Independence Day Tradition “The Firecracker 50” Set For Fonda Speedway On Wednesday Evening

Story By: RON SZCZERBA / FONDA SPEEDWAY – FONDA, NY – Many different sports have their so called “signature or crown jewel” events on their schedules. The “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway is no exception. On Wednesday, July 2, the historic Montgomery County Fairgrounds track comes alive with the first Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By GoSunoco visit of 2025.

The STSS Modifieds of the HYTORC of New York North Region are set for a 50-lap, $7,776-to-win event offering $1,000 for 10th and $500 to take the green flag plus special awards and bonuses. STSS Sportsman battle 30 laps with $1,776 on the line, competing for Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. North Region points.

Both the STSS Modifieds and Sportsman North Region title fights have a single event in the books during a rain-marred spring: Vt.’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the Modifieds and N.Y.’s Brookfield Speedway for the Sportsman. Mat Williamson is the current STSS North Region point leader while Butchie Irwin leads the STSS North Region point standings.

The Fonda Fair Four Cylinders will also be in competition with extra money on the line for both DOHC & SOHC classes including $300 to win to both Dual and Single Cam ($150 each from the speedway, $150 each from KKH Auto Sales), $100 bonuses for the second Single and Dual Cam drivers across the finish line from Cobleskill Collision, and $50 bonuses for the drivers finishing second through fifth overall from KKH Auto Sales.

The Online Performance/Stone Motorsports Street Stocks will make their second appearance of the season on “Firecracker 50” Wednesday in a $500 to win event with a bonus from the Junk Couple for the lap one leader who will receive $20 courtesy of The Junk Couple.

Since 2019, the “Firecracker 50” has been an annual summer stop for the STSS at Fonda. Stewart Friesen won the first four editions of the event, while Matt Sheppard snagged the most recent two in Modified competition. Firecracker Sportsman competition has seen five different winners: Payton Talbot (’24 and ’23), Rocky Warner (’22), Cody Clark (’21), Chad Edwards (’20) and Tim Hartman Jr. (’19).

Palmer’s Service Center will also present bonus bucks at the “Firecracker 50” event including $600 to the STSS Modified Hard Charger and $76 bonuses to the first Fonda Speedway regulars across the finish line in both the STSS Modified and Sportsman events in memory of Michael Keyser, Carole Palmer’s brother, who passed away on July 1, 1976. The weekly $100 Online Performance Parts Certificate drawings will also be paid out for drivers finishing second through 10th in the STSS Modified and Sportsman features.

This Wednesday during the STSS “Firecracker 50” the inaugural “Slow Down Move Over Dash” for the 602 crate sportsman will be held sponsored by Holmes & Kugler Towing. There will be payouts throughout the eight car field including hard charger and first on the hook. Two drivers will be drawn at random after each STSS Sportsman heat race to compete in the event and those drivers will redraw for starting positions in the dash lineup.

Sponsors the “Slow Down Move Over Dash” with $3,200 available in prize money for the event include Holmes & Kugler Towning (first place $1,000), AC’s (second place $500), Capital Hauling (third place $300), M.W. Roosevelt (fourth place $400), Interstate Northeast (fifth place $200), Tow Away (sixth place $200), Essentials (seventh place $150), and Ligget’s Towing (eighth place $150). Guilderland Towing will sponsor a $200 Hard Charger Award while Wilson’s Towing will present $100 to the first car on the hook or last place.

In the history of 50 lap events or longer at Fonda, there have been a total of 68 different winning drivers in a total of 289 modified (both big and small block) feature events from 1953-2024.

They include Lou Lazzaro who leads the way with 32 victories followed by Jack Johnson with 29; Brett Hearn with 21, Dave Lape with 20; Stewart Friesen with 15, Mike Romano with 11; C.D. Coville with 10; Ken Shoemaker and Alan Johnson with nine, Jimmy Horton, Danny Johnson, Doug Hoffman, and Bobby Varin with eight; Steve Danish, Bill Wimble, and Matt Sheppard with six; Pete Corey and Rene Charland, with five; Harry Peek, Bob McCreadie, and Pat Ward with four; Jeep Herbert and Matt DeLorenzo with three; Ed Ortiz, Jerry Cook, Will Cagle, Gary Balough, Charlie Rudolph, Billy Pauch, Kevin Collins, Tim McCreadie, Billy Decker, and Mike Mahaney all with two wins apiece.

Drivers with one feature win in 50-lap events include George Gallup, Jim Luke, Don Hendenberg, Irv Taylor, Cliff Kotary, Tom Kotary, Buck Holliday, Ernie Gahan, Ron Narducci, Jerry Pennock, Lee Millington, Maynard Forrette, Buzzie Reutimann, Ralph Holmes, Dave Pelczar, Dave Buanno, Jim Winks, Wayne Reutimann, Pep Pepicelli, Tom Wilson, Tim Dwyer, Kenny Brightbill, AJ Romano, Jeff Trombley, Steve Paine, Kenny Tremont Jr., Mitch Gibbs, Tony Pepicelli, Bob Savoie, Larry Wight, Craig Hanson, Ronnie Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Justin Boehler, and Tim Fuller.

