Fonda Speedway To Start ’25 With Car Show; 358’s Back This Season; Bonuses To Be Paid
Story By: RON SZCZERBA / FONDA SPEEDWAY – FONDA, NY – With the annual awards banquet concluding the 2024 season at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway a couple of weeks ago, the stage is now set for the first event on the 2025 calendar to start the 74th year of competition at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds track.
The annual car show takes place at Viaport Rotterdam on Friday-Sunday March 21-23 with cars moving into the mall on Thursday, March 20 and moving out at the close of business on Sunday. If you plan on attending the car show, please contact Jamie Page at jpage15@stny.rr.com in order to register your car.
The Fonda Speedway will have a table set up at the show with new style t-shirts on hand for sale along with other items as well including 2025 schedules.
Kelley Keefe and Mark (Krash) Krosky will also have a table set up at the show, selling sponsorships for the Hondo Classic and the “highest paying dash for cash in the country” the BOBCO Memorial Dash for Cash, both events for the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stock division. The date for the Hondo Classic/BOBCO Memorial Dash for Cash is Saturday, July 26.
358-MODIFIEDS ARE BACK AT FONDA FOR THE 2025 SEASON
The 358-Modifieds are a big part of the history of the “Track of Champions”, running for many years from 1988-1990 and then from 1993-2018. There have been eight different championship winning drivers in nine total championship seasons for the 358-Modified division at Fonda including Matt DeLorenzo (2004, 2006), Tim Dwyer (1995), 1996-1998 (No Champions Were Declared), Jack Cottrell (1999), Mike Romano (2000), Ron Holmes (2001), Craig Criscone (2002), Brian Borst (2003), and Ray Zemken (2005).
The Fonda Speedway All-Time 358-Modified win list includes 20 different winning drivers in a total of 35 feature events run. Brett Hearn leads the way with seven wins on the list followed by Mike Romano with five wins; Ronnie Holmes with three wins; Kenny Tremont Jr., Alan Johnson, and Matt DeLorenzo all with two wins apiece.
Single event wins have also gone to Dave Camara, Tim Clemons, Kevin Collins, Billy Gray, Robbie Green, Steve Paine, Mike Ricci, AJ Romano, Bob Savoie, Jeff Trombley, Pat Ward, Jack Johnson, Bobby Varin, and Stewart Friesen.
The two 358-Modified events at Fonda will be run on Wednesday, May 14 (The River Rage) and Saturday, July 26 as part of the special “Hondo Classic/BOBCO Memorial Dash racing program.
BONUSES TO BE PAID OUT
For many years now, Frank & Jason Greco of Greco’s NAPA Auto & Truck Parts, which is located at 6014 NY Rt. 5 in Palantine Bridge NY, have presented the Greco’s NAPA Hard Charger Award to the driver who advances the most positions in both the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman division and the Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman division feature events on a weekly basis.
During the 2024 racing season in the Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman division the Greco’s NAPA Hard Charger $100 award was given out during each of the 14 events held with the winners of the award including Blaine Klinger three times; Brendan Gibbons two times; Clayton DuMond, Kadon Hohensheldt, Gary Edwards, Stephen Gray, Payton Talbot, Tyler Peet, Butchie Irwin, Jonny Feagles, and Chad Edwards all winning it once.
During the 2024 season in the Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman division the Greco’s NAPA Hard Charger $50 award was given out during each of the 13 events held with the winners of the award including AJ Greco, Shawn Gibbons, and Corky Warner winning it two times apiece followed by Jeff Bobilin, Lance Hill, Tim Wilmot, Kirsten Swartz, Ryan Sweet, Wesley Sutliff, and Brandon Tyler all winning the award one time.
“I know it’s not much, but every little bit counts especially for the smaller Sportsman teams who really seem to appreciate it,” Jason Greco said when he started the bonus many years ago. The Greco’s NAPA Hard Charger Award is contingent on the Greco’s NAPA sticker being displayed on the race car
New for this year will be the Palmer’s Service Center Power Position Award. The winner of the first 10 Modified feature events of the season at Fonda will draw a number from 2-10 with the driver finishing in that corresponding position receiving a $100 Gift Certificate for Online Performance Parts courtesy of Carole and Alton Palmer from Palmer’s Service Center. This new program will start on Opening Night, April 19 at Fonda.
The first actual race of the season will be a special one with the running of the Jumpin’ Jack Johnson Memorial event along with all regular divisions with point set to begin that night. Winners of previous Jack Johnson Tribute/Memorial events honoring the Fonda Speedway All-Time winningest Modified driver include Mike Mahaney (2012, 2017), Stewart Friesen (2015, 2022), Tim Fuller (2018, 2023), Matt Sheppard (2016), and Rocky Warner (2021).
