RPW Exclusive: Bobby Varin Shows The Way Saturday At Fonda; Takes Two-Point Lead Heading To Last Race

Column By: RAY ROGERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – Saturday started out a bit on the soggy side in the Mohawk Valley but with a great effort from the track staff, the Fonda Speedway was open for business.

When I arrived at the speedway, a light rain was falling. However, by 4pm, the skies began to lighten and the race teams began rolling in.

One team who took advantage of the Saturday night show was that of the Graham Racing Troyer team of Danny Johnson and Peter Britten. Both Johnson and Britten are regulars on the Super DIRTcar series and were at Fonda in preparation for Monday’s Jack Johnson tribute at The Track Of Champions.

I ran into a few other drivers who were on hand including Ronnie Johnson and Bobby Hackel, but both decided to sit the racing out and just enjoy the evening from the other side of the fence. Ronnie plans to be back at Fonda Monday for the race in honor of his father. The way his season has progressed, he just may be a real contender Monday.

Hackel, on the other hand, was unsure of when he would return to The Track of Champions, but did tell me he may be back for the ESS show. His team is just going to see how things play out.

Just before 7pm, cars rolled onto the historic half-mile for a quick warm-up session and then heat races to set the fields for the evening’s features. Chuck Dumblewski and Justin Knight grabbed the Pro Stock heats with Rocky Warner, Shaun Pangman, and Pep Corradi taking the Modified qualifiers. Aaron Burton and Ricky Quick were victorious in the Sportsman heat races.

Now, it was feature time. Dave Horning Sr. took the Street Stock main event with Zach Sorrentino, Rob VanAernam, Al Relyea, Scott Gauthier rounding out the top 5.

The 15-lap Limited Sportsman feature went to first-time winner Michael McCallion who held off Derrick McGrew Jr. in the closing laps of one exciting race. Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Cory White and Kadon Hohensheldt, who had a solid run, finished third through fifth respectively.

The Classics on Dirt Vintage Stock Car Club was on hand for another great nostalgic feature event that went to Fonda Hall of Fame member John Constantino…otherwise known as “The Dancing Bear.”

Josh Coonradt fired from the fourth starting spot in the Pro Stock main and by lap eight he grabbed the lead. He was not going to be denied on this night for his second career win at Fonda. Chuck Dumblewski continued his late-season charge to finish second with Justin Knight, Luke Horning and Kenny Gates, who was involved in a last-lap accident, completed the top 5.

Gates holds a solid 38-point lead over Coonradt heading into the final points event of the season for the Pro Stocks.

Shaun Pangman led the Modified field to the green flag and jump out to lead the first 27 circuits. That was until tenth-place starter Bobby Varin tracked him down and slid past to score his fourth win of the season.

Seventh place starter and defending track champion, Tim Fuller, worked his way to a second place finish followed by Pangman, Rocky Warner, and Josh Hohenforst.

Hohenforst, the Modified points leader heading into the event, was involved in a lap 10 jingle but managed to salvage a top five finish. He now sits just two markers behind Varin heading into the points finale next Saturday night.

The Sportsman closed out the night with a 25-lap marathon that saw seven caution flags slowing to pace significantly. Aaron Burton was the early race leader until his good buddy, Cody Clark, who had started eighth, ran him down to grab the top spot with the aid of a few early race cautions.

Mark Mortensen made his presence known and gave Clark a run for his money but come up short on fuel at the end. Brian Calabrese had a solid run from the 11th starting spot to take home second at the finish.

Chad Edwards’ third-place finish put him on top of the points standing six markers ahead of Tony Farone as we enter the last night of points this Saturday. Farone was involved in a lap 22 incident with Nick Scavia that ended both drivers night.

David Manchester and Josh DeMagistris completed the top 5 of this wild one.

Heading into a huge week of racing at the Fonda Speedway, things are shaping up to be a finish to a season race fans will not soon forget. It all begins Monday night with the highly-anticipated Jack Johnson tribute, “The Jack.” The Super DIRT car Series race will be 100-laps of great action along with the Hondo Classic, a 30-lap Pro Stock feature in honor of the late Hondo Carpenter. There will also be a special Street Stock Challenge.

Wednesday night, the King of Dirt Series roll into town with their 358-Modified series event along with Fonda’s biggest Crate 602 Sportsman show…”The Grand Daddy” World Championship in honor of the speedway’s first museum founder, Brian Hanaburg.

Everything leading up to a Saturday night of features when the “Track of Champions” crowns its 2018 point champions in all divisions.

The Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum will be open for all of the events this week so make sure you stop by and say hello as you check out the special 12a “Jumpin Jack” display.

For those of you who are headed to the Fonda Speedway this week, safe travels and I hope to see you all at the races!