Airborne Park Speedway

Late Pass Lifts “Hollywood” Felix Roy to Leon Gonyo Memorial 40 Victory

4/30/2026

Airborne Park Speedway

Late Pass Lifts “Hollywood” Felix Roy to Leon Gonyo Memorial 40 Victory

Plattsburgh, NY-Leon Gonyo’s racing career spanned over 40 years across Northeastern New York and Canada. Every year, Airborne Park Speedway opens the season with the Leon Gonyo Memorial race, a signature event to honor the legendary driver. After Mother Nature forced the postponement of the race twice, the 40-lap, $4,000 to win showdown for the 358 Modifieds finally hit the racing surface. And it was well worth the wait.
Gonyo would have enjoyed the thrilling battle as Felix Roy swept around the outside of Billy Dunn on a restart and captured the headline feature on the card in dramatic fashion.
Louie Jackson Jr. and 2024 event champion Tim Fuller led the field to the green flag, and Fuller immediately took control. Despite a pair of cautions on laps nine and 12, Fuller was able to drive away, fashioning a full straightaway advantage by the halfway point. Meanwhile, all of the action was behind the leader as Jackson Jr., Carey Terrance, Mike Mahaney, and Chris Rabbe waged a tooth-and-nail battle for position. Fuller received a scare on lap 25 when he made contact with a lapped car, but he was able to overcome the near-disaster.
Mahaney passed Jackson Jr. for second on lap 27 and was turning laps slightly faster than Fuller, but drifted high in turn three on lap 29 and slipped back to fourth, hindering his momentum.
Caution flew on lap 34. On the restart, Roy swung to the outside of Fuller to claim the point and held on to capture the checkered flag. Dunn finished second, Mahaney third, Fuller fell to fourth, and Jordan McCreadie completed the top five.
The J&S Steele Sportsman Modifieds rolled onto the speedway for the first time in 2026 in their $1,000 to win 30-lap feature. Invader Shane Pecore, who always finds “The Big A” to his liking when he unloads there, overcame a strong start from six-time track champion Travis Bruno to earn a trip to victory lane. Bruno fired from the pole position and led the first six laps before Pecor swept around him on the high line off of turn two to earn the lead.
Once Pecor obtained the point, he never gave it back. Bruno stalked him for most of the remaining circuits. Pecor was stronger in clean air, but Bruno navigated traffic better, allowing him to close the gap. Nick Heywood slipped past Bruno on lap 27, but could not run down the Cornwall, Ontario competitor. Heywood finished second, Bruno third, Bucko Branham fourth, and Evan Roberts fifth.
It was an emotional celebration for David Johnson as he roared from the eighth spot on the starting grid to win the RainPro of Vermont Limited Sportsman feature. Johnson’s wife is expecting to give birth at any moment, but the up-and-coming driver from Fairfax, Vermont, made a thrilling late charge in the 20-lap feature before becoming a second-time dad.
Quickly improving, young driver Brogan Roberts jumped from the top starting spot and led the first seven laps. Gary English, a consistent winner in 2025, moved to the second spot and came up to challenge Roberts. Roberts was able to fend off English’s attempts to move to the front. Behind them, Johnson’s car was coming to life. When caution flew on lap 18, Johnson was ready to pounce. After the restart, Johnson used some rim riding in turns three and four to overtake Roberts and drive off for the win. Roberts crossed the line second, followed by English, Kobe Hernandez, and Michael Danforth.
The Renegade division always provides fans with some of the most entertaining racing, and their season opener was no exception. The sparks flew before a lap was completed as a no-start situation heading into turn one caused an accordion effect that forced a few good cars, including Josh Terry, to head to the pits. Once the green flag waved for real, Billy Thwaits took the lead and dominated the field. Thwaits was sitting on a rocket ship as Tylor Terry, a multi-time winner last season, could not reel him in. A series of cautions provided the other contenders with a shot at slipping past Twaits, but he was just too hooked up.
Following Thwaits and Tyler Terry across the line were Shawn Duquette, Nathaniel Guay, and Codey Benoit.
In the 15-lap Mini Stock feature, Tyler Bell led the first four laps before veteran Kenny Tourville wrestled the lead from him on lap five. Tourville held the point until Jake Fountain got around him on a lap nine restart. Tourville and Randy Martin came after Fountain in the closing laps in turn three, and when Martin and Fountain had contact, Tourville was there to take advantage and park his car in victory lane. Fountain recovered to place second, followed by Martin, Kyle Botala, and Glenn Engstrom.
The first feature event of the evening for the Crown Vics was anticipated to be another chapter in the rivalry series between Richie Turner and Eric Friend. That battle never came to fruition as Friend was the victim of contact that sent him hard into the frontstretch retaining wall, ending his weekend. Turner drove off into the sunset after that, turning back a challenge from Trevor Jaques, who was making his Crown Vic debut. Jaques appeared to be gaining ground on Turner during the middle section of the race, but Turner found another gear and cruised to the win. Jaques was second, Scott Richner third, Benjamin Deyo fourth, and Nate Steady fifth.

Airborne Park Speedway returns to action with the season debut of “Thursday Night Thunder” on May 7th, for A-Verdi Night with 358 Modifieds and all weekly divisions! Grandstand Gates Open: 5:30 pm. Hot Laps at 6:15 pm. Racing is at 7 pm.

