Mike Holds Off A.J. For Fonda Checker
September 19, 1998- Fonda, NY, In a display of sibling rivalry the Romano brothers of Johnstown, NY put on an exciting show for the fans at Fonda on Saturday. Mike Romano held off brother A. J. to capture the 30 lap modified feature at the New Fonda Speedway. Tim Clemons of Gloversville, NY picked up the sportsman event in the Lombardi owned #07. The street stock main event winner was Jim Burton of Rotterdam, NY with the ELS Sprint main going to Rich Wood and the CNY Mini Sprint feature going to Mike Emhoff of Sodus, NY. The Hobby "A" winner was Hondo Carpenter and the "B" feature winner was Rob VanAernam.
Tim Dwyer and Mike Romano sat side by side on the front row as the modified feature came to the line. Dwyer and Romano stayed side by side until the second turn, when Dwyer's #1A spun in front of the field collecting Todd Ryan, Jack Johnson, Pat DaBiere, and Mike Conrad. Mike Romano was on the outside and was not involved in the incident. As the field realigned for the restart, Romano had sportsman driver John McAuliffe along side. Romano was able to pull away from McAuliffe quickly. Soon McAuliffe was being challenged by Mike's brother A. J. for the second place spot. On lap five A. J. powered by McAuliffe. McAuliffe continued in the third position until a lap eight restart when Jeff Trombley made his way around him. Then the battle began between McAuliffe and Dave Lape with Lape finally taking the fourth spot on lap 25. McAuliffe held fifth place for the remainder of the event, an impressive run for the sportsman chauffeur. Tony Pepicelli was back at Fonda for a visit and made his way to the top ten by lap two. Pepicelli continued his assault throughout the event, ending with a sixth place finish. Bobby Varin returned to his old stomping grounds and because of an incident with the first turn wall during his qualifying heat was forced to start in the rear of the event. Varin made his way through the field of 24 cars and was in the eleventh position when his #18 once again slide toward the wall, dropping him back several positions. Varin recovered and salvaged a 13th place finish by the time the checker fell. Another Sportsman driver, Jim Senzio held his own with the mods throughout the event and put his #44 in the eighth place at the checker. The final caution flag of the event came on lap 24 when the #37 of Mark Gorinshek spun into the infield in turn two. On the restart A. J. made his final attempt to get around Mike as he put the nose of his #16 under Mike's #97 in turn two and once again on the frontstretch. Mike was able to hold off his brother's charge and continue on to claim his third win of the season at Fonda.
Mod heat wins went to Tim Dwyer, Mike Romano, and John McAuliffe.
The Fonda Sportsman 20 lap event came to the green with John McAuliffe and Jason Otty on the front row. McAuliffe took the lead and held it until lap four, when Tim Clemons, driving the #07 shot by McAuliffe in turn three. Clemons stretched out his lead and was never seriously challenged. McAuliffe slowed on lap five and went to the pits with mechanical problems. This put the #76 of Sportsman Track Champion, Alton Palmer on Clemon's bumper. By lap eight Clemons once again had stretched out his lead and the focus then was on the next four cars in line. Palmer did battle with Mike Fraiser, Mike Fusco and Tony Farone until lap 15 when Brian Borst made his way into the top five as he slipped between Farone and Frank Hoard, Jr. on the frontstretch. Mike Fusco dogged Palmer for the remainder of the event and at the checker, edged out Palmer for second. The top five across the line was Clemons, Fusco, Palmer, Fraiser and Borst.
Sportsman heat wins went to Jason Otty, John McAuliffe, Tim Clemons and the Consi was won by Brian Borst.
"Fast" Frankie Guiffre and Bill Deerfield started on the front row and when the green flag flew, Deerfield slowed on the frontstetch against the wall. On the restart, Jim Burton shot by Frank Guiffre and by lap five Mark Sullivan was on Burton's bumper. Burton began to pull away of Sullivan on lap eleven. Steve Welch made his way to the third position on lap ten and on lap twelve Welch powered by Sullivan on the backstretch. This set up a battle between Burton and Welch. Although he was able to move alongside, Welch was never able to get by the flying #26A of Burton. Burton recorded his second win of the season and was followed to the checker by Welch, Guiffre, Burega and Kowalczyk.
Street Stock heat winners were Frank Guiffre, Bill Deerfield, and Jim Burton.
The Hobby "A" event was led to the line by Steve Richardson. Jay Ingersoll took the lead from Richardson on lap five and look to be on his way for his second win of the season, until the final lap when Hondo Carpenter grabbed the lead in turn three.
The first three laps of the Hobby "B" event was led by Scott Well. On lap four Cory LaPort took over but again on lap five the caution flew and on the restart Steve Roman put his #90 in the top position. Roman held the lead until the last lap when Rob VanAernam moved under Roman in turn four for the checker, his fifth of the season.
Modified finish (30 laps) MIKE ROMANO, A. J. Romano, Jeff Trombley, Dave Lape, John McAuliffe, Tony Pepicelli, Billy Gray, Jim Senzio, John Kollar, Ronnie Johnson, Frank Hoard, Sr., Seth Gano, Bobby Varin, Russ Flint, Wayne Figler, Jerry Pennock, Jim Boller?, Mark Gorinshek, Ray Zemken, Pat DaBiere, Lou Lazzaro, Tim Dwyer, Todd Ryan, Jack Johnson, Mike Conrad.
Sportsman finish (20 laps) TIM CLEMONS, Mike Fusco, Alton Palmer, Mike Fraiser, Brian Borst, Frank Hoard, Jr., Kevin Crave, John McAuliffe, George Audi, Tony Farone, John LeClair, Dave Rosa, Jeff Holt, Joe Geniti, Bob Vedder, Jason Otty, Mark Dillenbeck, John Constantino, Steve Akers, Brian Gathen, Tim Mayne, Gary Gates, Nick Nichols.
Street Stock finish (20 laps) JIM BURTON, Steve Welch, Frank Guiffre, Steve Burega, Ram Kowalczyk, Kerry Jordan, Darcy Volans, Chuck McSpirit, Corey Dutcher, Joe DeSenzi, Steve Skinner, Dave Viall, Mark Sullivan, Tom LaPlante, Frank Early, Geoff Manning, Nick Stone, Jim Normoyle, Tom Deerfield.
ELS Sprints (20 laps) RICH WOOD, Craig Keel, Doug Emery, Russ Bennett, Gordy Button, Rick Hart, John Lieto, Itchy Mead, Warren Alexson, Rich Zagata, Jim McCaffrey, Rick Lucia, Blaise Regina, Steve Rutkowski, Bob Wade, Fred Dittmer, Wayne Patterson, John Bridge.