RPW Exclusive: History To Be Made; Fonda Set To Host First Short Track Super Series Event

Column By: RAY ROGERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – One of New Yorks oldest racing facilities The Fonda Speedway welcomes the Short Track Super Series for its first Super event The Firecracker 50!

In some parts, they call it, Arcilla, Clay, Soil, Mud, Sand, Hell, in the south, they even call Aggregate, asphalt, but us folks in the Mohawk Valley of Upstate New York call it DIRT and its what we race on at The FONDA Speedway.

Only in the northeast can you find 800 Hp modified stock cars with sail panels made to do nothing but Compete side by side and go fast on a Dirt oval. This Wednesday, July the 3rd the FONDA Speedway welcomes the Fuccillo Automotive Group ‘Firecracker 50’ in Memory of Mike Cole a Friend of the Fonda Speedway presented by Teo Pro Car – $10,000 to win for Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series.

A 50 lap short track spectacular that is guaranteed to start your independence day week off right.

With $ 10,000 on the line for the winner and a total purse of $39,200 plus STSS points on the line, you can expect all the top drivers from Del, PA, NJ and the entire New York State to be in the pits.

The Short Track Super Series is rapidly growing, from its beginning in 2014 the STSS has hosted over 70 events with 29 different winners in the past 6 seasons and continues to grow into the most talked about Modified series in the Northeastern part of the USA. The STSS pay structure and rule package makes racing not just affordable for the Modifieds but gives every car participating a piece of the pie paying large purses throughout the field, thus drawing a large variety of teams from all over the Northeast, Del, Pa, Nj, and NY to compete at each STSS event. With 7 events in the books in 2019 and eight to go four different drivers have scored wins including Matt Shepard leading the win column with 3, Stewart Friesen with 2, Anthony Perrego and defending STSS Champion Billy Decker each have single wins this year.

This will be a STSS race you may want to be at, Matt Sheppard opened the season at Fonda with a big win but has yet to return, while Rocky Warner has shown he can be a Modified champion at the track of champions with 4 wins and is leading the points at the famed half mile. Stewart Friesen all-time winning STSS driver with 14 wins and home track hero at Fonda has 2 feature wins at the TOC this year will surely be in the hunt However some of the southern tier drivers like Anthony Perrego, Billy Pauch Jr.may have something to say while Defending series champion Billy Decker is no stranger to Fonda could score his second win of the season on the STSS tour, all-time leading invader to the Track of Champions Brett Hearn and with many others coming to this show it could be anyone’s race.

Heat Race line ups will be determined by draw at the drivers meeting top qualifiers will transfer to the redraw; other remaining qualifiers go to the A main.

An Added bonus to the racing on Wednesday will be the Short Track Super Series Race No. 3 of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Series North Region ,25 green-flag laps, $2,000 to win, $100 to start !

This event will also thrust the Mohawk Valleys oldest sporting venue The FONDA Speedway back into the national spotlight as MAVTV will be recording this event for broadcast later in the year. Be Part of the crowd, Stomp your feet in the grandstands, Lets let the nation know we support Dirt Stock Car Racing here in Up State New York.

If you do plan to come out for this historic event here are a few tips form Race Pro Ray,

If you’re coming in from the west or the east /south(NYS THRUWAY) parking in the fireman’s lot makes for easy access back to I90 and points south after the show and its tailgate friendly plus it will give a great view of the aftershow Fireworks. oops did I say the FIREWORKS!

If your coming in from Rt 30 north you may also want to park in the Firemans lot also its just easy access back to rt 30 N via Park ST and for a few bucks that goes back to the community is well worth the short walk to the Speedway gates.

Eastbound (rt5) traffic overnight parking and campers should use the parking behind the grandstand, Camping is welcome on the fairgrounds behind the main grandstands (please camp along the fence if possible), hookups are not available for this event. If you do plan to park behind the grandstands please be aware of the fire lanes, let’s keep them open in case of an emergency for everyone’s safety.

Once you have found your parking spot make your way over to the Fonda Speedway Museum and Hall of fame for a walk through the Speedways rich history. The museum is located behind the DKM bleachers on the fairgrounds.The Fonda speedway’s history comes to life every race day free of charge and is full of exciting exhibits including Lou Lazzaro’s 1977 restored Modified that contributed to his 11 wins in a single season, plus Pete Coreys famed #3 Studebaker that changed the racing game in racing and some other gems you die-hard race fans may want to check out.

Before you head to your seats make sure you stop by the One Z Tees trailer for your 2019 Tailgate for a cause ticket, this ticket will get you a Killer chicken BBQ pre-race on autism awareness night n July 13th all proceeds from this ticket will benefit Crossroads for children, a cause Stewart and Jessica Friesen hold dear to their heart so make sure you get your ticket whether you plan to attend or not its for a great cause.

The Fonda Speedway staff welcomes drivers and crews to the pit area at 4 pm main grandstand and general admission also opens welcomes fans at 4 , so come on out early grab a bite to eat form the famous Fonda concessions and feel the true thunder along the Mohawk as the Short Track Supper series echos along the historic valley on a independence eve! I do hope to see you there!