ANOTHER JOHNSON ADDS NAME TO WIN LIST AT FONDA
Akers, Burega, and Pabis also enter names in record books
August 8, 1998- Fonda, NY- It was a classic battle reminiscent of earlier decades of racing at the "Track of Champions." Johnson and Lazzaro battled to the line. This time it was Ronnie Johnson, (R.J.) son of Fonda's eleven time track champion, Jack Johnson, who held off the incomparable veteran, Lou Lazzaro. The younger Johnson scored the win before a cheering crowd that rocked the historic Fonda grandstand. "My father said I had to stay low in the corners, to get the best bite on a track like this", said Johnson in victory lane. In the pits after the mod rookie's big win he said "I thought I could win here this year if things went right. This is the biggest thing to happen in my life."
To further compliment the exciting night of first time winners, Steve Akers of Altamont, NY picked up his first in the Sportsman feature. After two weeks of being close, Steve Burega of Latham was a first time victor in the Street Stock ranks. Skip Pabis of St. Johnsville was the first time winner in Hobby "A" while Dick Nichols continued his win streak in the Hobby "B" event.
Seth Gano and Fred Bagley brought the field to the green. The caution came out on the first circuit for A. J. Romano who stopped on the frontstretch. On the restart Gano maintained the lead with Frank Hoard, Sr. in second. Five laps into the event, Ray Zemken put his #1Z around Hoard into second, followed by Lou Lazzaro. Two laps later, (R.J.) Ronnie Johnson was behind Lazzaro and the tension mounted with the announcers and the crowd. Gano continued to increase his lead until lap 12 when on a restart both Johnson and Lazzaro tried to move into second and sandwiched Zemken, in turn two. The three got out of shape, sending R. J. to the infield and Lazzaro high in the turn. Zemken spun in the middle of the field collecting the cars of Dave Lape, Brian Purdy, Mike Romano and Tim Dwyer. This put Johnson in second with Lazzaro, Cottrell and Jack Johnson close behind. R. J. closed in on Gano and briefly took the lead on the backstretch on lap 18. Gano held strong and maintained the lead once again at the line. On the next lap R. J. and Lazzaro both went under Gano in turn two and the stage was set for a crowd pleasing battle between the mod rookie and the Fonda Legend. For the next 10 laps Lazzaro did everything possible to get around R.J. but Jack taught his son well and Ronnie Johnson was able to hold off Lou Lazzaro for the win. They were followed to the line by Jack Cottrell for third, Jeff Trombley, fourth and Jack Johnson fifth.
"This is unbelievable, it's wonderful," said Steve Akers of his first ever win at Fonda. Akers from Altamont, NY captured the event by holding off strong challenges from Tim Clemons and John LeClair. Akers brought the field to the green and pulled his #27A away to a ten car length lead by lap six when the caution came out for a spinning #56 of Mike Fraiser. This caused a chain reaction that collected the cars of Brian Gathan and Brian Borst, sending both to the pits. Joe Rando spun his #4 on the backstretch on the restart, causing an immediate caution. Akers had Tim Clemons along side for the restart and was able to maintain his lead. John LeClair, Pete Campione and Bob Vedder were in a battle for the third position while in the back of the pack, the point leader, Alton Palmer was mounting a charge toward a top five finish. Palmer came up one short as he pulled his Bicknell #76 into sixth on the final lap. Akers took his first checker with Clemons on his bumper for second, Bob Vedder, third, LeClair, fourth and Pete Campione fifth.
After two weeks of leading the field but suffering misfortune before the checker, Steve Burega of Latham, NY claimed his first Street Stock victory. Kerry Jordan was the leader at the green with Frank Guiffre along side. Jim Burton put his #26A in second by lap two and on lap three Burega sat third. On lap five Burega took the lead when he went high in turn four around Jordan and Burton. Jeff Jones and Jim Normoyle were in the hunt for the front running three by the sixth lap when the caution came out for Mark Sullivan who stopped on the backstretch with front-end damage. Burega held the lead on the restart and continued on for the checker.
The Hobby "A" feature produced yet another first time winner as Skip Pabis of St. Johnsville, NY picked up his first win. Don Warner led for the first lap. On lap two Jay Ingersoll was the leader at the line with Chris White third. Pabis took the lead on the lap five restart after the caution was thrown for Rocky Warner on the backstretch when he lost a wheel on his #97R. Pabis continued on for the win with Ingersoll a close second, Dave Hewitt, Bob VanAernam and Todd Austin rounding out the top five.
The Hobby "B" feature was the only event of the night without a first time winner. Dick Nichols of Johnstown, NY continued his win streak and picked up his seventh win on the season in the hobby division as he closes in on Steve Burega's record of eight wins of last season. Nichols was followed across the line by Ken Hollenbeck, Steve Richardson, Cory LaPort and Mike Budka, Jr.
This Saturday, August 15th, at Fonda is Andy's Speed Shop night and the ELS sprints will be added to the regular show. Only two weeks remain in the points and Mike Romano sits first with 612 points. Jeff Trombley moved into second on Saturday with 610. Dave Camara is third, Jack Johnson is now fourth and Tim Dwyer moved to fifth.
Modified finish (30 laps) RONNIE JOHNSON, Lou Lazzaro, Jack Cottrell, Jeff Trombley, Jack Johnson, Seth Gano, Billy Gray, Randy Snyder, Frank Hoard, Ron Holmes, John Kollar, Ken Hanson, Fred Bagley, Jerry Pennock, Jr., Doug Mosall, John Gibson, Dave Camara, Tim Dwyer, Mike Romano, Brian Purdy, Dave Lape, Ray Zemken, Todd Ryan, A. J. Romano.
Sportsman finish (20 laps) STEVE AKERS, Tim Clemons, Bob Vedder, John LeClair, Pete Campione, Alton Palmer, Jim Senzio, Jeff Holt, Mike Fusco, Frank Hoard, Jr., Mike Ballestero, Dave Rosa, Drew Fallis, Ron Constantino, Mike Fraiser, George Audi, Jr., Scott Flammer, Joe Rando, Frank Greco, Ryan Odasz, Jason Otty, John McAuliffe, Brian Gathan, Brian Borst.
Street Stock (20 laps) STEVE BUREGA, Steve Welch, Jim Burton, Jim Normoyle, Bryan Peters, Rob Noviczski, Ken Gates, Jim Langenback, Dave Viall, Ram Kowalczyk, Frank Guiffre, Jeff Brate, Darcy Volans, Kerry Jordon, Steve Clemons, Chuck McSpirit, Geoff Manning, Nick Stone, Tom LaPlante, Dan Streeter, Jeff Jones, Phlan Hart, Mark Sullivan.
Hobby "A" (10 laps) SKIP PABIS, Jay Ingersoll, Dave Hewitt, Bob VanAernam, Todd Austin, Mike Noble, Chris White, Danny Clow, Hondo Carpenter, Don Warner, Jr., Alan Pabis, Rocky Warner.
Hobby "B" (10 laps) DICK NICHOLS, Ken Hollenbeck, Steve Richardson, Cory LaPort, Mike Budka, Jr., Jeff Carpenter, Cory Dutcher, Joe Sweet, Bill Martish, Rob VanAerman, Matt Sweet, Jerry Pepper, Jim Olsen, Tim Fountain, Steve Cosselman.