Thunder Returns To The Mohawk Valley; Fonda Kicks Off Another Historic Season Of Racing

Column By: RAY ROGERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – After a prolonged winter, it seems we finally made the turn toward spring. The Fonda Speedway opened the gates for another historic season Saturday with the annual 50 lap Ice Jam, although there was no ice, but a “Cyclone” was sighted.

On Saturday, I made the trip upriver to my weekend hot spot, the Fonda Speedway, where I met up with some of my racing family at the track’s museum. Even though the museum was not ready for race fans, it was nice to see everyone return for another season safe and sound. Dave Lape will be working on things this week at the Museum with hopes to open the doors to fans at the next event. Museum hours will be 3 pm till race time every Saturday all season, so stop by and see whats new.

Once I made my way pit side, I happen to see NYS Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara giving Tony Farone some pointers and pitted next to them was Montgomery County sheriff candidate Jim Glorioso who is supporting Nelson Motorsports team this season. It’s good to see our local Assemblyman and a candidate enjoying a night at the races makes me feel they also support something special to me.

As I cruised down pit road, I ran into defending track champion Tim Fuller, who would not commit to returning for the full season at Fonda just yet, but was ready to get back in the car and turn it loose.

Next, I caught up with Sportsman pilot Brian Pessolano, This season, the Riley Mortuary #24p will be looking to contend for the championship at Fonda and also plans to run the KOD series this season. Brian may hit Weedsport for a few shows as well.

As I was heading to the grandstand, I stopped to chat with Chris Gennarelli, car chief for the 27j of Danny Johnson and he too was not ready to commit to Fonda just yet.

“Pete treats us well and we enjoy coming here so you may just see us often,” he said.

I sure hope that’s the case. It’s always great to have ‘the Doctor’ in the house.

Once I found my seat, I looked around at ll the smiling faces. It felt really good to be back where I found my passion for stock car racing.

The surface was in typical early spring conditions…a bit rough around the edges but not bad. With the sun shining and a bit of breeze, heat races rolled away for the first time of 2018. Luke Horning and AJ Walters kicked off the season picking up the Pro Stock heat win’s. Ray Zemken, Brian Borst, and Robert Bublak scored top spots in the Sportsman heats. Modified heat race winners where Stewart Friesen, Josh Hohenforst, and Bobby Varin.

Jason Samrov claimed the first Street Stock Feature of the year and young Derrick (D2) McGrew Jr added his name to the record books at the track of champions as a Limited Sportsman feature winner.

Kenny Gates marked another Pro Stock win to his resume with the win on Saturday, Jim Normoyle is off to a good start after finishing second followed by Cassidy Wilson, Walters, and Reuben Kennedy Jr.

Now that the sun had set it was getting a bit chilly but my young neighbor Tyler had the right idea and bundled up under his blanket, eager for 50 laps of Dirt Modified racing.

At the drop of the green flag, Stewart Friesen turned his Billy the Kid-Powered Cyclone lose on the field and easily collected another 50-lap Ice Jam victory at the Track of Champions. Danny Varin, who made the first of only a handful of races he will compete in this season at Fonda, scored a well-earned second place finish. His dad, Bobby, would come in third followed by the Doctor and Josh Hohenforst.

Ray Zemken pulled out to the early lead in the 25-lap Sportsman feature on Saturday. However, Nick Scavia would find the low side open with four to go and slip pasted the 1z and score his first Sportsman feature win of the season. Zemken would be second at the line followed by Bublak, Chad Edwards and Borst who seems to have picked up right where he left off a few years ago.

After the sportsman wrapped the final feature of the night, I headed back down pit road where I stopped to see Modified feature winner Stewart Friesen.

“This is all the DKM guys, Dave, Kyle and Eric they been working so hard on this Cyclone for three years,” Friesen said. “It’s not quite perfect yet but we are going in the right direction.”

Stewart’s wife, Jessica, didn’t have the night she would have liked, coming to the line 16th but seemed upbeat afterwards.

“We have some work to do, but we will get there,” she said.

Before I headed out, I wandered over to see Nick Stone who is also behind of the wheel of a DKM car this season. Nick plans to run the full season at Fonda with his sportsman and with some help from the ‘Damn Kids’ he hopes to be up front weekly.

Now that the Ice Jam is out of the way, it’s time to get back to regular Saturday nights at the Track of Champions. This weekend, the CRSA sprint cars roll into town for the first of three stops at the historic oval. This will also be the kick off for the CRSA’s 13th season of competition and should be a solid field of sprinters.

The mighty Modifieds will be back in action along with Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Rookie Sportsman and Street Stocks. Racing action starts at 7.

If you’re not quite ready for a cool evening, maybe some afternoon Winged Champ Kart action could be your thing? On Saturday, our friends with the Winged Champ Racing Series kicks off their season at the Caroga Creek Speedway in Ephratah NY, Racing is set to kick off @ 2pm with a full card of exciting Kart racing so get out and support our karting community. This is where tomorrow’s stars are born.

Next Sunday, the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park hosts the kick-off for the quest to be King of the 2018 King of Dirt Sportsman Series. With Rocky Warner stepping down from the Sportsman throne (after moving up to the Modified ranks), who will rise to conquer 35-laps at the fastest quarter mile on dirt? You just may want to be there to find out!

Racing begins at 4pm with a full card of action including Pro Stocks, Limited Sportsman, Street Stocks, 4-Cylinders, and Slingshots.

There is no better way to close out the weekend than a great evening of racing on the Ridge! Hope to See you there.