CAMARA OPENS FONDA SEASON WITH A WIN

April 25, 1998, Fonda, NY- Dave Camara of Poultney, VT. fought off challenges from Jeff

Trombley's 21J and Jack Johnson's FX1, to take opening night laurels. "We're going for the

track title this year, and this is a good start, said Camara in victory lane.

Camara started on the pole and at the green his running partner, Mike Romano took the

lead from his second place starting position. Camara and Romano were set up for a battle,

until the red came out on the second circuit of the 30 lap feature when the #22 of Dave Lape

took a violent series of barrel rolls down the backstretch. Lape took his time exiting the

car and was reported to be dazed but okay. The feature continued and Camara closed in on

Romano, followed by the Trombley, Johnson and the 12B driven by A. J. Romano, sporting the

new LaBatt's Blue sponsorship logo. The yellow flag came out again on lap eight when the #73

of John Marsh slowed on the backstretch. On the restart, Camara put his #26 high to the

outside of turn four and came away with the lead at the flag. The Camara Slate car seemed to

get better as the race progressed and by halfway mark, Camara was in front by ten car

lengths. However, the #26 was not the only car improving with each lap. Jeff Trombley had

his Carver Construction ride on the bumper of the #26 by lap 23. On the next lap Camara

slowed for the lap car of Bob Sitterly and Trombley snatched the lead in turn two. Trombley

was flying at the front, but on lap 26 got into the loose stuff outside of turn one and spun

his mount around, ending up in turn two with the rear of the car facing the river. This left

Camara with the lead, with Mike Romano, Jack Johnson, A. J. Romano and Fonda newcomer, Bobby

Albert running in the top five. On the last lap, Albert blew a motor, which caused a shake

up in the top ten positions. Camara came to the checker as the winner followed by Jack

Johnson, A. J. Romano, who passed brother Mike at the flag, Mike Romano, and another Fonda

newcomer, Ron "hotshoe" Holmes. In a post race inspection, the FX1, small block Ford of

Johnson, was disqualified for not having a DIRT legal carburetor. After further

consultation, the finished was shuffled again, when officials realized that Jack Cottrell had

slowed for the yellow at the checkered. As the final top ten played out it was a good run

for a couple newcomers to the track, Holmes who finished fourth and Albert who salvaged and

8th place after blowing his motor.

Modified heat winners were, D. Camara, J. Johnson, T. Dwyer, J. Trombley, M. Romano, with the

consi wins going to L. Lazzaro and R. Johnson.

Jeff Carr led the, caution free, I. M.C.A. feature flag to flag with strong challenges from

the #10 of Anthony Marku, the #4 of Bill Lander, #322 of Jay Casey and the #111 of first time

I.M.C.A. runner Steve Bidwell. I.M.C.A. qualifying events went to Bidwell and Hacker.

Frank Twing of Hillsdale, N. Y. picked up his first ever Fonda win in the street stock main

event. Twing started 12th and by lap 12 was able to overtake the 26A of Jim Burton who had

held the led since the start of the 20 laps feature. Only one caution slowed the event when

the #54L of veteran street stock competitor, Jim Langenback went up in smoke on lap ten.

There were two first time winners in the A and B features run for the new hobby stock class.

In the first event, Rob VanAernam of Johnstown, N. Y. overpowered the #11 of Kevin Aucompaugh

of Pattersonville on lap eight and went on for the win. In the B feature for hobbies and

elated Hondo Carpenter came to victory land after the #26B of Mike Hebert was disqualified

for illegal tires. Hondo had led the event until lap four when Hebert took over.

Modified finish: D. CAMARA, A. J. Romano, M. Romano, R. Holmes, J. Trombley, R. Snyder, J.

Cottrell, B. Albert, M. Ciaravino, R. Johnson, F. Hoard, B. Sitterly, B. Trexler, C. Jones,

D. Wagner, J. Senzio, L. Lazzaro, J. Marsh, B. Gray, T. Dwyer, C. Boehler, K. Hanson, S.

Gano, F. Billington, A. Palmer, T. Pepicelli, D. Lape. DQ- J. Johnson

DNS- J. LeClair, J. Lutes, B. Vedder, C. Mitchell, J. Kollar, B. Purdy, T. Sanders, D.

Bellen, T. Cece, F. Bagley, K. Montayne, R. Zemken, D. VanValkenburgh.

Street Stock finish: F. TWING, J. Burton, B. Peters, M. Sullivan, S. Welch, N. Osborne, S.

Burega, D. Streeter, K. Gates, W. Archer, F. Guiffre, D. Viall, J. Patrick, K. Jordan, T.

LaPlante, T. Johnson, J. Langenback, D. Smith, S. Skinner, J. Resch, B. Blanchard, J.

Normoyle, R. Kowalzcyk, D. Deerfield.