7/23/2023
Fonda Speedway
KENNY GATES WINS THE 18th ANNUAL HONDO CLASSIC & THE 2ND ANNUAL BOBCO MEMORIAL DASH AT FONDA
By: Ron Szczerba
Fonda, NY – Special events have become a normal happening on a weekly basis at the “Track of Champions� Fonda Speedway. Saturday evening was no exception. On the racing card was the 18th running of the Hondo Classic for the Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock division, a prestigious event put on by Kelley and Kaitlyn Keefe honoring the late Hondo Carpenter who was a fan favorite to so many.
The event pays a lot of money to not only the winner but throughout the finishing order thanks to the sponsors and donations by friends of Hondo in a division that on a normal Saturday night produces the best race of the evening.
Along with the Hondo Classic the 2nd Annual BOBCO Memorial Dash was held, another special event honoring the late videographer Bob James, put on by Mark Krosky and a list of friends and sponsors that make the high paying event a prestigious one to win as well.
Both of these special events were won by Kenny Gates, his fourth win of the 2023 season, his 90th career win in the division at Fonda and the fourth Hondo Classic win of his career.
The luck of the draw placed Jason Morrison and Josh Coonradt on the front row of the 29-lap Hondo Classic event with Coonradt taking the lead from the outside pole position. At the completion of lap one, Shane Playford was the new second place car after starting third followed in the top five by fifth place starter Luke Horning, seventh place starter Beau Ballard, and eighth place starter Nick Stone.
Coonradt went between two lap cars on lap eight to maintain the lead with the yellow flag out on lap 11 for Slater Baker who was in the turn one wall. Another caution followed on the restart and the third try at the restart was single file with Coonradt maintaining the lead. At the halfway point in the event, Coonradt was the leader followed by Stone, Playford, Horning, and 12th place starter Kenny Gates.
Stone took the second spot away from Playford on lap 16 while Gates continued his march to the front, getting by Horning for the fourth position. Two more cautions slowed the field on laps 20 and 21 with Gates in the second position on the restart while ninth place starter Ivan Joslin was now third. Coonradt and Gates were side by side for the lead on lap 22 with Gates getting by Coonradt for the lead on the inside of turn four.
Gates led the remaining laps while Coonradt, Joslin, Stone, and Playford completed the top five.
“I can’t thank everyone that puts on this race enough,� Gates said in victory lane. “Kelley and Kaitlyn (Keefe) work their butts off on this event. It’s been a great race for a number of years, this is one we always circle, this is the big one for here at Fonda and I’m thrilled to death to be here. Coming from 12th I said oh boy, there’s a lot of good cars in front of me. We’ve had some bad luck this year a couple of weeks ago, but we turned it around.�
“Second place to Kenny Gates, he’s one of the best in the business,� second place finisher in the Hondo Classic Josh Coonradt said. “This track played to his favor tonight. I knew on the restart when I gave him the inside it was gonna be a challenge, but I knew that I had nothing on the bottom. I had to keep running the top and find any bite that I could. The track was phenomenal tonight and I’m very happy with second.�
“This one bites me all the time,� Honda Cassic third place finisher Ivan Joslin said. “To start ninth, have a good run, and pass all these guys, there’s a lot of good guys out there. Gates started rolling on the bottom, but my car was good on top, so I just had to get a rhythm going. I was getting closer and closer and just tried to keep going. It was good to have a good run here tonight.�
Kaitlyn Keefe threw the green flag to start the 2nd Annual BOBCO Memorial Dash with Josh Coonradt leading that event at the start. Kenny Gates started the event in the third position and took the lead away from Coonradt on lap three, leading the remaining laps for the dash event win.
Gates won a total of $1119 for the win followed by Coonradt ($759), Nick Stone ($509), Luke Horning ($409), Devon Camenga ($209), and Beau Ballard ($159). The winners share of the money included a $100 donation from the New York Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) for the first NYSSCA Member across the finish line which was Gates with all other drivers being NYSSCA members as well.
The purse money for the 2nd Annual BOBCO Dash was donated by Krash Menders, Elmo’s Speed & Supply, Bob & Tina Gamache, Don & Diane Champion in Memory of Craig, Don Kruger Motorsports, All In Printing & Designs, Premiere Landscaping, Friends of Bob James (BOBCO), Northeast Stock Car Old Timers (NESCOT), Bob Hackel Used Cars, Iron Outlaw Vintage Funny Car, Mark & Holly Krosky, BOBCO’S Family, Mom Louise, Sister’s Patty & Sandy.
“$1,119 that’s incredible,� Gates said about the payout after the BOBCO Memorial Dash win. “I’ve got every single win of mine on video from BOBCO, both VHS and DVD, and I love being able to get the old tapes out and watch them. Bob was a great guy, loved the sport, and loved this Pro Stock class. He was fun to talk to and I miss him.�
“This is the most I’ve made here all year,� second place dash finisher Josh Coonradt said after getting a check for $759. “When I had a good night Bob would leave me a video of it the next day so that I didn’t have to wait till the following week to get one. I talked to him a lot; he was a great guy.�
“This is probably the best paying race for not running all year long,� Stone said after his third place finish and $509 prize. “Finishing last you still leave with something. Great race to have, I look forward to it every year.�
Next Saturday, July 29 the CRSA Sprint cars will join all regular divisions on Parks Companies Night at the “Track of Champions� Fonda Speedway.
