Ivan Joslin of Fultonville celebrates his first win in the Hondo Classic with event organizers Kelley and Kaitlyn Keefe at Fonda on Saturday

The weather again was the winner in local racing this past weekend.  Albany-Saratoga got a shower late in the day on Friday and on top of all that had fallen previously it put the brakes on racing for the special night honoring late Promoter, Lyle DeVore. A Legacy Laid in Clay was rescheduled until Friday, August 28. 

Glen Ridge Motorsports Park cancelled their Sunday racing late on Saturday due to already saturated grounds and the forecast of rain for Sunday afternoon.

Lebanon Valley was hosting a two-day Monster Truck event, Friday and Saturday leaving all racing locally to take place at Fonda on Saturday.  And the “Track of Champions” did not disappoint.  The racing at Fonda included the Hondo Classic and BOBCO Dash for Pro Stocks, two very big paying events for the division and a yearly tradition at the track.  These events bring fans and plenty of extra cash for the drivers, bring many outside Pro Stock teams vying for the big bucks.  The force behind all the sponsorship for these events are Kelley and Kaitlyn Keefe and Krash Mender.  Recording his first win in the 21-year running of the Hondo Classic was Ivan Joslin of Fultonville while A. J. Walters of Newport won the BOBCO Dash. 

Also, on the card at Fonda on Saturday was the first leg of the Fonda/Lebanon Valley Challenge for Modifieds, 358-Modifieds, Sportsman and Pro Stocks.  Winners in the challenge events were, Stewart Friesen, Sprakers, Modifieds and Ronnie Johnson, Duanesburg, 358-Modifieds.  Sportsman winner was Chad Edwards, Gloversville and Pro Stock, Ivan Joslin.  The Limited Sportsman winner was Steve Wagoner of Broadalbin and Four-Cylinder winners were Dave Reedy, Schenectady, single cam and Jay Ingersoll, Hagaman, dual cam. 

Thanks to streaming apps like FloRacing, DIRTVision and DTDTV, even when it rains fans can get a racing fix from anywhere in the country.  We took advantage of FloRacing on Friday and watched the event from Utica-Rome where the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS) took their unique action to the Vernon oval.  Vintage winner in Modifieds, was Jack Miller of Schoharie, Late Models, Curtis Condon, Queensbury; Sportsman, Merv Blackwell, Fort Ann; Mystiques, Scot Straight, Altamont; and Antiques, Mike Reynolds, Willow. 

Other winners in racing at Utica-Rome on Friday were Modified, Payton Talbot, South New Berlin; Sportsman, Shawn Frost, Munnsville; Pro Stock, Luke Horning, Gloversville; Limited Sportsman, Preston Trautschold, Roscoe.

Looking Ahead:

Friday, August 7, Albany-Saratoga hosts Native Pride Night, $3000 to win for Modifieds, SCoNE Sprints, $1300 to win for Pro Stocks, plus all other weekly divisions. 

Saturday at Fonda, August 8, all weekly division plus Enduro.

Saturday at Lebanon Valley Halloween in August, Meet and Greet on frontstretch and racing for all divisions.

Injury Update:

Update on Jimmy Beach, Fonda Limited Sportsman driver who was injured and taken to hospital after an accident on the frontstretch on Saturday; Jimmy is home recuperating from a concussion and very sore.    

In closing we send our prayers and ask for our readers’ prayers for Jackie Lape, while she is in Boston for surgery this coming week.

Until next week please send all news and/or comments to biittig@yahoo.com