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By: Ron Szczerba
FONDA, NY – It has been since July 10 of 2004 since Mike Fusco visited victory lane at the Fonda Speedway but on Saturday night he got there again with the Cronies Restaurant #33F after the race went clean and green for the entire 30-lap distance.
For Fusco it was his first win of the season and the fourth of his career in a modified at Fonda. It was an emotional celebration in victory lane for the Fusco family as Mike dedicated the win to his grandfather who is in the hospital.
“My grandfather is sick in the hospital,” Fusco said. “This win is for him. We have been struggling this year with the setup on this car and have been working really hard to get a handle on it. I am really glad to be here. It has been a long time coming.”
Other winners on Wm. Larned Night at Fonda were Robert Perry (sportsman), Kenny Martin Jr. (pro stock), Jeremy Cramer (IMCA), Rob VanAernam and Rocky Warner (street stock).
Todd Morey was the leader at the drop of Denny Tilison’s green flag in the modified feature event with Alton Palmer in tow. Fusco started the event in the fifth position and by lap two he was already up to the third position. On lap four Fusco got by Palmer for the second position and started pressuring Morey for the lead.
Coming out of turn four in his traditional outside groove, Fusco swept around the outside of Morey for the lead on lap five while defending track champion Bobby Varin and Matt DeLorenzo were making their way to the front after starting ninth and 11th respectively. On lap six, Varin got by both DeLorenzo and Donnie Corellis for the sixth spot while Dave Camara was getting by both Palmer and Morey for the second position at the same time as Fusco was out to a comfortable lead.
DeLorenzo was passing cars in pairs with 10 laps in the books as he got by both Varin and Morey for the fifth spot and then on the next lap got by both Jim Davis and Palmer for the third spot. Varin used the same move as DeLorenzo to get by both Davis and Palmer for the fourth position on lap 11 as Camara was catching the leader in lap traffic.
DeLorenzo got by Camara for the second position at the halfway point of the event but when DeLorenzo’s lane was blocked by a lap car on lap 16, Camara retook the spot while Varin was trapped behind two lap cars as he tried to catch the lead group.
Fusco stayed high wide and handsome over the remaining laps and rode the cushion on the outside of the track as he passed lap cars at will while everyone else was having problems getting by the back markers.
Fusco went on to the win followed by Camara, DeLorenzo, Varin, and Davis.
“I had confidence in the car event if a caution came out but I am glad that it didn’t,” Fusco said. “I really have to thank my mom Debbie and my dad Vinnie, Jake Spraker who we got this small block motor from, and Randy from Bicknell who have all helped us to get to victory lane tonight.”
The sportsman feature began with two caution flags before lap one was completed as Pete Sisler and John McAuliffe took turns getting out of shape on the front stretch causing the field behind them to take evasive action to avoid their spinning cars. Fortunately there were no cars that piled into them as the pack managed to get by safely in both cases.
Tony Farone took the lead at the drop of the green flag each time with Robert Perry second on lap two after starting fifth. Perry immediately started applying the pressure to Farone and on lap four on the outside of the backstretch took over the lead. David Towns started the event in the 11th position and by lap six was in the top five after getting by Jeremy Wilder.
Towns kept marching to the front after getting by Luke Munroe for the fourth position on lap nine. While that was going on defending track champion John Scarborough was trying his best to get by Farone on the outside coming out of turn four but just couldn’t get enough momentum built up in order to make the pass.
On lap 13 both Scarborough and Towns were able to get by Farone for the second and third positions as they used the pick and roll move to get around both a lap car and Farone. The yellow came out shortly afterwards and on the restart Scarborough was able to get by Perry for the lead only to have the caution come out before the next lap was completed. With no laps being completed that handed Perry back the lead on the next restart.
Perry maintained the top spot this time after the race was restarted with Towns getting by Scarborough for the second position. On lap 14, Luke Munroe got by both Farone and Scarborough for the third position. Meanwhile Towns was getting a great run on the inside of turn three to get to the leaders bumper but each time Perry kept up his momentum against the cushion on the outside of the speedway to maintain the lead.
Perry went on for the win, his first of the season and the second of his career at Fonda followed by Towns, Munroe, Scarborough , and Derrick McGrew. It was Perry’s first win since July 2, 2005.
“To beat Towns tonight we were on top of our game,” Perry said in victory lane. “We definitely beat the best tonight. My four year old son called me from home just before the start of the feature to wish me luck. He also said that he didn’t want me to win when he wasn’t at the track with me but I had to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Phil Pearson was the early leader in the pro stock feature while behind him there was a fast and furious battle for the second and third positions. Jim Burton went three wide around both Chucky Dumblewski and Dean Charbonneau for the second position while Kenny Martin Jr. also got by them for the third spot.
On lap three Martin was the new second place car after getting by Burton with Roy Fifield following him through for the third spot. Pearson and Martin were side by side for the lead on lap four with Martin the new leader at the line as the lap was completed.
