GLEN RIDGE MOTORSPORTS PARK SET TO BEGIN THEIR 13TH SEASON OF COMPETITION ON FRIDAY, APRIL 22
Story By: RON SZCZERBA / GRMP MEDIA
Photos By:DAVE DALESANDRO and MATT NOLES/ RACERSGUIDE.COM
Fultonville, NY –April 20,2016- After a one week delay due to extremely wet grounds the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park is set to open for their 13th season of competition this Friday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. weather permitting. Points will begin in all divisions including the combined point funds for the modified and sportsman divisions between the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park and Fonda Speedway’s both of which will be managed this year by Demitraszek Enterprises.
Weekly divisions at Glen Ridge this season according to the 2016 schedule card include modifieds, sportsman, pro stocks, street stocks, sprint cars, and cruisers/trucks. With the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway set to open the following night on Saturday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. it sets up a very special weekend in the Mohawk Valley as the two tracks open up back to back on the same weekend.
The Glen Ridge Motorsports Park opened in 2004 for weekly stock car racing with the then known as budget sportsman highlighting the racing card along with street stocks and cruisers. Track champions back in 2004 in their respective divisions included Frank Blanchard (budget sportsman); Rocky Warner (street stocks); and David Klob (foreign cruiser), Wayne Lawyer (6-cylinder cruisers), and Roger Newkirk Jr. (4-cylinder cruisers).
2005 was the first full year that the modifieds competed at “The Ridge” with Mike Ketchum crowned the track champion in that division along with Demitraszek Enterprises own Matt Demitraszek (budget sportsman), Butchie Irwin (pro stocks), Duke McSpirit (street stocks), and Ken Hollenback (cruisers).
In the complete history of the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park there have been eight different championship drivers in the modified division in 11 championship seasons led by Bobby Varin who was champion the last three consecutive years in 2013, 2014, & 2015. Jeff Brownell Jr. is a two time, back to back champion in 2008 & 2009 while six other drivers are one time champions including Mike Ketchum (2005), Randy Hotaling (2006), Craig Hanson (2007), JaMike Sowle (2010), Kenny Tremont Jr. (2011), and Jeremy Wilder (2012)
In the sportsman division there have been 11 different championship drivers in 12 championship seasons with Brian Pessolano (2013,2015), Rocky Warner (2012,2014), and Bodie Bellinger (2010, 2011) leading the way with two championships apiece. One time champions in the division include Frank Blanchard (2004), Matt Demitraszek (2005), Lenny Billings (2006), Butchie Irwin (2007), Jeremiah Munson (2008), Korey Wilder (2009), Aaron Burton (2013 rookie sportsman), and Dave Grace (2012 rookie sportsman).
Only three drivers have been crowned pro stock track champions in the history of “the Ridge” including Butchie Irwin (2005), Rocky Warner (2010), and Nick Stone (2014).
Rob VanAernam is a four time champion in the street stock division at Glen Ridge winning the title in four consecutive years back in 2010-2013. Single time champions in the division include Rocky Warner (2004), Duke McSpirit (2005), John Bradt (2006), Dave Horning Sr. (2007), Chuck McSpirit (2008), and Justin Knight (2009). All total there have been seven different championship winning drivers in a total of 10 championship seasons in the street stock division at Glen Ridge.
The highly competitive cruiser division has seen a total of 11 different championship winning drivers in a total of 12 championship seasons led by the Hollenback’s with a total of seven between the two, Kerrie leading the way with a total of four consecutive (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) while Ken has a total of three (2005, 2009, and 2010). Other champions in the cruiser division include single time champions David Klob (2004 foreign), Roger Newkirk Jr. (2004 – 4-cylinder), Wayne Lawyer (2004 – 6-cylinder), Bryan Davis (2006), Laurie Fallis (2007), Chuck Wainwright Jr. (2012), Shane Playford (2013), Keith Tesiero Sr. 2014), and Pete Vila (2015).
So who will be crowned the track champions in their respective divisions in 2016? We will all have to wait until the final night of points which according to the Glen Ridge schedule card is September 10, 2016!
A quick update on the all-time win leaders in their respective divisions at Glen Ridge includes Bobby Varin who leads the way in the modified division with a total of 35 feature wins with the last one coming on 8/21/2015. Craig Hanson is second in the division with a total of 21 feature victories his last one coming on 7/31/2015. All total there have been 195 events held in the modified division at Glen Ridge with a total of 43 different drivers winning those events.
In the sportsman division Rocky Warner leads the way with a total of 16 victories the last one coming on 10/17/2015 while Jeremiah Munson is second with a total of 14 with his last win coming on 7/10/2009. All total there have been 202 events held in the sportsman division at Glen Ridge with a total of 57 different drivers winning those events.
Nick Stone currently leads the way in victories in the pro stock division with a total of 19 with his last win coming on 10/17/2015 while Rocky Warner is second with a total of seven with his last win in the division coming on 9/4/2010. All total there have been 55 events held in the pro stock division at Glen Ridge with a total of 18 different drivers winning those events.
Rob VanAernam leads the way in wins in the street stock division with a total of 28 with his last one coming on 8/23/2013 while Chuck McSpirit is a close second with a total of 27 wins his last one coming on 8/25/2012. All total there have been 191 events held in the street stock division at Glen Ridge with a total of 29 different drivers winning those events.
Kerrie Hollenback leads the way in victories in the cruiser division with a total of 66 his last win coming on 5/10/2013 while Ken Hollenback is second with a total of 57 wins with his last one coming on 6/2/2015. All total there have been 361 events held in the cruiser division at Glen Ridge with a total of 73 different drivers winning those events.
For more information about the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park you can go to their website www.glenridgemotorsortspark.net and you can also like them on Facebook!
