CAMARA RUNS DOWN ALBERT FOR WIN AT FONDA
Rosa Outruns Palmer for Sportsman Win
July 18,1998, Fonda NY- Dave Camara of Poultney added to his win total at the New Fonda Speedway on Saturday by winning the 30 lap modified "Gigi Conover Memorial" race. Bobby Albert led the event until lap 25 when Camara was able to get underneath him in turn four. The win gives Camara the most wins on the season with four and puts him six points behind modified point leader, Mike Romano. Only five weeks remain in the points chase and this should prove to be quite a battle. Camara is going for his first ever point title at Fonda.
The modified feature honored pace car driver and unappointed Fonda ambassador, Raymond "Gigi" Conover. Gigi's long time companion, Mary Ellen Jordan presented a special plaque to Camara for the win. "I met Gigi when I came to Fonda and he worked hard at everything he did here. I'm proud to win this event." said Camara in victory lane. Referring to his crew Camara said, "these guys worked their butts off to get this car ready for tonight. We had double features at Granby on Friday and it was a late night for these guys. They did a great job."
The Sportsman event was won by Dave Rosa of Delhi, NY. Kenny Gates of West Winfield, NY recorded his first win of the season for him in the Street Stocks. Hobby Stock wins went to John Belfance of Fonda and Dick Nichols of Johnstown.
The very first Rollover Contest was won by Neil Rote of Broadalbin, N. Y.
The modified feature came to the green with Pat DaBiere and Bobby Albert on the front row. DaBiere led the first lap but spun his #2 in turn two causing the field to scramble behind him. They all avoided contact. Three more yellow flags flew before the field was able to sort out and start to race. Bobby Albert driving his #333 small block took the lead and held on despite the strong challenges of Bob Savoie who was second, Billy Gray and Dave Lape. The Camara car was like a rocket and zoomed by car after car from his 15th starting position. By lap 10, Camara sat in second but by this time Albert was far ahead of the front runners. Camara steadily gained on Albert each lap. Lap 19 saw Albert drift high in turn four with his #333, but still come across the line in front of the #26 of Camara. Camara was on the bumper of the #333, but Albert never gave an inch. By lap 24 the two were into lap traffic. This forced Albert to move out of his line, giving Camara a chance to strike. On lap 25 Camara put his #26 under Albert and came to the line with the lead. Albert chased Camara all the way to the checker.
Modified heat winners were: Bob Savoie, Mike Romano, Seth Gano. The consi was won by Rocky Rothwell.
The sportsman feature was led to the green flag by Bob Sawyer with eventually winner, Dave Rosa in second. A caution came out on lap four for a tangle in turn one, that brought the ambulance to the track for the #58 of Nick Nichols. Nichols was taken off the track in the ambulance for observation. He was reported to be okay. Dave Rosa grabbed the lead from Sawyer on the restart. Five more cautions slowed the 20 lap event, allowing the field to close up and give the #78 of Frank Hoard, Jr. and the #25 of Pete Campione to challenge the #61 of Rosa. Rosa was able to hold off Hoard and Campione. With only two laps to go, last weeks winner, Alton Palmer put his #76 in second and began to challenge Rosa. Rosa held of Palmer and the rest of the top five for the win.
Sportsman heat wins went to: Pete Campione, Bob Vedder, Frank Hoard, Jr. The consi win went to "the dancing bear" John Constantino.
Street Stock action was just that once again this week. Steve Skinner and Bob Blanchard brought the field to the starting line and before one lap was complete, Skinner was in the infield. No caution came out and he was able to continue. Skinner did bring out the first caution, however, when his #88 wound up into the wall in turn one. This started an bevy of restart-caution-restart-caution, until the field finally were able to sort themselves out and race. The race was clean and green for the last 10 laps, with Jeff Jones, Kenny Gates, Ram Kowalczyk, Jeff Brate and Jay Resch fighting for position. Gates took the lead on lap eleven and by this time, Phlan Hart and Bryan Peters had caught the front running group for the fun. Gates stretched out his lead by lap 16 and was never seriously challenged.
Street Stock qualifying wins went to: Jim Normoyle, Jeff Jones, Ram Kowalczyk with the consi win going to Steve Clemons.
Hobby "A" was the first feature of the night at the green flag Chris White was in the lead. White led until lap two when Rob VanAernam took over. VanAernam led until lap five when the caution came out for debris on the track in turn one. One the restart, VanAernam was in the lead but he was quickly overtaken by the #5 of John Belfance. Belfance went on to win his fifth hobby event of the season.
A caution free, Hobby "B" feature concluded the nights activities and Dick Nichols once again sat in victory lane with his #6. This was Nichols 4th win of the season and he took the lead in the 10 lap event from Chris White on lap 4.
Modified finish (30 laps) DAVE CAMARA, Bobby Albert, Bob Savoie, Billy Gray, Dave Lape, Mike Romano, Brian Purdy, Jack Johnson, A. J. Romano, Ron Holmes, Jeff Trombley, Lou Lazzaro, Seth Gano, Tim Dwyer, Ray Zemken, Randy Snyder, Jack Cottrell, John Kollar, Jim "Rocky" Rothwell, Ronnie Johnson, Jim Gabriel, Pat DaBiere, John Marsh, Gary Edwards, Wayne Figler, Don VanValkenburgh.
Sportsman finish (20 laps) DAVE ROSA, Alton Palmer, Frank Hoard, Jr., Ron Constantino, Brian Borst, Pete Campione, John McAuliffe, Brian Gathan, Tony Farone, Drew Fallis, Jeff Holt, Mike Fraiser, Steve Akers, Bob Sawyer, George Audi, Jr., Tim Clemons, John LeClair, John Constantino, Mike Fusco, Joe McCallion, Bob Vedder, Jim Brosh, Gary Greco, Mike Ballestero, Frank Greco, Nick Nichols.
Street Stock finish (20 laps) KEN GATES, Ram Kowalczyk, Jeff Jones, Phlan Hart, Bryan Peters, Steve Welch, Jeff Brate, Jay Resch, Jim Langenback, Dave Viall, Bob Blanchard, Dan Streeter, Mark Sullivan, Nick Stone, Tom LaPlante, Steve Clemons, Jim Burton, Kerry Jordan, Steve Burega, Jim Normoyle, Frank Guiffre, Steve Skinner, Ted Teal, Rob Noviczski, Jeff Patrick, Virg Carr.
Hobby "A" finish (10 laps) JOHN BELFANCE, Rob VanAernam, Wayne Gaige, Chris White, Bob VanAernam, John Molesky, Jason Armer, Steve Cosselman, Rocky Warner, Dave Hewitt, Jerry Pepper, Mike Budka, Jr., Jason Sisler, Bill Martish.
Hobby "B" finsih (10 laps) DICK NICHOLS, Henry Karaskiewicz, Lester Moore, Cory Dutcher, Dan Clow, Jay Ingersoll, Hondo Carpenter, Steve Richardson, Joe Sweet, Harry VanNostrano, Jeff Carpenter, Skip Pabis, Don Warner, Jr.
Next week at the New Fonda Speedway, Snap-On Tools presents a regular show. A bicycle safety night is on the schedule for the "Fonda Futures" kids club. A boys and a girls bicycle and helmet will be given away to kids club members. You must register for the bicycles at the kids club table at the beginning of the night. The bicycles were donated by "Krash Mender" Body Works of Albany, NY. The Shriners Clowns will also be on hand to make balloon animals for the kids.