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by Steve Pados, Accord Media
After coming off a record night in all respects last week at the Accord Speedway, some boo-birds might have thought the following week of racing at the speedway would fall off a bit. That was hardly the case on Friday night as the Palmer Family braved some storms in the immediate area to put all of the right pieces in place to host another spectacular night of racing on KB Photos Night at the "Gem in the Catskills."
Even though a passing storm did dampen the grounds earlier in the day, it didn't prevent the 140 hopeful racers from passing through the gates, all determined to grab their piece of the purse and the glory that winning races or a good outing can provide. With the special added dollars for the Camper's Barn Sportsman division and the Rusty Creeden Memorial, courtesy of Kevin Berryman at KB Photos, Accord Speedway and a host of loyal businesses, the lure of the sweetened purse brought in a great number of outside invaders, all hoping to leave the facility with a fistful of dollars.
The high-powered Rhinebeck Ford Modified division took to the track with the eager fans knowing they would be treated to an all-out barnburner with the great talent on hand to do battle. White Lake Speedway veteran, but Modified rookie at Accord, Jerry Curry took his Artic Adventures sponsored green machine to the point at the start of the race and early held a nice lead on the talented field that had some great battles brewing in the mid-pack action. Rich Ricci Jr, again using Big Block power to glide past his opponents, came from 10th starting place to slip into second when the caution flag came out on lap nine for the "Iceman" Dom Roselli, who had some help in finding the inside barrier.
When racing resumed, Ricci Jr, wasted little time in taking over the lead as Curry in the cool-down period, seemingly had encountered some handling problems with his race car. Robbie Green zipped his Gary Mann owned New York Truck Parts entry past Curry on the 11th lap but Ricci Jr had already driven to a substantial lead on the field. While Ricci Jr utilized the bottom side of the raceway, Green was a man on a mission as he began to reel in the 9-time speedway champion once the pair of battlers encountered lapped traffic.
With three laps remaining Green caught Ricci Jr and a chess match ensued with who was going to drive where. Ricci Jr moved high and was blocked by traffic. He found a seem in the middle and drove through it with Green on his bumper. As the white flag waved Green took a peak under Ricci Jr and the two battled through turns one and two and down the backstretch on equal footing. As they entered turn three, Ricci Jr went high and was momentarily blocked by a lapped car. Green, seizing the moment, nosed his car to the front, but was blocked as well. By this time Ricci Jr cleared the lapped car and drove from the top. Green cleared his opponent and drove off of the bottom as the two champion drivers met just before the start-finish line. Ricci Jr, with a better drive off the corner just nipped the hard-charging Green by a front bumper to secure the victory, making the win the third Big Block Triumph for the drivers this year. Richie Eurich and Jerry Higbie won previously using Big Block powerplants.
Mike Ricci, driving from 12th starting place, had a great view of the battle up front with his solid third place finish. Three-time winner Andy Bachetti was fourth and Jackie Brown Jr raced from 13th to 5th in his Tri-State Harwoods sponsored mount to round out the top five.
The Camper's Barn Sportsman field rolled down for the start and it was Neversink's Paul Minton driving his Aero Transportation/B Rogerson Excavating sponsored racer into the lead for four laps. A scramble off of turn two altered the field and on the restart it was Middletown's Jerry Craig hustling to the point in his self-sponsored low buck mount.
Outside invader Kyle Weiss, from Hamburg, Pennsylvania, utilized all racing lanes at his disposal to come from 18th starting spot to 6th place by the time the racing resumed. Picking off one car after another, Weiss worked himself in behind Craig by lap-15. Craig, driving the inside of the raceway to perfection, crossed the line on lap-16 to earn the $160.00 prize posted by the Victory Lane Bar in Otisville, New York for leading the lap.
On the 18th lap, Weiss, who had developed a push from an earlier frontstretch incident while moving forward, had worked his way past Craig, only to have the pass negated by a skirmish before the lap was completed. Craig, resumed command of the lead on the restart and despite the constant pressure from Weiss led the rest of the way
to secure the win and the $1,600.00 and the contingencies that went with it. Weiss drove a great race to finish second.
Current point-leader Howard Jarvis came back from an early race incident to secure third with Kenny Ferrier, Justin Holland, and Danny Creeden completing the top six.
The Amsoil ProStock feature had hometown hero George Christiana lead the way for the first 8-laps of the event. On lap-9, Caanan, Connecticut's John Routhier drove off of the bottom of turn two to grab the lead and drove away from the field to capture his first ever win at the speedway. Christiana held on for second with Larry Temple Jr finishing in third, Don Williams fourth, and two time winner Charlie Swartz Jr completing the top five.
In the Bryant's Towing Pure Stock event, Don J Williams led 14 and 3/4 of the laps of the event, only to lose the handle coming off of turn four on the final lap and handing the win to Joe Judge, who had raced from 11th-starting position to challenge late in the race. Williams, who had taken the lead from his fourth starting position on lap one, was credited with a 13th-place in the final rundown of the event. Paul Aragon Jr was the runner-up, with John Woinoski third, Mike Deyo was fourth in an outstanding run from 19th-starting place, and Bill Bulson completed the top five.
The Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman 20-lap feature event was led to the line by recent High School graduate Danny Cross. Cross, a graduate from the 2006 Midweek Madness ranks, led one lap before giving way the Croton Falls, New York driver Hawley Smith. Smith, despite picking up a push midway through the race, held on for the win despite a late race charge by Lake Katrine's Vinnie DeCicco, who was gunning for his third win a row. Cross, who has been earning high marks of late with good performances was third with Phil Recchio fourth and Jeff Hager rallying late to complete the top five.
