Fonda Speedway begins countdown to America’s 250th Birthday with a must see event Wednesday, July 1st
COLUMN BY: Ron Szczerba – FONDA SPEEDWAY – FONDA, NY – The “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway continues a yearly tradition since 2018 with the running of the 9th Annual Firecracker 50 this Wednesday, July 1. The Bob Hilbert Short Track Super Series (STSS) HYTORC of New York North Region Modifieds will headline the program with a 50-lap, $7,776-to-win feature event paying $1,000 for 10th and $500 to start.
The STSS Sportsman of the Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. North Region will also race 30 laps for a $1,776 top prize. Also on the program are the Online Performance Parts/Stone Motorsports Street Stocks (20 laps, $500 to win) and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders (15-lap feature only, $150 each to Single and Dual Cam winners).
A pre-race party kicks the big event off in the Entertainment Building on Wednesday with well-known Capital District band “Tame the Rooster Lite” performing on stage from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For bargain-hunting race fans, there will be an “Early Bird” admission set up at Gate 2 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 grandstand tickets will be available at Gate 2 only during the special one-hour promotion.
In the air, a MASSIVE fireworks display is also planned for the “Track of Champions” at dark.
Infield drive-in access begins at 3:30 p.m. with pit gates fully opening at 4:00 p.m. with all grandstand gates opening at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps will follow at 6:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $28 for Adults, $26 for Seniors and Kids 11 and under are FREE. Infield drive-in admission (includes four passes) is $125. Pit admission is $45 (Non-Members), $40 (Members) and $10 (Kids 11 and under).
Advance tickets and infield reservations are available through My Race Pass at the following link: https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/1549/tickets/1493229
Stewart Friesen leads the way in “Firecracker 50” victories with a total of six in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025. Matt Sheppard has two wins in the prestigious event back in 2023 and 2024.
FONDA SPEEDWAY “FIRECRACKER 50” EVENT HISTORY: 2018-PRESENT
MODIFIED
July 2, 2025: STEWART FRIESEN, Matt Sheppard, Alex Yankowski, Michael Trautschold, Chris Raabe
July 3, 2024: MATT SHEPPARD – Mat Williamson – Anthony Perrego – Alex Yankowski – Tyler Dippel
July 17, 2023: MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Alex Yankowski – Matt DeLorenzo – Mat Williamson
July 3, 2022: STEWART FRIESEN – Matt Sheppard – Mat Williamson – Danny Creeden – Rocky Warner
July 4, 2021: STEWART FRIESEN – Billy Decker – Matt Sheppard – Mat Williamson – Mike Gular
July 5, 2020: STEWART FRIESEN – Larry Wight – Mike Maresca – Adam McAuliffe – Jessica Friesen
July 3, 2019: STEWART FRIESEN – Matt Sheppard – Erick Rudolph – Anthony Perrego – Rocky Warner
July 7, 2018: STEWART FRIESEN – Tim Fuller – Bobby Varin – Jeremy Wilder – Josh Hohenforst
SPORTSMAN
July 2, 2025: TYLER PEET, Chad Edwards, Dylan Madsen, Mark Mortensen, David Hackett
July 3, 2024: PAYTON TALBOT – Brian Calabrese – Chad Edwards – Ricky Quick – Brendan Gibbons
July 17, 2023: PAYTON TALBOT – Brian Calabrese – Michael Ballestero – Tanner Warner – Tyler Peet
July 3, 2022: ROCKY WARNER – Troy Zilles – Payton Talbot – Tanner Warner – Mark Mortensen
July 4, 2021: CODY CLARK – Chad Edwards – Mark Mortensen – Tanner Warner – Tim Hartman Jr.
July 5, 2020: CHAD EDWARDS – Brian Calabrese – Matt Meade – Ricky Quick – Tim Hartman Jr.
July 3, 2019: TIM HARTMAN JR. – Brian Calabrese – Adam McAuliffe – Chad Edwards – Mark Mortensen
July 7, 2018: DAN SANTABARBARA – Aaron Burton – Ray Zemken – Cody Clark – Mark Mortensen
ALL-TIME MODIFIED WINNING HISTORY AT FONDA IN 50-LAP EVENTS OR LONGER
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 291 modified (both big and small block) feature events from 1953-2025.
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 16, Mike Romano with 11; C.D. Coville with 10; Ken Shoemaker and Alan Johnson with nine, Jimmy Horton, Danny Johnson, Doug Hoffman, Bobby Varin, and Matt Sheppard with eight; Steve Danish and Bill Wimble 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.
The Track of Champions Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing for 75 seasons. 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 (X): @thefondaspdwy or Instagram: @fondaspeedway.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on (X) or Instagram.
