A Place in History: Fonda 200 Offers Most Lucrative Winner’s Share, Prestige

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Written by Chris Moore

FONDA, NY – A place in history.

The most lucrative winner’s share in Northeast Modified racing will be distributed in Montgomery County, N.Y., Sept. 14-16 with the annual Fonda 200 at Fonda Speedway.

The stars of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco clash with Fonda Speedway’s best in pursuit of a $53,000 grand prize.

The historic – and now annual – event offers a total purse nearing $140,000 for Saturday’s main event.

The ‘Fonda 200’ also plays a hand in both the Ollie’s ‘Elite’ Series (Round No. 3) and the River Valley Builders North Region (Round No. 10), paying $15,000 each, respectively, to their champions.

The ‘Fonda 200’ began in 1955 when the iconic Junior Johnson claimed the inaugural event, which served as a NASCAR Grand National event.

Johnson, David Pearson, and ‘The King,’ Richard Petty, are all on the ‘Fonda 200’ win list as NASCAR Grand National event winners in the late 1950s and 60s.

The ‘Fonda 200’ became an annual event starting in 1983 with Charlie Rudolph finding Fonda Speedway checkerboard square.

The event ran every year through 2002 (with the exception of 1996, weather related) before taking a 17-year hiatus as BD Motorsports Media LLC took the helm of Fonda Speedway.

The historic event returned in ’19, ’21, and ’22, with 2020 falling by the wayside due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen has added his name to the ‘Fonda 200’ win list, claiming the ’19 and ’21 renditions. Last year, Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard added his name to the list of drivers to win the ‘Fonda 200.’

The 2023 Fonda 200 weekend begins next Thursday (Sept. 14) with the Amsterdam Truck Center Modified ‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ taking place. Any driver unable to pick up a Modified victory at any speedway this season will be eligible to participate.

The Montgomery County Office of the Aging Limited Sportsman join the program as well. Open Practice for all other divisions participating during the weekend will also be available.

On Friday (Sept. 15) the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds take part in 15-lap Qualifying Races for Saturday’s main event.

Joining STSS Modified Qualifying Races will be the CRSA Sprint Cars, the Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks, Stone Motorsports/Online Performance Street Stocks and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders.

The weekend concludes on Saturday, Sept. 16. The STSS Modifieds take part in Last Chance Races to set the final starting field for the $53,000-to-win ‘Fonda 200’ headliner paying $1,000 to take the green flag.

The Swagger Factory Apparel STSS Crate 602 Sportsman join the Saturday program, battling for 25-laps in Round No. 6 of the Precision Hydraulic & Oil North Region.

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: @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 Twitter or Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, FloSports, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Rent Equip/Party Central, BDR Speed, Bicknell Racing Products, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Wegner Automotive, River Valley Builders, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, DIG Race Products, Velocita-USA, Franklin Products, Design for Vision & Sunglass Central, Belmont’s Garage, Quality Drywall, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Prime MAC Tools, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel, Beyea Custom Headers, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH, Electric Neon Custom Signs, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Spyder Filters, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO & Wilwood.

Fonda 200 Schedule of Events: September 14-16, 2023

Thursday, September 14 – Amsterdam Truck Center Modified ‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ plus Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman & Open Practice All Divisions

8 a.m. – Camper Staging Begins

9 a.m. – Camper Parking Begins (coordinated by Fonda Speedway staff)

4 p.m. – Gates Open

5:45 p.m. – Drivers’ Meeting

6:15 p.m. – Hot Laps for ‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ & Limited Sportsman – Open Practice Begins
Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock Practice
‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ Amsterdam Truck Center Modified Hot Laps – Participating Modifieds Only
Swagger Factory Apparel Crate 602 Sportsman Practice
Amsterdam Truck Center Modified Practice – All Cars Eligible
Street Stock Practice
Fonda Fair Four Cylinder Practice
CRSA Sprint Car Practice

7 p.m. – National Anthem – Opening Ceremonies

Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman Heats (6 laps)
‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ Amsterdam Truck Center Modified Heats (8 laps)

Practice (Pro Stock, Crate 602 Sportsman, Modified, Street Stock, Four Cylinder, CRSA)

Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman Heats (if needed, 6 laps)
‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ Amsterdam Truck Center Consolation (if needed, 8 laps)

TRACK PREP/BRIEF BREAK

Montgomery County Office for Aging Limited Sportsman Feature (20 laps)
‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ Amsterdam Truck Center Consolation (33 laps)

Practice (Pro Stock, Crate 602 Sportsman, Modified, Street Stock, Four Cylinder, CRSA)

Friday, September 15 – Amsterdam Truck Center Short Track Super Series (STSS) Modified Qualifying Races plus CRSA Sprint Cars, Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks, Stone Motorsports/Online Performance Street Stocks & Fonda Fair Four Cylinders

10 a.m. – Camper Parking Begins

4 p.m. – Gates Open

5:30 p.m. – Mandatory Drivers’ Meeting & Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Qualifying Race Draw

6 p.m. – CRSA Sprint Car Engine Heat followed by Hot Laps
Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock Hot Laps
CRSA Sprint Car Hot Laps
STSS Modified Hot Laps
Stone Motorsports/Online Performance Street Stock Hot Laps
Fonda Fair Four Cylinder Hot Laps

7 p.m. – Racing
Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock Heats (8 laps)
CRSA Sprint Car Heats (8 laps)
Street Stock Heats (6 laps)

Fonda Fair Four Cylinder Feature (15 laps)

Consolations (Pro Stock, CRSA, Street Stock, if needed)

BRIEF BREAK/TRACK PREP/FOUR CYLINDER VICTORY LANE

STSS Modified Qualifying Race No. 1 (15 laps)
STSS Modified Qualifying Race No. 2 (15 laps)
STSS Modified Qualifying Race No. 3 (15 laps)
STSS Modified Qualifying Race No. 4 (15 laps)

GROUP VICTORY LANE/TRACK PREP

CRSA Sprint Car Feature (20 laps)
Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stock Feature (20 laps)
Stone Motorsports/Online Performance Street Stock Feature (20 laps)

10:30 p.m. – LIVE Music in Entertainment Building

Saturday, September 16 – STSS Modified B-Mains & Fonda 200 plus Swagger Factory Apparel STSS Crate 602 Sportsman

2 p.m. – Gates Open

4 p.m. – Mandatory STSS Drivers’ Meeting

5 p.m. – Hot Laps
STSS Crate 602 Sportsman
STSS Modified

6 p.m. – Racing

STSS Crate 602 Sportsman Heats (8 laps)
Sunoco Modified B-Mains (10 laps)

STSS Crate 602 Sportsman Consolations (8 laps)

BRIEF BREAK/TRACK PREP

STSS Crate 602 Sportsman Feature (25 laps)

TRACK PREP FOR FONDA 200

FONDA 200 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS