News Director 
Column By: RAY ROGERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – Saturday afternoon I made my way back to the Fonda Speedway after a three-week hiatus and what a great day for racing it was.
On tap was a full card of racing and the Grandaddy Don Warner Memorial 50-lap GRIT Sportsman main event.
A stellar field of 48 Sportsman filled the pit area Saturday night along with a full field of Modifieds, Pro Stocks, and Street Stocks.
The Sportsman heats races were claimed by Nic Scavia, Joe Orlando, Aaron Burton, Rocky Warner and Willy Decker Sr. Consi winners were David Schilling and Connor Cleveland.
Modified Heat race winners where Darwin Greene, Danny Varin, and Rocky Warner, making his first start in the Jake Spraker Big Block.
Chuck Dumblewski and Josh Coonradt took the top spots in the Pro Stock heats.
Joey Wilson was Saturday’s Street stock feature winner.
Ivan Joslin snagged the lead early in the Pro Stock feature and went on to take the checkers for the third time this season at Fonda. Kenny Gates, Dumblewski, AJ Walters and Cassidy Wilson rounded out the top Five.
The GRIT Sportsman took to the speedway next for 50 laps in honor of Don Warner, a lifelong race fan, father, and friend to many at the ‘Track of Champions.’
Don’s son, Rocky, would take the lead early but Chad Edwards had other plans. He took the top spot from Rocky and would not be denied of this win…one he will cherish for years to come.
Warner would settle for second with Nick Scavia third, JaMike Sowle fourth and Willy Decker Sr. fifth.
Bobby Varin was the class of the modified field for the third time this season Saturday at the ‘Track of Champions. His son, the hard-charging Danny Varin, would fight his way to second. Josh Hohenforst collected another top five finish I. Third. Shaun Pangman and Jimmy Davis would complete the top five spots.
After the action wrapped up on the track, I made my way to the pit area to catch up with Chad Edwards to see just how special this win was.
“Don was like a father to me,” he said. “He was my mentor and a role model. This one means a lot I could not be happier.”
I also stopped to congratulate Bobby Varin on another win.
“It was all the Shock Doctor tonight,” he said with a big grin. “The car was just great!”
Varin currently sits fourth on the all-time Modified win list with 58 at the ‘Track of Champions’ and shows no sign of slowing down.
On my way out of the track, I stopped and sat in the now dark grandstands as I often do. I got to thinking, It seems like only yesterday I was strolling through the gates of the Fonda Speedway on a cool, April day. That first night of the season, Justin Boehler would claim the first Big block win of his career. Later in the season, Tim Fuller and Mike Maresca would also become first-time winners at the track.
The 2017 season would see seven different winners in the Big Block division with Stewart Friesen leading the way with six victories. Jeremy Wilder and Josh Hoenforst had two wins a piece. Bobby Varin had three on the season. Darwin Greene, Maresca and Fuller also had single wins, however, Fuller would be a model of consistency. He completed every lap and was a contender all season. In turn, that consistency earned him the 2017 Modified championship.
Rocky Warner was simply Mr. Smooth all season, picking up seven wins and another Track champions in his Jake Spraker-owned machine. The Ssportsman division had 15 different winners with Cody Clark scoring two and a long list of others, including very popular first career wins for Harry Shaffer and Aaron Burton.
The Sportsman division proved to be one of the toughest all season with great shows each week.
Kenny Gates continued his winning ways in the Pro Stocks this season with six visits to Checkered Board Square, paving the way to another track championship. Luke Horning and Ivan Joslin both posted three wins while Nick Stone ‘Parked It’ twice this year. Jim Normoyle, Dennis Joslin, Chuck Dumblewski all scored single wins.
It’s hard to believe that Thunder along the Mohawk weekend is upon us. Yet I can’t help but be excited that the rock stars and race cars of the Super DIRTcar Series will be in town along with the KIng of Dirt Racing Series. The Kramer Williamson Memorial Sprint car event Ana the DIRTcar Pro Stocks are on tap as well. It’s gonna be a fantastic weekend at The Track Of Champions.
Everything kicks off Friday at 7pm with King of Dirt 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar / KOD Sportsman, Open Pro Stock Feature (DIRTCar Rules in effect), CRSA Sprints, Street Stocks and Modified warm-ups for anyone looking for some track time.
The night will be completed with the Moonshine Junkies performing in the entertainment building.
Then on Saturday, the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds will take to the famed 1/2 mile as well as a DIRTcar Series event for the Pro Stocks. Also on the card will be the Kramer Willaimson Memorial, which will feature drivers from the URC, PST, and ESS. The Street Stocks are also racing.
It’s gonna be a great way to close out the 2017 season at Fonda and I hope to see ya there!