Fonda Speedway Weekly Report
Miss any action from last week’s racing? The Fonda Speedway weekly report can take care of that. A 90 second summary of the previous Saturday racing action will air throughout the week across seven local radio stations including:
WCSS 1490 & 106.9 in Amsterdam/Schenectady
WIZR 930 & 102.9 in Johnstown/Fonda/Gloversville
WKAJ 1120 & 97.9 in St. Johnsville/Canajoharie
WYVS 96.5 in Speculator and the North Country
If you are a race fan that gets to the track early, be sure to check out 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!
All races at Fonda Speedway – will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the $150 annual subscription.
Since 1953, the “Track of Champions� Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. Under the management of BD Motorsports Media LLC, the speedway will operate 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 and Instagram: @thefondaspdwy.
BELOW ZERO ICE CREAM “HONDO CLASSIC� PRO STOCK FEATURE – 29-LAPS – KENNY GATES, Josh Coonradt, Ivan Joslin, Nick Stone, Shane Playford, Beau Ballard, Devon Camenga, Jason Morrison, AJ Walters, Jim Normoyle, Jay Casey, Caden Dumblewski, Jason Casey, Gary Silkey, Steve Gates, Michael Achzet, Jordan Modiano, Joe Wilson, Nick Hilt, Connor White, Luke Horning, Dean Charbonneau, Chuck Dumblewski, Ian Bressette, Jimmy Eaton, Nick Santuccione, Randy Cosselman, Slater Baker, Dan Krajewski
4th win of 2023 and the 90th of his career in the division at Fonda for Gates, 4th career win in the “Hondo Classic�.
LAP LEADERS – 1-22 Coonradt, 23-29 Gates
HEAT RACE WINNERS – Ballard, Stone, Horning
BOBCO MEMORIAL DASH – 5-LAPS – KENNY GATES, Josh Coonradt, Nick Stone, Luke Horning, Devon Camenga, Beau Ballard
18th ANNUAL HONDO CLASSIC
BONUSÂ POSITIONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SPONSORÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â AMOUNT
Finishing Bonuses
Winner                Snap On Tools - Chris Morris       100.00
Winner Finish    The Martin Family           100.00
Winner Finish    Irwin & Sons Farm          75.00
2nd Place           Finish    Bulldog Concrete             99.00
2nd Place           Finish    Kelley Keefe       25.00
3rd Place            Finish    Irwin & Sons Farm          75.00
3rd Place            Finish    Kelley Keefe       25.00
4th Place            Finish    Melissa Lazzaro in Memory of Lou Lazzaro           50.00
4th Place            Finish    Randy Cosselman            50.00
5th Place            Finish    Patty Gentile in memory of Bobby James              50.00
5th Place            Finish    Bobco Kenny 93 50.00
6th Place            Finish    Joslin Racing      70.00
7th Place            Finish    Irwin & Sons Farm          50.00
8th Place            Finish    Joslin Racing      50.00
9th Place            Finish    KKH Auto Sales 100.00
9th Place            Finish    Stone Motorsports          50.00
10th Place          Finish    Camenga Construction   50.00
10th Place          Finish    Gates Racing     35.00
11th Place          Finish    Camenga Construction   50.00
12th Place          Finish    Melissa Horton  29.00
13th Place          Finish    Haslun Racing   50.00
14th Place          Finish    Gates Racing     35.00
15th Place          Start     VanWert/Ballard Racing 25.00
15th Place          Finish    VanWert/Ballard Racing 25.00
16th Place          Finish    Bobco Kenny 93 25.00
17th Place          Finish    Bobco Kenny 93 25.00
18th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
18th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
19th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
19th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      9.00
20th Place          Finish    Gates Racing     35.00
21st Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
21st Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
22nd Place         Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
22nd Place         Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
23rd Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
23rd Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
24th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
24th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
25th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
25th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
26th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
26th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
27th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
27th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
28th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
28th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
29th Place          Finish    In Memory of Bob James             9.00
29th Place          Finish    Joslin Racing      10.00
Lap Bonuses
Lap 1    Leader  Mortensen 1B & 1M Racing        20.00
Lap 2    Leader  Stone Motorsports          27.99
Lap 3    Leader  Stone Motorsports          50.00
Lap 4    Leader  Justin Grant       25.00
Lap 5    Leader  Bulldog Concrete             50.00
Lap 6    Leader  Snap On Tools - Chris Morris       20.00
Lap 7    Leader  Stone Motorsports          27.99
Lap 8    Leader  Stone Motorsports          27.99
Lap 8    Leader  Leeann Achzet in Memory of Fonda HOF Lee Achzet        81.00
Lap 8    2nd Place           Leeann Achzet  35.00
Lap 9    Leader  J&J Racing and INOC DataCenters             50.00
Lap 9    Leader  Snap On Tools - Chris Morris       20.00
