Making The “Grand Daddy” At Fonda Truly Special

Story By: RON SZCZERBA / FONDA SPEEDWAY – FONDA, NY – This past Saturday September 16, one of the biggest if not the biggest events for the sportsman division was held at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway when the “Grand Daddy” event, which was presented by Tom & Sharon Spencer and Adirondack Leather, was held in memory of the late Don Warner.

To put an event of this magnitude on at any race track is a huge deal and the Warner family had many sponsors step up to the plate to help them out, all of which are listed below in addition to Tom & Sharon Spencer of Adirondack Leather and Pete Demitraszek and his family at the Fonda Speedway.

According to Demitraszek, 48 sportsman cars attempted to qualify for the 50-lap event, which was also a part of the GRIT Racing Series for sportsman.

Special is a word that was used in victory lane by the race winner Chad Edwards who had a special friendship and bond with the late Don Warner who the event was named after.

“Rocky’s father Don was one of my best friends,” an emotional Edwards said in victory lane. “He was like a second father to me.”

Below are the sponsors of the event and the winners of the prizes and money donated by them:

WINNER – CHAD EDWARDS

Rocking chair donated by Checkered Flag – Deb’s Racing Textiles

$2,000 – Tom & Sharon Spencer

$100 gift card off a fire suit from Swagger Factory donated by Mike Jackson

Grand Daddy model car donated by Kevin George

$97 – Tadd & Layne Parks

 

2^ND PLACE – ROCKY WARNER

$1,000 – Fonda Speedway

$85 – Bloomfield’s Florist

$100 gift card off a fire suit from Swagger Factory donated by Mike Jackson

$100 – Edwards Food Service “Lunch Box”

$97 – Tadd & Layne Parks

 

3^RD PLACE – NICK SCAVIA

$300 – Welch Motorsports

$100 gift card off a fire suit from Swagger Factory donated by Mike Jackson

$97 – Tadd & Layne Parks

 

4^th PLACE – JAMIKE SOWLE

$250 – Craig Pritchard/Picture Perfect Pools

$100 gift card off a fire suit from Swagger Factory donated by Mike Jackson

$97 – Tadd & Layne Parks

 

5^th PLACE – WILLY DECKER

$200 – Joe Orlando/White Mountain Air

$100 gift card off a fire suit from Swagger Factory donated by Mike Jackson

$97 – Tadd & Layne Parks

 

6^th PLACE – CONNOR CLEVELAND

$200 – Jerry & Gloria Sampson

7^th PLACE – TIM HARTMAN JR.

$50 Ruby & Quiri gift card

$200 – Jerry & Gloria Sampson

 

8^th PLACE – ZACH SOBOTKA

$100 – Mike Walton

 

9^th PLACE – RAY ZEMKEN

$50 Ruby & Quiri gift card

$100 donated by Ron “Buddy” & Krista Warner in memory of Uncle Don

 

10^th PLACE – JOE ORLANDO

$100 in memory of Ken Simek donated by Peyton & Parker

 

11^th PLACE – DAVID SCHILLING

$111 in memory of Steve Bidwell donated by Scott & Jen Friers

12^th PLACE – DAN SANTABARBARA

$100 – Ed Lamberton

 

13^th PLACE – JOSH DEMAGISTRIS

$100 – Merle Young/PM Auto

 

14^th PLACE – CASEY PAVLICK

$50 – Vivienne McLoughlin

 

15^th PLACE – CHARLIE TIBBITTS

$50 – Kelley Keefe

 

16^th PLACE – JUSTIN AUSPELMYER

$50 – Ron Warner in memory of his brother

 

17^th PLACE – JOEL HALL

$50 – in memory of Ken Simek, in honor of Peyton & Parker, donated by the Walker Family

 

18^th PLACE – AARON BURTON

$50 – Richard Warner in memory of his brother

 

First Fastline customer $100 Fastline Gift Card

$201 to the fastest qualifier donated by Mike Jackson in memory of Harry Shaffer Sr.

$97 donated by Catalytic Recovery to the racer who finishes one spot behind Rocky – NICK SCAVIA

 

HEAT RACE SPONSORS

#1 – Rauch Bakery, Lisa & Mike Baldwin sponsor of car #37 – NICK SCAVIA

#2 – Barney’s Sign Shop, Paul & John Lakata, Johnstown, NY – JOE ORLANDO

#3 – Klippels Kozy Korner Kafe & Deli, Nothville, NY – AARON BURTON

 

HARD CHARGER AWARD

Brooklyn Custom Leatherworks, Brent Heroth, Gloversville, NY – CONNOR CLEVELAND

LEADER OF LAP 37 AWARD – $100 in memory of Charlie Fox sponsored by Tom & Sharon Spencer – CHAD EDWARDS

