Brett Deyo, left, presents Stewart Friesen the $53,000 winner's check in Victory Lane after he won the Fonda 200 on Sept. 18, 2021. (James A. Ellis photo)

The opening round of the triple crown of Northeast Dirt Modified racing takes to the track this weekend at Fonda Speedway.

In the not too distant past, drivers battled on consecutive weekends starting on the mile at the New York State Fairgrounds during Super DIRT Week before heading to Fonda Speedway for the annual Fonda 200 before heading south to Orange County for the Eastern States Weekend.

Now, after dealing with unfavorable weather conditions, the Fonda 200 was moved from mid-October to mid-September. Super DIRT Week is now at a clay covered Oswego Speedway on Columbus Day weekend, and the Easter States 200 weekend is Oct. 21-23.

To the best of my knowledge, a few drivers have won two out of three events, but no one has been able to sweep the premiere events.

The triple crown quest begins this weekend with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled by Sunoco Fonda 200 presented by Southside Beverage Saturday at Fonda Speedway.

Building up to Saturday’s main event, the racing action starts Thursday night, featuring the Ultimate Underdog 33 for any driver who did not pick up a feature win at any speedway this season. The limited sportsman division will also run their feature with an $1,100 top prize on the line along with open practice for all divisions.

The street stock division will make its return to the “Track of Champions” on Friday, running a $500-to-win main event as part of a race program that includes 15-lap modified qualifiers for Saturday’s feature, along with the CRSA 305 sprint cars and features for the pro stock and 4-cylinder divisions.

The weekend wraps up Saturday with the crate 602 sportsman division joining the program, with last chance qualifiers for the modifieds and the headlining 200-lap, $53,000-to-win Fonda 200.

The weekend events will also serve as a debut for the new lighting system at Fonda Speedway. A new LED lighting system has replaced the old system and after seeing early photos the improvement is like night and day.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Thursday night and Friday, with hot laps taking to the speedway at 6 p.m. General admission for Thursday night’s racing is $12, and $15 for reserved seating. Grandstand admission Friday will be $22 and $25, respectively.

Gates open at 2 p.m. Saturday, with hot laps at 5 p.m. and the green flag dropping on the night’s race program at 6 p.m. General admission will be $35, and $40 for reserved grandstand seating. Pit admission will be $45 for Fonda Speedway members, and $50 for non-members.

There are weekend packages available for $60 for general admission seating, and $75 for weekend reserved seating. Weekend pit passes are available for $100 for Fonda Speedway members, and $155 for non-members.

May we not need it, but the rain-date is Sunday.

FONDA SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

The Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum is a place race fans need to make part of their visit to the Track of Champions this weekend.

A couple of fundraisers will be taking place to benefit the museum.

Slingshot driver Kirsten Swartz paid tribute to David Lape last Sunday at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park with her ride carrying the colors and No. 22 he made famous. Swartz has donated the side panels from the tribute car to the museum to be raffled off during the weekend.

The Koozie Korner is holding a “Tees That Time Forgot” sale, featuring vintage shirts of drivers who have competed throughout the Northeast. Proceeds from the sale of shirts associated with Lape will be donated to the museum.

The family of Dave Lape, who passed away at home Sept. 7, asked that in lieu of flowers, fans make donations to the Fonda Speedway Museum Memorial Fund in memory of Dave Lape.

The museum will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday night and Friday, and Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

2021 Fonda 200 winner Stewart Friesen will be racing in the NASCAR Camping World truck series Thursday night at Bristol Motor Speedway before heading to Fonda Speedway Friday and Saturday nights.

Rain cut short championship night at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park last Sunday.

Before the rains came, the Tobias Slingshots were able to get their features in with Kolton Weiler taking the checkers “The Dave Lape 22” for all-star slingshots, while Sloan Cherko won the junior slingshot features.

Andrew Buff picked up his third-straight Red Chair DIRTcar 602 sportsman track championship at The Ridge, while Luke Horning won his fifth pro stock championship and Butchie Irwin took top honors in the Limited Sportsman division. Adam Tranka was crowned the street stock track champion, while Jay Ingersoll and Billy Hillman respectively won the single cam and dual cam Mini Stock track titles. Adam Fusco claimed the senior all-star slingshot track championship, and Conner Crane took home the junior slingshot championship.