If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out the history of the Fonda Speedway at the Fonda Speedway Museum & Hall of Fame which is located on the Fonda Fairgrounds at the rear of the parking area going down towards turn four. The museum is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on race days and admission is free!

Fonda Speedway weekly feature winners, their race teams, and sponsors are invited the following week to display their cars at the museum and watch their feature win on Flo before the races. The victorious car display can begin as early as 3:00, and you are welcome to arrive and stay as late as your schedule allows.

Please message the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum Facebook page to RSVP or with any questions!

COMPLETE LIST OF BONUS MONEY AVAILABLE ON “FIRECRACKER 50” NIGHT AT FONDA

MODIFIED

American Racer Tires Bonus: Drivers finishing 6-10th and 11th-15th are entered into drawings to win a certificate for a FREE American Racer tire courtesy of American Racer and regional distributor Lias Tire of Indiana, Pa.

ATL Racing Fuel Cells ‘Hot Lap Hero:’ At every STSS event in 2025, the fastest driver in Dirt Draft Hot Laps will receive a $100 bonus courtesy of ATL Fuel Cells.

Beyea Headers Redraw Bonus: The STSS Modified driver picking the worst number in the redraw will receive $50 courtesy of Beyea Custom Headers.

Emerick Associates Heat Winners: All STSS Modified heat winners will receive $50 courtesy of Emerick Associates in Cohoes, N.Y.

Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Bonus: The driver finishing 11th in every STSS Modified event will receive a $50 certificate courtesy of Henry’s Exhaust of Clay, N.Y.

MD3 Most Laps Led Award: The driver leading the most laps in every STSS Modified event will receive a $100 certificate courtesy of MD3, the premier dirt racing body panels.

Michael Keyser Memorial Top Fonda Speedway Regular Bonus: The highest-finishing Fonda Speedway regular will receive $76 in memory of Michael Keyser courtesy of Carole Palmer. Michael was Carole’s brother: he passed away on July 1, 1976.

Online Performance Parts Certificate: A driver finishing second through 10th will receive a certificate for $100 for Online Performance Parts courtesy of Palmer’s Service Center and Jamie and Denise Page. The recipient will be determined by a drawing in Victory Lane.

PEM Third-Place Bonus: The driver finishing third in every STSS Modified event receives a certificate for a FREE PEM 650 series Premium LW Polished Quick Change Gear Set, a value of $151.95.

Palmer’s Service Station Hard Charger Award: The driver advancing the most positions from their scheduled starting position to the finish of the ‘Firecracker 50’ will receive $600 courtesy of Palmer’s Service Station in Howes Cave, N.Y.

Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: The drivers finishing first, second and third, respectively, will receive certificates for $150, $100, $75 respectively, during the entire Short Track Super Series courtesy of Penske Racing Shocks of Reading, Pa.

Swift Springs Hard Luck Award: The Hard Luck Award recipient each night selected by Short Track Super Series officials will receive a certificate for a FREE spring courtesy of Swift Springs in Corona, Calif.

Wilwood Disc Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus: The drivers finishing seventh will receive a $100 certificate for Wilwood Disc Brakes.

SPORTSMAN

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus: Drivers finishing 6-10th are entered into drawings to win a certificate for a FREE American Racer tire courtesy of American Racer and regional distributor Lias Tire of Indiana, Pa.

Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus: The STSS Sportsman driver picking the worst number will receive $25 courtesy of Beyea Custom Headers.

JLR Technologies & Bloomfield’s Florist ‘Hot Lap Hero:’ The fastest STSS Sportsman driver in Dirt Draft Hot Laps will receive a $100 bonus courtesy of JLR Technologies and Bloomfield’s Florist.

Henry’s Exhaust Bonus: The driver finishing 11th in every STSS Sportsman event will receive a $50 certificate courtesy of Henry’s Exhaust of Clay, N.Y.

Holmes and Kugler’s Towing Slow Down, Move Over Dash: Eight drivers drawn at random, 6 laps, $3,200 in cash to be distributed to racers!

Michael Keyser Memorial Top Fonda Speedway Regular Bonus: The highest-finishing Fonda Speedway regular will receive $76 in memory of Michael Keyser courtesy of Carole Palmer. Michael was Carole’s brother: he passed away on July 1, 1976.

Online Performance Parts Certificate: A driver finishing second through 10th will receive a certificate for $100 for Online Performance Parts courtesy of Palmer’s Service Center and Jamie and Denise Page. The recipient will be determined by a drawing in Victory Lane.

Swift Springs Hard Luck Award: The Hard Luck Award recipient each night selected by Short Track Super Series officials will receive a certificate for a FREE spring courtesy of Swift Springs in Corona, Calif.

Greco’s NAPA Hard Charger Award – $100 gift certificate to Greco’s NAPA to the Hard Charger of the Sportsman feature event.

STREET STOCK

The Junk Couple Lap One Leader: The leader of lap one in the Street Stock feature will receive $20 courtesy of The Junk Couple!

FOUR CYLINDER

KKH Auto Sales Bonuses: The Four Cylinder Dual and Single Cam winners will each receive $150, with $50 each going to the second through fifth-place finishers.

Cobleskill Collision Runner-Up Bonuses: The second Dual and Single Cam drivers across the line will receive $100 courtesy of Cobleskill Collision.