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Tracks: Albert takes Mod checker at Fonda

25 June 2000

Fonda, NY- Bobby Albert of Wappinger Falls, NY survived an early race multi-car melee and picked up his first win of the season at Fonda on Saturday.

Albert a third generation driver thanked his 73-year-old grandfather for building the motor that took him to victory square. "I’m real happy to win here at the "Track of Champions," said Albert, it’s a tough place to win."

John McAuliffe was the winner in the Sportsman feature. Rob Noviczski took his third win of the season in Pro Stocks. Street Stock feature wins went to John Babcock and Jerry Pepper. The held over, rained out Street Stock feature from June 22nd was won by Dave Hewitt. An Enduro closed out the evening's racing and Mike Pfau sat in victory lane with checker and $200 in hand.

Next Saturday, July 1st, WBUG Radio will sponsor a regular show plus fireworks. Racing will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Make plans to be at the special double feature event on Friday, July 7th. Because of the rained-out 358 Mod feature this past Thursday, the race was rescheduled for Friday, July 7th and will double up the main events for the special 358 Mod Tour on that night. The regular 358 Mod event on July 7th is a Syracuse qualifier. The Sportsman and IMCA will also be in competition on July 7th.

The mod feature started with David Towns and Paul Luskin on the front row. Towns was the leader for the first three laps, when Bob Sitterly took over the top spot. Sitterly held the top spot until lap six when Alton Palmer powered by Sitterly for the lead. Palmer led for four laps constantly fighting off the challenges of eventual winner, Bobby Albert.

With ten laps complete a multi-car wreck wiped out a third of the field when David Towns spun in front of the field while exiting turn four. The cars of Towns Mike Romano, Harry Shaffer, Tim Clemons, Bob Savoie and Paul Luskin were all towed to the pit.

Albert led the restart followed closely by Palmer, Tony Pepicelli, A. J. Romano and Bob Sitterly. Racing for the next five positions was Bob Vedder at the wheel of the Ghetto No. 28, Bobby Varin, Frank Hoard, Randy Hotaling and Matt DeLorenzo.

Pepicelli moved around Palmer on the next lap. He remained there to finish second. A. J. Romano passed Alton Palmer for third, with ten laps to go. Palmer held the fourth spot until the checker. Now in the fifth position, Sitterly was locked in a battle with Varin for the spot. As the laps began to run short, Varin got by Sitterly to finish fifth. Vedder and Matt DeLorenzo got by Sitterly for sixth and seventh place. At the line Sitterly was eighth, followed by Jeff Trombley in the No. 17 and Frank Hoard who completed the top ten.

Modified heat winners were Mike Romano, Bobby Varin, and David Towns. The consolation win went to Tim Clemons.

Johnny LeClair brought the Sportsman field to the green in the sportsman main event. LeClair held on until Eddie SanSoucie took over on lap six. SanSoucie was running smooth and held the lead until John McAuliffe was able to take over on a restart when the caution came out for John Constantino who lost his motor and stopped on the backstretch.

McAuliffe went on to take his first win of the season.

Sportsman heat wins went to John LeClair, Tony Farone, Frank Hoard, Jr., and Ed SanSoucie. The consi win went to Jim Davis.

In Pro Stock action, the Duncan brothers brought the field to the green flag. Joe Duncan began to pull away from brother Jim until the first caution flag flew when Mike Fritz earned the dubious honor of being the first to hit the new concrete wall along the inside of the frontstretch. Duncan held the lead on the restart. Jim Normoyle put his No. 7N to the front on lap five. Ken Gates was now on the bumper of the Normoyle. Normoyle was able to pull away on the backstretch but Gates would catch him in the turns.

With three laps remaining, Rob Noviczski made the best of being in the right place at the right time when he squeezed by Normoyle and Gates as they began to bounce off each other on the front stretch.

Noviczski picked up the winner's share of a bonus posted by the Winner's Circle Resaturant while Gates picked up the second place amount.

Pro Stock heat winners were Joe Duncan, Nick Stone and Mike Fritz. Ken Gates picked up the win in the Pro Stock consi.

Point leader, Steve Bidwell took the win in the IMCA feature. George Proctor and Mike Bungay led the field to the green. Bungay grabbed the lead on lap two, Bidwell moved to second and Proctor was shuffled back to fourth. George Catanzano then got into the mix in the top five, setting up a battle between himself and Bidwell. Bidwell held on all the way to record the win, his second of the season.

