BANQUET CLOSES OUT THE 2009 CAMPAIGN AT FONDA
By: Ron Szczerba
FONDA, NY – On Sunday November 1 at Mallozzi’s Restaurant in Rotterdam, NY the 2009 racing season at the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway came to a close as the track champions in all divisions were awarded their hardware and prize money while a number of special awards were also handed out by speedway management along with point fund money to drivers in each division.
Fonda Speedway announcer Mike Mallet and co-announcer Josh Richards began the festivities by introducing promoter Ric Lucia who addressed the large crowd on hand.
“You could really sum up the 2009 racing season at Fonda with one word, rain,” Lucia said. “We lost 33% of our racing events to rain this summer but here at the banquet tonight we will still be giving away $36,000 in prize money.”
“With that in mind I feel as though we need to look at all of the positives such as working together with Gene Cole at Utica Rome on the Thunder Series and working together to keep focus on all of our local race teams that compete weekly at the Fonda Speedway. My wife Laura and I are pleased to come together this time of the year at the banquet to honor everyone’s accomplishments.”
Lucia then handed out a few of the special awards before dinner was served.
The Dedication to Racing Commitment to Fonda Speedway award was given out to Modified Track Champion Booby Varin’s car owner Dave Cruickshank of Dover Brake.
“You see the car #00 from NASCAR all the way to Fonda and the full story of Dave Cruickshank will possibly never be known,” Lucia said.
“I have been involved in racing since the early 70’s when Buzzie Reutimann came to my shop and needed a break,” Cruickshank said after receiving his award. “From Buzzie, to his son David, to now with Bobby (Varin) my whole life has been about racing and Bobby will tell you how many times I talked about retiring and getting out of the sport. But all of the money in the world doesn’t mean anything it is my driver, my crew, and my family that means everything to me.”
Next Lucia presented the Pit Crew of the Year award to Sportsman Track Champion David Towns’ crew consisting of Donnie Tefoe, Eric Folmsbee, Thom LaMalfa, Don Scavia, and Dick Glowacki.
"If it wasn’t for my crew and my family racing and winning championships wouldn’t be possible,” Towns said.
The Crowd Pleaser award was given to Matt DeLorenzo for his run from 19th to a win in the Modified feature on September 19, 2009.
The Excellence in Journalism award was given to Lenny Sammons Jr. of the Area Auto Racing News (AARN) newspaper while the Media Award for Recognition of Dedication & Professionalism went to Fox 23 Fast Track and its hosts Rich Becker and Scott Morlock.
“First off I need to thank the staff here at the Fonda Speedway who treat us great and allow us to come in and get footage for our show every week,” Becker said. “I also need to thank Bob James of Bobco Video who became an intrical part of our show in the beginning when we were primarily a NASCAR oriented program but because of people like Bob we were able to get footage of our local tracks and expanded our coverage of local racing to include that in our weekly television show.”
“This award truly belongs to Scott (Morlock who stood alongside Rich to accept the award) as he has taken the show to levels never thought of with his producing efforts and our staff at Fox 23 who now cover the local racing events on a weekly basis for us.”
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARDS
After dinner the Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Driver awards were handed out after dinner with the winners as follows:
Rookie of the Year Modified – JaMike Sowle
Rookie of the Year Sportsman – Bob Barilie
Rookie of the Year Pro Stock – Luke Horning
Rookie of the Year IMCA – Corkey Bruckman
Rookie of the Year Street Stock – Craig Ritchie
Most Improved Modified – Danny Varin
Most Improved Sportsman – Jason Memrick
Most Improved Pro Stock – Chuck Dumblewski
Most Improved IMCA – Ken Van Wert
Most Improved Street Stock – Ellis Shaffer
TRACK CHAMPIONS
Next on the program were award presentations for the 2009 Track Champions in all divisions with the recipients as follows:
2009 Modified Track Champion Bobby Varin – fifth overall title at Fonda (2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009) – second in a row. “All track championships are great especially with all of the tough competition at Fonda,” Varin said. “Dave Cruickshank is the glue that holds this team together and this has been my best year ever. It has been a total team effort and I can say that I wouldn’t want to be with any other team than the one that I am with right now.”
