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by Steve Pados, Accord Media
Slate Hill, New York Modified Star Jerry Higbie took a Friday night off from racing last week at Accord to attend a family function. His absence resulted in his dropping from the Rhinebeck Ford Modified point lead to a 6th place in the standings. Higbie returned to action Friday night at the Ulster County bullring and captured the 30-lap feature by utilizing Big Block power and the great racing surface to his advantage as he moved from his 11th starting position to take control of the lead on the 16th lap and totally dominate the action on Ruges Auto Dealerships Night at the speedway.
Higbie's win was the second straight Big Block win at the speedway as veteran Big Block campaigner Richie Eurich became the first to accomplish the feat the week prior.
Kevin Duryea and Ernie Palmer Jr brought the Rhinebeck Ford Modified down for the start of the feature event. Duryea, in his K&M Painting & Powerwashing entry, took the early lead and was pressured by Tom Hindley. On lap five, Duryea and Hindley came together entering turn three and left Duryea with a badly mangled front end on his race car. When racing ensued, Palmer took the lead and was pressured by the "Iceman" Dom Roselli. Coming out of turn four on lap seven Brown hooked Roselli and rode the veteran into the mainstretch boilerplate, bouncing Roselli out into the on-rushing race-pack where Mark Pullen, with nowhere to go, made heavy contact with the disabled Roselli racer. Both Roselli and Pullen were unable to continue and Brown was set down for the evening for his part in the incident.
When the green flag was displayed, Wallkill, New York veteran Robbie Green wasted little time in assuming control of the lead and began to pull away from the field. Higbie had other ideas and moved into second and began to go work on reeling in Green. On the 16th-lap, Higbie completed his mission as he moved past Green with an outside move coming out of turn four. Once in the lead, Higbie powered away from the talented field. Rich Ricci Jr moved past Green on lap-26 to assume the runner-up position but never mounted a serious challenge to the HigFab/Mid City Transit/Mr K's Carpet/Baddabing Pizza/Embroidery Wizard sponsored entry of the high flying Higbie. Ricci Jr in a great run from twelveth starting position was second with Robbie Green in third, Andy Bachetti from fourteenth to fourth, and rookie Modified talent Jamie Yannone completing the top five.
In the Camper's Barn Sportsman feature event, Larry Hendershot, in his Hendershot Excavating sponsored entry, took advantage of a front row starting spot and wired the field to take the checkered flag for what appeared to be his second win at the speedway for the 2007 season. Post race inspection, deemed the Hendershot car with a rules infraction and handed the win to hometown ace, Howard Jarvis in his Jarvis Fuel Service sponsored mount. Tom Tomasko moved up to the runner-up status with Danny Creeden, David Coene, and the hard-riding Justin Holland completing the top five.
In the Amsoil Pro Stock feature event, Charlie Swartz Jr scored his second win of the year by wiring the field in the 20-lap contest. Shwartz ran a good line throughout the race and held on for the win despite a late charge from Norbert Bracklow who finished second. Don Williams finished third, steady John Roese was fourth, and Larry Temple Jr raced into fifth in the exciting full-fendered contest.
In the Bryant's Towing Pure Stocks, Mike Deyo led only a lap in the hotly contested battle but it was the lap that counted most as he drove past Don Coon at the wire to win his second feature event of the year. Deyo, who started deep in the pack from 19th position, paced himself throughout the event and silently advanced to the front. Paul Aragon Jr, who led most of the way, found his car losing power on the backstretch with a few laps remaining and pulled off to the infield. Don Coon, who was following, assumed contol of the lead only to set-up the dramatic ending as Deyo found the needed room on the outside of the raceway to nip Coon at the wire. Coon finished second with Don J Williams, Joe Judge, and James DeCicco III completing the top five.
Mid-Week Madness Quad graduate Greg Hastie took his Markertek.com sponsored entry to the point on the first go around and led throughout in capturing his first win in the Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman feature event. Hastie was pressured throughout the race by first Jason Thew, and then held off a determined Jeff Hager, who became stronger as the race wore on. Hager took control of second place on lap-14, but fell short in his effort to catch Hastie. Thew held on for third with the hard charging Phil Recchio fourth and steady Danny Conklin completing the top five.
The Kingston Nissan Mini Sprint feature belonged to Clint Roehrs as the Apple Green Golf Course sponsored driver drove through the field to take over the lead on lap-10 and then dominate the action to score his fourth win of the year at the Ulster County bullring. Scott Goodrich had another good run as he crossed the line in the runner-up position from his ninth starting place. Jimmy Broderick clawed his way to the front to finish third from his twelveth place start, and Ralph Utter Jr and Tim Durland completed the top five.
In the specially presented Dash for Cash presented by HigFab Fabrications, Rich Ricci Jr took the early lead and was never headed to secure the win in the five lap dash. Ernie Palmer Jr was second and Tom Hindley finished third in the popular event.