The action in the held over Street Stock "B" feature from June 22nd was dominated by Dave Hewitt of Amsterdam, NY. Hewitt took the lead on lap one and his only serious challenge came from Jim Olsen. Hewitt continued on for his first win of the season.

Street Stock "A" winner, John Babcock moved quickly from his fifth place starting spot to take the lead on lap three of the 12-lap event. Three cautions slowed the action and closed up the field but Babcock was able to hold off all challengers for his third win of the season.

In the Street Stock "B" feature Jerry Pepper proved to be the hot one. He took the lead from Jim Olsen in a controversial incident when the yellow came out on lap four. Pepper tapped the rear of leader Jim Olsen. In accordance with the DIRT rulebook, Olsen was put to the rear for the spin. Pepper went on to win the event, his second of the season.

Modified finish (30 laps) 1. BOBBY ALBERT, 2) Tony Pepicelli, 3) A. J. Romano, 4) Alton Palmer, 5) Bobby Varin, 6) Bob Vedder, 7) Matt DeLorenzo, 8) Bob Sitterly, 9) Jeff Trombley, 10) Frank Hoard, 11) Dave Lape, 12) Randy Hotaling, 13) Harry Shaffer, 14) John Kollar, 15) Seth Gano, 16) Lee Nutting, 17) John Marsh, 18) Ken Hanson, 19) Bob Enright, 20) Craig Criscone, 21) Tim Clemons, 22) David Towns, 23) Mike Romano, 24) Paul Luskin, 25) Bob Savoie, 26) Jerry Pennock, Jr.

Pro Stock finish (20 laps) 1. ROB NOVICZSKI, 2) Hondo Carpenter, 3) Nick Stone, 4) Jeff Patrick, 5) Phlan Hart, 6) Dave Viall, 7) Mark Sullivan, 8) Jim Duncan, 9) Frank Twing, 10) Chris Morris, 11) Jay Resch, 12) Steve Burega, 13) Kerry Jordan, 14) Steve Cosselman, 15) Jim Burton, 16) Chuck McSpirit, 17) Joe DeSieno, 18) Steve Welch, 19) Jim Normoyle, 20) Luke Klob, 21) Joe Duncan, 22) Mark Lighthall, 23) Mike Fritz.

Ken Gates, DQ

Sportsman finish (20 laps) 1. JOHN MCAULIFFE, 2) Jim Davis, 3) Ed SanSoucie, 4) Johnny LeClair, 5) Ryan Odasz, 6) Tony Farone, 7) Frank Hoard, Jr., 8) Ray Zemken, 9) Bobby Hackel, 10) Drew Fallis, 11) Joe Rando, 12) Mike Fraiser, 13) Rich Wozniak, 14) Craig Boehler, 15) Jeremiah Munson, 16) Frank Greco, 17) Jeff Holt, 18) Nick Nichols, 19) Mike Ketchum, 20) Jessica Zemken, 21) John Constantino, 22) Mike Ballestero, 23) Jeff Jones, 24) Robert Perry.

IMCA Finish (15 laps) 1.STEVE BIDWELL, 2) George Catanzano, 3) Mike Bungay, 4) Steve Hough, 5) George Proctor, 6) Aaron Jacobs, 7) Bill Ward, Jr., 8) Dan Krajewski, 9) Joe Locorini, 10) Bud Hernberg.

Street Stock "B" (held over from June 22nd)(10 laps) 1. DAVE HEWITT, 2) Jim Olsen, 3) Paul Chichester, 4) Dave Bayes, 5) Rob VanAernam, 6) Jerry Pepper, 7) Rocky Warner.

Street Stock "A" finish (12 laps) 1. JOHN BABCOCK, 2) Dave Horning, Jr., 3) Guy Klob, 4) Rob VanAernam, 5) Dave Bayes, 6) Carl Biallargeon, 7) Dan Rickard, 8) Ed Bradt, 9) Shawn Simmons, 10) Paul Chichester, 11) Joe Smith, 12) Rocky Warner, 13) John Johnson.

Street Stock "B" finish (12 laps) 1. JERRY PEPPER, 2) Dick Nichols, 3) Bob VanAernam, 4) Jim Olsen, 5) Ken Barth, 6) Dave Hewitt, 7) Don Warner, 8) Ellis Shaffer, 9) Chris Porcari, 10) Joe Donato, 11) Eric Harper.