The winged warriors of the Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints had Will Casazza leading the first two circuits of the 20-lap race before giving way to the high flying Clint Roehrs in his Apple Greens Golf Course sponsored entry. Roehrs bolted off to a huge lead that was negated a few laps later by a fourth turn scramble that had the Mark Rogers and Bob Lynt mounts sidelined for the remainder of the event. When racing ensued, Roehrs again took off but this time was being hounded by the high-flying Connecticut talent Jimmy Broderick, who found a sweet spot on the outside of the raceway. Broderick chased Roehrs down and eventually completed the pass for the lead on lap-18. Broderick won going away as the Roehrs machine encountered major problems that had the engine expire on the cool-down lap. For Broderick, it was his second win of the year at Accord. Roehrs finished second with last week's winner Ralph Utter Jr in for third and Scott Goodrich and Peter Sindt completing the top five
MUDPLUGS:
Many new cars added to the excitement of the racing at Accord. Sportsman entries included Robbie Fairweather, Ted DeGroat, Charles Henderson Jr, Eric Holmgren, and the aforementioned Kyle Weiss. Spec Sportsman new entries included with Danny Sherlock and Eric Moon. The mini sprint ranks were bolstered by Jimmy Johnson.
Announcers Andy Crane and Steve Pados continued their pre-race show interviews and provided the fans with some fun interviews with mini sprint campaigners Jimmy Broderick and Monster Energy drink sponsored driver Phil Beesmer. The father/son team of Bill Deak Jr and Sr were interviewed and 13 year-old Slingshot talent the "Z-Man" Zach O'Connell from West Park, New York and sponsored by the Apple Greens Golf Course, did an excellent job in a one on one interview with Pados. The honor role student is hoping to begin his big car racing career next year at Accord in the Spec Sportsman division.
Even though Eric Holmgren and Tom Dakake failed to qualify, being the first and second alternates allowed them to claim 50 dollars each courtesy of the CARQUEST Gasoline Alley and On-Track Presented by GMDC TV and Internet Shows in a great gesture by the popular shows.
Jamie Yannone was interviewd on the CARQUEST Gasoline Alley show last Monday night regarding his great rookie season and two wins in the Modified ranks. Accord Photoman Kevin Berryman and Announcer Andy Crane joined in with phone interviews on the On-Track show as they talked about the great racing season at Accord.
With the Midweek Madness scheduled for Tuesday night last week due to the holiday, more than 100 entries came in to do battle on the 1/4 mile track and provided an excellent show. Mideweek Madness returns to it's customary Wednesday night this week.
Rhinebeck Ford Modifieds: Rich Ricci Jr, Robbie Green, Mike Ricci, Andy Bachetti, Jackie Brown Jr, Mel Shrufer, Rich Eurich, Jamie Yannone, John McGill, Rick Mill, Bill Papual, Donnie Elliott, Jerry Curry, Barry Davis, Scott Ferrier, Kevin Duryea, Jim Halpin, Mark Pullen, John Lutes Jr, Rich Budd Jr, Dom Roselli
Amsoil Pro Stock: John Routhier, George Christiana, Larry Temple Jr, Don Williams, Charlie Swartz Jr, Bill Deak Sr, John Roese, Rob Rowe, Norbert Bracklow, Bill Deak Jr, Emerson Cargain Jr, John Hager, Al Christiana, Adam Douglas, Lenny Helmich, Charlie Houghtaling, John Rood, Kenny Atkins, Bill Halstead
Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints: Jimmy Broderick, Clint Roehrs, Ralph Utter Jr, Scott Goodrich, Peter Sindt, Will Casazza, John Lieto, Tim Durland, JD Casazza, Dana Carey, Phil Beesmer, Brian Collier, Jim Johnston, Brandon Bachor, Mark Rogers,
Bob Lynt
Campers Barn Sportsman: Jerry Craig, Kyle Weiss, Howard Jarvis, Ken Ferrier, Justin Holland, Danny Creeden, Joey Giachinta, Tom Tomasko, Jesse Marks, Danny Tyler, Steve Meilleur, David Coene, Mike Senecal, Steve Krom, Vinnie Gress, Paul Minton, Robbie Fairweather, Ray See Jr, Keith Van Oyan, David Bush, Greg Hocking
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: Hawley Smith, Vinnie DeCicco, Danny Cross, Phil Recchio, Jeff Hager, Jeff Richardson, Danny Sherlock, Greg Hastie, Burt Irwin Jr, Jamie House, Steve Eubanks, Jason Thew, John Gesztesi, Eric Moon, Steve Pinto, Jeremy Quick
Bryant's Towing Pure Stocks: Joe Judge, Paul Aragon Jr, John Woinoski, Mike Deyo, Bill Bulson, Chris Kanuk, Don Coon, Sharon Byrne, Wayne Hajek, Charlie Rose Jr, Bill Judge, Tommy Johnson, Don J Williams, Kyle Wright, James DeCicco III, Ryan Coon, Gary Ronk, Ken Hopkins, Bill Merten
THIS COMING WEEK, July 11th: Midweek Madness Featuring Karts, Quads, Bikes and Lawn Mowers on the 1/4 mile track
July 13th: STS Tire Night, Racing in all Divisions Plus 4 Cylinder Enduros
July 20th: B Millen & Sons Recycling "Luau Night" Plus Joe Winnie Memorial 55-lap $2,000.00 to win for the Modifieds Plus all divisions
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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