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STSS Race Day: Fonda 200 Storylines, Stars & Sleepers

Written by Chris Moore

FONDA, NY It™s here.

Tonight, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco big-block/small-block Modifieds will begin qualifying for the Fonda 200.™

The uniquely shaped half-mile hosts the annual 200-lap, $53,000-to-win main event for the STSS Modifieds tomorrow night.

Tonight, qualifying races take place, before B-Mains and the headline event take center stage on Saturday, Sept. 16.

THE STORYLINES

It™s the biggest race in Northeast Dirt Modified racing. No race pays more, with the history that comes with winning the Fonda 200.™

From names such as Richard Petty and David Pearson to Jack Johnson and Brett Hearn, the biggest stars have all been victorious in the historic event.

The race serves as Round No. 3 of the Ollie™s Elite™ Series and Round No. 10 of the River Valley Builders North Region; both paying $15,000 at seasons end to the winner.

THE STARS

A spot normally belonging to his biggest rival, Savannah, N.Y.™s Matt Sheppard sits atop the favorites list once again. Sheppard was victorious in last year™s Fonda 200™ and has won each of the opening two Elite™ Series races, including the New Yorker™ at Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y., just two weeks ago.

Sprakers, N.Y.™s Stewart Friesen settles for second on the favorites list but will certainly be a factor over the course of the 200 laps. The two-time winner of the Fonda 200™ will look to avenge last year™s disappointment after suffering mechanical issues and retiring early from last season™s event.

Cropseyville, N.Y.™s Matt DeLorenzo is still in search of his first ever Fonda 200™ victory. The 2022 track champion came up just six points shy of going back-to-back as the speedway™s Modified champion. With a temperament built for the 200-lap marathon, DeLorenzo will look to be there at the end with the $53,000 on the line.

THE SLEEPERS

Dolgeville, N.Y.™s Cody Clark has been nothing short of incredibly impressive in his rookie campaign behind the wheel of a Modified. Already a feature winner with the Modifieds at Fonda Speedway, Clark will look to show how quickly he™s learned with the best of the best in town for the biggest race of the year.

Another feature winner this season, Mooresville, N.C.™s Max McLaughlin said in Fonda Speedway in victory lane this season, œI didn™t think I™d ever win here.? Max will look to carry his newly found good vibes at Fonda into the biggest win of his career.

It wasn™t all that long ago that Edwards, N.Y.™s Tim Fuller topped the Jumpin™ Jack Johnson Memorial™ in the season opener back in April. The newly inducted Hall of Famer will look to put all the pieces together this weekend to add the crown jewel to his already impressive resume.

ALSO IN ACTION

Tonight, a full night of racing joins the STSS Modified Qualifying Races. The CRSA 305 Sprint Cars, Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks, Stone Motorsports/Online Performance Street Stocks, and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders are all on the racing card for Friday night.

Saturday night, the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman join the program for Round No. 6 of the Precision Hydraulic & Oil North Region.

Upper Makefield, Pa.™s Joe Toth holds a 16-point advantage over Spencertown, N.Y.™s Dylan Madsen. Walton, N.Y.™s Blaine Klinger rounds out the top three, 74 markers behind Toth.

ON THE HORIZON

The STSS holds one more race in the month of September, as Bridgeport Motorsports Park hosts the Doug Hoffman Memorial 60 Over Special™ on Sunday, Sept. 24. The STSS Modifieds go for 50-laps and a $6,060 top prize in Round No. 5 of the Rent Equip/Party Central South Region.

The STSS Crate 602 Sportsman also join the program for Round No. 5 of the Belmont™s Garage South Region.   

DIRT DRAFT

Don™t forget to set your Dirt Draft lineups before the night™s first heat race begins.

Visit www.dirtdraft.com or download the app to join Dirt Draft and compete against thousands of others for the entire 2023 STSS season. A subscription is just $5.99 a month with plenty of prizes up for grabs in the Dirt Draft Speed Shop.

Following along with the STSS on Dirt Draft throughout the 23 season will pay one lucky fan dividends at year-end.

The STSS Dirt Draft Champion receives two tickets to the STSS year-end banquet and will be honored with a custom trophy presented by Dirt Draft.

GATES AND PRICES

For times and prices, go to the www.thefondaspeedway.com for a complete schedule and price list for the weekend of racing.

HOW TO WATCH

The entire night of racing, along with every STSS race in 2023, will be broadcast LIVE on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv). 

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.

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