MUDPLUGS:
New race cars continue to make their way to the speedway. Richie Budd Jr made his start and found his way into the feature when veteran John McGill hit the fence hard after his qualifying heat. McGill was through for the night and Budd moved into the position following the scratch. Budd found himself in the middle of the frontstretch melee in his first night of action, but was able to restart and finished ninth in a good
first outing.
John Routhier, Chip Martin, and Jim Grippin were new additions to the Amsoil Pro Stock field. Grippin landed in tenth position in his first outing of the year at the track.
The great crowd on hand was not only treated to some great racing at the speedway, but Promoter Gary Palmer brought in a collection of flame throwing cars and a truck to dazzle the crowd with their flame making abilities. The combination of cars were fascinating to watch as they sent the flames skyward in the neighborhood of 50 plus feet. The cars were in town as the Hudson Valley Resort, the site of the year end speedway banquet, was hosting a National Hot Rod Weekend at their facility. The popular cars were well received in a great co-promotional effort between the resort and Gary Palmer.
Mini Sprint campaigner Hank Katz returned to action for the first time since his spectacular dual-flip accident a few weeks ago with John Lieto. Katz, who suffered a broken finger in the incident along with a sore body, was solid in scoring a ninth place finish in his return to the racing wars.
Once again the speedway was in excellent condition for the night's racing activities.
Promoter Gary Palmer, who was a recent guest on the popular CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV Show, has spent a great deal of time and effort in manicuring the track for the weekly competition, and the results have resulted in a super fast race track with multiple racing lanes and relatively little dust. The racing concluded at 11 PM.
Midweek Madness action on Wednesday night resulted in another 100 plus entries for the second week in a row as the Ulster County bullring is quickly becoming a popular attraction for the small scale action racing taking place on the quarter mile oval.
The Rusty Creeden Memorial Race will take place on July 6th at the speedway and will pay a cool $1,600.00 to the Sportsman driver crossing the finish line first. Track Photographer Kevin Berryman, who is spearheading the efforts for the race, has gathered in much support from the racing community to present the race in honor of Rusty Creeden, a longtime campaigner at the Orange County and Nazareth Speedways, and whose son Danny continues to follow the family racing tradition with his racing in the Northeast.
Rhinebeck Ford Modifieds: Jerry Higbie, Rich Ricci Jr, Robbie Green, Andy Bachetti, Jamie Yannone, Ernie Palmer Jr, Tom Hindley, Rich Eurich, Rich Budd Jr, Bill Papula, Mel Shrufer, Jerry Curry, Mike Ricci, Dom Roselli, Mark Pullen, Donnie Elliott, Scott Ferrier (DQ), Kevin Duryea (DQ), Rick Mill (DQ), Jackie Brown Jr (DQ)
Amsoil Pro Stock: Charlie Shwartz Jr, Norbert Bracklow, Don Williams, John Roese, Larry Temple Jr, Bill Deak Jr, Bill Deak Sr, Adam Douglas, George Christiana, Bill Deak Sr, Jim Grippin, Kenny Atkins, Chip Martin, John Routhier, Lenny Helmich, John Rood
Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints: Clint Roehrs, Scott Goodrich, Jimmy Broderick, Ralph Utter Jr, Tim Durland, Mark Rogers, Phil Beesmer, Will Casazza, Hank Katz, Bob Lynt, Todd Lapp, Kevin Horton, Dana Carey, JD Casazza, Mike Goodnow, John Lieto, Rich Van Demark
Campers Barn Sportsman: Howard Jarvis, Tom Tomasko, Danny Creeden, Dave Coene, Justin Holland, Jesse Marks, David Bush, Steve Meilleur, Danny Tyler, Ken Ferrier, Steve Krom, Ray See Jr, Paul Minton, Mike Senecal, Joe Giachinta, Jerry Craig, Keith Van Oyan, Greg Hocking, John Sundlof, Larry Hendershot (DQ)
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: Greg Hastie, Jeff Hager, Jason Thew, Phil Recchio, Dan Conklin, Jeff Richardson, Vinnie DeCicco, Jeremy Quick, Hawley Smith, Danny Cross, Steve Eubanks, Jamie House, Burt Irwin Jr, John Gesztesi
Bryant's Towing Pure Stocks: Mike Deyo, Don Coon, Don J Williams, Joe Judge, James DeCicco III, Ryan Coon, Bill Bulson, John Woinoski, Kyle Wright, Steve Smalley, Sharon Byrne, Tom Johnson, Steve Kanuk, Bill Goldpaugh, Paul Aragon Jr, Charlie Rose Jr, Ken Hopkins, Bill Merten, Mike DuBois, Ralph Ronk, Gary Ronk, Bill Judge
THIS COMING WEEK, June 20th: Midweek Madness Featuring Karts, Quads, Bikes and Lawn Mowers on the 1/4 mile track
June 22nd: Cedar Ridge RV Night, Racing in all Divisions
June 29th: K&W Car Wash Night, Racing in all Divisions + Gigantic Fireworks Extravaganza + Best Banner Contest
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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