Mr Asphalt Paving And Sealcoating Presents The Bill Ag Memorial Modified Elimination Races this Saturday, May 2 at Fonda
COLUMN BY: Ron Szczerba – FONDA SPEEDWAY – FONDA, NY – This Saturday, May 2 MR Asphalt Paving and Sealcoating will present the Bill Ag Memorial Modified Elimination Race. All regular divisions will also be in feature action along with the Bill Ag Modified Elimination Races. The format/rules and a complete list of Bill Ag Elimination event sponsors are mentioned at the bottom of this press release.
All regular divisions will be in action on Saturday, May 2 including the Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds, the Swagger Factory Apparel Sportsman, the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks, the Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman, and the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders.
With colder temperatures predicted for this weekend, we will extend our April time schedule into the first week in May with early pit pass sales at 1:00 p.m., all gates opening at 3:00 p.m., hot laps at 5:00 p.m., and racing at 6:00 p.m.
A special event on the racing program called the “Bill Ag Modified Elimination Races” will honor the late Bill Anagnostopoulos, a fan and racer favorite, contested at the speedway each year in memory of Bill Agnagnostopulos, the late owner of the Winner’s Circle restaurant in Fonda and a man who lived and breathed racing.
Bill was a great friend to racing and sponsored many drivers at the speedway through the years and sponsored events at the track as well. On a typical Saturday evening, he would get away from the restaurant to attend the races at Fonda where he had many friends in both the pit area and the grandstands.
Ten previous Bill Ag Modified Elimination races have been held with Ronnie Johnson leading the way with four wins in the event back in 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2023. Other single event winners include Bobby Varin (2014), Tim Fuller (2018), Stewart Friesen (2019), Demetrios (2022), Rocky Warner (2024), and Jack Lehner (2025). No event was held in 2015 and 2020.
Perhaps the most interesting quote about the unique Bill Ag event was made by Tim Fuller after he won the event back in 2018:
“When Josh (Hohenforst) got lane choice for the last race I thought that I was in trouble,” Tim Fuller said after his win in 2018. “I was real concerned because he is fast here at Fonda on a heavy track. This event is a little different, it has a lot of pizzazz, and racing needs more of that.”
An award given during the event called the “Bill Ag Award” is given in Bill’s memory to recognize a driver who races every Saturday night, loves racing, works hard, has a great attitude, and doesn’t have a lot of sponsors. Previous winners of that award are Rich Christman (2021), Brian Pessolano (2022), Pep Corradi (2023), Brian Calabrese (2024), and JaMike Sowle (2025). The award will be presented this year to Kevin & Megan Myers.
This year’s Bill Ag event will carry the following format/rules:
- Random draw done by each heat race winner to determine who is in the elimination race.
- Elimination drivers will each pick a hat donated by Driven Design and Embroidery. The two hats numbered (1 and 2) will compete in the first elimination race. The two drivers will stop on the front stretch and driver one will draw to determine lane choice.
- Each elimination race is 2 laps in distance.
- Each driver will go over the scales prior to starting the elimination race.
- Drivers will be lined up on the drag strip in front of the grandstand.
- The winning driver of each round will stop on the track at the start/finish line and choose their next challenger and what lane they are going to start from. Challenger will enter the track and stop at the start/finish line alongside his competitor.
- Starts will take place at a random spot on the track called over the radio.
- If a driver jumps the start twice during an elimination race, they will be disqualified.
- The winning driver of an elimination race keeps money won from each elimination race.
- It is not a winner take all event.
- Drivers are asked to return to the drag strip after being eliminated for victory lane photos.
