Wilder Wins on Hall of Fame Night at Fonda Speedway
Story By: RON SZCZERBA / FONDA SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
FONDA, NY- August 8, 2016- On Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame Induction Night, Jeremy Wilder took his first win of the 2016 season at the “Track of Champions”. The win was the sixth of his career at Fonda and it came in the Bill & Ellen Schoons owned, Joe Wagner Plumbing & Heating #24. It was also Maynard Forrette Tribute Night at Fonda on Saturday with Buck Gasner pacing the modified field before the start of the feature in a beautiful replica of one of Forrette’s Gremlin bodied modifieds.
Other winners on Saturday at Fonda were Tony Farone in the rain delayed sportsman feature from 7/30, Rocky Warner in the regular scheduled sportsman feature, David Manchester (rookie Sportsman), Tom Denton (first career in the pro stock division), Josh Coonradt (street stock), Rich Applebee (Classics on Dirt Stock Car Club modified), Bill Nelson (Classics on Dirt Stock Car Club sportsman), Don Greco (Northeastern Vintage modified), and Wayne Gage (Northeastern Vintage sportsman).
Inducted into the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame for the class of 2016 which were chosen by Fonda Speedway management and the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame committee included Bill Fake who was presented with the “Pioneer Award”; Jeff Kollar, Johnny and Paul Lakata, Bobby Varin, Randy and Travis Colegrove, and Jimmy Squilace were presented the 1st Annual Bruce Dostal Dedication to Fonda Speedway Award; drivers Buddy Shuman and Dick Schoonover; promoters Jim Gage Sr., Jim Gage Jr., Ron Compani, Ralph Compani, Seymour Hayes, and Ric and Laura Lucia; car owners/sponsors Max Phillips and Dave Cruickshank; speedway contributors Gigi Conover and Otto Graham; and journalistic contributor Lew Boyd who was also a driver at the track as well.
Current members of the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame include Rene Charland, Steve Danish, Jeep Herbert, Ken Shoemaker, Irv Taylor, Pete Corey, Ernie Gahan, Ron Narducci, Sr., Ed Pieniazek, Don Wayman, Buck Holiday, Red Knoblauch, Cliff Kotary, Lou Lazzaro, Bill Wimble, Doc Blanchard, Lee Millington, Ron Quackenbush, Paul Roberts, Ray Sitterly, Dave Buanno, Jerry “Jereome” Emiden, Paul Marshall, Peppy Pepicelli, Andy Romano, Dick Clark, Bruce Dostal, Jack Farquhar, George Proctor, Ray Dalmatta, Maynard Forrette, Charles Kotwica, Harry Peek, Jerry Pennock, Sr., Jerry Townley, Mel Austin, Clem DaBiere, Earl Maille, Nick Ronca, Tom Wilson, Jr., Jay Blesser, Bob Deming, Ed Fuez, Gibby Fountain, George Welch, Lee Achzet, Tony Achzet, Jerry Barnowski, C.D. Coville, Paul Dwyer, Fred Barrows, Shirley Muldowney, Ken Hanson, Joe Johnson, Lou Klim, Mike Romano, Joe Ballomo, Artie Desarbo, JoJo Desarbo, Jack Johnson, Hertha & Marty Beberwyk, Ed & Betty Biittig, Andy Fusco, Jim King, Alton & Carole Palmer, and Dave Lape.
Special Thanks to Tommy Spencer from Adirondack Leather who is a big supporter of the Fonda Speedway for donating all of the plaques that were handed out to the inductees on Saturday according to the emcee of the Hall of Fame ceremonies Jim King.
During the intermission and throughout the evening drivers went into a dunk tank and there was also drivers going through the grandstands with helmets taking up a collection for the Northeastern Epilepsy Foundation in the name of sportsman driver Chris Schaffer’s daughter who has the disease. All total between the dunk tank and helmet donations $1,500 was collected for the foundation.
Korey Wilder led at the drop of Joe Kriss’ green flag for the 35-lap modified main event but that didn’t last long as by the time lap one was completed Jeff Rockefeller was the race leader. At the lap four point in the event, Rockefeller held a straightaway advantage while Bodie Bellinger, Jeremy Wilder, and Josh Hohenforst were battling for a spot in the top five behind the second place car of Korey Wilder.
