A. J. ROMANO SNAPS UP WIN AT FONDA
July 25, 1998- Fonda, NY- A. J. Romano of Johnstown grabbed the lead from Dave Lape on restart and pulled away from the field to snap up his second win of the season on Snap-On Tool Night at the New Fonda Speedway. "There was a cushion in one and two giving us two wide racing. It was great." said Romano in his victory lane interview with announcer, Shane Andrews. Romano also thanked sponsor Skip Seymour of Norwich, NY. "Skip has helped me out alot and I wish he could be here tonight."
The sportsman feature was won by John McAuliffe of Rexford, NY, who had be struggling after being involved in a accident a few weeks ago. Mark Sullivan of Gloversville, NY picked up his first win of the season in the street stock event and the Hobby "A" win went to Bob VanAernam of Johnstown, NY. John Belfance went to victory lane in the Hobby "B" feature but was disqualified after the event when he refused to relinquish his motor under the hobby stock claiming rule. This gave the win to Dick Nichols of Johnstown.
The Modified main event came to the green with Todd Ryan and Don VanValkenburgh on the point. Ryan took the early lead and led for two laps, when the #12B of Jack Johnson spun in turn four, bringing out the first caution. Dave Camara came to rest with his #26 against the fourth turn wall. It took three tries to get the field underway, including an incident on the back stretch, when Jack Cottrell tried to avoid the slow moving #96 and tapped Ronnie Johnson, sending him into the infield. Next it was Bagley, VanValkenburgh and Gray that came together. The #97 of point leader, Mike Romano was involved and made a trip to the pits but was able to return without losing a lap. Todd Ryan led on the restart and held the lead until lap 11 when Dave Lape put his #22 under the #19, Ryan's car slowed in turn four. Lape led for five laps when the yellow flew once again for the #96 of VanValkenburgh. The black flag flew, sending the #96 to the pits. On the restart A. J. Romano, who now sat on Lape's bumper, maneuvered his Skip's Trailer Sales #16 around the #22 to take the lead. Romano never looked back, stretched out his lead and went on to the checker. A.J. was followed at the line by Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, Dave Lape, and Tim Dwyer.
Modified heat wins went to: Ronnie Johnson, Dave Lape, A.J. Romano and the consi was won by Frank Hoard, Sr.
The Sportsman cars saw 20 laps of action on Snap-On Tool night and John McAuliffe of Rexford, NY celebrated his second win of the season. McAuliffe took the lead on lap 12 from Jeff Holt who had led from lap 3. Mike Fraiser was the leader at the green and led for two laps until the yellow flag flew for the #07 of Ron Constantino when he spun in turn two, and the entire field scrambled to avoid him. On the restart, the cars of Fraiser, Holt and McAuliffe exited turn four three wide with Holt coming out on top at the line. McAuliffe chased Holt until lap 11 when he took the lead and continued on to the checkered flag. McAuliffe was followed by Holt, Palmer, Borst and Vedder to round out the top five.
Sportsman heat wins went to: Mike Fraiser, John McAuliffe, Bob Vedder with the consi win to Drew Fallis.
The Street Stock feature saw 1997 Hobby Stock Champion, Steve Burega in the lead for the first 15 laps, with the #28s of eventual winner Mark Sullivan in hot pursuit from lap nine. Burega took the early lead and after the first caution for the #6 of Jay Resch, Dave Viall had put his #17V on Burega's bumper. Sullivan was on the move and over took Viall on lap nine. Sullivan set his sights on Burega and with the company of Phlan Hart and Dave Viall continued to gain on the #B26. On lap 15 Sullivan closed in on Burega down the backstretch and Burega spun, bringing out the yellow. Phlan Hart put his #26 into the infield to avoid the incident. When the green flew once again, Sullivan had his work cut out for him, having to contend with the challenges of Steve Welch and Ken Gates who dogged him to the wire. Sullivan was followed at the checker by Welch, Gates, Viall and Langenback.
Street Stock heat wins went to: Steve Burega, Mark Sullivan, and Jim Burton.
Bob VanAernam took the lead from early leader Chris White on lap four and with only one caution to slow the event, VanAernam picked up his first win of the season in the Hobby "A" event.
The Hobby "B" event was plagued by yellows, the first coming when the #5 of John Belfance spun and wound up hung up on a safety tire on the frontstretch. The cars completed only one lap before the yellow flew again for the #25 of Danny Clow and the #11 of Jay Ingersoll in turn one. Ingersoll quickly exited the car, but collapsed outside his car. This brought the ambulance to the track and Ingersoll was transported to a local hospital for observation. Several more cautions flew making for a long night for the Hobby "B" cars. The controversy did not end with the checker. John Belfance took the checker and celebrated in victory lane, but was disqualified after the race when he refused to relinquish his motor under the claiming rule. This gave the win to Dick Nichols in the #6.
Next Saturday at the New Fonda Speedway, LaBatt's will present a regular show for all classes plus and Enduro. Race time is 6:00 p.m.
Modified finish (30 laps) A. J. ROMANO, Jack Johnson, Mike Romano, Dave Lape, Tim Dwyer, Jeff Trombley, Jack Cottrell, Ray Zemken, Frank Hoard, Lou Lazzaro, Randy Snyder, Billy Gray, Rick Mill, Ron Holmes, John Marsh, Mark Cornshek, Bobby Albert, Kevin Crave, Russ Flint, Don VanValkenburgh, John Kollar, Todd Ryan, Fred Bagley, Ronnie Johnson, Dave Camara.
Sportsman finish (20 laps) JOHN MCAULIFFE, Jeff Holt, Alton Palmer, Brian Borst, Bob Vedder, Jim Senzio, Mike Fusco, George Audi, Jr., John LeClair, Ron Constantino, Drew Fallis, Tony Farone, Dave Rosa, Mike Ballestero, Steve Akers, Frank Hoard, Jr., Mike Fraiser, Jason Otty, Tim Clemons, Joe Rando, Brian Gathan, Ryan Odasz, John Constantino, Pete Campione.
Street Stock finish (20 laps) MARK SULLIVAN, Steve Welch, Ken Gates, Dave Viall, Jim Langenback, Jim Burton, Frank Guiffre, Jim Normoyle, Jeff Brate, Jay Resch, Nick Stone, Darcy Volans, Mark Lighthall, John Blanchard, Kerry Jordan, Dan Streeter, Chuck McSpirit, Jeff Patrick, Steve Burega, Phlan Hart, Bryan Peters, Tom LaPlante, Ronnie Baum.
Hobby "A" BOB VANAERNAM, "Joe" Lester Moore, Cory Dutcher, Chris White, Jim Olsen, Wayne Gaige, Mike Budka, Don Warner, Jr., Dave Hewitt, Henry VanNostrano, Chris Coupas, Mike Noble, Brian Jones, Rocky Warner, Joe Sweet.
Hobby "B" DICK NICHOLS, Steve Richardson, Rob VanAernam, Bill Martish, Skip Pabis, Steve Cosselman, Ken Hollenbeck, Alan Pabis, Hondo Carpenter, Matt Sweet, Jerry Pepper, Tim Fountain, Jr., Jeff Carpenter, Danny Clow, Aaron Jacobs, Jay Ingersoll, Henry Karaskiewicz.