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Tracks: Lape shows the way at Fonda

9 July 2000

July 8, 2000, Fonda NY- Dave Lape of Canajoharie, made it look easy as he blew away the field of 27 cars in the Modified main on Saturday to record his 90th win at the track that he’s calls home. It was the third time this season that the No. 22 has been in victory lane. Referring to the only caution of the event on lap 26 Lape said, "I really didn’t want to see it but I knew I was running good."

Mike Fraiser of Mayfield, NY won the green to checker Sportsman event for his first win of the season. Rob Noviczski of Scotia, NY was the winner of the Pro Stock event, his fourth of the season. George Catanzano continued his winning ways in the IMCA Mods. Dave Horning, Jr. and Rob VanAernam were the winners in the Street Stock A & B main events.

This Wednesday July 12th, Fonda will run another of the special 358 Mod Tour events. Along with the 358 Mods will be a Pro Stock qualifier for the Rolling Wheels World Series of DIRT racing and a special 30 lap, $300 to win IMCA Mod event. Racing starts at 7:00 p.m.

Next Saturday on July 15th, Fonda returns to regular action with the annual memorial event honoring Harry Peek, Gigi Conover and Corey Dutcher. Racing will start at 6:00 p.m.

Paul Luskin and Harry Shaffer led the modified field to the green but by the completion of lap one, Tim Clemons had moved into first. Clemons held the lead until lap nine when Dave Lape took over and quickly put distance between him and Clemons.

Lape was getting unbelievable bit on the outside and his Teo Pro car powered by a Boyd motor was running at it's peak. Lape lapped his first car on lap 12 and continued to lap cars for remainder of the event.

Only one yellow flag delayed Lape's march toward his third win of the season and his 90th at the track.

With only five laps remaining Bobby Varin moved into second around Tim Clemons. On the restart after the only caution, Mike Romano got by Varin for second but Varin was not content with third and reached down deep into the No. 18 and found enough power to get by Romano on the final circuit to finish second. Clemons and Shaffer completed the top five.

Modified heat wins went to Tim Clemons, Jerry Pennock, Jr., and Harry Shaffer with the consi win going to Tony Pepicelli.

The Sportsman 20-lap feature went green to checker and winner Mike Fraiser led all buy two of the 20 laps. Craig Boehler was the early leader but was no match for the high flying Fraiser.

Tim Mayne, Bob Hackel and Ryan Odasz were heat winners in the sportsman division. The sportsman consi win went to Nick Nichols.

In Pro Stock action, Steve Burega led the field to the green and held the point until the first restart after a caution for the No. 74 of Brian Unser.

Phlan Hart then took the lead and was being chased by Dave Viall and Burega who had slipped back to third.

Hart was challenged by Viall on the high side in the backstretch until Viall went too high and was pushed back to fifth.

Burega took the lead once again on lap 13 but the yellow flag flew for the No. 36 of Jazebowski when he lost a wheel and wound up sideways on the frontstretch. The field was exiting turn three as the yellow flew but was able to miss the car sitting sideways across the frontstretch. The only near incident was when Mark Sullivan drove his racer over the tire and barely missed being launched into the wall.

Rob Noviczski had his No. 221 moving steadily through the side by side traffic. He made his way to second and was now on the bumper of Burega. With four laps to go Noviczski over took Burega for the lead and his fourth win of the season.

Pro Stock qualifying wins went to Chris Morris, Steve Burega and Ken Gates.

The IMCA Modified action saw Kevin Buff on the pole with George Proctor along side at the green. Buff led the first eight laps of the feature. On lap nine Steve Bidwell made himself know and slipped by Buff for the lead.

With only five laps remaining, George Catanzano took the lead from Bidwell on a restart after the first caution of the event. Catanzano went on to take the checker.

IMCA Modified heat winner were Kevin Buff and Steve Bidwell.

Rob VanAernam and Ken Barth brought the first street stock event of the night to the green. VanAernam led the first five laps until Paul Chichester, who had chased him from the start, took over. Only two cautions slowed the action as VanAernam and Chichester battled until the final two laps with Chichester taking the lead and continued on to the checker. However, he did not go to victory lane for the celebration. In a post race inspection it was declared that his No. 00 did not have adequate brakes.

