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FONDA, NY – As Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz is so famous for saying, “There’s no place like home.”
This past Tuesday night Bobby Varin was saying the same thing to himself when he picked up the $6,000 winners prize and another $800 for being able to defend the home turf against the strong outside Modified invaders at the Fonda Speedway in the 60-lap Modified Open.
“I really have to thank Ric Lucia for putting up this kind of money for us tonight,” said Varin. “I also have to thank Billy Decker for not getting around me so I could get the extra $800.”
Varin, of Sharon Springs, N.Y., captured his fourth win of the season and the 32nd of his career at the famed half-mile fairgrounds speedway. It was his first triumph since June 16th for the Jake Spraker team that has captured the last two Modified Track championships.
“We’ve been struggling on the slippery track conditions,” stated Varin. “We’ve been a top five car but most of the time we are fourth and fifth now I think we’ve found something that will make us a top two car once again.
“The surface was the best it has been all year. It was awesome.”
Varin overtook Billy Decker for the lead on a lap 25. Decker chose to go to outside in turns three and four opening the inside lane for Varin. Once in front, Varin led the final 35 laps to score the victory. Decker, of Sydney, N.Y., was right on his heels for the runner-up position gaining him a $500 bonus for being the first 358-Modified across the line.
Brett Hearn of Sussex, N.J., finished in the third position followed by current point leader Matt DeLorenzo in fourth. Dave Camara, who started second, finished in the fifth spot.
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LOOKING GOOD EARLY: Craig Hanson jumped out in front from his pole starting position as the race got underway. Hanson, a winner back on June 23rd, controlled the top spot as both Varin and Decker worked there way to the front of the field.
WILD RIDE: Donnie Corellis took a wild ride on lap three of the Modified feature. Corellis got high off of turn two and hit the outside wall. The Averill Park, N.Y., native rolled three times before coming to a stop upside down. He was uninjured in the incident.
GETTING TO THE FRONT: Varin, who started eighth, caught the lead pack on lap 10. He began to put pressure on Decker and Hanson for one of the top two positions as the trio battled in and out of lapped traffic.
“I was trying like heck to get by Hanson and Decker in traffic,” stated Varin. “I knew if Decker got by him it was going to be a whole new ball game because he is one of the best.”
NEW LEADER: On lap four, Decker had made his way into the runner-up position. He began closing in on Hanson as he utilized the inside lane of the speedway with his Enders powered Bicknell. By lap 13, Decker found himself alongside Hanson for the lead. As the pair battled off of turn two, Decker took the lead on the inside with Varin grabbing second.
NO LUCK: Tim Dwyer, of Gloversville, N.Y., brought out two consecutive cautions for flat tires and damage to his no. 1a. On lap 24, Dwyer’s got his second flat tire and pulled his car into the hot pit area to make repairs setting up a race changing restart.
CHANGING MOMENT: On the restart, Decker and Varin found themselves on the front row. The two veteran drivers battled for an entire lap with Decker high and Varin low. Varin swept off the inside of turn four to claim the lead one lap later.
“We ran side by side for a few laps there,” stated Varin. “It was fun racing with him because I knew he was going to race me clean, he’s a real professional. He ultimately opened the door for me in four and I was able to get by him.”
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: With the race going caution free after lap 24, Varin had to contend with slower traffic at the tail of the field. Many times this slower traffic was racing two wide forcing Varin to be patient enough to wait for an opening.
“I just tried to stay calm and pick my way through the traffic,” said Varin. “I didn’t force it but a few times I had to give a guy a bumper to let him know I was there.”
APPLYING PRESSURE: Varin, who started eighth, caught the lead pack on lap 10. He began to put pressure on Decker and Hanson for one of the top two positions as the trio battled in and out of lapped traffic.
“I was trying like heck to get by Hanson and Decker in traffic,” stated Varin. “I knew if Decker got by him it was going to be a whole new ball game because he is one of the best.”
TIRE CONSERVATION: Varin opted to run American Racers on his Bicknell. As the race drew to a close he started to ease his pace slightly in order to conserve the tires on his car. He was running the extreme outside lane of the speedway on the cushion.
“I used up my right rear tire trying to get to the front and after I got there I slowed my pace down a little to conserve it,” Varin said. “If I didn’t do that my tire guy would have kicked my butt.”
JUST SHORT AT THE CHECKERED: Varin won the event by two car lengths over Decker at the finish line. Decker made several attempts in the closing laps to regain the top position from Varin but he was unable to do so.
“The invader got whipped tonight,” Decker said in victory lane. “The car got loose on me after the caution around the halfway point because we were just too afraid to tighten it up before the feature. We worked our butt off out there tonight and just kept digging and clawing away at it.”
UP AND DOWN: Decker was stronger than Varin at the west end of the speedway but it was just the opposite at the east end as Varin could pull away once again.
“I really didn’t want to see the checkered flag,” commented Decker. “At one of the end track I felt like I was making up some ground but I think I was losing a little bit at the other end. If I had a few more laps I might have been able to make something happen.”
TIRE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR: Hearn finished in the third position after working his way up from the 11th starting position. Hearn utilized Hoosier racing tires on his car rather than the American Racer tires.
“I thought I had made the right choice early on,” said Hearn. “I got to the front in a hurry but couldn’t get better than third. It was a good run and overall a good night for us.”
QUALIFYING: Forty cars attempted to qualify for the night’s racing program with Hearn, Hanson, Jack Johnson and DeLorenzo winning the heats. John Marsh Sr. and Mitch Gibbs won the pair of consolation events.
MODIFIED FEATURE – 60-LAPS – BOBBY VARIN, Billy Decker, Brett Hearn, Matt DeLorenzo, Dave Camara, Pat Ward, Willy Decker, Jack Johnson, Jim Davis, Ryan Odasz, Mitch Gibbs, Craig Hanson, Mike Fusco, Mike Ricci, Ray Zemken, Steve Akers, Erik Nelson, Butchie Irwin, Stewart Friesen, Danny Johnson, Tim Dwyer, Tony Pepicelli, Dave Lape, Steve Hough, Jeff Trombley, John Marsh Sr., Ronnie Johnson, Donnie Corellis
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