TREMONT DOMINATES 358's AT FONDA
Barron Victorious in Mr. DIRT Street Stock Event
July 28, 1998, Fonda, NY- The Capital District rivalry of Tremont and Hearn moved up the New York State Thruway to the New Fonda Speedway for the Skoal Bandit Racing 358-Mod Series. This time it was Kenny Tremont of West Sand Lake, NY who put the Dennis Tremont owned #21 in victory lane. "My car started to skip during the final few laps and I thought I was in trouble, said Tremont. Tremont was dominate in the 75 lap event over second place Brett Hearn. Third place finisher, Dave Camara, topped off the TEO chassis sweep of the top three finishers.
A month ago Tremont and Hearn brought their battle to Fonda for the 98 lap big block Skoal Bandit Racing series. That night, Tremont led much of the event, but Hearn came away with the win. Tremont was much happier with the outcome of Tuesday night's race.
With three spots up for grabs, 45 cars converged on the pit area at Fonda Tuesday, vying for a chance at a guaranteed starting spot for Super DIRT Week in October. At the end of the 75 lap Skoal event, Fonda regular Dave Camara had a guaranteed spot along with Jimmy Horton and Jerry Higbie. Higbie finished 11th and was the first Orange County car across the line. Alan Johnson of Phelps, NY was awarded the Bert Hard Charger Award for his 24th to 5th effort.
Kenny Tremont drew second starting position and overpowered pole sitter, Gary Tompkins to lead the first circuit of the 75 lap Skoal qualifying event. Brett Hearn stepped into second place on the start and continued to chase the Gable Motorsports #21 until the checker. Pat O'Brien and the #1A of Tim Dwyer moved into third and fourth positions on the start doing battle with the #42 of Pete Bicknell for position. As Tremont stretched out his lead the top guns on the series did battle with the Fonda regulars of Jack Johnson, Dave Camara and Jeff Trombley. With only 13 laps on the score sheet, a restart melee forced Jack Johnson to the pits with the #77, normally driven by son Ronnie. From third place back it was a battle of the small blocks but none of them could get close to the top running two of Tremont and Hearn. Tremont increased his lead with each lap of the event showing his mastery of lap traffic until the yellow flew with three laps to go when the #72 of Todd Stewart slowed on the frontstretch. This put the lap car #89B of Todd Burley between the first place car of Tremont and the #20 Auto Zone car of Hearn still second. Hearn moved around Burley on the restart and set his sights on Tremont, but Tremont was able to hold off Hearn to record his second career win at the "Track of Champions in a 358 modified.
Qualifying event wins went to Kenny Tremont, Brett Hearn, Tim McCreadie, and Pat O'Brien. Consolation winners were Chris Jones and Hector Stratton.
The Mr. DIRT Street Stock Series brought 34 of the top street stock drivers to Fonda, Tuesday and Canandaigua regular, Tom Barron of Ontario, NY went home the victor with a five point lead over Andy Dembek in the Mr. DIRT series. "Track management did an excellent job with the track tonight," said Barron in a victory lane interview.
Fonda's street stock competitors always give their best when and wherever they compete and Tuesday's race held true to form. Ram Kowalczyk of Hagaman, NY led the event until the first caution when Kenny Gates and his #35 ended up into the wall in turns three and four. Kowalczyk held off Phlan Hart of Mayfield, N. Y. and Mark Sullivan of Gloversville on the restart. Kowalczyk started to pull away when the yellow flew again for the #26A of Jim Burton, when his car climbed the backstretch wall toward the New Fonda Speedway sign. Hart controlled the restart and quickly moved out ahead of the field. Two yellow #28's, of Barron and Sullivan battled for the second place, shuffling the #14 of Kowalczyk back to fourth. With five laps to go, Barron pulled under Hart and took command and continued on for the checker. Hart continued on for second, Sullivan was third, and Kowalczyk fourth. Point leader going into Tuesday's event, Andy Dembek was fifth.
Street stock heats went to Ram Kowalczyk, Phlan Hart, and Mark Sullivan with the consolation win to Jeff Brate.
358-Modified finish (75 Laps) KENNY TREMONT, Brett Hearn, Dave Camara, Jimmy Hortin, Alan Johnson, Pat O'Brien, Todd Burley, Pete Bicknell, ron Holmes, Jeff Trombley, Jerry Higbie, Tim McCreadie, Andy Bachetti, Tim Fuller, Bill Mullins, Billy Gray, Jack Cottrell, Hector Stratton, Perrotte, Ray Zemken, Rick Mill, Todd Steward, Mike Romano, Tim Dwyer, Jack Johnson, Chris Jones, Kevin Crave, Todd Wilkinson, Tony Pepicelli.
Mr. DIRT Street Stock finish (25 Laps) TOM BARRON, Phlan Hart, Mark Sullivan, Ram Kowalczyk, Andy Dembek, Les Whyte, Bryan Peters, Steve Welch, Jim Langenback, Jeff Brate, Kevin Jordan, Jeff Jones, Ted Teal, Steve Pesarek, Steve Burega, Jay Resch, Kerry Jordan, Rick Breed, Dave Viall, Bill Hallett, Ken Gates, Frank Twing, Henry Tanner, Jerry Holmes, Jim Burton, Dean DeMaille.