Tracks: Mike Romano wins Peek Memorial Race at Fonda
24 July 2000
Checkers Also to Hoard, Jr., Noviczski, Ballard, Horning, Jr., and BayesJuly 22, 2000, Fonda, NY Mike Romano of Johnstown, NY marched to the front from his 13th place starting spot and powered by Bobby Albert on lap 18 to win his second big block event of the 2000 season at Fonda.
Other winners on NAPA Night at the Track of Champions was Frank Hoard, Jr. of Whitehall, NY who picked up his first career win at Fonda in the Sportsman division. Rob Noviczski of Scotia, NY picked up win number five in the Pro Stocks. Danny Ballard of Roxbury, NY was the IMCA Mod winner. The Street Stock A. & B winners were Dave Horning, Jr. and Dave Bayes.
A special tribute for Corey Dutcher was given by a sponsorship donation from Johnson Plumbing & Heating, Midnight Oil Co., Joe Wilson, Thompson’s Service, Horning Excavation and J&J Racing. The money donated by these sponsors was given to the drivers in the Corey Dutcher memorial event. All this was coordinated by the Horning Race team.
As part of the tribute on the Night to Remember at Fonda the Pro Stock feature winner was presented with a special plaque and $100 by the New York State Stock Car Association, in memory of Corey Dutcher. When Corey was killed in a highway accident in December, the Dutcher family gave all donations to the New York State Stock Car Association Benefit Fund. To date over $1500 has been donated to the fund.
Get in on the action next Saturday, July 29, 2000 at 6:00 p.m.when Labatt's/Bartyzel will sponsor a regular show plus the special 358 Mod Tour.
The 30 lap modified feature was brought to the green by Ken Hanson. Before one lap was complete the yellow flew when a big wreck resulted from a melee on the frontstretch when Bob Savoie slipped up and tapped the outside wall.
With no laps complete an original restart raced to the green once again with Ken Hanson on the point.
Bobby Albert ducked under Hanson on lap four to take the lead and began to pull away from the field. With Albert way out front, the rest of the field battled for position. Mike Romano and Dave Lape found their groove on the outside of the speedway and began to pass cars. The duo quickly moved past Hanson in second, while being chased by the No. 18 of Varin.
With only ten laps to go Dave Lape and Bobby Varin were locked in a side by side battle for fourth. The two exchanged the position for a couple laps and when the final checker flew Varin came away with second while Lape posted a third place finish followed by Bobby Albert and Ronnie Holmes who had moved into the top five on the final two laps.
The Sportsman main event showed Eddie SanSoucie at the head of the field at the green. Steve Akers took the lead on lap two.
The only caution of the event flew when Mike Ketchum stopped sideways in turn four. The restart saw Frank Hoard, Jr. move into the lead on the backstretch.
Jim Davis was now in second. Davis chased Hoard from the halfway point but could never mount a serious challenge.
Hoard, Jr. continued on to pick up his first career win at Fonda.
The Pro Stock feature was led to the green by Brian Jordan and Luke Klob. Jordan jumped to the early lead until the yellow flew on lap three.
A mad scramble ensued on the frontstretch when the leader, Jordan got loose and spun in front of the field. Several cars ended up snarled on the frontstretch. Several went off on the hook.
Jim Burton led on the restart followed by Hondo Carpenter. By now Wednesday night’s winner Chris Morris had moved to third from his 11th place starting position. Morris was now in a battle for second with Steve Welch and Ken Gates.
On lap eight Morris moved to second in turn three and by the time they came to the flag he was in the lead.
With Morris now in the lead it looked as though he was on his way to another win but it was not to be. Morris had the No. 221 of Noviczski closing in from behind. Morris led until lap 15 when Noviczski now on his bumper made his move. The two ran nose to tail for the next two circuits.
Noviczski led lap 17 but Morris regained the lead for the final time on lap 18. When the white flag flew signaling the final lap, Noviczski powered by Morris on the backstretch and pulled away for the win, his fifth of the season.
The IMCA feature came to the green with George Proctor and Joe Locorini on the front row. The caution flew immediately for Bill Ward, Jr. and Mike Bungay when they spun in turn three.
Proctor led on the restart and held the lead for the next four laps until Steve Bidwell grabbed the lead in turn one.
Dan Krajewski blew a motor in his No. 80 on lap seven bringing out the yellow once more.
The last half of the event was a battle royal between top winning drivers in the division, Steve Bidwell and George Catanzano.
On the final lap of event the two leaders bumped in turn four with Catanzano spinning and Bidwell ending up in the wall. This left the checker and the win to former Street Stock Champion, Danny Ballard, his first win in his rookie year in the IMCA division.
The $400 bonus for three wins in a row in the street stock division was also up for grabs on Saturday. Dave Horning, Jr. and Paul Chichester were in contentions for the bonus and Horning came out on top.
