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NICK STONE WINS THE THIRD ANNUAL HONDO CLASSIC AT FONDA
By: Ron Szczerba
FONDA, NY – Saturday, July 5 was a special evening at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway as the Pro Stock feature was dedicated to the memory of Hondo Carpenter one of its most popular competitors who lost his life on July 4, 2005 in an ATV accident.
The racing action that took place in the race could never be justified in print without writing about every lap in the 20-lap event. Between the three and four wide racing and all of the lead changes there wasn’t a spot on the track that you weren’t seeing some great racing action during the event.
It was certainly a fitting tribute to the great Hondo Carpenter who was probably looking down on all of us and cheering on all of his former competitors and all of the new ones that have joined the Pro Stock division since with a big smile on his face.
The event was a barn burner right from the drop of the green flag as it took two tries to get the race started. On both attempts to start the event John Babcock was the leader from his outside front row starting spot with Shane Henderson in tow.
Babcock and Henderson were side by side for the lead on lap two with Babcock able to hold on to the lead at that point. Kenny Martin Jr. was the new second place car on lap three after getting by Henderson but that was short lived as Henderson got back by Martin for the second spot three laps later. On lap six Nick Stone was also able to get by Martin for the third spot after starting seventh.
At the halfway point in the 20-lap event Martin suffered a flat right rear tire bringing out the caution. Martin was able to pit for a tire change and get back out before losing a lap. On the restart Henderson and Stone were swapping the second spot while behind them there were cars racing three and sometimes four wide for position. On lap 11 the yellow was out again for Sheldon Martin who spun in turn four. He continued on at the rear of the field.
As Babcock continued to lead the event, Stone and Kenny Gates were the new second and third place cars with Gates the only car running down low on the race track. On lap 13 Gates got by Stone for the second position and shortly afterwards was side by side with Babcock for the lead. Babcock was able to hold onto the lead the first time he was challenged but on lap 14 Gates was the new leader after getting by Babcock on the inside of turns one and two.
Stone was able to get by Babcock for the second position just before the final yellow in the event came out on lap 17 for Nelson Passino who spun in turn four collecting Henderson in the aftermath. Both were done for the evening at that point but there were no injuries in the wreck. On the lap 18 restart Stone got a run on the outside of the backstretch and got by Gates for the lead going into turn three.
Behind Stone, Gates, and Babcock; Chip Smith, Rob Yetman, and Martin who came all the way up through the field after his flat tire earlier in the event were racing three wide for the fourth position. At the checkered flag it was Stone taking the win in the special event with his Syracuse motor under the hood followed by Gates, Babcock, Smith, and Martin.
“The last two caution flags in the event came into play for me as I was able to get second and then the lead on those two restarts,” Stone said in victory lane after winning his second feature of the season and the 21st of his career at Fonda. “This event in memory of Hondo is the race that we look forward to all season and it is very important to all of us.”
A very dejected Kenny Gates stood next to his car in victory lane shaking his head after finishing second and said “I really thought that we had them covered.” “I needed the race to stay green so that the tires would stay good and hot and that last caution just killed me. I wanted to win this race so bad because Hondo and I raced together probably the most out of anyone. He was such a great guy, a great friend, and a great racer.”
Despite ending up in the turn one wall after the checkered flag flew Babcock was a very happy man in victory lane after his third place finish. “That was a great race as a lot of us were racing back and forth for position,” he said. “I have to thank Steve Welch for the motor that was in my car tonight as it is a lot better than the one that was in the car before. The motor was just sitting under his bench for the last five years so he told me to take it because it was just holding down the floor.”
PRO STOCK QUALIFYING – 15 total cars – 4 qualify
HEAT 1 – Roy Fifield, Nick Stone, Kenny Martin Jr., John Babcock
HEAT 2 – Chip Smith, Shane Henderson, Kenny Gates, Dean Charbonneau
MORRIS AUTO GROUP/SNAPPLE PRO STOCK FEATURE – THE THIRD ANNUAL HONDO CLASSIC – 20-LAPS – NICK STONE, Kenny Gates, John Babcock, Chip Smith, Kenny Martin Jr., Rob Yetman, Ivan Joslin, Dean Charbonneau, Chucky Dumblewski, Tony Stone, Ken Hartshorn, Sheldon Martin, Nelson Passino, Shane Henderson, Roy Fifield
The Friends of Hondo Memorial Society proudly presents the
3rd Annual Hondo Classic
July 5, 2008 Fonda Speedway
1st - Winner – Nick Stone
$199 from Images by DC
$150 certificate from Sign ACTION Sign and Race Design
Certificate for a sponsorship/marketing package from Walter Cook (valued at approx. $500)
$9, "3rd Annual Hondo Classic Winner" sign & commemorative sticker from DH Graphx
Commemorative duffel bag from Roger and Cindy Steele
Magic Hat No. 9 beer from Karma Motorsports
Magic Hat No. 9 shirt and glasses from Magic Hat Brewery
8 X 10 Photo from Images by DC
DVD and movie night pack from Bobco Racing Video
Model replica of the winning car by Jeff Karabin
Message Cookie from the Gage Racing Family
2nd - Ken Gates
99 from Roger and Cindy Steele
$9 and commemorative sticker from DH Graphx
Magic Hat No. 9 beer from Karma Motorsports
3rd - John Babcock
$89 from Kurt Ladu & Kenn Van Wert IMCA #15
** Bonus ** $100 from DeLorenzo 3D Racing
** Bonus ** $100 from Hondo’s uncle Andy Forsee
$9 and commemorative sticker from DH Graphx
Magic Hat No. 9 beer from Karma Motorsports
4th - Chip Smith
$79 from Matty Noles
$9 and commemorative sticker from DH Graphx
5th - Kenny Martin, Jr.
