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$10,000 TO WIN “FIRECRACKER 50” AT FONDA THIS WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

By: Ron Szczerba

Fonda, NY – The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco makes its first of two stops at the historic Fonda Speedway in 2024 to kick off a bustling month of July. On Wednesday, July 3 the “Track of Champions” will host the seventh annual “Firecracker 50,” a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win feature event for the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds.

This year’s “Firecracker 50” will play the part of Round No. 4 of the River Valley Builders North Region and Round No. 9 of the Ollie’s Overall title fight. Going into the event at Fonda, Mat Williamson leads both the STSS North Region and STSS overall points with Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Michael Maresca, and Marc Johnson the top five in North Region points. The top five in the overall point standings show Anthony Perrego, Matt Sheppard, Stewart Friesen, and Alex Yankowski following behind Williamson.

Also in action will be the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman Madsen Overhead Doors North Region in a $2,000 to win event. The current STSS Crate 602 Sportsman North Region point standings show Michael Ballestero leading the way followed by Payton Talbot, Blaine Klinger, Tyler Peet, and Jared LaBagh in the top five.

Thanks to Online Performance Parts/Stone Motorsports, the Street Stocks will also return to Fonda this Wednesday, July 3. There will be a draw for heat races and a heads up start for the 20-lap feature event. Albany-Saratoga Speedway rules will apply to this event paying $500 to the winner with all starters in the event being paid!

The Fonda Speedway Kid’s Club will be holding “Freeze Pop Night” at Fonda this Wednesday, they are located under the grandstands at gate two.

The “Firecracker 50” event at Fonda this Wednesday, July 3 will actually be the seventh annual event at the “Track of Champions” The first “Firecracker 50” event was held back on 7/7/2018 with Stewart Friesen winning the $3,500 to win event. When the BD Motorsports Media LLC. Team came in to promote Fonda in 2019 they raised the bar to a $10,000 to win event with Friesen winning the next four events in 2019-2022 while Matt Sheppard took the prestigious victory in 2023.

In the history of 50 lap events or longer at Fonda, there have been a total of 68 different winning drivers in a total of 287 modified (both big and small block) feature events from 1953-2023.

They include Lou Lazzaro who leads the way with 32 victories followed by Jack Johnson with 29; Brett Hearn with 21, Dave Lape with 20; Stewart Friesen with 15, Mike Romano with 11; C.D. Coville with 10; Ken Shoemaker and Alan Johnson with nine, Jimmy Horton, Danny Johnson, Doug Hoffman, and Bobby Varin with eight; Steve Danish, and Bill Wimble with six; Pete Corey and Rene Charland with five; Harry Peek, Bob McCreadie, Pat Ward, and Matt Sheppard with four; Jeep Herbert and Matt DeLorenzo with three; Ed Ortiz, Jerry Cook, Will Cagle, Gary Balough,, Charlie Rudolph, Billy Pauch, Kevin Collins, Tim McCreadie, Billy Decker, and Mike Mahaney all with two wins apiece.

Drivers with one feature win in 50-lap events include George Gallup, Jim Luke, Don Hendenberg, Irv Taylor, Cliff Kotary, Tom Kotary, Buck Holliday, Ernie Gahan, Ron Narducci, Jerry Pennock, Lee Millington, Maynard Forrette, Buzzie Reutimann, Ralph Holmes, Dave Pelczar, Dave Buanno, Jim Winks, Wayne Reutimann, Pep Pepicelli, Tom Wilson, Tim Dwyer, Kenny Brightbill, AJ Romano, Jeff Trombley, Steve Paine, Kenny Tremont Jr., Mitch Gibbs, Tony Pepicelli, Bob Savoie, Larry Wight, Craig Hanson, Ronnie Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Justin Boehler, and Tim Fuller.

This Wednesday the 9th Annual “Bill Ag Memorial Elimination Match Race” event will also be held at Fonda with past winners including Bobby Varin in 2014, no event in 2015, Ronnie Johnson in 2016 & 2017, Tim Fuller in 2018, Stewart Friesen in 2019, no event in 2020, Ronnie Johnson in 2021, Demetrious Drellos in 2022, and Ronnie Johnson again last year in 2023.

The event known as the “Bill Ag Modified Elimination Race” is held in honor of the late Bill Anagnostopulos who was the owner of the Winners Circle, which is a restaurant in Fonda, NY that is located just around the corner from the Fonda Speedway. Bill was a great friend to racing and sponsored many drivers at the speedway through the years and sponsored events at the track as well. On a typical Saturday evening, he would get away from the restaurant to attend the races at Fonda where he had many friends in both the pit area and the grandstands.

Michael Maresca, Rocky Warner, Alex Yankowski, Jack Lehner, and Ronnie Johnson are locked into the 2024 Bill Ag event for being the current top five drivers in the point standings as of 6/15/24. Jessica Friesen, Bobby Hackel IV, Roger Henion, Jr., Chris Curtis, and Dave Constantino all have a chance to race into the event based on who has the fastest hot lap time!

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

All races at Fonda Speedway – will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the $150 annual subscription.

Since 1953, the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. Under the management of BD Motorsports Media LLC, the speedway will operate weekly on Saturday nights from April through August plus several special events. Fonda Speedway is located on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds off New York State Thruway Exit No. 28 at 21 S. Bridge Street Fonda, NY 12068.

Fonda Speedway is on the web at www.thefondaspeedway.com. To learn more, call the office at 518.915.4395, like Fonda Speedway on Facebook or follow the speedway on Twitter and Instagram: @thefondaspdwy.

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