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By: Ron Szczerba
FONDA , NY – Matt DeLorenzo is quickly becoming a dominant force at the Fonda Speedway in 2007 and on Saturday evening he proved it yet again as he cruised to his third victory of the season and the seventh of his career in the modified division at the Track of Champions.
For the second week in a row “Matty D” had the BBL Companies sponsored small block humming as he took the back to back victory by a straightway margin just as he had done a week ago.
“This is the first time that I have ever gone back to back here at Fonda,” DeLorenzo said in victory lane. “My brother has hit on a setup in this car and it has put us on a roll that I hope will keep going. The car is so awesome that I think that my mother could get in it and drive it.”
Other winners on Palmer Service Center and Clifford C. Hay Trucking Night at the Track of Champions were David Towns (sportsman), Nick Stone (pro stock), Danny Ballard (IMCA), Rocky Warner and Dave Horning Jr. (street stock). The entire racing program was completed by 9:20 p.m.
During intermission Fonda Speedway promoter Ric Lucia presented an award to Alton and Carole Palmer for their commitment to racing and to Fonda Speedway.
“I have been learning things about racing since 1959 and have been involved in many aspects of the sport including driving a racecar and now promoting the speedway here at Fonda and one thing that I have realized is that you can’t do it alone,” Lucia said.
“Fonda Speedway is a huge part of the community and people need to know the commitment that Alton and Carole have made to the speedway, to racing, and to all of the drivers that they have helped out over the years and the ones that they are helping now. Together they have helped racing in so many ways and that is why I want to present this award to them.”
“I thought that Ric wanted me to work on his trucks or something,” Alton Palmer said when he heard about Lucia wanting him and Carole to come to victory lane for the presentation. “I have been at the Fonda Speedway for 30 years now and have seen many of the ups and downs in the sport both as a driver and a car owner. But we are here and we are all having a good time.”
“Fonda Speedway is where Alton and I met and it is very special to both of us,” Carole Palmer said. “All of the drivers that we have driving for us and the ones that we are helping out are great and it would be great for one of them to get a win tonight as we are the sponsors this evening here at Fonda.”
Palmer started the event on the front row after a win in his qualifying event and quickly took the lead at the drop of starter Denny Tilison’s green flag with Erik Nelson in tow. Defending modified track champion Bobby Varin started the event in the 12th position and on lap three he was running so high going into turn one that he brushed the wall with the right side of his car but kept on racing as he tried to advance to the front of the pack.
On lap six, Fonda legends Dave Lape and Jack Johnson were racing side by side for the fourth position while DeLorenzo and Craig Hanson raced their way into the top five. Johnson was in the Alton and Carole Palmer owned #76A small block after he sold the #12A car to Ricky Quick this past week.
Johnson got by both Lape and Dustin Purdy for the third spot one lap later with DeLorenzo right behind him in the fourth spot after also getting by the duo. At that point Palmer held a straightaway advantage over Nelson who was running a great race for the second week in a row with Johnson and DeLorenzo side by side for the third position by lap 11.
DeLorenzo got by both Johnson and a lap car to take over the third spot on lap 14 and one lap later he was in the second position after getting by Nelson. At that point in the event Palmer still held a straightaway lead but DeLorenzo was closing the gap lap after lap as he was turning times that were a half second faster than Palmer while the leader was in lap traffic.
On lap 19, DeLorenzo caught the leader while Nelson and Johnson were racing side by side for the third position which Johnson eventually took over. At the finish line on lap 22, Palmer and DeLorenzo were nose to nose with DeLorenzo taking the lead on the backstretch and never looking back as he continually stretched out his lead lap after lap.
DeLorenzo cruised on to an easy win while Johnson and Varin both got by Palmer for the second and third positions just before the checkered flag flew. Palmer, Ronnie Johnson, Lape, Hanson, Ryan Odasz who started the event in the 27th position in the Wayne Podbielski #14R car after motor problems sidelined the Stanley Wetmore owned #77, Nelson, and Donnie Corellis who is making Fonda his home after racing for many years at Lebanon Valley completed the top 10.
