The most lucrative winner’s share in Northeast Modified racing will be distributed in Montgomery County, N.Y., Sept. 14-16 with the annual Fonda 200 at Fonda Speedway.

Modified stars of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco clash with Fonda Speedway’s best in pursuit of a $53,000 grand prize.

The historic – and now annual – event offers a total purse nearing $140,000 for Saturday’s main event.

The ‘Fonda 200’ also plays a hand in both the Ollie’s ‘Elite’ Series (Round No. 3) and the River Valley Builders North Region (Round No. 10), paying $15,000 each, respectively, to their champions.

The ‘Fonda 200’ began in 1955 when iconic Junior Johnson claimed the inaugural event, which served as a NASCAR Grand National event.

Johnson, David Pearson, and ‘The King,’ Richard Petty, are all on the ‘Fonda 200’ win list as NASCAR Grand National event winners in the late 1950s and 60s.

The ‘Fonda 200’ became an annual event starting in 1983 with Charlie Rudolph finding Fonda Speedway checkerboard square.

The event ran every year through 2002 (with the exception of 1996, weather related) before taking a 17-year hiatus as BD Motorsports Media LLC took the helm of Fonda Speedway.

The historic event returned in ’19, ’21, and ’22, with 2020 falling by the wayside due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Highlights: 2022 Fonda 200 at Fonda Speedway

Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen has added his name to the ‘Fonda 200’ win list, claiming the ’19 and ’21 renditions. Last year, Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard added his name to the list of drivers to win the ‘Fonda 200.’

The 2023 Fonda 200 weekend begins next Thursday (Sept. 14) with the Amsterdam Truck Center Modified ‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ taking place. Any driver unable to pick up a Modified victory at any speedway this season will be eligible to participate.

The Montgomery County Office of the Aging Limited Sportsman join the program as well. Open Practice for all other divisions participating during the weekend will also be available.

On Friday (Sept. 15) the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds take part in 15-lap Qualifying Races for Saturday’s main event.

Joining STSS Modified Qualifying Races will be the CRSA Sprint Cars, the Below Zero Ice Cream Pro Stocks, Stone Motorsports/Online Performance Street Stocks and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders.

The weekend concludes on Saturday, Sept. 16. The STSS Modifieds take part in Last Chance Races to set the final starting field for the $53,000-to-win ‘Fonda 200’ headliner paying $1,000 to take the green flag.

The Swagger Factory Apparel STSS Crate 602 Sportsman join the Saturday program, battling for 25-laps in Round No. 6 of the Precision Hydraulic & Oil North Region.

Since 1953, the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway has hosted the best in stock car racing. Under the management of BD Motorsports Media LLC, the speedway will operate weekly on Saturday nights from April through August plus several special events. Fonda Speedway is located on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds off New York State Thruway Exit No. 28 at 21 S. Bridge Street Fonda, NY 12068.

Fonda Speedway is on the web at www.thefondaspeedway.com. To learn more, call the office at 518.915.4395, like Fonda Speedway on Facebook or follow the speedway on Twitter: @thefondaspdwy or Instagram: @fondaspeedway.

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 Twitter or Instagram.

Fonda 200 Winners

1955: Junior Johnson (NASCAR Grand National)

1963: Steve Danish

1964: Bill Wimble

1966: David Pearson (NASCAR Grand National)

1967: Richard Petty (NASCAR Grand National)

1968: Richard Petty (NASCAR Grand National)

1969: Lou Lazzaro

1970: Harry Peek

1983: Charlie Rudolph

1984: Jimmy Horton

1985: Charlie Rudolph

1986: Jack Johnson

1987: Kenny Brightbill

1988: Jack Johnson

1989: Mike Romano

1990: Doug Hoffman

1991: Doug Hoffman

1992: Bob McCreadie

1993: Bob McCreadie

1994: Jimmy Horton

1995: Brett Hearn

1997: Brett Hearn

1998: Brett Hearn

1999: Steve Paine

2000: Kenny Tremont

2001: Doug Hoffman

2002: Brett Hearn

2019: Stewart Friesen

2021: Stewart Friesen

2022: Matt Sheppard