All About Racing - 11 July 2024

Assemblyman Chris Tague presented a NYS Assembly Citation to Denny and Debbie Tilison during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday at the Fonda Speedway Museum.

Jamie Warner of Fonda celebrates his Four Cylinder win with a roof dance on Sunday at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park on Sunday.

Our racing weekend started early and was packed full of racing in many directions.

Wednesday, July 3, Fonda held the STSS event, Firecracker 50 and a great field of racers showed up to compete.  Matt Sheppard of Savannah, NY took home the $10,000 top prize after he and Mat Williamson of Canada gave the crowd a hotly contested race to the checker.   

Other winners on Wednesday were Payton Talbot, 602 Sportsman and Chris Stalker in the special Stone Motorsports/Online Performance 20-lap event. 

The Bill Ag Match Race winners were Jack Lehner who won the first three matches with Alex Yankowski winning match race four and Rocky Warner winning the fifth and final match race.

Thursday July 4th, Utica-Rome held the second annual Bill Shea Memorial to honor the former promoter and all-around great guy.  Stewart Friesen of Sprakers was the big winner, picking up both the ESS Sprint main event worth $2500 and the Modified 30-lap event paying $4000. 

Friday, July 5, Albany-Saratoga held the 358-Modified Shoot Out event and Ronnie Johnson of Duanesburg picked up his first win of the season at the Malta oval.  Jessey Mueller of Plattsburgh picked up his second win of the season. 

Saturday, July 6, it was back to Fonda for Hall of Fame Night sponsored by Palmer’s Service Center owned by Alton and Carole Palmer.  Palmers sponsored the night and are also big sponsors for a number of racers at the track. 

The winner of the night’s Modified main event was Jack Lehner of Saratoga Springs and winner of the make-up feature from May 25 was Stewart Friesen.  Other winners were Brendan Gibbons, 602 Sportsman; Kenny Gates, Pro Stocks; Steve Wagoner, Limited Sportsman; Jay Ingersoll (dual cam) and Kenny Hollenbeck (single came) Four Cylinder.  The win for Hollenbeck marked his 100th win at the track. 

Corky Warner’s win in the make-up Limited Sportsman event from 5/25 was his first win at Fonda joining his grandfather, Don, father, Rocky and brother Tanner in the win column at Fonda Speedway. 

Prior to racing at 2 pm on Saturday, the Fonda Museum held their annual Hall of Fame inductions and those being honored were race officials, Denny and Debbie Tilison; driver, Jeff Trombley, driver and pit steward, Steve Burega, track fire safety, Tim Healy and media, Jim Ellis.  The 7th Annual Bruce Dostal Dedication to Fonda Speedway Museum awards went to Royce Gage and Mike Jackson. 

Sunday at Glen Ridge the winners were Brian Calabrese, 358 Mods; Cody Ochs, 602 Sportsman; Zachary Graham, Limited Sportsman; Chuck McSpirit, Pro Stocks; Jason Samrov, Street Stocks.