ROMANO AND PALMER BEST AT FONDA
July 11, 1998, Fonda, NY - Mike Romano of Johnstown, NY recorded his second win at the Track of Champions this season. Romano opted for his Bicknell small block car and took over the lead on lap 13 from young Ronnie Johnson and went on for the win. It was Romano's 100th career win. "I knew Camara was right behind me. I had a good line, until I came up on the lap cars and they were in it," said Romano in victory lane.
Alton Palmer put another Bicknell in victory lane for the sportsman feature. Brian Borst in another Bicknell, was awarded a special sportsman "Hard Charger Award" by the Schoharie Kiwanis for his assault from his 20th place start to his 4th place finish.
Nancy Bicknell of BRP was on hand for the celebration of the sportsman and modified Bicknell awards of the night.
The nights Street Stock feature was won by Steve Welch with the Hobby Stock feature going to Hondo Carpenter.
The Central New York Mini Sprints made their annual trip to Fonda on Saturday and picking up the win was Mike Emhof of Sodus, NY.
The modified feature began with young Ronnie Johnson taking the lead from the pole with Bob Savoie and the Ghetto #28 close behind. Fred Bagley, who had started on the outside pole was in the third spot by the completion of the first lap with the #333 of Bobby Albert and the #15 of Randy Snyder in hot pursuit. The top running order remained the same until the first of only two cautions flew for the #28 of Savoie as it slowed on the backstretch loosing a wheel. On the restart, Ronnie Johnson was able to hold off Mike Romano who by now had put his #97 on the bumper of the Johnson's #77. The caution flew again after only one lap was complete, when the #21E of Gary Edwards forcefully hit the first turn wall. Edwards exited the car on his own power, but the car went to the pits on the hook. The final restart of the thirty lap event came after the Edwards wreck and this time Romano was able to overtake Johnson's #77 for the lead. Romano pulled away from the field. This left Ronnie Johnson in second, fighting off the challengers of Tim Dwyer and Dave Camara.who were in a battle for third. As the front runners came upon the lap cars, Camara was able to find a hole and get around Dwyer and then Johnson. Camara was now in second with his sights set on Romano. With only five laps remaining Camara did not have enough time to catch Romano and he settled for second with Ronnie Johnson third, Tim Dwyer fourth and Randy Snyder fifth.
Modified heat wins went to: Bob Savoie, Mike Romano, Ronnie Johnson. The consi win went to Lou Lazzaro.
Ryan Odasz and Steve Akers started on the front of the 20 lap sportsman event and after one complete circuit around the track, Odasz was in the lead. Before the completion of lap two the yellow flew for the #07 of Ron Constantino as it slowed on the inside of the backstretch. The restart gave the #27A of Akers a shot at the lead and on the second completed lap, Akers came to the wire as the leader. On lap three eventual winner, Alton Palmer put his new black and yellow, Bicknell chassis in the front. Announcer Jim King dubbed Palmer's new car the "bumble bee" because of the black and yellow color. The name proved out, not only for the color, as the #76 buzzed around the track far ahead of the field for the remainder of the event. Palmer encounter lap traffic with five laps to go but he was able to maneuver his new Bicknell in and around the slower running cars with ease. The second, third and fourth positions remained in contention throughout the event. Laps four through twelve the top five spots were being strongly fought after by Steve Akers, John LeClair, Drew Fallis and Tim Clemons. As the remainder of the top running cars came upon the back markers, Brian Borst, Jeff Holt and Mike Fusco came into contention for a top five finish. The top five at the checker was Palmer, Akers, LeClair, Borst and Clemons.
Sportsman qualifying events wins went to: John LeClair, Jeff Holt and Alton Palmer. The consi win went to Pete Campione.
The yellow flew on the first lap of the street stock feature when the #317 of Frank Twing spun on the front stretch and collecting the #17s of Nick Stone and sending him into the infield in turn four. On the restart, pole sitter, Kerry Jordan took the lead. Dave Viall put his #17v on the bumper of Jordan's #711 and by the next completed lap, Viall sat on the front of the event. Viall held the lead through the next restart, that came after Kenny Gates spun his #35 in turn four. During the caution, a number of seperate problems developed. First the #121d of Jeff Brate suffered a flat tire in turn two. Then the #2g of Frank Guiffre coasted to a stop on the track. This gave Gates who originally brought out the yellow, the opportunity for a trip to the pits and a return before the green flew again. Another flat tire on the #20 of Jeff Jones brought the yellow out immediately and the #26A of Burton also limped to the pits with a flat tire. On the restart Viall once again was in the lead. Vaill now had to contend with the #0 of Jim Normoyle who had been dogging him since lap four. He held the lead until the final circuit when his #17v and the #0 of Jim Normoyle came together in turn two. This gave Steve Welch, who sat fourth, his chance to sprint into the lead, around third place runner, Bryan Peters and the two front running cars. Welch continued on for the checker. Welch lead only one lap, the most important, last lap. This was Welch's second win of the season in his #5 Terry Labonte, look alike racer.
