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Another One: Stewart Friesen Tops Wednesday STSS Modified ‘Firecracker’ at Fonda

FONDA, NY – Another one.

Stewart Friesen picked up his 53rd career Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco victory on Wednesday night at Fonda Speedway, winning the ‘Firecracker 50’ presented by Holmes & Kugler Towing at the Track of Champions.

The Sprakers, N.Y., driver earned $7,776 for his victory plus an additional $826 in cash bonuses following the 50-lap event, Round No. 2 of the STSS Modified HYTORC of New York North Region.

Friesen picked the worst available number – 12 – in the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw and utilized his trademark outside line to pick up the victory, his fifth triumph in July STSS event at Fonda.

Friesen cleared pole starter and race long leader Michael Trautschold with 27 laps remaining to take over a lead he would never relinquish, surviving a final restart with 10 circuits remaining.

Friesen’s take included the $7,776 payout, $600 as the Palmer’s Service Center Hard Charger, $100 as the ATL Fuel Cells Hot Lap Hero, $50 for the Beyea Custom Headers Worst Redraw and $76 as the top-finishing Fonda regular in memory of Michael Keyser.

Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y., a two-time ‘Firecracker’ winner, chased Friesen to the finish. Sheppard surpassed Trautschold for the runner-up spot on the race’s final restart.

Following a late surge, defending Fonda Speedway champion Alex Yankowski of Covington Township, Pa., placed third.

Trautschold, of Roscoe, N.Y., ended his stout performance with a fourth-place result and Ontario’s Chris Raabe climbed from 10th to complete the front five.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Jack Lehner of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in the BDR Speed No. 02; Cody Clark of Dolgeville, N.Y., aboard the Hoyenga Racing No. 4; Bobby Hackel IV of East Greenbush, N.Y., up from 14th; Quebec’s David Hebert, up from 13th; and 17th-starter Brian Calabrese of Johnstown, N.Y.

Thirty STSS Modified signed in for competition.

Heat winners were Trautschold, Raabe and Alex Payne. Will Shields topped the consolation. Heat and consolation victors picked up $50 each from Emerick Associates.

Lake Ariel, Pa.’s Tyler Peet put his name on the STSS Sportsman win list in the 30-lap main event, earning $1,776 for his efforts.

Peet started the main event from 11th and sliced through the field for the triumph.

The event featured a spirited battle for the lead involving pole starter Mark Mortensen, Chad Edwards and an emerging Peet, who did not transfer to the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw through his heat race.

Peet took the lead with nine laps remaining, outdistancing Johnstown, N.Y.’s Edwards in the run to the checkered flag.

Dylan Madsen of Spencertown, N.Y., completed the podium aboard the Madsen Motorsports No. 89, followed by early leader Mortensen and David Hackett Jr. of Fulton, N.Y.

A massive field of 48 STSS Sportsman signed in for competition.

Harry Shaffer of Fultonville, N.Y., won the special STSS Sportsman ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ Dash presented by Holmes & Kugler Towing. The 10 participants were selected at random for the 6-lap Dash, which offered a total purse of $3,400.

Shaffer took home $1,200 for his efforts.

The STSS returns to competition on Tuesday, July 8 at N.J.’s New Egypt Speedway with the rescheduled ‘Dirty Jersey’ featuring the STSS Modified NJ Quality Drywall South Region and STSS Sportsman Belmont’s Garage South Region.

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 (X) or 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, HYTORC of New York, 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, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, MD3, PEM Engineering, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, SRI Performance, Superior Remodeling, Swift Springs, The Exotic Brand, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.