When the Street Stock A action began Dick Nichols was on the point. The caution flew on lap three when Don Warner spun in turn two and was hit in the side by the No. 35 of Ken Hollenbeck. It was a hard hit and Warner was transported to the hospital for a leg injury.
When the race resumed, Jim Olsen was on the point. Olsen held on until the white flag flew when Dave Horning, Jr. was able to grab the lead and continued on to the checker and the $400 bonus money.
The Street Stock B feature was led to the green by Ed Bradt. Bradt led for the first three circuits when eventual winner, Dave Bayes took over. Bayes was never seriously challenged and led the field to the checker followed by Rob VanAernam, Ed Bradt, Keith Ackerknecht and Dan Rickard.
Modified Heat winners: Matt DeLorenzo, Mike Romano and Bobby Varin, The consi wins went to Tony Pepicelli and Alton Palmer.
Modified finish (30 laps) 1. MIKE ROMANO, 2) Bobby Varin, 3) Dave Lape, 4) Bobby Albert, 5) Ronnie Holmes, 6) Tim Clemons, 7) Ken Hanson, 8) Frank Hoard, 9) Rick Mill, 10) Lee Nutting, 11) Craig Criscone, 12) David Towns, 13) Seth Gano, 14) Matt DeLorenzo, 15) Alton Palmer, 16) Bob Savoie, 17) Floyd Billington, 18) Bob Vedder, 19) Dave Mattison, 20) Ray Hoard, 21) Jason Becker, 22) David Peek, 23) Dave Sargent, 24) John Marsh, 25) Jerry Pennock, Jr., 26) Bob Sitterly, 27) Tony Pepicelli, 28) John Kollar, 29) A. J. Romano, 30) Paul Luskin.
Sportsman Heat winners: Frank Hoard, Jr., Jeff Holt and John McAuliffe. The consi wins went to Mike Ketchum and Joe Rando.
Sportsman finish (20 laps) 1. FRANK HOARD, JR., 2) Jim Davis, 3) Drew Fallis, 4) Jeff Holt, 5) John McAuliffe, 6) Mike Ballestero, 7) Steve Akers, 8) Tony Farone, 9) Joe Rando, 10) Bobby Hackel, 11) Ray Zemken, 12) John LeClair, 13) Ryan Odasz, 14) Frank Greco, 15) Mike Fraiser, 16) Jeremiah Munson, 17) Craig Boehler, 18) Joe Geniti, 19) Tim Mayne, 20) Paul Cirincione, 21) John Constantino, 22) Mike Ketchum, 23) Rich Wozniak, 24) Nick Nichols, 25) Eddie SanSoucie, 26) Jeff Jones.
Pro Stock Heat winners: Jim Burton, Brian Jordan, and Mark Sullivan.
Pro Stock finish (20 laps) 1. ROB NOVICZSKI, 2) Chris Morris, 3) Ken Gates, 4) Steve Welch, 5) Jim Burton, 6) Nick Stone, 7) Phlan Hart, 8) Jim Duncan, 9) Dave Viall, 10) Jim Normoyle, 11) Hondo Carpenter, 12) Luke Klob, 13) Chuck McSpirit, 14) Steve Burega, 15) Brian Jordan, 16) Tom LaPlante, 17) Kerry Jordan, 18) Steve Cosselman, 19) Evan Crahan, 20) Bubba Tanner, 21) Mark Sullivan, 22) Mike Noble, 23) Mike Fritz, 24) Wayne Oliver, 25) Steve Jazebowski, 26) Steve Skinner, 27) Dan Tuthill.
IMCA Heat winners: George Catanzano and Kevin Buff
IMCA Modified finish (15 laps) 1. DAN BALLARD, 2) Steve Hough, 3) Kevin Priest, 4) Kevin Buff, 5) Mike Bungay, 6) Joe Locorini, 7) George Proctor, 8) Bud Hernberg, 9) Aaron Jacobs, 10) George Catanzano, 11) Bill Ward, Jr., 12) Steve Bidwell, 13) Dan Krajewski, 14) Skip Pabis.
Street Stock A finish (12 laps) 1. DAVE HORNING, JR., 2) Jim Olsen, 3) Ken Barth, 4) Dave Hewitt, 5) Jerry Pepper, 6) John Babcock, 7) Joe Proctor, 8) Eric Harper, 9) Randy Cannell, 10) Paul Chichester, 11) Rod Slater, 12) Dick Nichols, 13) Don Warner, 14) Ken Hollenbeck, 15) Mark Saglimbeni, 16) Rocky Warner.
Guy Klob DQ’d for illegal carburetor
Street Stock B finish (12 laps) 1. DAVE BAYES, 2) Rob VanAernam, 3) Ed Bradt, 4) Keith Ackerknecht, 5) Dan Rickard, 6) Shawn Simmons, 7) Joe Donato, 8) Scott Wells, 9) Bob VanAernam, 10) Chris White, 11) Joe Smith, 12) Jeff Daubeic, 13) Chris Porcari, 14) John Bradt, 15) Ellis Shaffer, 16) Dan Oldick.