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by Steve Pados, Accord Media
Nine-time Modified Champion Rich Ricci Jr struggled with his early season racing at the Accord Speedway. Going back to basics, the New Paltz, New York veteran campaigner and his crew burned some midnight oil to find a winning set-up on the Apple Greens Golf Course sponsored machine. Two weeks ago, Ricci charged to the front only to run out of laps in chasing down eventual winner Andy Bachetti. Friday night, Ricci used the same formula to get to the front, only this time made sure he got there first, in scoring his first win of the 2007 racing season at the "Action Track."
Jerry Curry, the transplanted champion from the defunct White Lake Speedway, and veteran wheel-twister Rick Mill paced the twenty-one car Rhinebeck Ford Modified starting field to the green flag. Curry grabbed the lead at the start, but Mill, utilizing the wild side of the raceway, gained the lead by the end of the first lap. Curry, using the bottom of the raceway to perfection, regained the lead on lap three and led the next few laps. Curry's lead would be short-lived as Middletown, New York veteran, Dom "The Iceman" Roselli, finding the outside lanes of the speedway to his liking forged into the lead on lap-7. Roselli led until a lap-11 caution involving Jackie Brown Jr and teammates Bill Papula and John Lutes Jr, temporarily halted the action.
On the restart, Roselli again paced the field, but ninth-place starting Ricci Jr was now into the runner-up spot and finding a better outside racing lane than Roselli. Ricci Jr, using relentless pressure completed the pass into the lead coming out of turn four and began to pull away from the field.
Meanwhile, the racing mid-pack was ferocious as once again multi-racing lanes were available to the drivers. Jamie Yannone, an early season feature winner, Jerry Higbie, the current Rhinebeck Ford Modified point leader, and two-time 2007 feature winner Bachetti were high against the boiler plate as they found their way to the front. 2006 Modified king Mike Ricci Jr moved to the front from his eighth starting place by using the bottom side of the raceway and began chasing his younger brother by lap fifteen.
This night belonged to the Ricci clan as Rich raced through the lapped traffic with relative ease and collected his first win of the season. Mike Ricci, shaking off a couple of so-so weeks, was a solid second with rookie of the year candidate Yannone in third, Higbie, driving to the front from eleventh starting place was fourth, Roselli, in a great drive was fifth, and Bachetti wound up sixth as he drove to the front from a fifteenth starting position.
In the Camper's Barn Sportsman 35-lap shoot-out, hometown ace David Bush and Napanoch's Jesse Marks led the twenty car field to the green flag. Bush was a master in utilizing the bottom side of the raceway to his liking as he took the lead at the initial start and led all 35-laps on his way to a big $1,000.00 payday awaiting him in victory lane. Marks was equally as impressive in his runner-up role while Ken Ferrier was a steady performer in finishing third, while David Coene and Danny Tyler rounded out the top five. Ray See Jr raced from his sixteenth starting spot to finish sixth.
In the Amosil 20-lap Pro Stock feature, Don Williams, using extreme patience and track savvy, came from his tenth starting place to win his first event in the 2007 season. Charlie Houghtaling led the first 18-laps of the event and seemingly was in control, until Williams, who was riding in fifth place with five to go began his charge to the front.
Williams, using all of the racing lanes to his advantage, overhauled one car after another and made the winning pass on Houghtaling on lap-18 and won going away. Houghtaling hung tough for second with John Roese, Bill Deak Jr, and Jim Langenback completing the top five.
New Windsor, New York veteran Mike Deyo, took over the lead on lap six and won the exciting Bryant's Pure Stock fifteen lap feature event. Red Hook's Bill Bulson was the early leader, but Deyo was waiting to strike. On lap six, Deyo got a great run off of turn four and took over the lead for good and won by nearly a straightaway over second place man Ryan Coon. Kyle Wright, Bill Bulson, and point leader Bill Rion rounded out the top five. Rion was impressive as he was caught up in a mid-race skirmish, but quickly moved through the field to secure a spot among the top five.
In the heldover Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman feature, Goshen, New York veteran Jeff Richardson took over the lead on lap three and was never challenged as he sped to his first victory of the year in his Color Tricks/Hig-Fab sponsored machine. Burt Irwin Jr was a steady second with Dan Conklin, Hawley Smith, and Phil Recchio rounding out the top five.
In the regularly scheduled Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman event, Wantage, New Jersey veteran Phil Recchio took his DR Mullen Construction sponsored machine to the front on lap one and was never headed in securing his second win of the 2007 season. Jeff Hager was second with steady Hawley Smith, Eddie Burgess, and Jeff Richardson completing the top five.
In the Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints, Highland, New York's Clint Roehrs moved his Apple Greens Golf Course sponsored mount from his ninth starting place to take over the lead on lap six, and led the remainder of the way in winning the twenty lap event. 2005 track champion and early leader John Lieto finished second and it was a nice comeback for him as the week prior, Lieto was involved in the dual flip sequence with Hank Katz. Peter Sindt raced from his fourteenth starting place to finish third in a great drive. Scott Goodrich was fourth and Ralph Utter Jr rounded out the top five.