After racing at Fonda with a small block last season DeLorenzo came back with the same combination this season to try and win the overall modified point title.
“We ran a small block all last season and ran well,” DeLorenzo said. “We were leading the points last year when we wrecked the car late in the season that took away our chances at the overall modified title. This year we are on a roll again and will continue to work hard and try to make it through the end of the season without any problems in order to get the overall modified title.”
Chad Edwards was the early leader in the sportsman feature with Robert Perry in second. Back in the pack defending track champion John Scarborough, David Towns , and John McAuliffe were all racing hard to get to the front with Towns the first one to break through after going down the middle of both Danny Varin and Jim Meka on lap four to get into the top five.
When Tony Farone came to a stop at the entrance to pit road on lap five it brought out the caution and on the restart Towns was now in the fourth position with Perry and Kislowski just ahead. On lap eight on the outside of the backstretch, Kislowski got by Perry for the lead with Towns in second one lap later after also getting by Perry.
Towns swept around the outside of Kislowski for the lead in turn one on lap 11 and lap after lap stretched out his lead to a full straightaway by lap 13. Varin took over the third position from Perry by that point in the event with McAuliffe all over Perry for the fifth position despite a skipping motor under the hood of the McAuliffe Trucking #23.
Towns went on to a convincing win, his fourth of the season and the 20th of his career in the sportsman division at Fonda. Kislowski, Varin, Scarborough , and McAuliffe completed the top five.
“We were trying to decide whether to take a left and go to Lebanon Valley tonight or take a right and come here to Fonda after we were wrecked hard here last week for no reason at all,” Towns said. “I have to thank all of my sponsors and crew as the misfortune last week cost us not only points but also a lot of money to fix the damage to the car.”
Todd Morey who was the announcer at Fonda back when Lucia first took over the speedway was a guest announcer along with Mike Mallett for the pro stock feature event which was led by Jason Brownell at the drop of the green flag.
By the time the first lap was completed Phil Pearson was the new leader as the yellow came out on lap two for defending track champion Kenny Martin Jr. who spun in turn two. Martin was done for the evening at that point with last week’s winner Kenny Gates also getting some damage in the accident.
On the restart a car got crossed up coming out of turn four collecting Chip Smith who had some major damage to his car and was done for the evening at that point. Pearson continued to lead on the restart with Jim Burton in the second position and Roy Fifield third.
Fifield took over the second spot from Burton on lap five just before Burton spun on the backstretch bringing out yet another caution. Under yellow flag conditions, Gates went to the hot pit area for some repairs to his car and continued on at the rear of the field.
On the outside of turn four on lap seven, Fifield swept around the outside of Pearson to take over the lead with Stone also getting by Pearson for the second spot on lap eight. Turn four was the scene of another lead change at the halfway point of the event as Stone got around Fifield for the lead using the outside groove to get the job done.
Two more cautions slowed the field before the checkered flag was thrown but it was Stone who took the win, his second of the season and the 17th of his career in the pro stock division at Fonda. Fifield, Gates who got all the way back up to the third position after getting some damage done to his car in a couple of earlier wrecks, Rob Yetman, and Pearson completed the top five.
“The track was a little bit wet at the start of our feature so I knew that there was going to be some wrecks,” Stone said in victory lane. “So I just sat back a little bit until it dried out and went from there. I have to thank my family and everyone who helped fix the car this week after last weeks wreck.”
Jim Cramer was the early leader at the drop of the green flag in the IMCA feature with last week’s winner Aaron Jacobs, Danny Ody, and Jeremy Cramer racing three wide on the backstretch to advance into the top five. Beau Ballard started the event in the second position and maintained that spot through lap three when the first yellow flag of the event came out.
