By ED & BETTY BIITIG
Once again this past weekend, Mother Nature took a toll on some of the tracks in the area, Utica-Rome and Albany-Saratoga had both opened the gates on Friday and competitors were in the pits and fans in the stands when the pop-up showers dropped rain on both tracks. Glen Ridge tried to get in their opening night only to fall to rain after the heats and JR Slingshot feature.
Saturday we saw some racing at Fonda and Rocky Warner of Gloversville finally got the monkey of his back and took his first win in the Tadd Parks No. 1J
This Saturday, Holmes & Kugler Towing presents $1 Night with a $1 grandstand admission. All divisions will be in action with racing starting at 7:00 p.m.
Aaron Burton of Cobleskill drives the No. 26A Crate 602 Sportsman at Fonda, a number that is familiar to many of the long-time Fonda Faithful. Aaron’s father, Jim Burton drove the No. 26A in the Pro Stock division. Aaron has been racing since 2013, taking a few years off in between, due to Covid and buying a house. His record shows one win at Fonda and nine wins at Glen Ridge where he was also Track Champion in the Rookie Sportsman division in 2013. Although he is not satisfied with having only one win at Fonda, there are many that have raced the Track of Champions and never won. In addition to Fonda, Aaron has traveled to many of the Northeast tracks with the GRIT Series.
Aaron is an Automotive Tech by day and like many weekend racers he was working on his car the night we spoke with him. His family includes his wife, Stacia and children Brendan, Noah and Payton.
Aaron is also fortunate to have a dedicated crew and sponsors. Crew members are Mike Tracey, Mason Hebert, Joe Dunn, Matt Noles and Kyle Koch. Sponsors on the car are Caruso’s Auto Repair, American Iron and Crane, Inc., Shirley’s Kids, Parillo Service, Cobleskill Eagles, Terry Hanes Automotive, and the newest sponsor, JWM Windows.
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nother competitor that we had never spoken with at Fonda is Dylan Scribner of East Greenbush. Dylan drivers the No. 10S Modified at Fonda and this season also plans to follow the STSS North Region Series. Dylan is no stranger to racing, he began at the age of 16 in a Modified at Accord Speedway. From there he continued his racing career taking him to many different tracks, Lebanon Valley, Afton, Albany-Saratoga, Glen Ridge, Utica-Rome and even Rolling Wheels before he landed at Fonda. Although he has raced for many years, he has never been able to race a full season, something he hopes to do this season.
Since graduating from High School in 2010, he has served in the Marine Corp Reserves and is currently a FedEx Supervisor.
So far Dylan’s best finish at Fonda is a 14th, and his best finish of his on and off career was at Lebanon Valley, on a night when he was on his way to a top five finish before getting caught up in an incident that put him back to 11th where he finished on his birthday.
For his second outing in the STSS North Region at Accord on Tuesday, Dylan was involved in one of the first of several incidents in the first Modified heat and rolled his No. 10S, PMC chassis. Unfortunately he did not start the feature.
Sponsors on Dylan’s Modified are Best Rates 4U and Dan Gowie Ent. and of course he puts much time, effort and money into his ride as well.
If you made the trip to Glen Ridge on Sunday and then faced the rainout, take a look at the weekend the Brock Pinkerous team had. Saturday evening at New Stateline Speedway in Lawsonville, NC, young Brock won his first career Late Model feature in the RUSH Late Model Series, topping a 35-car field.
After his victory lane celebration the team drove nearly 700 miles to Glen Ridge to give Brock a chance at doubling up on the weekend with his 358 Modified only to have it taken away by rain. It was a valiant effort for the entire team and we congratulate them on their first Late Model victory.
Scheduled this week at Glen Ridge is a special Mother’s Day Shinedown with free flowers courtesy of Natural Bridge Farm and DIRTcar Sunday Night Program.
Sunday the New York State Stock Car Association held their annual induction ceremonies at the Fonda Speedway Museum. It was the 28th year the Hall of Fame has been sponsored by Boomer’s Performance and the Bidell family to honor their late brother and son. Those inducted were long time member, President and Board Member, John Keegan, former Fonda Speedway promoter the late Ralph Compani, car owner, Ray Bramell, and drivers, Kenny Tremont, Jr., Roger Phelps and Sege Fidanza. In the photo is Owen Compani, representing his grandfather, Ralph, Sege Fidanza, Jann McGaffin, representing Ray Bramell, Roger Phelps, John Keegan and Kenny Tremont.
A delicious lunch was enjoyed at the Winner’s Circle after the ceremony.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will return to action on Friday, May 12, with the NAPA Modifieds competing for a $3,000 winner’s payday.
The Utica-Rome “$5 Friday” promotion has been rescheduled for May 19.
This Friday, May 12 Christian Fabrication and Scenic View Campground present the Empire Super Sprints (ESS) 360 Sprint Cars 3 Bastards Brewing Modifieds, Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman, Next Generation GraphiX Pro Stocks, Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders.
Until next week please send all news and/or comments to biittig@yahoo.com