‘FIRECRACKER 50’ PRESENTED BY HOLMES & KUGLER TOWING RESULTS SUMMARY – FONDA SPEEDWAY JULY 2, 2025

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified HYTORC of New York North Region Round No. 2 Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. 44-Stewart Friesen[12]; 2. 9S-Matt Sheppard[6]; 3. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[9]; 4. 28T-Michael Trautschold[1]; 5. 01-Chris Raabe[10]; 6. 02-Jack Lehner[4]; 7. 4-Cody Clark[5]; 8. 97-Bobby Hackel IV[14]; 9. ONE-David Hebert[13]; 10. 21C-Brian Calabrese[17]; 11. 2RJ-Ronnie Johnson[18]; 12. 1Z-Jessica Friesen[11]; 13. 79-Rocky Warner[8]; 14. 6S-Matt Stangle[24]; 15. 82S-Will Shields[19]; 16. 27B-Robert Bublak[15]; 17. 16-Louden Reimert[22]; 18. 21P-Luciano (Pep) Corradi[16]; 19. 27-Jason Reome[23]; 20. 76-Jamike Sowle[20]; 21. 71-Eric Mack[26]; 22. 70A-Alex Payne[2]; 23. 4P-Anthony Perrego[3]; 24. 24P-Brian Pessolano[7]; 25. 35-Francois Bellemare[25]; 26. 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr[21]; 27. (DNS) 20C-Craig Hanson

Did Not Qualify: 55J-Ancel Collins; 16-Aaron Jacobs; 22c-Cedric Gauvreau

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Jack Lehner (sixth) & Matt Stangle (14th)
ATL Fuel Cell Hot Lap Hero ($100): Stewart Friesen (19.219 seconds)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Stewart Friesen (Redrew 12th)
Emerick Associates Heat & Consolation Winners ($50 Each): Michael Trautschold; Chris Raabe; Alex Payne (Heats) & Will Shields (Consolation)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Ronnie Johnson (11th)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Stewart Friesen (27 laps)
Michael Keyser Memorial Top Fonda Speedway Regular ($76): Stewart Friesen (first)
Online Performance Parts Certificate ($100): Mike Trautschold (fourth)
Palmer’s Service Center Hard Charger Award ($600): Stewart Friesen (12th to 1st)
PEM Engineering Bonus (FREE Gear Set): Alex Yankowski (third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Stewart Friesen ($150 certificate – first); Matt Sheppard ($100 certificate - second); Alex Yankowski ($75 certificate - third)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): Anthony Perrego
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’Bonus ($100 Certificate): Cody Clark (seventh)

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Sportsman Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. North Region Round No. 2 Feature Finish (30 laps): 1. 12T-Tyler Peet[11]; 2. 10%-Chad Edwards[3]; 3. 89-Dylan Madsen[4]; 4. 1M-Mark Mortensen[1]; 5. 82H-David Hackett[7]; 6. 78-Tanner Warner[12]; 7. 98-Camron Hotaling[2]; 8. 7-Dave Constantino[8]; 9. 9-Joe Toth[15]; 10. 25-Stephen Gray[9]; 11. 00X-Josh Coonradt[6]; 12. 7J-Dan Santabarbara[5]; 13. 74-Matt Perry[22]; 14. 27-Michael Ballestero[17]; 15. 12P-Connor Prokop[13]; 16. 84-Ricky Quick[20]; 17. 349-Garrett Chillot[21]; 18. 5C-Randy Cosselman[10]; 19. 9K-Blaine Klinger[18]; 20. 117-Butchie Irwin[25]; 21. 44-Rocco Constantino[24]; 22. 12B-Tyler Bobar[14]; 23. 31J-John Dumond[23]; 24. 123-Dale Welty[26]; 25. 797-Corky Warner[19]; 26. 1D-Kyle Dingman[27]; 27. 1B-Brett Mortensen[16]

Did Not Qualify: 164-Brock Miller; 42H-Kadon Hohensheldt; 1H-Harry Shaffer; 1-Steve Akers; 88W-Michael Wagner Fitzgerald; 19Z-Dylan Scribner; 6M-Pat Mann; 12-George Schweigart; 4-Al McCoy; 26-Mason Gray; 63-Chip Constantino; 15-Greg Havlicek; 2K-Michael Kalkbrenner; 2-Michael Block; 618-Bobby Rhinehardt; 11-Josh Persse; 216-Phil Arnold; 99-Clyde Peek; 314-Clayton Dumond; 27R-Rusty Baumes; 55-Jonny Feagles

