Fonda Speedway Museum and Hall of Fame want to present a speedway guest with a thousand dollars

I want to start off this week with this information first. Mrs. Jackie Lape, wife of the late modified driver David Lape, was scheduled to undergo two surgical procedures this week in Boston for a mass located on her brain. One was scheduled for Wednesday and the second for Friday. Due to press deadlines, I have nothing else to pass along at this time, except to say that we all sent our prayers and get-well wishes.

There are only a few nights left of racing at Fonda Speedway, and the Fonda Speedway Museum and Hall of Fame would love to present some lucky guest with $1,000. There is really no excuse for the museum to still have any spaces left on the 50/50 raffle. There is also a television raffle and new museum merchandise available for purchase. One lucky person received the $1,000 prize earlier this season, and you could be the next recipient if you are interested.

Friday night, Aug. 7, has an added event if you are in the Schenectady area. Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive-In of Scotia will have the Mortensen Motorsports team of brothers Mark and Brett Mortensen on-site from 6 to 9 p.m. Mark, who drives the 1M, and Brett, who drives the 1B at Fonda, will have their race cars on display. They will have photos and hero cards to hand out to fans. There should also be merchandise available for purchase. They welcome you to come out and join them for ice cream or dinner along the Mohawk River. Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive-In is located at 5 Schonowee Ave., at the intersection with Mohawk Avenue/Route 5.

Dodge City Speedway in Howes Cave will have a new competitor, as pro stock driver Hayleigh Gates is planning to make her debut in the Clone 375 class. Dodge City has a regular program sponsored by Mangino Chevrolet, and Friday, Aug. 14, will be a Thunder in the Valley Night sponsored by Checkers Out Speedway. Racing starts around 7 p.m.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway hosts its annual Native Pride Night with $3,000 to win for the modifieds, plus the SCoNE winged sprint cars. Next Friday is The Flying Farmer 31 Night, with the 358 modified division added to the program.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway made the decision last Friday, due to the recent rain, to postpone the Lyle DeVore tribute to Tuesday, Aug. 4. Then, with continued rain in the forecast, the decision was made to postpone “A Legacy Laid in Clay,” which is now scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28.

Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon will have its Family Autograph Night with a regular weekly program consisting of the DIRTcar 358 modified division, DIRTcar pro stock division, DIRTcar crate 602 sportsman and limited sportsman. It will also hold its second annual Erie Canal District Community Pinewood Derby 2026, with check-in beginning at 4 p.m. behind the press tower. Next Friday’s program will include the 305 C.R.S.A. winged sprint cars.

On Saturday, Varin Enterprises and Supply Wagon Rentals will host their third annual car show and craft fair at 212 Stoner Trail Road in Johnstown. On display will be classic and custom cars from across the region. Show hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hummingbird Hills Winery is hosting its 16th anniversary celebration and car show on Saturday, Aug. 15, with a rain date of Sunday, Aug. 16. Show hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s guest of honor and co-host is the Rural Grove Fire Department. The show address is 1442 Burtonville Road, Fultonville.

Fonda Speedway will have a regular weekly program with bonus money added to every division by the night’s sponsor, Doug’s Pool and Hot Tub Sales & Service, plus a 50-lap enduro to end the night. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., the grandstand at 4 p.m. and hot laps at 6 p.m., with racing to follow.

On Sunday, Aug. 9, the 5/8-mile hard clay oval at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown will celebrate 107 years of auto racing. Pit gates will open at 2 p.m., with racing at 6 p.m. On the program are big-block modifieds, sportsman, street stocks and NEWS wingless sprint cars.

The 1/4-mile Glen Ridge Motorsports Park will kick off the DIRTcar crate 602 sportsman championship trail with a 40-lap feature. This race is also a points-earning race for the C.D.R.A. series. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., with racing at 6 p.m.

The Northeast Dirt Modified Museum and Hall of Fame, located on the grounds of Weedsport Speedway, will hold the induction of its class of 2026 on Thursday, Aug. 13. The ceremony is open to the public. The museum is located at 1 Speedway Drive, Weedsport.

The 34th annual awards evening will begin with happy hour from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The awards presentation will take place inside the museum at 7 p.m., followed by an after-party from 9 to 11 p.m.