2009 Sportsman Track Champion David Towns – third overall title at Fonda (2007, 2008, 2009) – third in a row – “This year was all about consistency, not a lot of wins,” Towns said. “We struggled early in the season but when Luke (Munroe) lost a motor while leading the points late in the season it put us right back into the point battle.”
2009 602 Limited Sportsman Track Champion Jeremiah Munson – first time track champion in the first year of the division – “This year was a lot of fun,” Munson said. “It was a great point battle to the end and with six wins it is sure good to be here.”
2009 Pro Stock Track Champion Kenny Gates – fourth overall title at Fonda (2004, Co-Champion 2007, 2008, 2009) – third in a row – “Winning this title was huge for us this year,” Gates said. “It was a big year for us winning the Hondo Classic race which was something that we really wanted to do along with the track championship as well. We got through a mid season slump with the help of Chris Fain who built the car and my crew and I have to thank them for helping me out of the slump.”
2009 IMCA Track Champion Jeremy Cramer – third overall title (2007, 2008, 2009) – third in a row which is the first time that has ever been done – “It is a good thing that we were racing for points as it paid off making every lap of every race,” Cramer said. “Then we wrecked the car while not racing for points once the regular season was done. It is amazing to win one title and a dream to win three and now we can hope that it will happen again next year.”
2009 Street Stock Track Champion Cassidy Wilson – first ever title at Fonda – “It was a great year for us,” Wilson said. “We had a new car for this year and it took a couple of weeks to figure it out.”
THUNDER SERIES CHAMPIONS
“Even though we lost 50% of our Thunder Series events Gene Cole & I decided to pay 70% of the point fund money that was announced at the beginning of the season,” Ric Lucia said before the Thunder Series point fund money was presented.
2009 Modified Thunder Series Champion Bobby Varin was followed in the top five by Pat Ward, Ronnie Johnson, Jim Davis, and Stewart Friesen.
David Towns and Mark Kislowski ended up in a tie for the Sportsman Thunder Series Point Championship.
"We will be working together with Gene Cole at Utica Rome to expand the Thunder Series for 2010,” Lucia said. “I have to thank him as I consider him a mentor to me for what he has taught me as we work together on the series and on racing in general.”
BANQUET NOTES
According to Ric Lucia there will be no major changes at Fonda for 2010 with all divisions returning next season.
The IMCA division will be enhanced for 2010 at Fonda with an announcement coming out soon about that.
Fonda will again partner with Utica Rome for the Thunder Series in 2010 and both tracks will also host the Lucas Oil Late Model Series the last week in July with the Modifieds anchoring the show at Fonda.
On October 26 Ric & Laura Lucia received the Fifth Annual Montgomery County Chamber-Barbara V. Spraker Tourism Award. Chamber President Deborah Auspelmyer and Tourism Director Gina DaBiere-Gibbs presented the award with representatives from Governor Paterson’s office, Senator Farley’s office, and Assemblyman Amadore’s office were also on hand with certificates and citations for the Lucia’s.
“It was the first time that I have ever won an award for business and it was a very welcomed award,” Ric Lucia said at the awards banquet. “It was quite an honor as there were around 20 nominees for the award and everyone at the Fonda Speedway contributed to us getting it.”
Ric said that he recently visited Jack Johnson and that according to Johnson there will be a brand new 12A car for him at Fonda in 2010.
CLOSING NOTES
“I suspect that the economy isn’t as bad as it is going to get and I congratulate the racers and teams that compete at Fonda for making it through the 2009 season in such a tough economy,” Lucia said. “I started here 13 years ago along with Marty (Beberwyk) and we are still here after all that time and both of us will be back again for 2010.”