Lap 10  Leader  Justin Grant       25.00
Lap 11  Leader  Justin Grant       25.00
Lap 12  Leader  Melissa Horton  25.00
Lap 13  Leader  Haslun Racing   50.00
Lap 14  Leader  Stone Motorsports          50.00
Lap 15  Leader  FireFly Creations In Memory of Wolfie (Kevin George)      50.00
Lap 15  Leader  VanWert/Ballard Racing 25.00
Lap 15  15th Place          VanWert/Ballard Racing 25.00
Lap 16  Leader  Snap On Tools - Chris Morris       20.00
Lap 16  Leader  Joslin Racing      20.00
Lap 17  Leader  Cheesestick Paro             20.00
Lap 18  Leader  Joslin Racing      20.00
Lap 19  Leader  Joseph Williams In Memory of Big Joe Williams  20.00
Lap 19  Leader  Snap On Tools - Chris Morris       20.00
Lap 20  Leader  Stone Motorsports          50.00
Lap 21  Leader  Joslin Racing      20.00
Lap 22  Leader  Bulldog Concrete             50.00
Lap 23  Leader  Fox23 Fast Tracks Alumni              23.00
Lap 24  Leader  Snap On Tools - Chris Morris       20.00
Lap 24  Leader  Rick LaGrange   25.00
Lap 25  Leader  Stone Motorsports          50.00
Lap 26  Leader  Aaron Burton     26.00
Lap 27  Leader  Stone Motorsports          50.00
Lap 28  Leader  Justin Grant       25.00
Lap 29  Leader  Mary Berry in Memory of Brit Goss          25.00
SPECIAL AWARDS
Hondo's Lunch                 Joe Achzet          40.00
Winner's Check               Joe Achzet
Victory Lane Sign                            Joe Achzet
Heat Races sponsored by J&J Racing/INOC DataCenters and paid as follows:
1st - $75 2nd - $50Â Â 3rd - $25
NYSSCA 9th Member Award - The New York State Stock Car Association will
reward the 9th NYSSCA member to cross the finish line with $100.
Hard Charger Award - The driver advancing the furthest from his starting position
will receive $100 from Stone Motorsports, $25 from VanWert & Ballard Racing
and $20 from Joslin Racing.
Stone Motorsports Hard Luck Award $100
VanWert & Ballard Hard Luck Award $25 to the driver that loses the most positions.
Krash's Last Pass Bonus:Â $100 goes to the driver that is passed last for the lead,
resulting in the win. Courtesy of Krash Menders
Last Car to take the Checkers:Â $50 from Randy Cosselman
Special thanks to Ed Lamberton and Chatham Clothing for their sponsorship of our driver's shirts.
Lap Leaders                                     Heat Winners
Lap/Place           Driver                                 Heat 1:
1 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                       1st         15 - Beau Ballard
2 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                       2nd       35 - Ken Gates
3 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                       3rd        3 - Shane Playford
4 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt
5 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                                      Heat 2:
6 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                       1st         8N - Nick Stone
7 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                       2nd       110 - Devon Camenga
8 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                       3rd        74N - Jim Normoyle
8 - 2nd                 6 - Shane Playford
9 - Leader           00X - Josh Coonradt                                      Heat 3:
10 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt                       1st         2H - Luke Horning
11 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt                       2nd       00X - Josh Coonradt
12 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt                       3rd        324 - Jason Casey
13 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt
14 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt
15 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt                       Hondo's Lunch Money (Last Place Car)
15 -15th              75 - Gary Silkey                              80 - Dan Krajewski
16 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt
17 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt
18 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt                       Hard Charger (w/ # of Positions)
19 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt                       35 - Ken Gates - +11 - 12th to 1st
20 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt
21 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt
22 - Leader        00X - Josh Coonradt                       Hard Luck Award
23 - Leader        35 - Ken Gates                                 9B - Slater Baker - Retired due to mechanical issues
24 - Leader        35 - Ken Gates
25 - Leader        35 - Ken Gates
26 - Leader        35 - Ken Gates                                 15th Place Starter
27 - Leader        35 - Ken Gates                                 57 - Joey Wilson
28 - Leader        35 - Ken Gates
29 - Leader        35 - Ken Gates
Ballard/VanWert Hard Luck Award (w/ # of Positions)
2H - Luke Horning - -16 - 5th to 21st
9th NYSSCA Member Across the Line
22W - AJ Walters
Last Car to Take the Checkers
5 - Connor White
BOBCO Dash
1st         35 - Ken Gates
2nd       00X - Josh Coonradt                                    Krash's Last Passed for the Win Bonus
3rd        8N - Nick Stone                                            00X - Josh Coonradt
4th        2H - Luke Horning
5th        110 - Devon Camenga
6th        15 - Beau Ballard
1st NYSSCA Member - BOBCO Dash
35 - Ken Gates
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