Rockefeller stretched out his advantage to a half track by lap 16 with Hohenforst the new second place car at that point after getting by both Bellinger and Korey Wilder for the spot with a sweeping move around the outside of both cars. Rockefeller was in lap traffic at the half way point in the event with the top five consisting of Rockefeller, Hohenforst, Korey Wilder, Bellinger, and Jeremy Wilder. On lap 19 the yellow was out for Korey Wilder who slowed on the backstretch while running third and would drive to the pit area ending his great run.
One lap later after the race was restarted, Hohenforst had some great car control in turn four as he kept his car from spinning and hitting the wall after the center section of the right rear wheel broke away and the tire came completely off of the car. He was able to pit for a new tire and continue at the rear of the field.
Jeremy Wilder lined up third on the restart and at the drop of the green flag was the new second place car. With 10 laps to go, Jeremy Wilder swept around the outside of Rockefeller in turn four to get the lead and immediately stretched out his advantage to a straightaway with five laps to go. Wilder went on for the win over Rockefeller, Bellinger, 10th place starter Ronnie Johnson, and ninth place starter Bobby Varin.
“During the first part of the race I was running conservative but then I saw Josh (Hohenforst) out on the outside so I decided to go out there on a restart,” Wilder told Paul Szmal in victory lane. “I decided to stay out there after that and the car went wherever I wanted it to. I have to thank my crew for all of their meticulous maintenance on the car as this time of the year when equipment is starting to get tired I feel we are on top of our game with our maintenance.”
In the rain delayed sportsman feature from 7/30, Tony Farone was out front when the green flag flew to complete the final 18 laps with Nick Scavia in tow. A yellow on lap 15 put Rocky Warner in the second position on the restart with Scavia, Tim Hartman Jr., and Mark Mortensen in the top five.
Two more yellow flags slowed the field before the checkered flag fell but Farone held the lead through both of the restarts to gain his first win of the season and the fourth of his career in the division over Warner, Hartman Jr., Dave Constantino, and Chris Schaffer.
“We didn’t make it here last year so I’m glad to be here,” the driver of the Tony’s Concessions #18 said in victory lane. “Yellow after yellow we were able to hang on and it is great to be back in victory lane at the Fonda Speedway.”
In the regular scheduled sportsman feature Billy Gray led at the drop of the green flag from his pole starting position with an early yellow out on lap four for Aaron Burton who made contact with the wall in between turns one and two. Burton was done for the night at that point and on the restart sixth place starter John McAuliffe was the new second place car.
Gray was in lap traffic on lap 17 with McAuliffe now pressuring him for the lead and going down the backstretch McAuliffe made it three wide as he went down the middle of both Gray and a lap car for the lead. Contact between Gray and McAuliffe in between turns three and four brought out the yellow again and under caution McAuliffe drove over the front tire of Gray in retaliation for what happened. For their actions both were sent to the rear of the field on the restart.
Doug Flynn inherited the lead at that point with Doug Hancock doing a 360 degree spin in turn two but he kept it going with no caution being thrown. Chris Schaffer was the new second place car on lap 21 with 13th place starter Rocky Warner in third. When the fourth place car of Josh DeMagistris made contact with the wall in turn four it brought out the final caution of the event giving Schaffer and Warner one last shot at Flynn for the win.
Warner took over the second spot on the restart with Flynn running a nice line on the track and looking like he was going on to the victory. That all changed however in turn four of the final lap when Flynn went extremely high in between turns three and four just barely avoiding the wall but Warner ducked underneath him and went on to take the checkered flag over Flynn, Schaffer, Dave Constantino, and Tim Hartman Jr.
“I will take gifts like this any day,” Warner said in victory lane. “Sometimes you have to be good, sometimes you have to be lucky, but everything fell our way today.”
David Manchester led all 15 laps in the rookie sportsman feature and went on to his second win of the season over Bobby Gage, Mike Brodi who was subbing for Travis Billington, Mike Block, and Dan Boni.