Pearson’s great run came to an end shortly afterwards after he spun his car in turn four to bring out the caution. He was able to restart the event at the rear of the field. On the restart Nick Stone was the new third place car after getting by both Burton and Charbonneau while Fifield was pressuring Martin for the lead.
Martin and Fifield were side by side for the point on lap six with Martin maintaining the top spot by a nose at the line to complete the lap. The yellow was out for the final time in the event on lap eight when Stone almost spun going into turn four. With smoke showing from the rear of the car he was done for the night at that point in the event.
Martin pulled away on the restart while behind him Fifield, current point leader Kenny Gates, and Chip Smith were waging a great battle for the second position. When the checkered flag flew it was Martin taking the win, his fourth of the season and the 40th of his career at Fonda over Gates, Fifield, Smith, and Burton .
“We have been through three different engine builders this season and we are getting tired of changing motors,” Martin said in victory lane. “We were about ready to give it all up. But I have to thank Steve Stacks for putting this motor together with parts that I had along with some parts that my car owners Bob James and Kelley Keefe had. My son Sheldon also told me to sell some of his go-kart equipment so that I could get some money to put this motor together and I have to thank him for that.”
The 20-lap IMCA feature began with Howard Smith in the lead from his outside pole position start with Bob Banks Jr. second on lap two after starting fifth. On lap three, Banks was the new leader after getting by Smith on the inside of turn four while defending track champion Danny Ballard made his way up to the third position on lap four after starting scratch on the field.
Ballard was up to the second position on lap four with point leader Jeremy Cramer now in the third spot after both were able to get by Smith. Going into turn two on lap five, Ballard spun his car bringing out the caution. He was able to continue at the rear of the field. On the restart, Cramer was the new leader after getting by Banks on the inside of turn four while Danny Ody made a great move around four cars to get the third position.
The yellow flag was out again on lap six when JoJo Donato, Ballard, and Bill Casey got together in between turns one and two. Ballard was able to continue on at the rear of the field while Donato and Casey were done for the evening. Casey was transported to a local hospital for observation after the accident but was released and okay after the crash. Casey was reportedly taking his race car apart on Sunday morning according to a family member.
On this restart, Aaron Jacobs went three wide around both Smith and Banks for the third position and two laps later Jacobs was the new second place car after getting by Ody. Ballard was all the way up to the third position by the halfway point in the 20-lap event while Cramer continued to stretch out his advantage as the laps were being clicked off on the lap counter.
Cramer went on for his fifth win of the season and the 9th of his career at Fonda, winning by a straightaway over Jacobs, Danny Ballard, Beau Ballard, and Ody.
“This is a great win for us after transmission problems took us out of the race last week,” Cramer said. “We got a new transmission in the car for this week so this win feels real good.”
Four caution flags slowed the first 15-lap street stock feature with Cody Bleau the leader at the drop of the initial green flag to start the event. Rob VanAernam was the new second place car on lap two after starting seventh with Dave Horning Jr. third after starting right behind him in eighth.
On lap four, VanAernam was the new race leader with the race under caution on the next lap for Luke Horning who slowed in turn two. He was able to pit and restart at the rear of the field. Horning Jr. was the new second place car on lap five with Rocky Warner in the top five after starting 19th.
On a lap six restart after a caution, Warner was the new second place car but nobody was going to catch VanAernam on this night as he went on to his first win of the season and the 18th of his career at Fonda in the street stock division. It was VanAernam’s first win in the street stock division since July 14, 2001 after spending some time in both the IMCA and pro stock divisions.
“We’ve been close to winning lately and tonight we finally got the job done,” VanAernam said in victory lane. “We have a new motor in the car now and boy it is powerful. Even though I saw the nose of another car during the race while I was leading I just gave it more gas and it my car took off.”
The second street stock feature event which was the makeup of the shortened seven lap event of a few weeks ago was led by Eric Sbrega at the start. Chuck McSpirit brought out a different car in this event after having rear end problems in the first feature and took over the lead on lap three on the inside of turn four.
Warner started this event in the 13th position and when McSpirit got out of shape in turn four on lap five it allowed Warner to get by for the lead. Luke Horning was the new second place car on a restart after McSpirit again had problems and brought out the yellow and Horning was pressuring Warner for the lead on lap seven.
On lap eight, Horning tried to go around the outside of Warner in turn four only to have Warner throw a block to maintain the lead position. Dave Horning Jr. brought out the final caution of the event on lap 11 when he got into the first turn wall and on the restart Dave Horning Sr. was side by side with Luke Horning for the second spot.
When Luke Horning got into the front stretch wall on lap 13 it ended his race as he drove the car into the pit area while Warner went on for the win over Horning Sr., VanAernam, Jeff Crosier, and Dan Pollock.