2026 BILL AG ELIMINATION SPONSORS
Round 1 -$700
Brian Wisler – Mac Tools $200
Macek’s Garage -$200
Ken Hanson Paving, Inc. – $100
Chrissy Ag – $100
In Memory of Wayne Hazzard – $50
Mike & Trina Sweeney – $50
Round 2 – $800
Chris & Erin Abele -$200
DVR Portables – $100
Royal Mountain Ski Area – $100
Chrissy Ag – $100
One Zee Tees – $100
MTB Sealcoating – $100
Corbett Family – $50
Alan Hosbach -$50
Round 3- $901
Mikey & Alex Jackson – $301
Pro-Tech Scale Service – $250
Sherry & Eric Gifford – $200
Chrissy Ag – $100
In Memory of Amsterdam Fire Department Battalion Chief J. Michael Mancini – $50
Round 4- $1,000
Happy Harry Shaffer & Shelly – $350
Auspelmyer Excavating & Paving -$250
Integra Race Shocks/ Race Prep Shock Service – $200
Chrissy Ag – $100
Louise & Tom Carville $100
Final Round – $1,100
Tadd Parks – $500
Online Performance Parts -$200
Chase Moran Racing – $200
Chrissy Ag – $100
Lisa & Tim VanAernam – $100
Elimination Awards – $100 Each
Mark Siegenthaler – 1st driver eliminated
Chad Edwards – 2nd driver eliminated
Fonda Speedway 50/50 Ladies – 3rd driver eliminated
Mimi Lazzaro – 4th driver eliminated
Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds – 5th driver eliminated
Fastest Elimination Race lap
Larry Wrobel – $100
Trophy for Bill Ag Final Round Winner
JK Signworks
Bill Ag Hats for drivers
Driven Design & Embroidery
Bill Ag Award is given in Bill’s memory to recognize a driver who races every Saturday night, loves racing, works hard, has a great attitude, and doesn’t have a lot of sponsors.
Kevin & Megan Myers – $200
Hot Lap Hero (Fastest Modified in Hot laps)
Dirt Modified Nostalgia Tour – $100
Heat Race Winners
Andy’s Speed Shop – $100 Gift Certificate
Feature
1st Modified Driver on the Hook – $100 Holmes and Kugler Towing
Leader Lap 1 – $100 – One Zee Tees
3rd place on lap 3 – $100 – 33 Race Products LLC
12th place on lap 5 – $100 – Out of the Fast Lane Podcast
Leader of lap 13 – $130 – MaryLou Coughlin – In Memory of Timmy Coughlin
Halfway Leader – $100 – Louise & Tom Carville / Rick & Hope Case
2nd place finish – $100 – Todd & Faye Winsman – In Memory of Jay Dufel
3rd place finish – $100 – Louise & Tom Carville
4th place finish – $100 – Chrissy Ag- In Memory of Bill Ag
5th place finish – $100 – Mark & Gina Hadcock – In Memory of Garrett Hadcock
6th place finish – $100 – Carole & Alton Palmer- In Memory of Ed Keyser
7th place finish – $100 – Chrissy Ag- In Memory of Bill Ag
8th place finish – $100 – Chrissy Ag – In Memory of Bill Ag
9th place finish – $100 – Kelley Keefe – In Memory of Bob James
10th place finish – $100 – Lou Romano & Family
11th place finish – $111 – Chrissy Ag- In Memory of Steve Bidwell
12th place finish – $100 – In Memory of Wayne Hazzard
13th place finish – $100 – Mike & Sue Dennie
14th place finish – $100 – M2 Metals
15th place finish – $100 – Scott & Kim Chirichio
16th place finish – $100 – Chrissy Ag – In Memory of Bill Ag
17th place finish – $100 – Melita Family
18th place finish – $100 – Rodd & Rachel Hicks
19th place finish – $100 – Tim & Kelly Jo Fraiser / Nick & Peg DiGiacomo
20th place finish – $100 – Ken Hanson Paving, Inc.
21st place finish – $100 – Wheel People with Ed Lamberton
22nd place finish – $100 – Chris Furnare & Family
23rd place finish – $100 – Mike & Diane Scott
24th place finish – $150 – Greg Clute
25th place finish – $100 – Missy & Joel Hale / Sherry Boynton & Glenn Saltsman
26th place finish – $100 – Mike & Diane Scott
Last Driver on the lead lap – $100 – Koozie Korner
1st driver one lap down – $100 – One Zee Tees
Hard Charger – $100 – Greco Racing – Forever 12 In Memory of Lucas Polsinelli
Hard Luck Award – $250 -Zilles Racing
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!
All Fonda Speedway events are broadcast LIVE on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv).
The “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing for 75 years. The speedway operates 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.
Fonda Speedway is on the web at www.thefondaspeedway.com. To learn more, call the office at 518.915.4395, like Fonda Speedway on Facebook or follow the speedway on Twitter: @thefondaspdwy or Instagram: @fondaspeedway.
