All About Racing

Brian Pessolano of Canajoharie celebrates with his crew, his second win of the season in the Modified division at Fonda on Saturday. Biittig photo

Demetrios Drellos of Queensbury celebrates in victory lane with his son Paxton after winning the M2 Metals Late Model feature at Fonda on Saturday night. Biittig photo

By Ed & Betty Biittig

John Grady Memorial night at Albany-Saratoga was cancelled by the forecast of bad weather and rescheduled for September 13. As we looked at schedules throughout New York State, the same weather-related cancellations began to stack up leaving us searching for something to watch on FloRacing, DirtVision or DTDTV.

We picked up some Super DIRT Week news in the pits at Fonda on Saturday. The familiar No. 76 owned by Alton and Carole Palmer will be driven by Billy Pauch, Jr. The car is scheduled to be painted and lettered this coming week.

What will happen to JaMike Sowle, their current driver at Fonda and Utica-Rome? Well, with his family expanding, and a business to run, young Sowle only has time to race one night a week so both Sowle and Palmer’s agreed that if the team planned on going to Super DIRT Week in October it would be best to retain a different driver for the prestigious event, this year the 52nd and the 7th year held at Oswego Speedway. If you’re checking our math, 2020 there was no race due to the pandemic.

During the drivers meeting on Saturday at Fonda promoter, Brett Deyo addressed the rumor regarding the Fonda 200 and said the Fonda 200 will be happening and when the season ends the plan is to remove the redone surface and try again with a different surface.

Fonda Fair Board, President, Mark Wilmot and Secretary, Mary Ellen Wilmot, were at the drivers’ meeting on Saturday night to confirm the message from Deyo, that he was not going anywhere and would be at Fonda for the extent of his contract. President, Wilmot also said that Deyo is in good standing with the Board despite all that was being said in the rumor mill. The speedway is important to the Fonda community in many ways and brings in revenue each Saturday night to business and community organizations.

Fonda 2023 Modified Track Champion, Demetrios Drellos was back at the track on Saturday night to race with the M2 Metals Late Model group and showed that his years of going to Fonda as a fan and racing there was beneficial in knowing the track and its ability to change from week to week.

Drellos picked up the win in the 25-lap M2 Metals Late Model feature and became the 33rd driver to do so in the Late Model division at the Track of Champions.

Late Models were a regular division at Fonda from 1968-1982 with Dick Schoonover on top of the All-Time Win list with 32 wins. The Lucas Oil Late Models ran twice at Fonda in 2010-2011 and Jimmy Owens was the winner of both. The World of Outlaw Late Models also ran twice at Fonda during the years from 2013-2015 and Tim McCreadie and Shane Clanton shared the wins.

Winners on Saturday at Fonda were, Brian Pessolano, Modifieds, Payton Talbot, 602 Crate Sportsman, Kenny Gates, Pro Stocks, AJ Greco, Limited Sportsman, Ken Hollenbeck, single cam, Four Cylinder, Jay Ingersoll, dual cam, Four Cylinder and Demetrios Drellos, Late Model.

At Glen Ridge on Sunday, it was New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) Night and Hall of Fame induction for NYSSCA. Those inducted were car owners, Tommy Spencer and Jake Spraker, car owner and driver, Bill and Erik Nelson.

Winners at Glen Ridge on Sunday were Carter Gibbons, 358 Modifieds, Cody Ochs, 602 Crate Sportsman, Nick Brundige, Limited Sportsman, Charles McSpirit, Pro Stocks, Josh Samrov, Street Stocks, Bruce Liddle, Mini Stocks, single cam, Jordan Ryder, Mini Stocks, dual cam, Braxton Dembek, All Star Slingshots and EJ Hatch, JR Slingshots.

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