On the restart, Beau Ballard was the new leader of the event with Jacobs getting by both Kevin Buff and Bob Banks Jr. for the third position with Jim Cramer just ahead in second. Jacobs wasn’t the only car that was passing cars in two’s as Danny Ballard went from fourth to second on lap six after getting by both Jacobs and Jim Cramer with his son Beau Ballard just ahead in the lead.
On lap seven the final caution of the event came out when Danny Ody spun in turn two and when the race was restarted it was father and son racing for the lead with Danny able to get by his son Beau for the lead on the inside of the frontstretch. From that point on Danny Ballard continued to stretch out his advantage as he went on to his first win of the season and the 17th of his career in the IMCA division at Fonda.
Jacobs, Jeremy Cramer, Buff, and Banks Jr. completed the top five. Just after the checkered flag flew a big crash occurred on the frontstretch with Buff and Jeff Townsend hitting the frontstretch wall just under the starters stand while Jeremy Cramer made contact with one of the cars and went crashing into the turn one wall. Fortunately none of the drivers were injured but their equipment was torn up pretty badly.
“It was a lot of fun running with my son like we were,” Danny Ballard said in victory lane. “We made some big changes to his car this past week and I have to give him a lot of credit for a great run. I knew that he would stay up on top of the track and my car was good down on the bottom which allowed me to get by him for the lead. With this being my first win of the season I hope that we can stay consistent for the rest of the season.”
With a lot of street stocks in attendance on Saturday the feature was split into two events with Chris Reckner leading the first three laps of the Street Stock “A” 12-lap feature. Cassidy Wilson took the lead on lap four with Rocky Warner taking over the second spot from Reckner at that point in the event.
On lap six it was a dead heat between Wilson and Warner at the finish line with Warner finally taking over the lead at the line on lap eight. John Babcock was on the move at that point in the event sitting in the third spot by lap nine. On lap 10, Babcock got by Wilson for the second position setting up a great finish for the fans.
Warner and Babcock were side by side at the line when the checkered flag came out with timing and scoring deciding that Warner was the winner followed by Babcock, Wilson, Dave Bayes, and Reckner completing the top five. The win was Warner’s second of the season and the 17th of his career in the street stock division at Fonda.
“That was a pretty close race,” Warner said in victory lane. “Halfway through the feature I lost a spark plug wire and later on I lost another one but I really wanted to get the win. I kind of pinched John (Babcock) at one point and it was a great race which I am very thankful that I won.”
The Street Stock “B” event began with Luke Horning leading lap one before Randy Moore got by on the backstretch for the lead on lap two. Dave Horning Sr. was the new second place car on lap three with Dave Horning Jr. third. When Moore spun out on his own on lap five in turn three, Horning Sr. was the new leader with his son now second.
Horning Jr. took over the lead from his father on the restart with Jeff Crosier now pressuring Horning Sr. for the second spot. One final caution came out on lap 10 to close up the field but on the restart Horning Jr. pulled away for his second win of the season and the 49th of his career in the street stock division at Fonda. Horning Sr., Crosier, Rob VanAernam, and Neil Cosselman completed the top five.
“It was a lot of fun racing with my father like we did tonight and have been doing all season,” Horning Jr. said in victory lane. “In the garage during the week we share all of our information but when we are on the track it is all for ourselves when the green flag falls.”