$69 from The Witches of G2C
$9 and commemorative sticker from DH Graphx
6th - Rob Yetman
$59 from David and Lee Towns
7th - Ivan Joslin
$49 from Trevor Gavin and Diana Nelson
8th - Dean Charbonneau
$39 from the Broderson Family
9th - Chucky Dumblewski
$29 from Shaffer Racing Team
** Bonus ** $20 from Shaffer Racing Team
10th - Tony Stone
$19 from MJG Motorsports and Alectric City Tattoo
11th - Ken Hartshorn
$9 from Bobco Racing Video
12th - Sheldon Martin
$9 from Bobco Racing Video
13th - Nelson Passino
$9 from Bobco Racing Video
14th - Shane Henderson
$9 from Bobco Racing Video
15th - Roy Fifield
$9 from Bobco Racing Video
$20 "Hondo's Lunch Money" bonus from George Smith and $25 from Carol Donato Photography
** Lap Leader Bonuses **
The leader of each lap received $9.00 plus the leader of the most laps received the $99.00 "Up to Speed" bonus from Mark “Krash Mender” Krosky. Laps 1-13 Babcock; Laps 14-17 Gates; Laps 18-20 Stone. John Babcock led the most laps
** Heat Race Bonuses **
The top 3 finishers in each heat received $10 from Paul Szmal .
Heat race 1: Fifield, Stone, K. Martin. Heat race 2: Smith, Henderson, Gates
** Wild Card Bonuses **
The feature winner drew two finishing positions from a hat. One received $100 store credit from BNC Motorsports (Sheldon Martin) and the other received a voucher for 9% off a future lettering job from DHGraphx (Ken Hartshorn).
** Hard Charger Award ** (To Be Determined) Mark Krosky will also offer a "Hard Charger" award for the driver who passes the most cars. That driver will receive $9 for each car they pass. The Hard Charger will also receive $40 from Mel Thomas “Thomas Video”.
** Hard Luck Award ** Roy Fifield
Race Pro Weekly sponsored the "Hard Luck Award". The driver of first car out due to any kind of mechanical failure or incident received two pit passes to Fonda Speedway. That driver also received $25 from Bill McGaffin Photos.
** NYSSCA Bonus ** Nick Stone
The first NYSSCA member received a prize pack from the New York State Stock Car Association consisting of a certificate for a free membership for 2009, a NYSSCA hat, yearbook and can cozies.
** Rookie of the Race ** Sheldon Martin
The highest finishing first year driver received $60 from Wilder Racing and a special trophy.
** Lap 9 Awards **
The car turning the fastest lap on lap 9 received $25 from Fast Eddie Biittig. (Nick Stone 24.201)
The 2nd place car on the 9th lap received $40 from CDS Racing. (Shane Henderson)
The 9th place car on the 9th lap received $99 from Darla Davanau. (Chucky Dumblewski)
The last car on the 9th lap received $29 from Don and Diane Champion (Nelson Passino)
Additionally:
Lap 1 $25 from Allied Windows (John Babcock)
Lap 2 $25 from Jumpin' Jacks Pro Speed (John Babcock)
Lap 3 $25 from All Seasons Motorsports (John Babcock)
Lap 4 $25 from Carman Body Works (John Babcock)
Lap 5 $50 from RCT Roofing/Stone Racing/Giovanni’s Pizza (John Babcock)
$25 from Salisbury Chevrolet (John Babcock)
Lap 6 $25 from Carman Body Works (John Babcock)
Lap 7 $25 in memory of Joe Moore (John Babcock)
Lap 8 $100 from Nicholas Millard (John Babcock)
$25 from Carman Body Works (John Babcock)
Lap 9 $50 from the Broderson Family (John Babcock)
$25 from Trevor Gavin and Diana Nelson (John Babcock)
$25 from Carman Body Works (John Babcock)
Lap 10 $100 from Winner's Circle (John Babcock)
$100 from Andrew Millard (John Babcock)
$50 from RCT Roofing/Stone Racing/Giovanni’s Pizza (John Babcock)
$50 from Joslin Racing (John Babcock)
Lap 11 $111 from Jen and Scott Friers in Memory of Steve Bidwell (John Babcock)
Lap 12 $25 from Krug Home Builders (John Babcock)
Lap 13 $25 from Trevor Gavin and Diana Nelson in Honor of Frank Gavin (John Babcock)
Lap 14 $25 from L.C.B.D.A. (Ken Gates) Lap 15 $50 from RCT Roofing/Stone Racing/Giovanni’s Pizza (Ken Gates)
$25 from Salisbury Chevrolet (Ken Gates)
Lap 16 $25 from Danny Ody Racing in memory of Mary Smith (Ken Gates)
Lap 17 $25 from the Horning Family (Ken Gates)
Lap 18 $25 from Racinvideos.com (Nick Stone)
Lap 19 $50 each to lap leader, 2nd, and 3rd place runners courtesy of George Smith (Stone, Gates, Babcock)Lap 20 $50 from RCT Roofing/Stone Racing/Giovanni’s Pizza (Nick Stone)
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