JUMPIN JACK POSTS 135TH WIN AT FONDA
Anderson, Gates, Carr and Burega also take Checkers
Saturday, July 12
Fonda, NY- Jack Johnson of Duanesburgh, NY took the lead for the final time from Dave Lape,
on lap 18 of the 30 lap modified feature on Saturday at Fonda and went on to post win number
135 at the "Track of Champions."
After three early cautions that severely confused the line up forcing starter Bob Watson
to throw the red to straighten out the cars in the middle of the pack on lap five, Jack
Johnson and the Dutchess Overhead Door #87 sat on the bumper of the Burrows Trucking #22 of
Dave Lape.
Lape took the lead on the start when he shot by pole sitters, Frank Hoard and Wayne
Figler. Johnson who started 18th quickly started working his way to the front on the inside.
When Johnson finally sat behind Lape on lap five the stage was set for a classic battle.
The crowd was on their feet for the next 13 laps as the two Fonda veterans raced side by
side.
The yellow flag flew once again when the #73 of Marsh and the #28c of Ciaravino came
together in turn three. The #96 of Gano, the #20 of Hanson and the #352 of John Proctor were
also involved. When the green flew once again, so did the caution. This time it was for
Mike and A. J. Romano who had come together between turns three and four. The caution came
out once more when last weeks winner, Billy Gray and Jeff Trombley bumped in turn two.
Johnson took the lead for the final time on lap 18 and pulled away from Lape and the
top runners of Tim Dwyer, Mike Romano, and Dave Camara who stayed in those spots for the
finish.
Johnson said "I like racing with Lape, I've raced Dave for years and I didn't think I'd
be able to catch him when he took the lead back."
"I thought I could hold him off" said Lape who finished in the runner up spot, "but I
couldn't stay low in the first turn and he was able to get under me."
Modified heat wins went to D. Lape, C. Jones and J. Johnson. Consi win to D. Mosall
In sportsman action, Bob Anderson of Delhi, NY recorded win number two of the season.
Harry Shaffer and sportsman rookie, Mike Fraiser started on the front row and raced side
by side until lap four when Shaffer pulled ahead. Shaffer held the lead for only a lap, when
he began to slow. His #1H suddenly stopped in turn three, forcing him out of the running for
the night.
Anderson took the lead on the restart and sailed away to his second win. He was
followed by Drew Fallis, Brian Borst, Mike Fraiser and Bob Vedder.
Sportsman heat winners were: B. Anderson, A. Palmer and H. Shaffer, II. Consi win to G. Audi,
Jr.
"Finally" was the word heard from Kenny Gates as he exited his #35 street stock as it
sat on checkerboard square after the 20 lap feature. Gates went into the event one point
ahead of street stock master, Kenny Martin. Gates has been top in points for the past few
weeks but had yet to record a win. This was Gates' first every feature win at Fonda.
The #14 of Ram Kowalczyk took the early lead until a caution on lap three. It took
several restarts to finally get the event underway and when the race continued, Mark Sullivan
sat in the lead.
Sullivan held the lead with Mark Lighthall only a beat behind. These two raced side by
side until lap 12 when Lighthall came away with the lead.
With only five laps to go, Gates, who had been sitting in third, took the lead from
Lighthall and began to pull away from the top five runners.
Gates was followed by Mark Lighthall, Kenny Martin, Mark Sullivan and Steve Welch.
Street stock heat wins went to B.Peters, F. Guiffre, and T. Myers.
The IMCA modifieds were in competition once again this week and the win went to Jeff
Carr in the #5J.
Jay Casey led the field down to the green and held the lead until the #757 of Chris
Crews got by Casey's #322 by a move to the outside on the backstretch.
By the time the leaders were in turn four, Jeff Carr was in the lead. With only two
more cautions to close up the field, Carr maintained the lead and went on to claim his first
every win at the "New" Fonda Speedway.
The debut of the Pure Stock class at the "Track of Champions" this season saw several
local pure stock regulars come to try their hand at the historic oval.
Steve Burega of Latham, NY started eighth and in turn two of the first lap, Burega and
his #26 were in the lead. Several competitors fell by the wayside due to blown motors or
other problems.
After a caution on lap two, Burega ran away from the field to take his first every win
at Fonda.
Burega, whose car is for sale, said he would be back next week, unless he sells the car.
This week at the "New " Fonda Speedway, the enduro cars will return for their third of
four events this season. This addition to the show of modifieds, sportsman, street stocks
and pure stocks is still only $8.00 general admission.
Modified finish (30 laps): JACK JOHNSON, Dave Lape, Tim Dwyer, Mike Romano, Dave Camara, Tim
Clemons, Jeff Trombley, Bob Savoie, Frank Hoard, Lou Lazzaro, John Proctor, Gardner Stone,
Ray Zemken, Mike Ciaravino, Ken Hanson, Chris Jones, Wayne Figler, Billy Gray, John Marsh,
Ronnie Johnson, A. J. Romano, Tony Pepicelli, Sth Gano, Randy Snyder, Doug Mosall, Ron
Proctor. DNS Brian Purdy, Ryan Baker
Sportsman finish (20 laps) BOB ANDERSON, Ddrew Fallis, Brian Borst, Mike Fraiser, Bob Vedder,
Alton Palmer, Tony Farone, Joe Wilson, Jim Senzio, Dave Rosa, Mike Fusco, John McAuliffe,
Jeff Holt, Steve Davis, Joe Rando, Johnny LeClair, George Audi, Jr., Joe Geniti, Kris
Ferrara, John Constantino, Joe McCallion, Jere Baker, Ron Constantino, Harry Shaffer,II. DNS
Nick Nichols, Jeff Lutes, Jason Otty, Gary Greco, Jim Oare, Jr.
Street Stock finish (20 laps) KENNY GATES, Mark Lighthall, Kenny Martin, Mark Sullivan, Steve
Welch, Tom Myers, Bob Blanchard, Jim Normoyle, Steve Brownell, Dan Streeter, Jim Burton, Dave
Viall, Kerry Jordan, Tony Johnson, Tom LaPlante, Chobie Culver, Ram Kowalczyk, Tony Cece,
Bryan Peters, Jeff Jones, Frank Guiffre, Greg Overholt, Jeff Brate, Steve Skinner. DNS Dan
Krajewski, Ed Bradt, Duke McSpirit, Todd Barlow, Jay Resch, Pete Bashwinger, Mike Bellinger.
IMCA finish (20 laps) JEFF CARR, Anthony Markou, Glen Dymond, George Catanznao, Jim Rajczi,
Bob Fachini, Henry Tanner, Chris Crews, Rich Colesanti, Paul LaRochelle, Jim Fugel, Kevin
Priest, Craig Simmons, Jay Casey, Rocco Testo, Glenn Schwenger, Baill Lander, Don Denue. DNS
Dennis Cooper
Pure Stock finish (10 laps) STEVE BUREGA, Mike Budka, Jr., Skip Pabis, Joe Sweet, Don Warner,
Dick Nichols, Bill Martish, Rob VanAernam, John Bradt, Jim Deitz, Hondo Carpenter, Jayson
VanPatten, Harold Passino, Cory Dutcher.