Auto Racing News - 21 March 2025

Without a doubt there is plenty to keep you busy this weekend.

Locally we have the annual Fonda Speedway car show at the Via/ Port in Rotterdam. which officially begins today. Mall hours are listed as Monday through Saturday 11:00 am. until 7:00 pm. and Sunday 11:00 am. until 5:00 pm.

 This is always a great time to relax and enjoy wandering through the mall and take in the sights of all the cars up close and visit with your friends and racing family. Season passes for the grandstands and pits will be available along with wearables and merchandise from Fonda Speedway, the Friesen’s and One Zee Tees, Ronnie Johnson, and Melissa Shoemaker-Pigliavento will have items honoring her father Kenny “The Shoe” Shoemaker.

 Some very interesting news transpired last week. On Wednesday night Utica-Rome Speedway promoter Brett Deyo announced on his Facebook page that he was selling his share of ownership in regard to the Utica-Rome Speedway over to his former co-owner Jason Broedel. Deyo stated that he will continue to operate the Fonda Speedway, Brookfield Speedway, and the Short Track Super Series.

 I reached out to Jason Broedel about the status of Utica-Rome and his response was that with the 2025 schedule already being released. Plans are to keep everything the same as planned for 2025, with possible changes for the 2026 season. It is notable that at the awards banquet on Saturday, nothing was mentioned about a buyout and especially with opening night scheduled  less than a month away, when racers have already committed to planning their schedule and have stocked up on tires and fuel for specific race tracks, On top of that sponsors, fans, and family were expecting to see their favorite driver at a specific track on specific nights, Hopefully going forward the two speedways will continue to work together, thus providing a stable

environment for all involved.

Tomorrow, there is a Chicken Dinner fundraiser for the 6H modified team of J.R. Hurlbert at the Sixth Ward Athletic Club, 22 West Broadway in Oneonta, beginning at 1:00 pm.Tickets are $25 for dinner and refreshments and take out dinners are available for $15. 

If you are looking for some actual racing to enjoy on March 21-22, the Kingdom of Speed  Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, New Jersey hosts the Short Track Super Series modified division in the Doug Hoffman Memorial for 60-laps and $6,060 to win. Friday night will consist of sprint cars, street stocks, 4 cylinders, and time trials for the modified and sportsman divisions beginning with grandstands opening at 5:00 pm. Saturday grandstands will open at 1:30 pm. The modified division will compete for 60-laps, sportsman 44-laps, plus the wingless sprints and 4 cylinder divisions. 

The Syracuse Nationals will present the Cavalcade of Cars in Syracuse on March 22 & 23 at the New York State Fairgrounds in the Center of Progress Building. The two day show offers over 100 hot rods and custom cars. Saturday hours are 9:00 am. - 5:00 pm. and Sunday hours are 9:00 am. - 4:00 pm.

 Monster Trucks are also at Syracuse on the fairgrounds March 22 & 23. However they will be in the Toyota Coliseum. Two shows are scheduled for Saturday. Gates open at 10:00 am. The Kids Zone and pre-show meet & greet and pit party will be held from 10:30 am.-11:30 am. The matinee Monster Truck show will run from approximately 12:00 pm -1:30 pm. The evening show  will have gates open at 4:00 pm. with Kids Zone and pre show meet & greet from 4:30 pm.- 5:30 pm. and Monster Truck show from 6:00 pm. - 7:30 pm. Sunday gates open at 12:00 pm. Kids Zone and pre show meet & greet from 12:30 pm.-1:30 pm. matinee Monster Truck show from 2:00 pm.-3:30 pm. 

 For those interested in entering the Utica-Rome Speedway car show Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30 at the Sangertown Mall. Please Contact Travis Welch at 315-373-2797. 

The Vermont Motorsports Expo 2025 will take place on March 28,29 in White River Junction inside the Connecticut Valley Auto Auction building at 1567 Vermont Route 14 05001. Friday 4:00 pm. until 9:00pm. Saturday 9:00 am. until 5:00 pm.

 Coming up on Saturday, April 5 in the Fultonville/Glen area pro stock driver Ivan Joslin and Joslin Racing 49 will have their 4th Annual chicken barbecue and wine tasting fundraiser/party at the Hummingbird Hills Winery. Bartlett's chicken barbecue dinner is on the menu for

$15 and naturally plenty of raffles. 

 Results from Friday's practice show two of our area drivers suffering mechanical issues on Friday, Ivan Joslin and Jessica Friesen. Ivan ran approximately eight lapsin his pro stock during the morning practice, before his engine developed problems with Possibly a blown head gasket. Jessica attempted to qualify in her modified heat race, only to roll to a stop on lap 8  Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Friday night. Stewart Friesen qualified fifth for the Evosave 200 134-laps on the mile and half for the field of thirty one starters. Friesen finished stage one in fifth, then there was a rain delay. He moved up to third in stage two, Led 14-laps and finished sixth in the final stage and after three races he currently sits fifth in the point standings.

 Results from Port Royal on Saturday have Devon Camenga, scoring the 25-lap pro stock feature over Cousin Luke Horning, Andy Graves, Shane Playford, and Ivan Joslin. With other area drivers finishing in this order Bret Belden 7, Jason Morrison 8, Phillip DeFiglio 9, Kenny Gates 12.

In the 60-lap STSS modified feature Dillon Steuer scored the big win over Matt Sheppard and Mike Mahaney. Bobby Hackel IV finished 11, Jack Lehner 13 power steering pump , Stewart Friesen 21, Alex Yankowski 23, Peter Britten 24, Danny Varin 28 overheating, Anthony Perrego 29. 

 And in the 40-lap sportsman feature Stephen Kemery took the win ahead of Joe Toth and James Hill. Area drivers finished this way Brian Calabrese 7, Dylan Madsen 9, Michael Ballestero 26. 

Sadly, area racing lost another member last week as Jason Herrington, a weekly competitor in the 358 modified division at Lebanon Valley Speedway unfortunately passed away at age 52. Known as the Flyin' Farmer, Herrington was from Brunswick Center, N.Y.  

Unfortunately, I lost my father on Tuesday night. He served over twenty years in the United States Coast Guard, was a Vietnam war Veteran, also was a  former member of the Perth Volunteer Fire Department, Cub Scout leader and more. Love you Dad.