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Accord, New York - Yannone Uses Signature Line to Power to His Third Accord Win on STS Tire Night
by Steve Pados, Accord Media
Newburgh, New York Rookie Modified pilot Jamie Yannone has arrived on the Accord Modified scene in a big way. After securing his second win of the season a few weeks ago and a guest appearance shortly thereafter on the CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Internet show, the show hosts decided the area of the racetrack from the third to the fourth turns where Yannone excells, be dubbed the "Yannone Line."
On Friday night, Yannone again used his signature line to drive to the front as he ran down and overhauled early race leader Mark Pullen on lap-27 to secure his third win of the 2007 racing season at the Ulster County speedplant. Yannone, who co-shared the Accord Sportsman title in 2006 with Danny Creeden, has been fabulous with his transition into the Modified ranks. After failing to qualifying for the feature in the season opener on May 4th, Yannone scored his first career Modified win the following week, and provided the on-track fireworks with his second win on June 29th.
Jerry Curry and Mark Pullen paced the twenty car Rhinebeck Ford Modified field down for the start of the 30-lap grind on STS Tire Night at the Speedway. Pullen, who has to rank as the heartbreak kid at the speedway, quickly powered into the lead coming off of turn two and sped to a substantial lead with first Curry and then Dom Roselli taking up the chase. The "Iceman" Roselli moved into second two laps later and set sail for Pullen, using his own line to reel in the high-flying Pullen.
Meanwhile, the racing in midpack was nothing short of sensational as first Yannone broke through and began to reel in the race leaders, and he was followed by Big Block convert Rich Ricci Jr, who was trying to naildown his second consecutive win. Mike Ricci, the 2006 Modified champion at the speedway, also broke through the pack and began to make a run at the leaders.
While Pullen held off all advances, the race for second became a two man battle royal between the veteran champion Roselli and the new kid on the block Yannone as the two racers worked their lines lap after lap trying to outmaneuver each other. The great battle came to unfortunate end as the second place Roselli had a right front tire go down that darted him hard into the third turn boiler plate fencing and damaging his racer enough to sideline him for the remainder of the evening.
On the restart, Pullen again took off but this time Yannone began to work the "Yannone Line" to perfection. Each lap in succession saw Yannone get closer to his goal, and finally off of turn 4 on lap 27, Yannone became the new leader. At the same time Mike Ricci moved into third place and one lap later moved past Pullen for second. Yannone wouldn't be denied as he crossed the finish line a few lengths of Mike Ricci to secure his third Accord win. Mark Pullen, in a great drive, finished third. Rich Ricci Jr was fourth at the flag and remains the Modified point leader at this stage of the racing season. Robbie Green, who has seemingly shaken the early season gremlins, was in for a solid fifth place run.
The Amsoil Pro Stock feature event saw the "Walden Warrior" Rob Rowe jump to an early lead. A fifth lap restart found two-time winner Charlie Swartz Jr get a good run off the bottom of turn two to take over the lead and seemingly put his racer on cruise control as he moved out to a five-car length advantage over the hard-driving Rowe.
Again, much midpack shuffling kept the fans on the edge of their seats as driver after driver made his presence known to the leaders. Larry Temple Jr, who started from 18th-position, drove through the field and entered the top five at the five to go sign.
On lap-19, A spinning Lenny Helmich collected the lead car of Swartz, and brought out the caution. In the one lap shoot-out that followed, Rob Rowe held off the determined Temple to win his third event of the season. Last week's winner, John Routhier, continued to impress with a fine drive to third place, and Emerson Cargain Jr and Don Williams rounded out the top five.
The Bryant's Towing Pure Stock feature event saw New Windsor, New York veteran Mike Deyo take his Showalter's Equipment sponsored mount the lead at the opening bell, and easily outdistance the field in a wire to wire victory. For Deyo, it was his third win of the season. Don J Williams was second, with hard driving Wayne Hajek racing to third, Joe Judge rallied to finish fourth from his 12th-starting position, and 14-year old Tommy Johnson raced to his first top five in his rookie season.
Second year Garden State driver Tom Dakake raced into the lead on the opening lap of the Camper's Barn Sportsman contest and held off the field for the first ten laps of the race. While in the lead, Dakake clipped the inside barrier off of turn two on lap 6 that wounded his racer. As Keith Van Oyan and David Coene raced past Dakake, the front end collapsed on Dakake's mount and relegated Dakake to the inside of the raceway for the remainder of the race. When the race restarted it was Van Oyan and Coene battling, but Danny Tyler came onto the scene and quickly sped past both drivers and then proceeded to drive away from the rest of the field to win his second feature event of the season. Coene, in a fine drive, was second, and Van Oyan, in his best run of the 2007 season, finished third. Joe Giachinta, another driver who has had his share of problems in 2007, finished fourth and Justin Holland rounded out the top five.
Phil Recchio took advantage of an outside the front row starting spot to jump into the lead on the first lap and wire the field in winning his fourth Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman feature event of the season. Recchio, in DR Mullen Sponsored mount, was never challenged on his way to the win. Dan Conklin was second, young Danny Cross continues to impress as he finished third. Jeff Hager finished fourth and the veteran Jeff Richardson was fifth.