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): Tanner Warner (sixth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): Randy Cosselman (Redrew XXth)
Greco’s NAPA Hard Charger ($100 Certificate): Tyler Peet (11th to 1st)
JLR Technologies/Bloomfield’s Florist Hot Lap Hero ($100): Camron Houghtaling (20.006 seconds)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Josh Coonradt (11th)
Michael Keyser Memorial Top Fonda Speedway Regular ($76): Tyler Peet (first)
Online Performance Parts Certificate ($100): David Hackett (fifth)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): Kyle Dingman

Holmes & Kugler Towing ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ Dash (6 laps): 1. 1H-Harry Shaffer[2]; 2. 2-Michael Block Sr[1]; 3. 117-Butchie Irwin[3]; 4. 1B-Brett Mortensen[5]; 5. 55-Jonny Feagles[4]; 6. 26-Mason Gray[6]; 7. 7J-Dan Santabarbara[8]; 8. 42H-Kadon Hohensheldt[7]; 9. 15-Greg Havlicek[9]; 10. 1M-Mark Mortensen[10]

1 - $1,000 (Holmes & Kugler): Harry Shaffer

2 - $500 (AC’s Towing & Recovery): Michael Block Sr.

3 - $300 (Capital Hauling): Butchie Irwin

4 - $400 (M.W. Roosevelt & Son/Roosevelt’s Towing): Brett Mortensen

5 - $200 (Interstate Northeast): Jonny Feagles

6 - $200 (Tow Away): Mason Gray

7 - $150 (Essential’s Towing & Recovery): Dan Santabarbara

8 - $150 (Liggett’s Towing): Kadon Hohensheldt

9 & 10 - $100 (Holmes & Kugler): Greg Havlicek & Mark Mortensen

Dash Hard Charger - $200 (Guilderland Towing): Harry Shaffer

1st on the Hook or Last Place - $100 (Wilson’s Towing): Mark Mortensen

Online Performance Parts/Stone Motorsports Street Stock Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. 24V-Jason Samrov[2]; 2. 39-Matt Wells[4]; 3. 91-Matt Mosher[1]; 4. 71-Rob VanAernam[3]; 5. 50-Andrew Fitzgerald[5]; 6. 54-Shane Wetherington[8]; 7. 08-Lou Gancarz[6]; 8. 711-Jason Barrett[9]; 9. 44-Malcum Warner[7]

The Junk Couple Lap One Leader ($20): Jason Samrov

Fonda Fair Four Cylinder Feature Finish (12 laps): 1. 97JD-Jay Ingersoll[4]; 2. 12S-Ken Hollenbeck[6]; 3. 33D-Kerrie Hollenbeck[5]; 4. 666D-Rudy King Jr[11]; 5. 8S-Stephen Burka[1]; 6. 54S-Wayne Russell Jr[3]; 7. 29JD-John Ray[9]; 8. 26D-Len St Andrews[7]; 9. 212S-TJ Marlitt[8]; 10. 57S-Jeremiah Paro[10]; 11. 223S-Josh Beals[2]

KKH Auto Sales Top Dual Cam ($150): Jay Ingersoll
KKH Auto Sales Top Single Cam ($150): Ken Hollenbeck
Cobleskill Collision 2nd Dual Cam ($100): Kerrie Hollenbeck
Cobleskill Collision 2nd Single Cam ($100): Stephen Burka
KKH Auto Sales Bonuses ($50 each): Ken Hollenbeck (second); Kerrie Hollenbeck (third); Rudy King Jr. (fourth); Stephen Burka (fifth)

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