“I also have first refusal with the Fonda Fair Board to run the speedway beyond the 2010 season with an announcement coming in early spring about our future beyond next year. We will be working through the winter to plan for the 2010 season at Fonda and I can only hope that the weather cooperates a little better for us next year than it did in 2009.”
On a side note to the banquet congratulations go out to Ronnie Johnson, John McAuliffe, and Chuck Dumblewski who represented the Fonda Speedway well at Super DIRT Week in Syracuse a few weeks ago. All three drivers were the first drivers across the finish line in their respective feature events who were members of the New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA). For their efforts each driver received an award from the organization and its representatives Christine Krosky and Bonnie Mortensen-Szczerba.
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2009 SEASON FINALE IS SLATED FOR NOVEMBER 14th AT GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY
GEORGETOWN, DE (November 3, 2009) - After another year of special events, the 2009 racing season at the Georgetown Speedway comes to close on Saturday, November 14th with one more big show on tap. The BPG Racing/Hooters Restaurant Tri-Track Big Block Modified Challenge Series will headline the season finale with the 35-lap North/South Shootout. Many Big Block Modified drivers from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are expected to vie for the first place check of $3000.
A 25-lap main event for the very popular Super Late Models will take place as well. The Crate Modifieds and Crate Late Models will have separate 20-lap features. The Little Lincolns and Vintage Stock cars will complete the program.
On Saturday, November 14th, the gates to the pit area at Georgetown Speedway will open at 1:00 PM with the spectator gates opening at 2:00 PM. Warm-ups will get underway at 3:00 PM. General grandstand admission tickets for adults are $20 with children 12 and under admitted for free. Admission to the pit area is $35. A raindate of Sunday, November 15th has been set for this event.
Georgetown Speedway is a 1/2 mile dirt oval located on the northbound side of U.S. Route 113, just 35 miles south of Dover, Delaware, a 45-minute drive from Ocean City, Maryland, and easily accessible from Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.
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RAIN FORCES SUNDAY RAIN DATE FOR BRAY MEMORIAL AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY
BRIDGEPORT, NJ (October 31, 2009) - Halloween Day rain caused Bridgeport Speedway management to postpone the Charlie Bray Memorial race originally scheduled for Saturday, October 31st. The Charlie Bray Memorial will now be held on Sunday, November 1st.
The BPG Racing/Hooters Restaurant Tri-Track Big Block Modified Challenge Series will headline the Charlie Bray Memorial with $4000 going to the winner of the 35-lap main event and $250 to take the green.
This special fall event is named in honor of the late Nazareth Speedway Promoter and Bridgeport Speedway Official, who passed away suddenly on December, 8, 2008. Also, a $1500 to win 25-lap open competition 358 Sportsman clash will be on the program. Lap money will be available for both the Big Block Modified and 358 Sportsman features. The GM Sportsman and Crate Late Models will have separate 20-lap features with $800 going to the winner of each contest. A $500 to win 20-lap Main for the Proformance Cuts Outlaw Stocks is on the schedule as well. Plus, the Limited/Racesaver 305 Sprint Cars and 4-Cylinder Stock Cars have been added to the lineup. The Micro-Sprint National program will now take place on Saturday, November 21st with
the times of the event still to be determined.
Bridgeport Speedway will still be holding all of the festivities originally planned for Halloween including Trick or Treat, costume contests, and Haunted Skyboxes.
On November 1st, the pit gates will unlock at 10:00 AM with gates to the grandstand area opening at 11:00 AM. Trick or Treat for the kids in the pit area will start at noon. Warm-ups will begin at 1:00 PM. Pit admission will be $40 and general grandstand admission will be $25 with no charge for kids 12 and under. All competitors are reminded that one-way radios are required for all events at Bridgeport Speedway.