Next week at Fonda a regular show is on the schedule along with the 9th annual Bev Caputo Pro Stock Dash for Cash for non winners in the pro stock division. Starting time will be 6:00 p.m.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 29 total cars – 4 qualify
HEAT 1 – Alton Palmer, Erik Nelson, Ronnie Johnson, Jack Johnson
HEAT 2 – Dave Lape, Matt DeLorenzo, Craig Hanson, Dustin Purdy
HEAT 3 – Bobby Varin, Ray Zemken, Tony Pepicelli, Steve Akers
PALMERS SERVICE CENTER/CLIFFORD C. HAY TRUCKING NIGHT MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – MATT DELORENZO, Jack Johnson, Bobby Varin, Alton Palmer, Ronnie Johnson, Dave Lape, Craig Hanson, Ryan Odasz, Erik Nelson, Donnie Corellis, Jim Davis, Ray Zemken, Dustin Purdy, Paul Cirincione, Steve Akers, John Marsh, Elmo Reckner, Bobby Vedder, Butchie Irwin, Ed Harris, Ed Pieniazek, Brett Graham, Tony Pepicelli, Josh Hohenforst, Dave Camara, Mike Fusco, Ron George
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 21 total cars – 4 qualify
HEAT 1 – John Scarborough, Tony Farone, Jeremy Wilder, Jim Meka, Luke Monroe, Mark Kislowski
HEAT 2 – Chad Edwards, Danny Varin, David Towns, Robert Perry, Derrick McGrew, Jason Memrick
PALMERS SERVICE CENTER/CLIFFORD C. HAY TRUCKING NIGHT SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20-LAPS – DAVID TOWNS, Mark Kislowski, Danny Varin, John Scarborough, John McAuliffe, Robert Perry, Derrick McGrew, Jeremy Wilder, Dave Constantino, Luke Monroe, Mark Mortensen, Chad Edwards, Vinnie Sanganetti, Jim Meka, Ricky Quick, Anthony Denny, Jason Memrick, Howard Gage, Tony Farone, Frank Greco
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 16 total cars – 4 qualify
HEAT 1 – Kenny Martin Jr., Rob Yetman, Jason Brownell, Chucky Dumblewski
HEAT 2 – Nick Stone, Phil Pearson, Kenny Gates, Roy Fifield
PALMERS SERVICE CENTER/CLIFFORD C. HAY TRUCKING NIGHT PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20-LAPS – NICK STONE, Roy Fifield, Kenny Gates, Rob Yetman, Phil Pearson, Jason Brownell, Jim Burton, Jeremy Pitts, Ivan Joslin, Wayne Patrick, Shane Henderson, Chucky Dumblewski, Tony Stone, Rocky Warner, Chip Smith, Kenny Martin Jr., Dean Charbonneau
IMCA QUALIFYING – 14 total cars – 4 qualify
HEAT 1 – Kevin Buff, Jeremy Cramer, Danny Ballard, Beau Ballard
HEAT 2 – Jim Cramer, Bob Banks Jr., Danny Ody, Aaron Jacobs
PALMERS SERVICE CENTER/CLIFFORD C. HAY TRUCKING NIGHT IMCA FEATURE – 20-LAPS – DANNY BALLARD, Aaron Jacobs, Jeremy Cramer, Kevin Buff, Bob Banks Jr., Beau Ballard, Danny Ody, JoJo Donato, Bill Casey, Howard Smith, Jeff Townsend, Jim Cramer, George Proctor III, Bill Ward
PALMERS SERVICE CENTER/CLIFFORD C. HAY TRUCKING NIGHT STREET STOCK “A” FEATURE – 12-LAPS – ROCKY WARNER, John Babcock, Cassidy Wilson, Dave Bayes, Chris Reckner, Duke McSpirit, Reuben Kennedy, Cody Bleau, Shannon McDermot, Pete Jeske, Lee Horning, Chuck McSpirit, Ken Allen Jr.
PALMERS SERVICE CENTER/CLIFFORD C. HAY TRUCKING NIGHT STREET STOCK “B” FEATURE – 12-LAPS – DAVE HORNING JR., Dave Horning Sr., Jeff Crosier, Rob VanAernam, Neil Cosselman, Eric Sbrega, Dan Pollock, Randy Moore, Dave Cook, Dave Sullivan, Joe Smith, Luke Horning, Brian Cosselman, A.J. Horning, T.J. Marlett
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