Official Results-72nd Season Opener "Leon Gonyo Memorial 40"

Sunday, April 26th, 2026

358 Modifieds Leon Gonyo Memorial 40 (40 laps)

Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown

(3) Felix Roy Napierville, QC
(7) Billy Dunn Watertown, NY
(12) Mike Mahaney Elizabethtown, NY
(2) Tim Fuller Watertown, NY
(9) Jordan McCreadie Watertown, NY
(1) Louie Jackson Jr Akwesasne, NY
(6) Carey Terrance Akwesasne, NY
(8) Chris Raabe Alexandria, ON
(18) Lance Willix Theresa, NY
(4) RJ Tresidder Edwards, NY
(11) Dylan Madsen Spencertown, NY
(13) Jordan Fornwalt Bradford, VT
(14) Thomas Cook Hogansburg, NY
(19) Dany Gagne Mercier, QC
(5) Lucas Fuller Edwards, NY
(17) Preston Forbes Potsdam, NY
(10) Dale Gonyo Jr Chazy, NY
(15) Dave Camara Poultney, VT
(22) George Foley Vermontville, NY
(23) Matt Woodruff Bloomingdale, NY
(21) Chase Zimmer Saugerties, NY
(20) Greg Atkins Ausable Forks, NY
(24) Johnny Chesnut Peru, NY
(16) Tanner Siemons Orford, NH
DNS Adam Pierson East Corinth

J&S Steele Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)

Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown

( 3) Shane Pecor Cornwall, Ontario
(6) Nick Heywood Plattsburgh, NY
(1) Travis Bruno Morrisonville, NY
(5) Bucko Branham Plattsburgh, NY
(2) Evan Roberts Fletcher, VT
(4) Taylor Doxtater Philadelphia, NY
(8) Max Dolliver Londonderry, NH
(17) Jason McClatchie Plattsburgh, NY
(7) Vince Quenneville Brandon, VT
(12) Cory Castell Fort Covington, NY
(9) Caleb Durgan Morrisonville, NY
(15) Jamy Begor Mooers Forks, NY
(18) Codie Aubin Plattsburgh, NY
(11) Lonnie Rivers Plattsburgh, NY
(10) Keith Pelkey Clintonville, NY
(13) Tanner Forbes Jay, NY
(20) Christopher Cordeau Magog, QC
(16) Dylan Rabtoy Swanton, VT
(19) Ryan Shanahan Carthage, NY -
(21) Billy Cook Hogansburg, NY
(14) Michael Wright Alburgh, VT

Renegades Feature (20 laps)

Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown

(1) Billy Thwaits Clintonville, NY
(2) Tylor Terry Mooers, NY
(5) Shawn Duquette Morrisonville, NY
(9) Nathaniel Guay Mooers, NY
(3) Codey Benoit Ft. Myers, FL
(4) Tyler Irwin Peru, NY
(7) Brad Bushey Fairfax, VT -
(6) Shawn Fountain Plattsburgh, NY
(10) Rick Doner Clintonville, NY
(13) Tony Salerno Mineville, NY
(12) Konnor Joyal Ausable Forks, NY
(11) Tim Wilcox Saranac, NY
DNS Josh Terry Essex, NY

RainPro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Feature (20 laps)

Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown

(14) David Johnson Fairfax, VT
(1) Brogan Roberts Fletcher, VT
(3) Gary English Salisbury, VT
(6) Kobe Hernandez Chazy, NY
(7) Michael Danforth Corinth, VT
(9) Cody O’Brien Peru, NY
(12) Cody Gregoropoulos Corinth, VT
(16) Justin Lazore Akwesasne, NY
(5) Adam Lafountain Starksboro, VT
(14) Stephen Bushey Brushton, NY
(11) Matthew Jordan Cambridge, NY
(2) Lea-Jeanne Lauziere St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, QC
(4) Dereck Allard St-Guillaume, QC
(17) Emric Bourque St-Christophe-d'Arthabaska, QC
(18) Lucas Duvall North Bangor, NY
(10) Sarah-Ann Lauziere St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, QC
(15) Parker Dermody Peru, NY
(19) Antony Boissonneault Ste-cecile De Milton, QC
DNS Joe Chartier Bangor, NY

Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)

Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown

(2) Ken Tourville Grand Isle, VT
(4) Jacob Fountain Dannemora, NY
(5) Randy Martin Keeseville, NY
(6) Kyle Botala Grand Isle, VT
(8) Glenn Engstrom Peru, NY
(10) Speedy Bresette Plattsburgh, NY
(9) Brandon Osher Peru, NY
(14) Jeremiah King Peru, NY
(12) Jp Corrow Peru, NY
(3) Josh Laporte
(7) Nick Harnden Cadyville, NY
(11) Jamie Whitney Jr Plattsburgh, NY
(15) Joshua Blake Champlain, NY
(17) Caleb Tourville South Alburgh, VT
(13) Joe Warren Plattsburgh, NY
(16) Kyle Hart Cadyille, NY
(20) Cody Young Chazy, NY
(18) Tyler Warren Plattsburgh, NY
(19) Luke Fellows Swanton, VT
(25) Jailynn Doner Keesville, NY
(22) Leonard Snide Plattsburgh, NY
(21) Ernest Parent Plattsburgh, NY
(1) Tyler Bell Peru, NY
DNS Travis Reyell Plattsburgh, NY
DNS Ed Goddeau Plattsburgh, NY