News Director 
Story By: RON SZCZERBA / FONDA SPEEDWAY – FONDA, NY – Continuing on the tradition of special events that has become a common occurrence in 2019 at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway under the direction of the BD Motorsports Media management team of Brett Deyo and his staff, this Saturday, June 29 will be no different as not one but two special events are on the schedule along with racing in all divisions for an unbelievable admission price of only $5!
The 5th Annual Bill Ag Match Race event for the Sunoco Modifieds in Memory of the late Bill Anagnostopulos will take place at Fonda this Saturday along with the 15th Annual Hondo Classic for the Algonkin Motel Pro Stocks in Memory of the late Hondo Carpenter.
Both events, unique in their own way, will be held along with a full schedule of racing for the Sunoco Modifieds, the Swagger Factory Apparel 602 Crate Sportsman ($1,000 to win thanks to Eric Orozco Racing), the Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman, and the Trackside Body Works Street Stocks.
The entire racing program will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be presented by School House Pools in Amsterdam, NY.
Bill Ag was a great friend to racing and to many of the drivers in the pit area at the Fonda Speedway. Proof of that is the racing memorabilia that he has on display in the Winners Circle Restaurant, just around the corner from the speedway. Bill also did a lot for my wife Bonnie and I, we actually had our wedding reception at his establishment 10 years ago.
The Hondo Classic is named for Hondo Carpenter, a popular competitor in the division who lost his life in an ATV accident on July 4, 2005. Each year dozens of supporters of this event contribute to the bonus money that is awarded along with the track purse. According to the competitors, the money is always welcome but the big draw to the event is the bragging rights.
The First Annual Hondo Classic was won by Jim Burton in 2006. Nick Stone is a four-time winner of the event in 2007, 2008, 2016, & 2017 while Kenny Gates is a three-time winner of the event in 2009, 2015, & 2018. Pete Broderson is a two-time winner in 2012 & 2014 while Chip Smith (2010), Rob Yetman (2011), and Kenny Martin, Jr (2013) each have one win along with Burton.
Each year, the organizers Kelley & Kaitlyn Keefe are asked when the last “Hondo Classic” will be and they respond with “as long as there is interest from the racers and support from the sponsors, we will keep it going”. We still miss Hondo every day. He loved the pro stock division and so do we. I guess that means no end is in sight.”
My personal connection to Hondo was when I was without a job many years ago and he took me on as an employee at the glass company that he worked for at the time. He helped me out at the time I needed it most as he has done with many other people as well, both personally and in racing. It is surely something that I will never forget as we honor his memory again this Saturday.
Since 1953, the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. Now under the management of BD Motorsports Media LLC, the speedway will operate weekly on Saturday nights from April through August plus several special events. Fonda Speedway is located on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds off New York State Thruway Exit No. 28 at 21 S. Bridge Street Fonda, NY 12068.