For Warner it was his seventh victory of the season and the 22nd of his career at Fonda.
The Fonda Futures Kids Club gave away two bicycles on Saturday night that were donated by street stock competitor Joe Smith in honor of his late wife Mary Smith and Gloria Lockhart who also donated a bicycle in honor of her late husband Jack Lockhart. The winners of those two bicycles were Andrew Frye and Tiffany Ebert.
Next Saturday as the regular season comes down to the final two weeks before the Fonda Fair, the Track of Champions will have a regular show in all divisions along with the 4-cylinders and the Atlantic Coast Old Timers. Starting time will be 6:00 p.m.
MODIFIED QUALIFYING – 27 total cars – 5 qualify – 4 handicapped
HEAT 1 – Alton Palmer, Bobby Varin, Mike Fusco, Elmo Reckner, Ryan Odasz
HEAT 2 – Jim Davis, Dave Camara, Butchie Irwin, Tony Pepicelli, Steve Akers
HEAT 3 – Todd Morey, Matt DeLorenzo, Ronnie Johnson, Donnie Corellis, Paul Cirincione
WM. LARNED MODIFIED FEATURE – 30-LAPS – MIKE FUSCO, Dave Camara, Matt DeLorenzo, Bobby Varin, Jim Davis, Ronnie Johnson, Ryan Odasz, Alton Palmer, Tony Pepicelli, Donnie Corellis, Craig Hanson, Todd Morey, Elmo Reckner, Ray Zemken, Steve Akers, Paul Cirincione, Dustin Purdy, Ancel Collins, Brett Graham, Ed Harris, Darwin Green, Butchie Irwin, Dan Hartgraves, Jack Johnson, Ed Pieniazek, Ron George
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – 23 total cars – 5 qualify – 4handicapped
HEAT 1 – Tony Farone, John Scarborough , Jim Meka, Luke Munroe, Jason Memrick
HEAT 2 – Mark Mortensen, David Towns , John McAuliffe, Robert Perry, Vinnie Sanganetti
HEAT 3 – Jeremy Wilder, Chad Edwards, Anthony Denny, Pete Sisler, Dave Constantino
WM. LARNED SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20-LAPS – ROBERT PERRY, David Towns, Luke Munroe, John Scarborough , Derrick McGrew, Tony Farone, Jeremy Wilder, Dave Constantino, Mark Kislowski, Danny Varin, Chad Edwards, John McAuliffe, Jim Meka, Jason Memrick, Anthony Denny, Bill Wilder, John Constantino, Ricky Quick, Pete Sisler, Keith Vanoyan, Jamie Yannone, Vinnie Sanganetti, Mark Mortensen
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 16 total cars – 5 qualify
HEAT 1 – Rob Yetman, Kenny Gates, Nick Stone, Phil Pearson, Dean Charbonneau
HEAT 2 – Kenny Martin Jr., Roy Fifield, Chip Smith, Chucky Dumblewski, Jim Burton
WM. LARNED PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20-LAPS – KENNY MARTIN JR., Kenny Gates, Roy Fifield, Chip Smith, Jim Burton, Rob Yetman, Dean Charbonneau, Chucky Dumblewski, Phil Pearson, Shane Henderson, Speed Felon, Tony Stone, Frank Twing Jr., Nick Stone, Bill Dona, Jason Brownell
IMCA QUALIFYING – 15 total cars – 4 qualify
HEAT 1 – Jeremy Cramer, Beau Ballard, Danny Ody, Bill Casey
HEAT 2 – JoJo Donato, Danny Ballard, Howard Smith, Bob Banks Jr.
WM. LARNED IMCA FEATURE – 20-LAPS – JEREMY CRAMER, Aaron Jacobs, Danny Ballard, Beau Ballard, Danny Ody, Bob Banks Jr., Jeff Townsend, Brad Weaver, Krash Mender, Howard Smith, JoJo Donato, Bill Casey, Dan Clemens
WM. LARNED STREET STOCK FEATURE #1 – 15-LAPS – ROB VANAERNAM, Rocky Warner, Dave Horning Jr., Dave Horning Sr., Luke Horning, Reuben Kennedy, Cassidy Wilson, Dan Pollock, Neil Cosselman, Mike Wilbur, Cody Bleau, Eric Sbrega, Randy Moore, Joe Smith, Jeff Carpenter, Josh Coonradt, Chuck McSpirit, Jeff Crosier, Steve Oleksak
WM. LARNED STREET STOCK FEATURE #2 – 15-LAPS – ROCKY WARNER, Dave Horning Sr., Rob VanAernam, Jeff Crosier, Dan Pollock, Neil Cosselman, Chuck McSpirit, Eric Sbrega, Joe Smith, Randy Moore, Steve Oleksak, Cody Bleau, Jeff Carpenter, Dave Horning Jr., Cassidy Wilson, Luke Horning, Reuben Kennedy
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