 

CORPORATE SPONSORS

Brooklyn Custom Leatherworks, Brent Heroth, Gloversville, NY

Cristiano’s Pizza, Northville, NY

Creative Land Care, Dave Knapp

Ed Lamberton, Wheel People

Elmo’s Speed Shop, Ballston Lake, NY

Gifford Oil, Mike & Cindy Gifford, Northville, NY

Happy Returns, Diana Downing, Northville, NY

Harnish Outdoor Supply, Gloversville, NY

Hohenforst Splitting, Gloversville, NY

Johnstown Auto Parts

Mikes Main Street Auto, Northville, NY

Michael J. Poulin Attorney at Law, Northville, NY

Smith & Sons, Jeff & Gretchen Smith, Mayfield, NY

Spencer Racing – Tom & Sharon Spencer

Timeless Tavern, Northville, NY

 

LAP SPONSORS

1. Klippels Kozy Korner Kafe & Deli, Nothville, NY
2. Barney’s Sign Shop, Paul & John Lakata, Johnstown, NY

Mud Rd. Sugar House, Vern & Margaret Duesler, Ephratah, NY

3. Ed Richtmyer, Grandpa of Sloan & Harper
4. Andy’s Speed Shop, Johnstown, NY
5. Edwards Food Service, Mike Edwards
6. Ray Dalmatta, Dal’s Hollow Auto Body, Johnstown, NY
7. Nels Morgan, Northville, NY
8. Andy’s Service, Johnstown, NY
9. County Line Auction, Gloversville, NY
10. Ray Dalmatta, Dal’s Hollow Auto Body, Johnstown, NY
11. Jake & Nancy Spraker – owner Rocky Warner #97

Mud Rd. Sugar House, Vern & Margaret Duesler, Ephratah, NY

12. Klippels Kozy Korner Kafe & Deli, Nothville, NY
13. Nels Morgan, Northville, NY
14. Ed Richtmyer, Grandpa of Sloan & Harper
15. Rauch Bakery, Gloversville, NY, Lisa & Mike Baldwin sponsor of car #37
16. Andy’s Speed Shop, Johnstown, NY
17. Rauch Bakery, Gloversville, NY, Lisa & Mike Baldwin sponsor of car #37

Ed Richtmyer, Grandpa of Sloan & Harper

County Line Auction, Gloversville, NY

18. Andy’s Service, Johnstown, NY
19. Klippels Kozy Korner Kafe & Deli, Nothville, NY
20. Ed Richtmyer, Grandpa of Sloan & Harper
21. Andy’s Speed Shop, Johnstown, NY
22. Edwards Food Service, Mike Edwards
23. Ed Richtmyer, Grandpa of Sloan & Harper
24. Rauch Bakery, Gloversville, NY, Lisa & Mike Baldwin sponsor of car #37
25. Ray Dalmatta, Dal’s Hollow Auto Body, Johnstown, NY
26. CDL Insurance, Northville, NY
27. County Line Auction, Gloversville, NY
28. County Line Auction, Gloversville, NY
29. Klippels Kozy Korner Kafe & Deli, Nothville, NY
30. Andy’s Speed Shop, Johnstown, NY
31. Edwards Food Service, Mike Edwards
32. Auto World, Freddie Tauss, Johnstown, NY
33. CDL Insurance, Northville, NY
34. Ray Dalmatta, Dal’s Hollow Auto Body, Johnstown, NY
35. Andy’s Service, Johnstown, NY
36. CDL Insurance, Northville, NY
37. Rauch Bakery, Gloversville, NY, Lisa & Mike Baldwin sponsor of car #37

Edwards Food Service, Mike Edwards

Mud Rd. Sugar House, Vern & Margaret Duesler, Ephratah, NY

38. Andy’s Service, Johnstown, NY
39. Klippels Kozy Korner Kafe & Deli, Nothville, NY
40. CDL Insurance, Northville, NY
41. Edwards Food Service, Mike Edwards
42. Rauch Bakery, Gloversville, NY, Lisa & Mike Baldwin sponsor of car #37
43. Ray Dalmatta, Dal’s Hollow Auto Body, Johnstown, NY

Mud Rd. Sugar House, Vern & Margaret Duesler, Ephratah, NY

44. CDL Insurance, Northville, NY
45. Jake & Nancy Spraker
46. Jake & Nancy Spraker

County Line Auction, Gloversville, NY

47. Andy’s Speed Shop, Johnstown, NY
48. Jake & Nancy Spraker
49. Andy’s Service, Johnstown, NY
50. Jake & Nancy Spraker

Lap leaders who received the above awards were Rocky Warner laps 1-15 and Chad Edwards laps 16-50