News Director 
Story By: STEVEN PETTY / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – The haulers and teams of the both the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series and the Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series will be coming west this coming Tuesday night for the 39th running of the Ron Martin Memorial Summer Nationals for the Modifieds, and the fourth running of the Mike Bonesky Memorial for the Sportsman.
The cars and stars of the Super DIRTcar Series will be invading Ransomville, as the Big R stars will look to defend home turf. Last season, Erick Rudolph won his second Summer Nationals, after passing 10-time Super DIRTcar Series Champion Matt Sheppard with 25 laps to go. Sheppard and 2022 race winner Mat Williamson finished in third. Stewart Friesen from Sprakers, NY has six wins in the event, with his last triumph coming in 2018. Danny Johnson also has six wins in the race. “The Doctor” is also the speedway’s All-Time Modified wins leader with 134 checkered flags at the Big R. The Ron Martin Summer Nationals marks the 40th all-time visit by the Super DIRTcar Series to Ransomville. In SDS competition at Ransomville, Brett Hearn, Bob McCreadie, Billy Decker, Danny Johnson, and Alan Johnson have four wins each. Matt Sheppard has two wins, as does Stewart Friesen. Erick Rudolph and Mat Williamson have one SDS win each at their home track.
In honor of Ron Martin and his dedication to Ransomville Speedway, the Summer Nationals was renamed to the Ron Martin Memorial Summer Nationals after his passing in early 2023. Ron was an integral part of the Ransomville Speedway family. Martin was a longtime official of the Thursday night go-kart program and was on the track prep crew for the Friday night racing program as well as Thursday nights. He was also the sponsor of his son Greg’s racing efforts with Ron Martin Motorsports. Besides working at the track, Ron was also employed by Lawta Farms and prior to that he was employed by Leaseway (Anchor Motor Freight) as a Truck Driver for 26 years, retiring in 2010. He enjoyed playing cards and spending his mornings with the “crew” at Dunkin Donuts in Ransomville. Ron was also an Exempt Member of the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Co.
The Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series will be making their 38th all-time appearance at Ransomville Speedway Tuesday night for the Mike Bonesky Memorial. The race is also round three of the Championship Series. Gavin Eisele from LaFargeville, NY comes into the event as the winner of the first two Championship Series events at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, and most recently at the Fulton Speedway. He will have to deal with Cody McPherson, the all-time series wins leader, and current Ransomville Speedway divisional points leader. The St. Catharines, Ontario driver has five Ransomville wins to his credit so far in 2024.
Scott Kerwin won the inaugural Mike Bonesky Memorial back in 2021, and Ransomville’s Brett Senek has won the past two Mike Bonesky Memorials.
Mike Bonesky lived and breathed racing. He raced in the Bomber division at Ransomville Speedway in the early 1980s. After being behind the wheel, Bonesky had a pen, paper, and eventual computer with him as he was a columnist and writer in both the Gater Racing News and Area Auto Racing News. He also spent time handling the Public Relations duties for the indoor TQ Midget races at the Niagara Falls Convention Center as well as Holland International Speedway. Most recently, Bonesky was a member of Ryan Susice’s pit crew and spent time helping his grandson Jackson’s go-kart efforts for Thursday nights at “The Little R”. Bonesky was an avid racing fan in general, as he had traveled to over 100 different tracks throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Bonesky passed away unexpectedly in December of 2020. He was a graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School and served in the United States Army.
Pit gates will open at 4pm, with grandstands opening at 5pm, with racing getting underway at 7:15pm. Grandstand admission is $30 for adults, $25 for students 12-17 and seniors 60 +. Kids 11 and under will be admitted FREE.
Ransomville Speedway will be utilizing Wednesday, August 21 as a raindate for the event if needed.
