Area stock car racing: McCreadie's return to Fonda results in a win

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tom Boggie

Tim McCreadie may have used a little knowledge of Fonda Speedway to his advantage Wednesday night, but starting on the pole in the World of Outlaws late model series race, and having the 50-lapper go caution-free, were also factors in his victory.

McCreadie, who had big-block victories at Fonda in 2003 and 2004, recorded his third WoO victory of the season and walked off with $10,650.

“We weren’t so good early,” said McCreadie, who finished second in his heat race, in a World of Outlaws release. “In the heat, I felt bad, but it just made me go to work on my stuff. We made the Warrior car a lot better for the feature than what it was in the heat, and drawing the pole helped, too.”

Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., started on the outside pole and chased McCreadie for the entire 50 laps, but was naver a real threat and finished nearly a full second behind the leader.

McCreadie was joined in victory lane by his father, legendary modified driver Bob McCreadie, who had the rare opportunity to see his oldest son race.

“I really love racing in New York state,” said Tim McCreadie, a Watertown native. “When you’re running bad, it’s 10 times worse because everybody expects you to be up front. But when you’re running good, it’s a relief, as much as it is excitement.”

Billy Decker, who began his racing career at Fonda in the old 320 division, finished third, his best career finish on the WoO late model tour.

“I think the Gypsum Wholesalers car was better than I was tonight,” said Decker, who was making his first late model appearance of the season. “I kept missing the line in one and two. I know when I hit it, I was as good as anybody, but I missed it more than I hit it.”

Fonda modified regular Ronnie Johnson made his late model debut behind the wheel of one of Chub Frank’s cars and timed sixth-fastest. He later finished fourth in his heat, and was 21st in the feature.

Wilder gets first win

Jeremy Wilder chalked up his first win of the campaign in the companion 30-lap modified feature Wednesday at Fonda, and earned $3,000. Like McCreadie, he drew the pole and led the entire feature, outrunning Danny Varin and Keith Flach.

Flach’s finish was impressive, as Wednesday was just his second time ever at Fonda.

Wilder was the modified point champion at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park last year, but has shifted his Friday night racing to Albany-Saratoga this season. He started out the year with three top-10 finishes, but has struggled lately, finishing 11th, 18th and 12th in the last three features. That should put him near the front of the modified feature field tonight, and give him a good shot at his second win of the week.

Yetman hits the road

Rob Yetman, who has been been one of the top contenders in the pro stock division, will be spending the weekend in Quebec when the DIRTCar Pro Stock Series runs at Autodrome Granby tonight and Le RPM Speedway Saturday.

The Castleton driver, who has three victories at Albany-Saratoga Speedway and two at Lebanon Valley Speedway this season, finished second to Joey Ladouceur in the battle for the pro stock series championship last season.

“I’m a little more focused than last year,” said Yetman is a DIRTCar release. “We have a few milestones we’re trying to get here. We recently got our 97th win, and I’d like to hit that 100 mark. I never thought I’d be looking at that in my racing career, but it might happen.”

One thing is for sure; Yetman won’t have to contend with Ladouceur this year. Ladouceur has moved up to the sportsman division this season.

Around the tracks

Rick Laubach won Wednesday’s DIRTCar Super Series race at New Egypt Speedway. Defending Fonda speedway modified champion Stewart Friesen, who co-promoted the race, finished second. Because the race was originally rained out on Tuesday, Friesen had to be in New Jersey Wednesday instead of at Fonda. Bobby Varin finished 12th, after suffering a flat tire on the eighth lap. Brett Hearn (15th) and Andy Bachetti (29th) were involved in an early wreck, which knocked Bachetti out of the race.

Varin picked up a pair of wins last weekend, taking the checkered flag at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park on Friday and then winning the second half of the Twin 20s at Orange County on Saturday, after starting on the pole.

Pete Broderson is on a tear at Fonda Speedway, chalking up his fourth pro stock victory of the year Saturday. Broderson had said recently that he would miss the remainder of the year because he needed shoulder surgery, but he’s changed his mind. “I saw my primnary doctor for a second opinion last week, and he wasn’t really sure that surgery was going to help me,” said Broderson after his win Saturday. “So I decided to put it off until the fall because I really don’t have any pain, just a little immobility.”

Elmo Reckner is probably starting to wonder what he has to do to get a win at Glen Ridge. In six races this season, he’s finished second four times.

Reckner and Varin will take part in a meet and greet with the fans from 6:30-7 tonight at Bob Lansing’s photo booth at Glen Ridge.

As part of the Mike Ronca Memorial Night at Albany-Saratoga last week, leaders of lap seven (Ronca’s old number) in each feature received a $100 bonus. The bonuses went to Flach (modified), Joey Scarborough (sportsman), Matt Pappa (novice sportsman), Ed Thompson (pro stocks) and David Shippee (street stocks).

Pro stocks will be running for appearance points tonight at Albany-Saratoga because of the conflict with the DIRTCar series race at Granby. But the winner will earn $500.

Fonda Speedway sportsman driver Mark Mortensen will have his car on display at Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive In in Scotia from 5-9 p.m.

today.

Devil’s Bowl ran Twin 25s last Friday in an attempt to make up for some of the track’s rainouts. Hunter Bates and Todd Stone got the wins, while the Proctors (Ron and Jamie) each came away with a runner-up finish. Anyone who says there’s no passing on asphalt needed to see Stone come from 17th to win the second feature.