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Go Time: Fonda 200 Weekend Storylines, Stars & Sleepers

Written by Chris Moore

FONDA, NY – Go time.

The hype is over, and the 2024 ‘Fonda 200’ kicks off tonight with 15-lap Qualifiers for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco ‘big one.’

Tonight’s action kicks off the pursuit of the $53,000 prize at the end of tomorrow's 200 lap main event.

This weekend offers the largest paying winner’s share on the STSS tour, and in Northeast Modified racing.

THE STORYLINES

The massive weekend also serves as the penultimate race in the River Valley Builders North Region Championship chase, with the finale taking place as the kickoff to another major weekend: ‘Eastern States Weekend’ at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y.

With just two races remaining, the top two in North Region standings sit just 19 points apart heading into the ‘Fonda 200.’

Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard has ridden his recent hot streak with the STSS to the top spot, leap frogging Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen for the top spot.
Sheppard has won the last four STSS events, including the last three events on the North Region.

THE STARS

While Sheppard has been red hot, nobody unseats Stewart Friesen from the top of the stars list at Fonda. The all-time leading feature winner among active drivers at the ‘Track of Champions’ has three of the four renditions of the ‘Fonda 200’ since its return in 2019, including last season's dramatic win over Sheppard.

Not to be left out, the only driver to beat Friesen in the ‘Fonda 200’ is Sheppard, who won the event in 2022. ‘Super Matt’ also claimed the ‘Firecracker 50' back in July with the STSS in town at Fonda Speedway.

Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski has not had much success in the ‘Fonda 200’ struggling to finish the event. However, Yankowski’s gremlins at Fonda appeared to have left in ’24, claiming his first career Modified championship at his Saturday night home.

THE SLEEPERS

Mooresville, N.C.’s Max McLaughlin won the ‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ last night, his second career Fonda Speedway victory. McLaughlin is wheeling the Nelson Racing No. 85, driven by Jack Lehner on Saturday nights. The No. 85 car finished second in Amsterdam Truck Center Modified points and has a win on the season, giving ‘Mad Max’ a good hot rod for the ‘Fonda 200.’

It’s easy to forget how successful Walden, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego has been in his career at Fonda Speedway. He’s won the ‘Montgomery County Open’ and finished on the podium in July during the ‘Firecracker 50.’ Perrego has also been strong of late in the STSS features in ’24, making the 200-lapper a perfect race for the driver of the Bob Hentschel owned No. 4.

Guilderland, N.Y.’s Marc Johnson will be a late arriver, coming on Saturday to attempt to qualify for the 200. While his standing making the race is in jeopardy, Johnson has always shown speed once the 200 gets underway. Johnson led several laps in the second half of the ’22 ‘Fonda 200.’ If he can sneak into the show, Johnson will be a threat for his third career STSS triumph.

ALSO IN ACTION

The STSS Crate 602 Sportsman are also on tap for the weekend, with a 40-lap, $2,500-to-win main event on tap. It’s the penultimate round of the Madsen Overhead Doors North Region for the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman as well.

South New Berlin, N.Y.’s Payton Talbot holds a 53-point advantage over Lake Ariel, Pa.’s Tyler Peet, both Fonda winners this season. Walton, N.Y.’s Blaine Klinger sits third, 91 markers out of first.

Also on the docket for tonight are the Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks and the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders. The STSS Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman will run Qualifiers tonight, and B-Mains and their respective main events on Saturday.

ON THE HORIZON

The STSS returns in two weeks’ time for the 15th annual ‘Short Track SuperNationals’ at Utica-Rome Speedway. The event serves as a non-points event for the River Valley Builders North Region on Fri.-Sat., Sept. 27-28.
The Madsen Overhead Doors North Region for the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman comes to a close, with the championship round taking place on Friday night.

The event takes place at Utica-Rome Speedway for the first time ever.

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 2024 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 ‘24 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 gates and prices for the next two nights of action at Fonda Speedway, click the following link on the speedway website:
https://www.thefondaspeedway.com/fonda200schedule/

HOW TO WATCH

The entire weekend of racing will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) via the annual subscription.

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, @ShortTrack_SS on Twitter or @ShortTrackSS on Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, River Valley Builders, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Superior Remodeling, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.

PAST EVENT WINNERS: STSS FONDA 200

September 16, 2023 – STEWART FRIESEN – Matt Sheppard – Tyler Dippel – Mat Williamson – Tim Fuller

September 17, 2022 – MATT SHEPPARD – Anthony Perrego – Mike Mahaney – Danny Varin – Marc Johnson

September 18, 2021 – STEWART FRIESEN – Rocky Warner – Mike Mahaney – Danny Varin – Tyler Dippel

September 28, 2019 (Non-Sanctioned) – STEWART FRIESEN – Rocky Warner – Mike Mahaney – Billy Decker – Brett Hearn

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