2026 Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame Inducts Newest Members
COLUMN BY: Ron Szczerba – FONDA SPEEDWAY – FONDA, NY – On Saturday, May 23 at the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame & Museum, the 2026 class was inducted into the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame. Inductees included Bob Mott, Ron Constantino, Kenny Gates, Steve Bidwell, and Bob James. Two special awards were also given to Ed Lamberton (the Bruce Dostal Award), and the Montenaro Family (the Stepping Stone Award).
It was a very special and emotional ceremony not only by the inductees, but also the people who inducted them, everyone showing emotion while talking about the accomplishments of the inductees and the special moments that racing has brought to their families.
Fonda Speedway announcer Todd Morey started the 26th Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame ceremony by saying: “this is my first time emceeing anything. I’ve announced in many other places, but Fonda will always be home to me.”
Morey then went on to introduce the President of the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame committee Joe Achzet who thanked everyone involved in the Hall of Fame including committee members and all others who have been involved in the growth of the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame from its start at the McDonald’s in Fultonville when Ed & Betty Biittig started it all many years ago.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE RON CONSTANTINO
Jaynie Corbett inducted Constantino saying: “at 12 years old Ron was a fan in turn one at the Fonda Speedway and dreamt about racing, knowing that was what he wanted to do. For all of your hard work and dedication through your career, that still continues today as you get into your vintage car, congratulations on your induction into the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame.”
“It is a privilege to be inducted into this Hall of Fame,” Constantino said. “My mother has only been to one race during my entire career, but she is here today as I am being inducted along with one of my High School teachers. Jerry Krug and I talked about getting back into racing in a vintage car and when my wife saw the car in the garage she asked who was going to race that and I said Jerry. But she knew the real answer and said if you get hurt in that car I’m going to kill you.”
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE STEVE BIDWELL
Jaynie Corbett inducted Bidwell saying: “as one of the most respected and successful drivers in the IMCA division at Fonda, welcome to the Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame.”
Steve’s uncle Dick Bidwell and crew member Leo VanSlyke accepted the induction in Steve’s honor, both saying thank you to everyone.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE BOB MOTT
Inducted by Mott’s grandson Scott Glasser and accepted by the entire Mott family.
“My grandfather was a pioneer at Fonda,” Glasser said. “In his first race as a driver at Fonda, he finished fourth but after a wreck his wife took a look at the car and said you are all done driving a race car. He was an engineer, a car builder, a car owner, and put Jeep Herbert in the car first, followed by Pete Corey. They tried to get Pete off the track with an illegal roof on the car, but my grandfather built a new coupe and Corey responded by winning a championship.”
“1957 was the last race for the #3 but Mott then built another car for Irv Taylor that later became the Drellos #111 piloted by Kenny Shoemaker,” Glasser continued. “My grandfather Bob Mott belongs in the Hall of Fame; he has been here the whole time.”
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE KENNY GATES
Inducted by his brother Steve Gates who said: “it all started here for us; mom and dad had their first date here at Fonda. Dad made us sit in turn four, the speed in turns three and four is amazing. An amazing stat for my brother was that he was in the top five in division points for 30 years.”
“But something more important than the wins and championships was that I always wanted to be like my brother, to be just like him,” Steve said. “There was seven years between us in age, but he took me everywhere with him. He was my everything. His legacy is all about helping others, a lot like our father’s was. Kenny has always been my hero.”
“he blue #35, the 35 was my brother Steve’s football number,” Kenny said. “He was a fantastic football player. I have to thank my wife Cathy; we were married for a couple of years before I started racing and she has been with me the whole way. Thanks to my entire crew and to my brother Steve and his daughter Haleigh who reenergized me. My dad taught me everything I know about racing, and this is all about making memories now. Thanks to all of my family and friends for being here today.”
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE BOB “BOBCO” JAMES
Inducted by Mark “Krash” Krosky and Kelley Keefe, accepted by Bob’s mother Louise and his sister Patty.
“Bob loved bowling, but bowling took a second hand to racing,” Krosky said. “Fonda Speedway promoter Pete Demitraszek recognized Bob at the Northeast Motorsports Expo car show in 2017 at the ViaPort Mall by giving him an award for his 25 years of videoing racing events at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway. The plaque on the front of the award trophy said: “In recognition and appreciation for your twenty five years of dedication and diligence videotaping the racing action at Fonda Speedway dated March 18, 2017.”
“Bob was also honored by Fonda Speedway promoter Brett Deyo on the evening of the Hondo Classic event on July 15, 2020.”
“We wanted to do a little something special here along with the Hondo race,” Deyo said. “The perch up there on top of the grandstand has been the official tower and home to Bobco Video for many, many years. You have captured so many moments here at the Track of Champions documenting history and you are part of that history. Tonight, and for the remainder of time here at the Fonda Speedway the perch up there is going to be known as the Bobco Video Tower in your honor to thank you for everything you’ve done to preserve the history of the Fonda Speedway.”
“Bob was dedicated to his craft,” Kelley Keefe added. “He spent hours at the track and hours after the races editing not only his work but others who videoed at other tracks for him because he couldn’t be in more than one place at the same time. Then he went on to his next track on Sunday’s.”
“His job meant a lot of missed moments with his family over the years, but he was the curator of racing history with his videos,” Keefe continued. “There were no sick days, no vacation days for Bob, he had no choice other than to be at the tracks, it was his business. Some had no idea what effect Bobby (as he was called by his mom) had on racing.”
“Bobby most certainly did miss many family moments because of racing,” his mother Louise said. “We had the best time ever at a family wedding that Bobby was able to attend but right now he is probably up there winning a race somewhere. Thank you to all of his racing family for their support through the years.”
STEPPING STONE AWARD – THE MONTENARO FAMILY
Joe Kriss presented the Stepping Stone Award to the Montenaro Family. Kriss came up through the ranks as a starter beginning at the Dodge City Speedway with the Montenaro’s along with emcee Todd Morey as an announcer at the track.
“In July 1992 I was 14 years old and a Junior Flagger at the Fonda Speedway in the grandstands,” Kriss said. “Paul Montenaro approached me about flagging at the Dodge City Speedway Go-Kart track, but with being too young to have a drivers license I had to get permission from my mother along with finding a way to get to the track every week. She gave me permission to do it, and I have been there on Friday nights ever since.”
“I think of the Dodge City Speedway as the little track that could,” Kriss continued. “Lou Lazzaro once came to the Dodge City Awards banquet to present awards to the kid’s, what an honor that was. The Montenaro Family has given selfless dedication and a place for the kid’s to use as a stepping stone in their careers.”
“This is really an honor,” the Montenaro Family members on hand said. “It has been a journey seeing the kids go on, we have met a lot of people, and thanks to everyone who helped us out on our journey.”
BRUCE DOSTAL AWARD – ED LAMBERTON
Jaynie Corbett presented the award to Lamberton saying: “For your years as a respected voice sharing stories about racers and their families and crews through your Wheel People show and your support for local racing, I’d like to present you with this award and your own ice cream”.
“I have never been short on words, this is a great honor,” Lamberton told the big crowd on hand at the museum. “My daughter Joy is here today and I’m proud to introduce her to my second family. John Stanley is one of my best friends, gave me my start, and he is also here today. I had Jack Johnson and JoJo DeSarbo on my first Wheel People show. What an honor that was for me after they had just took their first win at Super DIRT Week in Syracuse.”
“50 years in this, I just love the sport,” Lamberton continued. “This award should not only have my name on it but also my wife’s name Betsy as well. For 35 years she kept the business going while I was out at the races on Friday and Saturday and on the radio on Mondays.”
