|
FONDA, N.Y. – Ronnie Johnson walked out of Fonda Speedway on Sunday night lovin’ McDonalds Weekend.
Johnson, the son of the legendary Jack Johnson, won Sunday’s 100 lap event at the Fonda Speedway to score a total payday of $10,300.
It was the Duanseburg, N.Y., driver’s second major victory of the weekend as he also captured Saturday afternoon’s $5,000 to win 50-lap event which brought his weekend total to $15,300.
“We’ve had a pretty good end to the year,” said Johnson. “We did the same thing last year and I can’t really put my finger on it. I’m not sure what it is but we are going to enjoy this one for a while.”
Ronnie Johnson’s victory wasn’t an easy one as he was challenged during the late portions of the event by Brett Hearn. Johnson hung tough against the invader and defended his home turf.
“I knew Brett the Jett (Hearn) was back there,” stated Johnson in Victory Lane. “Every time he rolls into Fonda he shows us all how to get around this place. He made me really race for it and I’ll tell you, I’m whooped right now.”
Johnson started on the pole and got in line behind Dave Camara as the race got underway. Johnson chased Camara over the early laps of the race as Camara raced in lapped traffic.
Johnson remained patient and was able to take the lead on lap 39 in slower traffic.
Johnson held off the challenges of Hearn in the final stages of the race to win his 12th career feature at the Montgomery County oval.
Hearn, of Sussex, N.J., settled for second as well as the Go Green NMX Thunder Series title which earned him an extra $4,000. Camara, after leading almost half of the feature, fell back to finish in third.
Jeff Trombley, of Altamont, N.Y., crossed the line in fourth after starting sixth with Matt DeLorenzo, of Cropseyville, N.Y., bringing his Teo Pro car across the line in fifth.
*****
PICTURE PERFECT START: At the drop of the green flag Camara took the lead from his outside front row starting position. He beat Johnson to the top of the speedway in turn one to grab the advantage.
“I was a little concerned when he (Camara) got the jump on me,” said Johnson. “Anytime you have someone like that in front of you they can run away with it.”
TRAFFIC JAM: Camara encountered slower traffic very quickly and by lap 10 found himself racing three and four wide with slower cars while Johnson stayed with him looking for an opening.
TO THE FRONT: Camara was nearly flawless in his attempt to hang on to the lead, but Johnson found the bottom of the speedway on lap 39. Camara went to the cushion and Johnson drove by him as the duo exited turns three and four.
“Early on I needed a little more gear,” said Johnson. “I knew I had to go where he (Camara) wasn’t so I went to the bottom. Once we got going my car was good enough that I could move around and go wherever I needed to.”
THE FIRST CAUTION: Just after Johnson took the lead a caution slowed the field. Bobby Varin, the 2008 modified track champion, got a flat right rear tire. This bunched up the field and placed everyone on the tail of Johnson’ JPM powered Teo Pro car.
ANOTHER ONE: A few laps later the second and final caution slowed the field. Mario Clair’s No. 22 went up in smoke in turn three on lap 53. The green came back out with Johnson again running away from the field.
GETTING INTO TRAFFIC: By lap 57, Johnson was again in lapped traffic trying to patiently find his way through while not opening the door for Hearn. Johnson was very careful which allowed Hearn to close the gap on him.
THE BATTLE: For a five lap stretch between laps 80 and 85, Johnson and Hearn battled as they raced in very heavy slower traffic. Several times Johnson used the slower cars to hold up Hearn.
“I gritted my teeth and put my foot to the floor,” said Johnson. “I wasn’t going to let him (Hearn) roll in here and take this one from us. He’s got a lot of experience and he’s as good as they get. If there is a guy you are going to lose to in traffic it is going to be Brett Hearn. I knew all I had to do was get back to my line and I could get away from him.”
TRAFFIC NO HELP: Johnson was perfect in traffic and as a result Hearn was unable to get by for the victory. Hearn settled for second with his Vinny Salerno owned Morrison powered Teo. Hearn did all he good to get by Johnson and even got even with him in traffic but he never could pull off the pass for the lead.
“We were out there slipping and sliding around,” commented Hearn. “I think if I could have gotten front of him and shaken the lead away from him I might have been able to hold him off. Whenever there were lapped car it always seemed like I was never able to get into the turns like I wanted to.”
SERIES CHAMPION: Hearn won his heat race event and with his second place finish earned the title in the inaugural Go Green series at the half-mile oval. His goal coming into the night was to walk away the point champion.
“That is why we came up here on Saturday night’s and gave up racing at home,” said Hearn. “After the first couple of races it was a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be. We had to get the right combination together and once we found it things went a lot better for us.”
LOST THE LINE: Camara was the leader for much of the first half of the race until just before the caution on lap 39. During the caution the car changed on Camara and it just wasn’t right the rest of the race.
“After the first yellow we seemed to loosen up a little bit,” said Camara. “I had my line but after the caution I had to search a little bit and I couldn’t ever find it again. Congratulations to Ronnie (Johnson), it’s nice to see the hometown guys leaving with the money.”
QUALIFYING: Four heats were held with Jim Davis, Billy Decker, Varin and Hearn earning victories. John McAuliffe and Josh Hohenforst won the pair of consolation races.
OTHER ACTION: In other action, Jeremy Wilder got the lead when John McAuliffe broke on lap 17 to win the 30-lap Sportsman season finale.
|
|
