Fonda finish
28 May 2000
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WINS TO LAPE, ZEMKEN, NOVICZSKI, BABCOCK AND BAYES AT FONDA URC WIN TO SEAN MICHAELS May 27, 2000- Fonda, NY- After taking the lead from Bobby Albert on lap 26 of the 30 lap modified feature on Saturday, Canajoharie N.Y. native, Dave Lape held off the challenges of Albert to record his 89th career win at the "Track of Champions." "I didn't think I could get him, said Lape in victory lane, but he kept hitting the bump in turn four and that's where I got him." Ray Zemken of Sprakers, NY found himself in victory lane for the first time in 10 years at the track after he bested John McAuliffe in the 20-lap sportsman main on Saturday. Rob Noviczski of Schenectady, NY became the first repeat winner in the pro-stock division at the track this season. Noviczski started 15th and moved through the fields of 26 pro stocks to record the win. John Babcock was awarded the win in the first street stock main event, after Jerry Pepper was disqualified in a post race inspection that found his street stock had an aluminum flywheel. Dave Bayes led all 12 laps of the second street stock main event to record his first ever win at Fonda Speedway. The URC Sprints made their annual stop at Fonda on Saturday and Sean Michael of Allentown, Pa. came away with the checker, his third on the season for the traveling sprinters. Heat wins in the sprints went to Dan Massey of Mt. Laurel, N.J., Sean Michael, Allentown, Pa., Todd Rittenhouse, Norristown, Pa and Tim Hogue, Medford, N.J. The B Main win went to Russ Bennett of Oakdale, Conn. Dave Sargent and Mike Fusco led the modified field of 24 cars to the green. Sargent bobbled just before the line and Fusco slipped into the lead. Bob Vedder and Frank Hoard made up the second row on the start. The 30-lap event turned into one battle after another through out the field. Before the race ended there were many lead changes. Fusco had a substantial lead until lap 12 when the second caution flag of the event flew for Randy Hotaling who was parked against the wall in the frontstretch. Mike Romano took the lead on the restart and held it for two laps when Bobby Albert shot by with his No. 333 and took the lead. It looked like the battle for the win would be between Albert and Mike Romano but coming strong from deep in the 24 car field, was Fonda veteran, Dave Lape. Lape was sticking to the bottom of the track and his No. 22 was gaining power as the laps began to wain. By lap 17 Dave Lape was third behind Mike Romano and Mike's brother A. J. was quickly gaining. Just before the final caution lap, Lape grabbed the lead from Albert on the backstretch. Albert did not give up easy. Albert fought back trying everything he could to hold on but Lape was not to be denied his 89th win at the track. Jack Johnson returned to the track with his own No. 12A. He was moving steadily through the field when the rear end locked causing him to spin in turn four, bringing out the yellow flag on lap 24. A.J. Romano made a final bid for the lead on the final restart and was able to slip by brother Mike for third. This left Mike and Ronnie Holmes fighting for fourth and fifth position. Bobby Albert, A. J. Romano, Mike Romano and Ronnie Holmes followed Lape across the line. Modified heat wins went to Ronnie Holmes, Bobby Albert, and Bobby Varin with the consolation win going to John Marsh. In sportsman action, Ray Zemken survived the three yellow flags of the event and held off the late race challenges of John McAuliffe to record his first win of the season. The hot shoes were in the top five for the final laps and McAuliffe, Mike