In WL 4 Cylinder action, it was Mike Herman winning the ten lap event over a determined Ed Linstadt
MUDPLUGS:
Brandon Bachor was a new addition to the Mini Sprint field, but encountered some problems and did not start the feature event. Andy Briggs was a new addition to the Pure stocks and recorded a sixteenth place finish in his initial outing at the track.
Former Track Champion Jim Langenback made his return to Accord a successful one as he drove from his twelveth starting place to record a top finish in the Amsoil Pro Stock event.
Eddie Walters made his return to Accord in the Orange-Ulster Vocational Technical School built Sportsman machine.
While Walters suffered from some initial handling woes the first time out, but the sharp-looking racer is a tribute to the undertaking of the school project by Instructor Mr Dolan and the student work force at the school in preparing the racer for battle at Accord.
"Kid Lightning" Michael Storms made his first Accord start of the season and was involved in a skirmish during the running of his heat. John Dearborn took his first ride at the speedway in the Don J Williams Pure Stock racer.
Once again the track was in tip top shape for the racing activity at the speedway. The drivers were treated to multi track grooves all night long and Promoter Gary Palmer stayed on top of the situation with some grooming of the raceway during a break in the action.
Announcer Andy Crane had a prior engagment and missed the evening's activities. He will return next week.
Camper's Barn RV had an excellent display of recreational vehicles behind the grandstand that had many of the good crowd on hand taking a peek at the offerings. The sponsoring group had a great time with their disco theme as disco music played throughout the evening and the Camper's Barn group has already signed on the for the 2008 racing season at Accord.
This coming Wednesday Night, June 6th, will mark the return of Midweek Madness to the speedway. This year all racing will take place on the quarter mile portion. Bikes, Quads, Karts and Lawn Mowers will be in action.
Miinewaska Motors Night is in place for June 8th, with more exciting action being offered for all divisions.
Rhinebeck Ford Modifieds: Rich Ricci Jr, Mike Ricci, Jamie Yannone, Jerry Higbie, Dom Roselli, Andy Bachetti, Tom Hindley, John McGill, Robbie Green, Jerry Curry, Scott Ferrier, Rich Eurich, Donnie Elliott, Rick Mill, Bill Papula, Jackie Brown Jr, Mark Pullen, Mel Shrufer, Ernie Palmer Jr, Kevin Duryea, John Lutes Jr
Amsoil Pro Stock: Don Williams, Charlie Houghtaling, John Roese, Bill Deak Jr, Jim Langenback, John Hager, Larry Temple Jr, George Christiana, Rich Lapolt, Norbert Bracklow, Adam Douglas, Charlie Swartz Jr, Scott Mill, Emerson Cargain Jr, John Rood, Bill Halstead, Lenny Helmich, Kenny Atkins, Rob Rowe
Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints: Clint Roehrs, John Lieto, Peter Sindt, Scott Goodrich, Ralph Utter Jr, Will Casazza, Todd Lapp, Mark Rogers, Bob Lynt, JD Casazza, Phil Beesmer, Brian Collier, Kevin Horton, Tim Durland, Mike Goodnow, Brandon Bachor (DNS)
Campers Barn Sportsman: David Bush, Jesse Marks, Ken Ferrier, David Coene, Danny Tylers, Ray See Jr, Howard Jarvis, Joe Giachinta, Mike Senecal, Justin Holland, Keith Van Oyan, Greg Hocking, Charlie Winne, Eddie Walters, Steve Meilleur, Tom Tomasko, Steve Krom, John Sundlof, Paul Minton, Jerry Craig
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: (Heldover) Jeff Richardson, Burt Irwin Jr, Dan Conklin, Hawley Smith, Phil Recchio, Steve Eubanks, Jeremy Quick, Vinnie DeCicco, Greg Hastie, Eddie Burgess, John Gesztesi, Jeff Hager, Jason Thew, Jamie House, Amanda House
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: Phil Recchio, Jeff Hager, Hawley Smith, Eddie Burgess, Jeff Richardson, Vinnie DeCicco, Brett Graham, Greg Hastie, Burt Irwin Jr,
Jamie House, Jason Thew, John Gesztesi, Dan Conklin, Jeremy Quick, Steve Eubanks
Bryant's Towing Pure Stocks: Mike Deyo, Ryan Coon, Kyle Wright, Bill Bulson, Bill Rion, Gary Ronk, Joe Judge, Don Coon, Paul Aragon Jr, John Woinoski, Tom Johnson, Bill Goldpaugh, John Dearborn, Ralph Ronk, Bill Judge, Andy Briggs, Lee Gallant
WL 4 Cylinders: Mike Herman, Eddy Lindstadt
For updated information regarding Accord Speedway, log on to their website at:
www.accordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Hotline at: 845 626 3478 |
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