Racing Season is Underway

All About Racing

By Ed & Betty Biittig

Fonda’s practice session on Saturday was a big success for the 105 cars and racers that came and for the fans that came for a chance to see cars on the track for the first time.  After a bit of grooming the track came up fast and racy for the later sessions.  

Good News!! Fonda is getting a new lap counter and even better news is that it’s scheduled to be delivered this week.  And this is all thanks to Bill and Cindy Yurkewicz of Yurkewicz Auto Crushers in Fultonville, the Track of Champions will have a new lap counter in the infield this season.  Bill and Cindy are big supporters of local racing and have been for many years.  This season they are title  sponsors for the Pro Stock division at Glen Ridge along with being associate sponsors on several cars; the Pro Stocks of “Cousin” Luke Horning, Andy Graves, and they are owners of the Pro Stock driven by Kyle Weiler.  They sponsor the Limited Sportsman of Lucas Duncan, and the 602 Cate Sportsman of Jason Greco.   

Whether you see it as good or bad luck, Danny Varin blew the engine in his Sprinter after taking a few very fast laps.  Good luck that it happened in a test and tune event and bad luck that it happened at all.  According to Varin, his engine builder informed him he’s way behind schedule and may not have it back to him before the first Sprint race at Fonda on May 6.  

Friday night at the Great Race Place, Albany-Saratoga felt like a July night of racing with temps hovering around 90 degrees.  A banner number of race cars (170) were on hand to welcome the 58th season at the track and the fans were still pouring in as the qualifying events were underway.  With 42 Modifieds on hand it look like a major series event with $5800 on the line for the winner.   Taking the money and the checker was Australian, Peter Britten, his fourth time in victory lane on opening night at the Malta oval.  What was a great decision, was the running of two main events for the 55 Crate Sportsman on hand.  Both Modifieds and Sportsman were running for show points.  

The annual NESCOT (North East Stock Car Old Timers) Steak Roast has a new venue and date this year.  The popular event will be held on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Fonda Speedway on the Fonda Fairgrounds.  Information on the event and/or membership to NESCOT can be accessed through their Facebook page at NESCOT Racing.  Information is also available from NESCOT Officers, President, Al McCoy (518-461-5223) VP, Mitch Poole (518-588-3737), Treasurer, Don Cadoret (518-374-5481) and Secretary, Pat Cadoret (518-281-6867).

A couple of our local racers branched out into Late Model racing this past week in Delaware.  Brock Pinkerous of Ellenville was the winner of the Rush Late Model non-qualifiers event at Delaware International.  Demetrios Drellos of Queensbury won the B-Main at Delaware and finished eighth in the main event.  

Due to a push back of the closing on the sale of Five Mile Point Speedway, the track announced this past week that it will run several special events in 2023, marking the 73rd consecutive season at the Kirkwood oval.  Check their webpage for a full schedule of the events to be run.  

Until next week please send all news and/or comments to biittig@yahoo.com

Featured Image: Bill and Cindy Yurkewicz sit in their favorite seats in the Fonda Speedway grandstands on Saturday to enjoy practice at the track.  The Yurkewiczs are strong supporters of local racing through their many avenues of sponsorship at local tracks.  Biittig photo