Award recipients include Chris Larsen for the Gene DeWitt Car Owner Award; John Sine for the Mechanic/Engineering Award; Mike Perrotte for the Leonard J. Sammons Jr. Outstanding Contribution to Auto Racing Award; and Ron Hedger for the Andrew S. Fusco Media Excellence Award. Terri Mohrman, leader of the Teal Suit Safety Team, will be presented with the Outstanding Woman in Racing Award. Drivers being honored include Tim McCreadie, Mitch Gibbs and Bobby Wilkins.

Results from last week start Thursday night at Brookfield Speedway as part of the Madison County Fair. Feature winners included Clayton DuMond in the crate 602 sportsman division and Kenny Gates in the pro stock division. In the 4-cylinder division, Collin Mills won the dual-cam division and David DeNova won the single-cam division. In the All-Star slingshot division feature, Kevin Loveless took the win, and Lucas Jackson was the winner in the junior slingshot division feature.

At Airborne Park Speedway near Plattsburgh, Chris Raabe earned the win in the DIRTcar 358 modified division feature over Mike Mahaney and Felix Roy.

Friday night’s tribute to Lyle DeVore, “A Legacy Laid in Clay,” at Albany-Saratoga Speedway was postponed until Tuesday night and then rescheduled for Friday, Aug. 28.

With the 4/10-mile Albany-Saratoga canceling, a number of local teams headed west to Utica-Rome Speedway. In the 3 Bastards Brewing DIRTcar 358 modified division 30-lap feature, Payton Talbot earned the win over A.J. Miller and Peter Britten.

The Jackson’s Auto Outlet/Taylor’s Trailers DIRTcar crate 602 sportsman division 25-lap feature was won by Shawn Frost, followed by Josh Coonradt and Dylan Nichols.

The J.B.’s Sewer & Septic DIRTcar pro stock division 20-lap feature saw Cousin Luke Horning score the victory over Devon Camenga and A.J. Walters.

The Quality Forest Management limited sportsman division 20-lap feature was claimed by Preston Trautschold ahead of Brody Janczuk and Justin Crisafulli.

At Outlaw Speedway near Dundee, Brady Fultz won the 30-lap modified feature. Bobby Varin finished sixth and Mike Maresca eighth.

Alex Yankowski was in Delaware at Georgetown Speedway, where Billy Pauch Jr. earned the modified feature victory and Alex finished second.

Saturday afternoon, guests were able to take part in a celebration of life for Albany-Saratoga Speedway promoter Lyle DeVore. The Great Race Place on Route 9 in Malta saw a nice turnout of family and friends come together to honor the memory of Lyle, who was known for his commitment, dedication and generosity throughout the racing community.

Saturday night, Fonda Speedway hosted the Fonda Speedway/Lebanon Valley Speedway Challenge. The modified division 30-lap feature saw Stewart Friesen hold off Jack Lehner and earlier race leader Marc Johnson, who was also the first Lebanon Valley regular to cross the finish line. For Friesen, this was win number seven for the season and number 106 for his career.

In the 358 modified division 25-lap feature, Ronnie Johnson dominated the race and easily scored the win over Stewart Friesen and Bobby Hackel VI.

In the Swagger Factory Apparel crate 602 sportsman division 25-lap feature, defending track champion Chad Edwards made a late-race pass to claim the win over Tyler Peet and Tanner Warner.

The Leatherstocking Credit Union pro stock division 29-lap Hondo Classic saw Ivan Joslin win his first Hondo ahead of Kenny Gates and Nick Stone. In the special BOBCO Dash for the pro stock division, A.J. Walters won the six-lap event.

The Montgomery County Office for Aging limited sportsman division 15-lap feature saw Steve Wagoner cross the finish line first, followed by Lance Hill and John Persse.

For the Fonda Fair 4-cylinder division 12-lap feature, Dave Reedy won the single-cam division and Jay Ingersoll won the dual-cam division.

Some added notes from Fonda: Eighty-eight backpacks that were collected or donated by various race teams and individuals were given out by the Kid’s Club. It was a tough night on engines, as Alex Yankowski in the modified division and Kirsten Swartz in the limited sportsman division had their power plants grenade, ending their chances of a visit to the famed Fonda Checkerboard Square.

Please remember, while taking in the races at your favorite track, to check in at the Kid’s Club and check out the weekly specials at the concession stand.

With grounds that were already saturated from the record-setting rainfall earlier in the week and more rain predicted for Sunday, which did fall around race time, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park was forced to cancel its program.