Veterans Showed Up To Race Saturday Night At Fonda

Column By: RAY ROGERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – Saturday night, I once again got the chance to “go to school,” one could say.

During my weekly visit to the Fonda Speedway museum, I had the chance to spend some time with legendary car owner Don “Burger” Knapfel and he filled me in on his connection to a legend of the sport.

“Dave (Lape) drove a few races for us in 1976 and did very well,” he said. “So one day, I picked him up and we headed to Dick Tobias’s shop and ordered a brand new car. I remember we got the car January 1 of 77. Dave grumbled about a few things, but come spring he took it out he returned to the pits with a huge smile. I knew we had something. That was the birth of the 44b.”

Knapfel recounted just how amazing of a machine that car was.

“The car was so good that we lapped the field at Weedsport,” he said with a smile. “I can only imagine what Tobias was thinking when Dave put him a lap down in one of his own pieces.”

Burger went on to share some great stories with me, and is looking for a permanent home for the 44b hoping the NASCAR hall of fame may be interested in displaying the revolutionary machine.

Before I knew it, the heat races were on the racing surface. Pro Stocks started the show. Frank Twing, Chuck Dumblewski and Kenny Gates claimed those heats. Modified heat winners were Bobby Varin, Jeremy Wilder, and Josh Hohenforst.

The first feature of the night went to Street Stock driver Micheal Arnold. Limited Sportsman winner Saturday was Larry Neimiec and the Cruiser feature went to Ken Hollenback.

Ray Zemken took the Bobby Booth owned “Little Red Wagon” to the front of the first Sportsman feature and showed that the veteran still has what it takes to get it done. He picked up the win with Tim Hartman Jr. finishing second, followed by Cody Clark, Nick Scavia, and Josh DeMagistris.

Dennis Joslin won the Pro Stock feature with Twing, Josh Coonradt, Dumblewski, Cassidy Wilson rounding out the top 5.

Mark Mortensen, who is no stranger to the Track of Champions, claimed his 18th career win in Sportsman feature #2. He was followed to the line by Chad Edwards, Nick Scavia, Brian Pessolano, Rocky Warner.

Just after the second Sportsman feature wrapped up, the lights to the grandstands went out and the sky over the speedway was lit up with an amazing fireworks display. It was a show that will not be forgotten by fans anytime soon.

The mighty Modifieds took center stage next with a great battle between two veteran drivers. Bobby Varin used a lap car to get by leader Tim Fuller in the final stages of the race to pick up win #57 at the Track of Champions.

Hard-charging Fuller would settle for second followed by Josh Hohenforst, Shaun Pangman and Ronnie Johnson.

I spoke with Bobby Varin in the pits after his victory celebration. It was a celebration that came almost 24 years to the day of his first win at Fonda. He was pretty stoked.

“We hurt the engine in the 00 a few weeks back,” Varin said. “Luckily, Alton and Carol (Palmer) let me take their big block out here. I knew Fuller was gonna run me hard, but I been there before and I wasn’t gonna let him get by me. It was a great race.”

Of course, I had to stop and have a cold drink with Ray Zemken, who too, was very excited.

“I had more fun in the second feature even though we won the first,” he said. “The Little Red Wagon was just going great. I haven’t had that much fun in a race car in a long time.”

On my walk out to the gate, I got to thinking how lucky we are to be Fonda fans this year. Some of the best Modified wheel men in the Northeast are in a heated battle for the right to be crowned champion. Week after week, great battles have developed in every division. The shows have been run through in a timely manner and I have yet to see a frowning face after an event.

This Saturday should be no different. There will be a full evening of great racing and the URC 360 sprint cars return. Racing starts at 7 pm.

If Saturday night isn’t enough racing for ya, the Ridge will be back in action on Sunday with a full card of racing that starts at 6 pm.