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Odasz claims modified win at Fonda Speedway

By PAUL WAGER/The Leader-Herald
POSTED: August 2, 2009

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FONDA - On a night when point leader Bobby Varin mustered only an eighth-place finish, Ryan Odasz stepped up to claim the modified victory Saturday night at Fonda Speedway.

Varin entered the night with six wins in 11 races and an 80-point lead in the point standings. He now leads second-place Matt DeLorenzo by 72 points with three races remaining.

Odasz led only two laps of the 30-lap modified feature, but they were the final two, giving him his first win since Sept. 16, 2007.

"It feels good," Odasz said. "When we were going good a couple of years ago and winning, it seemed like the wins were going to keep on coming, but all of a sudden they dried up. That's why you've got to enjoy every minute of it when you win."

Other winners included David Towns (sportsman), Chucky Dumblewski (pro stock), Danny Ballard (IMCA), Dave Horning Sr. (street stock), Mike Ketchum (602 limited sportsman) and Jason Memrick (Jack Lockhart Memorial Dash for sportsman).

With Lebanon Valley Speedway cancelled as a result of flooding, there were some new faces at Fonda Speedway Saturday night as several Valley regulars make the trek to the Mohawk Valley.

Among them were modified point leader Andy Bachetti as well as pro stock drivers Matt Shadic and Dave Cook.

Bachetti struggled in his heat and qualified for the feature through the consolation, placing 23rd in the feature.

Odasz had much less trouble, picking up a heat race win and charging to the front quickly from his eighth-place starting spot.

Darwin Greene and Ancel Collins led the first two laps of the modified feature before Jeff Trombley surged to the front on lap three.

Trombley was seeking his first Fonda win since Aug. 12, 2006.

He built a wide margin that was taken away on lap nine by the first of nine cautions, four of which fell on lap 10, a lap that took 17 minutes to complete.

Following the flurry of yellow flags, the field began to spread out, leaving Odasz chasing Trombley through lapped traffic.

On lap 28, Odasz used the lapped car of Greene as a pick in turn two and took the lead with two laps remaining.

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings," Odasz said. "We kept digging, but I didn't think we had anything for [Trombley]. When I saw the lapped traffic coming, I thought I might have a chance because it's better to be in second than first when you're dealing with lapped traffic."

Trombley followed Odasz to the line in second, Ronnie Johnson was third, Matt DeLorenzo was fourth and Dave Camara was fifth.

Jim Davis, Elmo Reckner, Varin, Tony Pepicelli and Danny Varin completed the top 10.

A.J. Romano and Trombley also claimed modified heat wins, while Camara won the consolation.

After picking up his first win of the season last week, Towns wasted little time in returning to victory lane in the sportsman division.

Towns also grabbed the point lead, breaking a tie with John McAuliffe who finished fourth.

"The car was good last week, but we made some little changes to it during the week," Towns said. "I think we had a better car this week."

Towns charged to the front from his eighth-place starting position, grabbing the lead on lap three and cruising home for the win.

Luke Munroe was second, Mark Mortenson was third, McAuliffe was fourth and Neil Erickson was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Mark Kislowski, Chad Edwards, Jason Memrick, Drew Fallis and Tony Farone.

McAuliffe and Memrick earned the sportsman heat race wins.

The six-lap Jack Lockhart Memorial Dash for non-winners in the sportsman division who are ranked in the top 15 in points also took place Saturday.

Neil Erickson led the first lap before Justin Auspelmyer got by for the lead on lap two. Erickson smacked the fourth-turn wall on lap 3, bringing out a caution. Auspelmyer held the lead on the restart before going high on lap four, letting Memrick take the low side to the lead and the win.

Vinny Sanganetti was second, Auspelmyer was third, Chuck Allen was fourth and Justin Lansing was fifth.

After breaking late in last week's Hondo Classic, Chucky Dumblewski earned a measure of redemption in the 20-lap pro stock feature, picking up his second win of the season.

Chip Smith grabbed the early lead and held it until he was spun by Nick Stone on lap seven. Stone was sent to the rear of the field, handing the lead to Dumblewski, who held it the rest of the way.

"I kept it on the bottom of the track," Dumblewski said. "The car was fast tonight on the bottom."

Point leader Kenny Gates was second, while Stone recovered to finish third passing 12 cars in the final 13 laps of the feature. Shane Henderson was fourth and Pete Broderson completed the top five.

Roy Fifield and Nick Stone picked up pro stock heat race victories.

In the 602 limited sportsman feature, Sullivan Motorsports continued its season-long domination of the division, picking up their 11th win in 12 races.

Mike Ketchum led all 20 laps of the feature, though he was pressured throughout by his teammate, Jeremiah Munson.

Ketchum held on for the win, his fifth of the season. Munson was second, Robert Bublak was third, Ray Zemken was fourth and Bodie Bellinger was fifth.

Ray Zemken and Munson claimed 602 limited sportsman heat race victories.

In the IMCA feature, Ballard claimed his division-high fifth win of the season.

After Kevin Buff led the opening lap, Ballard took the lead on lap two and led the final 14 laps of the 15-lap feature.

Buff placed second, Jeremy Cramer was third, Danny Ody was fourth and Dan Hartgraves was fifth. With the win, Ballard closed to within six points of point leader Jeremy Cramer with two weeks remaining on the schedule.

Ballard also earned the IMCA heat race win.

Matt Johnson led the 15-lap street stock feature to the green flag and led the first two laps before Ellis Shaffer grabbed the top spot.

Following a pair of cautions on lap three, defending track champion Chuck McSpirit grabbed the top spot on the restart.

McSpirit maintained the lead until lap seven when Dave Horning Sr. got by. Horning led the rest of the way, but had to hold off a late challenge by Dan Pollock to earn his third win of the season.

Pollock crossed the line less than a car length behind to finish second, Neil Cosselman was third, Reuben Kennedy Jr. was fourth and McSpirit completed the top five. Street stock point leader Cassidy Wilson salvaged a seventh-place finish after pitting near the midpoint of the feature.

Fonda Speedway will be back in action Tuesday, hosting a $6,000-to-win, 60-lap feature. The sportsman also will be on the card. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The rain date for the event will be Wednesday.

 
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