All About Racing

By Ed & Betty Biittig

This Friday through Sunday, March 22-24 the annual Fonda Speedway Car Show will be in full swing at the ViaPort in Rotterdam. Each year this event kicks off the Fonda Speedway season prior to activities at the track located in Fonda, NY at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The show takes place during the ViaPort hours, Friday and Saturday, 11-7 and Sunday 11-5. The show is always popular with auto racing fans and those who are not familiar with local racing as well.

For competitors, this event gives a chance to show off their new equipment for the 2024 racing season and can also possibly interest of a new sponsor.

BD Motorsports Media LLC who promotes the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway, will have tables set up with schedules, apparel, and all the information that drivers and fans may need as the 2024 racing season is set to begin. Season passes for the grandstand and pit area will also be available along with memberships for the American Racer Cup and licenses for the track itself. Brett Deyo and his team at BD Motorsports Media LLC would like to thank you in advance for your support of the car show and the Fonda Speedway.

Track activities will begin on Saturday, April 13 with an open practice followed the next week by the $12,000 to win Jumpin’ Jack Johnson Memorial opening day event on Saturday, April 20.

Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series will be a part of the Fonda Speedway Car Show and as part of “Vintage Alley” will have tables set up with information on their schedule. Also being represented at the show is the New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) and Northeast Stock Car Old Timers (NESCOT).

According to Facebook post, Ronnie Johnson’s 2RJ souvenir trailer will also be on hand with new season apparel and Bonnie Mortensen will be in the area where he son’s cars are sent up, selling and renewing NYSSCA memberships.

BD Motorsports pulled off a big event, this past weekend, one that we watched on FloRacing. The event in Pennsylvania at Port Royal Speedway, showed 65 Modifieds, 83 Sportsman and 16 Pro Stocks all vying for a big chunk of the pie. The event was rescheduled from last fall when the Elite Series was to wrap up for the season and declare the champion. Winner of the Speed Showcase event was Matt Sheppard of Savannah, NY for $50,000 and he was also crowned Elite Series champion giving him $15,000. Sheppard now has six wins for the 2024 giving him a total of 502 career wins.

The Super DIRTcar Series will open its season with the first event at New Egypt Speedway in NJ on April 30. One driver looking to add to his Super DIRTcar Series wins is none other than Matt Sheppard. After two SDS wins at the DIRTcar Nationals in Florida in February, Sheppard now has 96 SDS wins on his way to match Brett Hearn’s record of 100. Sheppard is also defending his Super DIRTcar Series Championship as he goes for his 11th title in the DIRTcar Series titles in his career.

Prior to season racing at Lebanon Valley, veteran Modified racer at the track, Mike King, will have his annual car show at the Stewart’s Shop in Nassau, NY on Sunday, April 14 from 10-3. The event is always well attended and will include all classes from the track just down Route 20, along with drivers that will meet and greet fans with photos, courtesy of Mark Brown of Kustom Keepsakes, long time photographer at the track. Mike only asks those drivers planning on attending his car show, please let him know who you are.

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