Street stock heat winners were: Steve Burega, Jim Normoyle, and Jay Resch with the consi going to Dave Horning, Jr.
The hobby stock division ran a 15 lap feature instead of their usual "A" and "B" events. This put 27 hobby cars on the track and it took two restarts to get them sorted out and on their way. The most serious caution at the beginning of the event happened when Skip Pabis spun his #72 in the middle of the field and was hit by a number of cars causing his hobby stock to flip, eventually coming to rest on its tires. The restart saw Henry Karaskiewicz take the lead and hold on until lap five when Brian Houghtaling took over on a restart after the caution flew for Kenny Hollenbeck who had spun into the infield and had to be pushed to the pits. Only one more caution flew for debris on the track. This gave eventually winner, Hondo Carpenter a chance to put his #9 in contention behind the #00 of Houghtaling. Carpenter and Houghtaling battled side by side for the remaining laps of the event, with Hondo coming out on top at the checker.
The 12 lap CNY Mini-Sprint feature went to the green with 17 year old Erin Crocker of Wilberham, Mass. on the pole. Along side Erin sat eventual winner Mike Emhof. Mike took the lead at the line and was never seriously challenged. Blaise Regina, Jr. slipped by pole sitter Erin to follow Emhof to the start. The field remained this way until lap six when Regina went to the pits, putting the #11 of Miss Crocker in second place. She stayed in 2nd until the #90 David Trzeciak slipped by her, bringing the #7 of Marc Lapan with him. On lap 10 Lapan got by Trzeciak. At the checker the order was Emhof, Lapan, Crocker, Fink and Zwarl.
Spint heat wins went to Erin Crocker and Mike Emhof.
Modified finish (30 laps) MIKE ROMANO, Dave Camara, Ronnie Johnson, Tim Dwyer, Randy Snyder, Frank Hoard, Sr., Ron Holmes, Fred Bagley, Lou Lazzaro, Ray Zemken, Jack Cottrell, Jeff Trombley, Seth Gano, Bob Albert, Brian Purdy, Dave Lape, Todd Ryan, John Kollar, Jimmy Bobar, John Marsh, Wayne Figler, Gary Edwards, Bob Savoie, Jack Johnson.
Sportsman finish (20 laps) ALTON PALMER, Steve Akers, John LeClair, Brian Borst, Tim Clemons, Drew Fallis, Mike Fusco, Jeff Holt, Bob Vedder, John McAuliffe, George Audi, Jr., Mike Ballestero, Jim Senzio, Joe Rando, Jason Otty, Ryan Odasz, Dave Rosa, Mike Fraiser, Frank Hoard, Jr., Brian Gathan, Rick Amo, Pete Campione, John Constantino, Tony Farone, Bob Sawyer, Ron Constantino.
Street Stock finish (20 laps) STEVE WELCH, Bryan Peters, Phlan Hart, Jim Normoyle, Mark Sullivan, Ram Kowalczyk, Jim Langenback, Jay Resch, Kenny Gates, Rob Noviczski, Jeff Jones, Kerry Jordan, Jef Brate, Bob Blanchard, Frank Guiffre, Mark Frederick, Jim Burton, Dave Viall, Steve Burega, Nick Stone, Dave Horning, Jr., Tom Myer, Steve Skinner, Frank Twing.
Hobby Stock finish (15 laps) HONDO CARPENTER, Brian Houghtaling, Wayne Gaige, Chris White, Bob VanAernam, Jerry Pepper, Steve Richardson, Cory Dutcher, Bill Martish, Jeff Carpenter, Rob VanAernam, Steve Cosselman, Mike Herbert, Don Warner, Jr., John Molesky, Henry Karaskiewicz, William Gannon, Dan Clow, John Belfance, Chris Coupas, Ken Hollenbeck, Randy Moore, Dick Nichols, Jay Ingersoll, Skip Pabis, Rocky Warner, Mike Noble.