Tom Denton who renumbered his car to #26A in honor of Hall of Fame inductee Dick Schoonover took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 20-lap pro stock feature with third place starter Justin Knight in tow. One yellow flag slowed the field on lap 10 but nobody had anything for Denton who went on to his first career win at Fonda over Knight, Kenny Gates, Luke Horning, and Jim Normoyle.
“I might change my number now,” Denton said in victory lane. “Last week a car flipped in front of me and ended up on top of me but anyway Dick was here in victory lane a lot and he is here again tonight.”
Josh Coonradt took the lead on lap four of the 15-lap street stock feature after starting ninth and went on to his 11th win of the season and the 14th of his career at Fonda over Johnny Young, Ellis Shaffer, Jim Groncki, and Harold Chadderon.
This coming Wednesday, August 10 the second annual “Jack Johnson Night” will take place with a 60-lap ROC Modified feature along with pro stocks and street stocks on the racing card which will get the green flag at 7:30 p.m.
MAYNARD FORRETTE TRIBUTE MODIFIED FEATURE – 35-LAPS – JEREMY WILDER, Jeff Rockefeller, Bodie Bellinger, Ronnie Johnson, Bobby Varin, Jessey Mueller, Darwin Greene, Craig Hanson, Josh Hohenforst, Pep Corradi, Ed Harris, Jimmy Davis, Korey Wilder, Troy Palmer, Steve Wagoner, Kenny Sparks (DNS), Scott Huber (DNS)
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FROM 7/30 – 25-LAPS – TONY FARONE, Rocky Warner, Tim Hartman Jr., Dave Constantino, Chris Schaffer, Adam McAuliffe, Jason Greco, Brian Pessolano, Nick Scavia, Aaron Burton, Doug Hancock, Kurtis Hohensheldt, Mark Mortensen, JaMike Sowle, Billy Gray, Chad Edwards, Chris Curtis, Doug Flynn, Josh DeMagistris, Anthony Cardamone, Josh Neal, Harry Shaffer, Brian Calabrese, Jack Lehner, Tim Clemons, Ray Zemken, John McAuliffe
REGULAR SCHEDULED SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 25-LAPS – ROCKY WARNER, Doug Flynn, Chris Schaffer, Dave Constantino, Tim Hartman Jr., Nick Scavia, Chad Edwards, Dan Santabarbara, Kurtis Hohensheldt, Adam McAuliffe, Tony Farone, JaMike Sowle, Harry Shaffer, Chris Curtis, Billy Gray, Brian Pessolano, Jason Greco, Doug Hancock, David Manchester, Mark Mortensen, Anthony Cardamone, Josh DeMagistris, John McAuliffe, Brian Calabrese, Aaron Burton
ROOKIE SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 15-LAPS – DAVID MANCHESTER, Bobby Gage, Mike Prodi (sub for Travis Billington), Mike Block, Dan Boni, Rob Lanfear, John Lindblade, Kyle Gray, Chris Kugler, Josh Neal, Kaydon Hohensheldt
PRO STOCK FEATURE – 20-LAPS – TOM DENTON, Justin Knight, Kenny Gates, Luke Horning, Jim Normoyle, AJ Walters, Jay Casey, Shane Henderson, James Normoyle Jr., Chuck Dumblewski, Jason Casey, Jim Morrison, Kyle Hosier, Cassidy Wilson, Jason Samrov
STREET STOCK FEATURE – 15-LAPS – JOSH COONRADT, Johnny Young, Ellis Shaffer, Jim Groncki, Harold Chadderon, Robert Handy, Bill Yager, Steve Young, Jason Samrov, Cliff Haslun, Joey Wilson
VINTAGE MODIFIED FEATURE – DON GRECO (MODIFIED WINNER), Rob Sanford, WAYNE GAGE (SPORTSMAN WINNER), Rob Casti, Darral Hulbert, Jon Kuleszo, Jay Lais, John Constantino, Speed Felon, Bryon Siefried, Adam Warner, John Applebee (DNS), Chris Adams (DNS)
CLASSICS ON DIRT FEATURE – RICH APPLEBEE (MODIFIED WINNER), Rob Casti, Mike Gray, Kevin Winton, BILL NELSON (SPORTSMAN WINNER), Phil Barkins, John Walsh, Charlie Schofred, Duane Smith, John Applebee (DNS)