Bridgeport Speedway provides a safe and secure family atmosphere, free parking, giveaways and fan participation games. Billed ‘The Fastest Dirt Track in the East’, Bridgeport Speedway is a banked 5/8th mile dirt oval, featuring a dirt 1/4 mile oval embedded in the center, and is located in Southern New Jersey -- just minutes from Pennsylvania and Delaware at exit 14 off of I-295.
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Two More 2010 Super DIRTcar Series Dates Set At Airborne & Mohawk
Weedsport, NY — October 30, 2009 — By Tom Skibinski, Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
The 2010 Super DIRTcar Series continues to take shape with two more mid-week shows added to the upcoming Big-Block Modified agenda.
Securing dates on the ’10 schedule are Airborne Speedway on Tue., June 15 and Mohawk Int’l Raceway on Wed., June 23 of the following week.
“We can’t wait for the Big-Blocks to come back here,” said Airborne promoter Mike Perrotte, who was ready to stage the series’ lone stop on asphalt last June before rain sent nearly 50 race teams packing in the Sunday afternoon special. “Its easily one of the biggest events around this area all year for our fans and the local racers.”
With the last DIRT-Asphalt Challenge event run off in 1992, DIRTcar Northeast’s 35th season will end an 18-year absence for the series stars performing on pavement. 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Champion Brett Hearn is among 11 drivers already capturing features on macadam and the Sussex, N.J. speedster won back-to-back D/A point crowns in 1989-90.
The last time the Super DIRTcar Series traveled to the spacious Hogansburg, N.Y. layout was in 1995 when MIR was known as Frogtown Int’l Speedway and Hearn again rode away with top honors. The ‘Corporate Jet’ will be in for a treat upon his return next summer at the completely revamped Akwesasne oval that now boasts some of the finest amenities found anywhere on the circuit.
“We’ll be laying down a new surface as well as building a VIP Booth in the pits and adding new billboards all around the track during the off-season,” noted Mohawk co-owner John Lazore during a recent visit to Central New York. “A lot of teams will be surprised if they haven’t seen the place in a while.”
With 2010 marking his third year at the helm, Lazore and partner Don Thompson Jr. are also planning to construct an additional 90-feet (800 pers.) of grandstand seating that will bring the total capacity to 3,000 for the front stretch structure.
Super DIRTcar Series action for Big-Block Modifieds kicks off next season down south with four non-point events as part of the 39th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park. Five straight days of trackside activity ---including practice on Feb. 9--- culminate February 13 with a 50-lap finale boasting a first-place prize of $5,000. In between, Feb. 10-12, each 30-lap DIRTcar BB Modified feature winner stands to collect $2,000.
For more information, please contact Series Competition Director Joe Skotnicki at 704/796-4566 while Big-Block Modified tour news continues to be posted on
www.superdirtcarseries.com. Specific track information can be found on the internet at www.airborneparkspeedway.com and www.mohawkintraceway.com with phone calls taken at Airborne (518/561-3208) and Mohawk (518/358-3225) during the off-season.
2010 SUPER DIRTcar SERIES SCHEDULE (confirmed dates)
NP=Non-Point event; SP=Show-Up point event.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK LOCATION
Wed-Feb 10 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park Barberville,FL
Thr-Feb 11 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park Barberville,FL
Fri-Feb 12 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park Barberville,FL
Sat-Feb 13 50-NP Volusia Speedway Park Barberville,FL
Sun-May 30 100 Cayuga Co Fair SpeedwayWeedsport,NY
Tue-Jun 15 100 Airborne Speedway Plattsburgh,NY
Wed-Jun 23 100 Mohawk Int’l Raceway Akwesasne,NY
Fri-Jul 16 50 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Sat-Jul 17 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Aug 2 100 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Sat-Oct 2 200-SP Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Sun-Oct 10 200 N.Y.S Fairgrounds Syracuse,NY
Sun-Oct 17 100 Brockville Ont. Speedway Brockville,ONT
Thr-Nov 4 Qual. The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Concord,NC
Fri-Nov 5 50 The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Concord,NC
Sat-Nov 6 50 The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Concord,NC
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