Dan Rickard led the second street stock feature of the night to the green. Dave Bayes took the lead for two laps when the yellow flag flew for Jerry Pepper who was sideways in turn two. Bayes held the lead through the restart but by lap five Dave Horning, Jr. was in the lead and it was on to win number six on the season. Bayes was bitten by the brake inspectors and disqualified for inadequate brakes.

The top five in Modified points are Bobby Varin, 508; Dave Lape, 487; Mike Romano, 476; A. J. Romano, 452 and Bobby Albert, 446.

Jim Davis in leading the Sportsman points, Rob Noviczski the Pro Stock, George Catanzano is ahead in the IMCA and Jim Olsen leads the Street Stock points.

Modified finish (30 laps) 1. DAVE LAPE, 2) Bobby Varin, 3) Mike Romano, 4) Tim Clemons, 5) Harry Shaffer, 6) A. J. Romano, 7) Bobby Albert, 8) Tony Pepicelli, 9) Alton Palmer, 10) Ronnie Holmes, 11) Matt DeLorenzo, 12) Craig Criscone, 13) Paul Luskin, 14) Ken Hanson, 15) John Marsh, 16) Jerry Pennock, Jr., 17) Bob Sitterly, 18) Lee Nutting, 19) Rick Mill, 20) Kenny Martin, 21) Frank Hoard, 22) Bob Vedder, 23) Rich Pennock, Jr., 24) David Towns, 25) Bob Enright, 26) John Kollar, 27) Dave Sargent.

Sportsman finish (20 laps) 1. MIKE FRAISER, 2) Ryan Odasz, 3) Craig Boehler, 4) Jim Davis, 5) Mike Ketchum, 6) Joe Rando, 7) Rich Wozniak, 8) John McAuliffe, 9) Ray Zemken, 10) Jeremiah Munson, 11) Mike Ballestero, 12) Jeff Holt, 13) Drew Fallis, 14) Tim Mayne, 15) Johnny LeClair, 16) Steve Akers, 17) Frank Hoard, Jr., 18) Robert Perry, 19) Jessica Zemken, 20) Nick Nichols, 21) Matt Larkin, 22) John Constantino, 23) Bob Rees, 24) Bobby Hackel.

Pro Stock finish (20 laps) 1. ROB NOVICZSKI, 2) Steve Burega, 3) Phlan Hart, 4) Ken Gates, 5) Chris Morris, 6) Jeff Patrick, 7) Nick Stone, 8) Dave Viall, 9) Jim Duncan, 10) Hondo Carpenter, 11) Kerry Jordan, 12) Jeff Burton, 13) Mike Noble, 14) Chuck McSpirit, 15) Steve Cosselman, 16) Luke Klob, 17) Evan Crahan, 18) Bryan Jordan, 19) Tom LaPlante, 20) Steve Welch, 21) Mark Sullivan, 22) Steve Jazebowski, 23) Steve Skinner, 24) Brian Unser, 25) Jim Normoyle.

Street Stock A finish (12 laps) 1. ROB VANAERNAM, 2) Ken Barth, 3) Guy Klob, 4) John Babcock, 5) Scott Wells, 6) Eric Harper, 7) Ed Bradt, 8) Shawn Simmons, 9) Ken Hollenbeck, 10) unknown driver, 11) Rocky Warner, 12) Dick Nichols, 13) Ellis Shaffer. DQ Paul Chichester (inadequate brakes)

Street Stock B finish (12 laps) 1. DAVE HORNING, JR., 2) Keith Ackerknecht, 3) Dave Hewitt, 4) Jim Olsen, 5) Randy Cannell, 6) Joe Smith, 7) John Johnson, 8) Jerry Pepper, 9) Dan Rickard, 10) Bob VanAernam, 11) Chris Porcari, 12) Eric Milewski. DQ Ryan Bayes (inadequate brakes)

IMCA Modifies (15 laps) 1. GEORGE CATANZANO, 2) Steve Bidwell, 3) Kevin Priest, 4) Kevin Buff, 5) Mike Bungay, 6) George Proctor, 7) Danny Ballard, 8) Joe Locorini, 9) Bud Hernberg, 10) Aaron Jacobs, 11) Bill Ward, Jr., 12) Skip Pabis, 13) Dan Krajewski.