Rotterdam Car Show Gets Everyone Ready For Racing

Column By: RAY ROGERS / RPW – ROTTERDAM, NY – It’s official! Spring is here and race shops all over the northeast are buzzing with action.

Last weekend, the Northeast Auto Racing Expo was held at the Via Port Rotterdam Mall in Rotterdam NY and I was there. I had the chance to catch up with many drivers, including both drivers for the Jake Spraker stable. Fans will be happy to know Rocky Warner and Ronnie Johnson are returning to defend their titles at the ‘Track of Champions’, Fonda Speedway, this season. Kenny Gates will also be returning to defend his title in the Pro Stock division .

Newcomer EJ McAuliffe is looking to join his big brother Adam in the Sportsman division this season. EJ has followed his brother’s path, climbing the ranks by racing Quads and is now ready to join the Novice Sportsman class with his #234x.

Jessey Mueller will again be making the tow from the north country weekly, hoping to add his name to the record books at the historic Fonda Fairgrounds.

Jamike Sowle made mention that he may be making a few starts in a Big Block Modified this season, but plans to run in the Sportsman Division regularly.

Luke Horning will not be a regular at the ‘Track of Champions’ this season. He plans to focus on Friday nights at Albany-Saratoga and Sunday’s at Utica-Rome.

The man who drives one-handed, Nick Stone, plans to run regularly at Malta on Fridays, but has no set plans for the rest of the weekend.

“I kind of like running anywhere I want on Saturday’s,” he said. “Who knows. Maybe I’ll let my daughter Gianna drive on Saturday nights at Fonda.”

Nick’s only other plans, as of now, are to run the King of Dirt Series, much like many of the other Sportsman and Pro Stock drivers I spoke with.

‘Damn Kid’ Dave Constantino will be back flying the West End Towing colors at Fonda, while Brian Pessolano has switched back to Rich Dodson’s “Team Green,” along side new teammate Scott Duell.

Promoter Pete Demitraszek said Thursday night that he was excited for the season.

“It’s great to see everyone’s hard work on display for the fans,” he said. “I’m ready to get the season rolling.”

Demitraszek and family will once again be back at the reigns of both Glen Ridge Motorsports Park and Fonda for 2017. Schedules for both tracks have been released.

Friday nights on the hill should be a bit more exciting this season with the addition of two weekly divisions. The IMCA cars make a return to the Mohawk Valley along with the Slingshots. Friday nights will also include the Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks and Cruisers.

Glen Ridge plans to host warm-up and inspection nights on April 7th and April 14th. The track will officially open its gates on April 21st when all points begin.

For a full rundown of the season’s schedule, visit www.glenridgemotorsportspark.net .

The historic Fonda Speedway will open it’s gates to racers the first two weekends of April for warm-ups and inspections, weather and track conditions permitting. Then, on April 15th, Ice Jam 50 kicks off the season with 50 laps and $4,000-to-win for the Modifieds.

On April 22, the CRSA Sprint Cars make the first of two stops at the speedway and points begin for all regular divisions.

The Fonda Speedway Museum opens that weekend as well. Dave Lape and Randy Colegrove have been acquiring memorabilia all winter long, so be sure to stop in this season and check it out.

For the full schedule go to the new Fonda speedway web site at www.newfondaspeedway.

Even though there is a snow pack still covering much of the northeast, it’s hard not to get excited about the up coming race season. Soon, our local race tracks will be open and we can all enjoy our favorite American past time.

This season I encourage all of you to grab your family and friends who have never enjoyed the experience of local short track racing and get them out to the track!