Ballestero, Ryan Odasz, and Rich Wozniak followed Zemken to the checker. Odasz was disqualified at the scales for being light and this moved Jeff Holt into the top five. Sportsman heat wins went to Ray Zemken, Eddie SanSouci, and Mike Ballestero. The two consi wins went to Joe Rando and Ryan Odasz. The pro stocks again began their feature with a scramble for the green as Joe Duncan, Hondo Carpenter and Luke Klob charged down the frontstretch. Duncan led the first two laps. Hondo took over on the first restart. Several caution flags slowed the action throughout the event. Eventual winner, Rob Noviczski started deep in the pack due to his prior week win. Noviczski took advantage of every restart and had his No. 221 in striking position of leader Hondo Carpenter on lap 14. Point leader Ken Gates was on a steady charge through the field and finished sixth at the checker. The red No. 1 of 1999 Point Champion, Steve Welch, was chasing Noviczski. Welch made moves to the inside of Noviczski on the frontstretch but Noviczski proved to have the more powerful car. Noviczski became the first repeat winner in the pro stocks this season. Welch, Carpenter, Morris and Tanner completed the top five. Pro stock qualifying events went to Joe Duncan, Ken Gates, and Hondo Carpenter. In Street Stock "A" Jerry Pepper shot from 11th place and survived a caution to take the lead on lap nine. Pepper took the trophy and the checker but was disqualified at the tech area for an illegal flywheel giving the win to second place finisher, John Babcock. Dave Bayes led at the green and held off all challengers to take his first ever win the Street Stock "B" main event. Modified finish (30 laps) 1. DAVE LAPE, 2) Bobby Albert, 3) A. J. Romano, 4) Mike Romano, 5) Ronnie Holmes, 6) Bobby Varin, 7) Alton Palmer, 8) Mike Fuscon, 9) Frank Hoard, 10) Matt DeLorenzo, 11) Bob Vedder, 12) Dave Sargent, 13) Harry Shaffer, 14) Mike Dillenbeck, 15) Ken Hanson, 16) Tony Pepicelli, 17) Brian Purdy, 18) Bob Savoie, 19) Jack Johnson, 20) Bob Sitterly, 21) Jerry Pennock, Jr., 22) Randy Hotaling, 23) John Marsh, 24) Craig Criscone. Sportsman finish (20 laps) 1) RAY ZEMKEN, 2) John McAuliffe, 3) Mike Ballestero, 4) Rich Wozniak, 5) Jeff Holt, 6) Eddie SanSouci, 7) Jim Davis, 8) Steve Akers, 9) Joe Rando, 10) Frank Hoard, Jr., 11) Craig Boehler, 12) Mike Ketchum, 13) Johnny LeClair, 14) Drew Fallis, 15) Jeff Jones, 16) John Constantino, 17) Frank Greco, 18) Bob Rees, 19) Tim Mayne, 20) Bobby Hackel, 21) Jeremiah Munson, 22) Joe Geniti, 23) Tony Farone, 24) Mike Frasier, 25) Robert Perry. DQ Ryan Odasz (weight) Pro-Stock finish (20 laps) 1) ROB NOVICZSKI, 2) Steve Welch, 3) Hondo Carpenter, 4) Chris Morris, 5) Bubba Tanner, 6) Ken Gates, 7) Frank Twing, 8) Nick Stone, 9) Jim Normoyle, 10) Dave Viall, 11) Jim Duncan, 12) Steve Burega, 13) Mike Noble, 14) Joe DiSieno, 15) Luke Klob, 16) Phlan Hart, 17) Joe Duncan, 18) Chuck McSpirit, 19) Geoff Manning, 20) Tom LaPlante, 21) Evan Crahan, 22) Jeff Patrick, 23) Jim Burton, 24) Jay Resch, 25) Kerry Jordan, 26) Brian Jordan, 27) Mark Sullivan. Street Stock "A" finish (12 laps) 1) JOHN BABCOCK, 2) Randy Cannell, 3) Paul Chichester, 4) Guy Klob, 5) Ken Barth, 6) Shawn Simmons, 7) Lester Moore, 8) Eric Harper, 9) Dave Horning, Jr., 10) John Johnson, 11) Dick Nichols, 12) Donnie Oldick, 13) Charles Krause. DG Jerry Pepper (aluminum fly wheel) Street Stock "B" finish (12 laps) 1) DAVE BAYES, 2) Skip Pabis, 3) Jim Olson, 4) Bob VanAernam, 5) Rob VanAernam, 6) Scott Well, 7) Rocky Warner, 8) Mark Saglimbeni, 9) Don Warner, 10) Ellis Shaffer, 11) Keith Ackerknecht, 12) Mike Walters, 13) Andrew Snider.