Tim Fuller for the lead by lap two. The two drivers battled for several laps before Ward finally slipped under Fuller at the line. Ward then cruised to his first win in four years at Fonda.
This was Ward's 19th win at Fonda, putting him 13th on the all time win list.
"I was lucky to win, said Ward. The car was the best car here, but the driver wasn't," refers to an incident on the track during the race. "Gypsum Wholesalers came on board this year and they've been great. John Finch dug deep this winter and we decided we're going to win more races this season."
In other racing action, Jim Burton of Rotterdam took the win in the first pro-stock event of the millennium. Randy Hall won the I.M.C.A. modified event and Dick Nichols of Johnstown and Jerry Pepper of Mayfield shared the honors in the two street stock events.
Thirty cars started the modified main and before one lap was complete the caution flew for three cars that scrambled to the infield after contact on the track. When the race was restarted, the yellow flew immediately for another tangle on the frontstretch involving the cars of Sitterly, Zemken, Pennock, Jr. and Gano.
Tim Fuller led on the next restart. Eventual winner Pat Ward quickly put his No. 56 in striking position, but it was not until Fuller was slowed by some of the lap cars on lap eight that Ward was able to make his move.
After taking the lead Ward continued to put space between himself and Fuller.
A few laps later, Fuller was being challenged for second by 1999 Track Champion, Dave Camara. Fuller and Camara battled for position until the end.
Ward caught more lap traffic with ten laps to go. This put his lead in jeopardy. He was able to maneuver the lap traffic and maintained his steady march to the front.
The battle for fourth and fifth was between Jeff Trombley and A. J. Romano. A post race inspection found Trombley's car light and he was disqualified.
The remainder of the top ten spots was up for grabs between the veterans and rookies, Jason Barney, Tony Pepicelli, Matt DeLorenzo, Jack Johnson and Mike Romano.
In qualifying the modified heat wins went to Tim Fuller, Jason Barney, A. J. Romano, Pat Ward and Dave Camara. Bobby Albert and Bobby Varin took the consolation wins.
The Pro-Stocks took to the track for their first outing of the millennium. Mark Lighthall jumped into the lead as the pro-stock came to the line in a four wide battle.
As the cars made their way around for the first circuit, Lighthall held his lead and began to pull away from the pack. Only one caution slowed the event on lap three when the No. 74 of Brian Unser came to a stop on the inside of turn two.
By lap five eventual winner, Jim Burton had caught the lead pack and was on his way to the front. "The high side kept getting better and better," said Burton.
Burton held on for the win, while Lighthall remained second with smoke coming from his car. Mike Fritz was third followed by Dave Viall and Jay Resch.
Mark Lighthall, Dave Viall, and Mike Fritz took the wins in the qualifying heats.
I.M.C.A. Modified action was hot along with the weather on Saturday. Kevin Buff was the leader at the green. Kevin Priest overtook Buff and grabbed the lead on the backstretch before the first circuit was complete. Priest pulled away.
A caution on lap four for the No. 160 of John Hill closed up the field and on the restart, George Catanzano took over the lead. Catanzano was cruising at the front until his car suddenly slowed on the backstretch on the final circuit and Randy Hall was there to capitalize on Catanzano's misfortune. Hall went on to take the checker followed by Don Alvord, Kevin Priest, Steve Bidwell and Kevin Buff.
Randy Hall and George Catanzano were the winners of the qualifying heats.
The Street Stock "A" event went green to checker with Dave Hewitt grabbing the lead on the start and hanging on until lap five when eventual winner Dick Nichols took over when Hewitt's car slowed at the line. Nichols only challenge came from Keith Ackerknecht when Nichols encountered lap traffic on lap 10.
The action in the Street Stock "B" event saw Bob VanAernam jump into the lead at the green. VanAernam looked to be on his way for the win until his No. 71 slowed on the frontstretch and Jerry Pepper slipped by on the outside. VanAernam was able to get his car back up to speed and was in third at the checker. Pepper took the win.
Modified finish (30 laps) 1) PAT WARD, 2) Dave Camara, 3) Tim Fuller, 4) A. J. Romano, 5) Tony Pepicelli, 6) Jason Barney, 7) Matt DeLorenzo, 8) Jack Johnson, 9) Mike Romano, 10) Bob Savoie, 11) Craig Criscone, 12) Bobby Albert, 13) Bobby Varin, 14) Ronnie Holmes, 15) Tim Clemons, 16) Bob Vedder, 17) John Marsh, 18) Lee Nutting, 19) Jerry Pennock, Jr., 20) Mike Fusco, 21) Ray Zemken, 22) Seth Gano, 23) Lou Lazzaro, 24) Mike Ballestero, 25) Harry Shaffer 26) Dave Lape, 27) Tim Dwyer, 28) Bob Sitterly, 29) Frank Hoard. DQ Jeff Trombley
Pro-Stock Finish (20 laps) 1) JIM BURTON, 2) Mark Lighthall, 3) Mike Fritz, 4) Dave Viall, 5) Jay Resch, 6) Hondo Carpenter, 7) Ken Gates, 8) Phlan Hart, 9) Rob Noviczski, 10) Steve Welch, 11) Nick Stone, 12) Kerry Jordan, 13) Steve Burega, 14) Jim Normoyle, 15) Kevin Jordan, 16) Jeff Patrick, 17) Chuck McSpirit, 18) Tom LaPlante, 19) Brian Unser, 20) Luke Klob, 21) Mark Sullivan, 22) Chris Morris, 23) Tom Denton, 24) Jamie Proctor
I.M.C.A. Modified finish (15 laps) 1) RANDY HALL, 2) Don Alvord, 3) Kevin Priest, 4) Steve Bidwell, 5) Kevin Buff, 6) Cory Fachini, 7) Aaron Jacobs, 8) George Catanzano, 9) Mike Bungay, 10) Tony Markou, 11) John Hill, 12) Joe Locorini, 13) Rob Keller
Street Stock A finish (12 laps) 1) DICK NICHOLS, 2) Keith Ackerknecht, 3) Mark Saglimbeni, 4)Ken Barth, 5) Jim Monroe, 6) Dave Hewitt, 7) Randy Cannell, 8) Dave Bayes, 9) Dan Richard, 10) Don Warner, 11) John Bradt, 12) Mike Tholin
Street Stock B finish (12 laps) 1) JERRY PEPPER, 2) Dave Horning, Jr. 3) Bob VanAernam, 4) Eric Harper, 5) Jim Olsen, 6) Paul Chichester, 7) Andrew Snider, 8) Skip Pabis, 9) Rob VanAernam, 10) Steve Vrooman, 11) John Babcock, 12) Chance Smigiel