In the Kingston Nissan Mini Sprint feature event, Will Casazza jumped into the lead at the start and led the four laps of the event. A four car pile-up that Clint Roehrs get upside down on the homestretch, brought the race to a halt on lap-4. Scott Goodrich powered into the lead on lap-5 and began to drive away from the field. Jimmy Broderick broke into second place a couple of laps later. Broderick, using the outside of the raceway to reel in the leader, finally tracked down Goodrich on lap-10 to take over the lead and power away from the field to win his third feature event of the 2007 season. Tim Durland finished second, with point leader Clint Roehrs finishing in third. Goodrich, who was slowing in the late stages of the race hung on for fourth and Ralph Utter Jr recovered from a mid-race spin to complete the top five.
MUDPLUGS:
As the news continues to spread far and wide about the great racing action at Accord, additional drivers continue to make their way to the Accord "Gem in the Catskills." This week, Orange County Modified campaigner and one-time winner this year, Clinton Mills brought out his trusty 1991 Kevin Collins chassied car graced with a new body skin and raced to a 13th-place finish in his maiden voyage with the updated car in the Sportsman feature. Mills felt with a few tweaks here and there, the car would be very competitive and hopes to be a regular the remainder of the year.
Duane Koskey Sr brought the TEN car to the speedway, but never really got the racer dialed in and met the inside barrier during the heat competition. Kevin Ward took over the controls of the Danny Creeden back-up car that Kyle Weiss drove to a brilliant runner-up finish last week during the Rusty Creeden Memorial race. Ward raced to a ninth place finish in the feature. Dave Slate, a former Penn Can and Lake Mocatek Street Stock campaigner had a new sportsman signatured numbered 516 to the speedway and was shaking down the mount for future competition.
The Pre-race interviews featured Sportsman campaigners Steve Meilleur and Tom Dakake and Justin Holland as the trio talked about gaining the needed experience to excel in the driving ranks, and of the great competition they face each week at the speedway. Apple Greens driving talent and current Kingston Nissan Mini Sprint point leader Clint Roehrs talked about his racing at Accord, of going fast and the tough break he suffered last week when the engine expired. Hamlin Slingshot drivers Zach O' Connell and Adam Brown were on hand for the races and were interviewed as both hope to be competing at the speedway within the next year.
Another great racing surface greeted the drivers as there was plenty of bite high and low to create the great racing action for the fans. Kudos go out to Gary Palmer for his determined efforts to provide the great racing surface at the speedway. The racing was completed by 10:55.
The new Accord theme song, written by RaceSong wizard Jimmy Young, has been played the past two weeks at the speedway and provides a great backdrop for the evening's production.
Rhinebeck Ford Modifieds: Jamie Yannone, Mike Ricci, Mark Pullen, Rich Ricci Jr, Robbie Green, Scott Ferrier, Donnie Elliott, Rich Eurich, Jackie Brown Jr, Andy Bachetti, Hank Goranson, Jerry Curry, Rick Mill, John McGill, John Lutes Jr, Mel Shrufer, Dom Roselli, Rich Budd Jr, Jerry Higbie, Barry Davis
Amsoil Pro Stock: Rob Rowe, Larry Temple Jr, John Routhier, Emerson Cargain Jr, Don Williams, John Roese, George Christiana, Bill Deak Jr, Charlie Houghtaling, Adam Douglas, Al Christiana, Kenny Atkins, Charlie Swartz Jr, John Rood, Lenny Helmich, Bill Halstead, Chip Martin, John Hager, Norbert Bracklow, Bill Deak Sr
Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints: Jimmy Broderick, Tim Durland, Clint Roehrs, Scott Goodrich, Ralph Utter Jr, Mark Rogers, Will Casazza, Dana Carey, JD Casazza, Brian Collier, Phil Beesmer, Kevin Horton, Jim Johnston, Todd Lapp, John Lieto, Brandon Bachor
Campers Barn Sportsman: Danny Tyler, David Coene, Keith Van Oyan, Joe Giachinta, Justin Holland, David Bush, Jesse Marks, Ray See Jr, Kevin Ward, Tom Tomasko, Mike Senecal, Danny Creeden, Clinton Mills, Ken Ferrier, Steve Krom, Paul Minton, Steve Meilleur, Tom Dakake, Jerry Craig, Larry Hendershot, Howard Jarvis (DQ)
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: Phil Recchio, Dan Conklin, Hawley Smith, Danny Cross, Jeff Hager, Jeff Richardson, Greg Hastie, Steve Eubanks, Burt Irwin Jr, Jason Thew, Danny Sherlock, Steve Pinto, Eric Moon, John Gesztesi, Jamie House, Tom Stevens, Hawley Smitth
Bryant's Towing Pure Stocks: Mike Deyo, Don J Williams, Wayne Hajek, Joe Judge, Tommy Johnson, Paul Aragon Jr, Ryan Coon, Don Coon, Kyle Wright, Gary Ronk, Bill Judge, Steve Kanuk, Bill Merten, John Woinoski, Bill Bulson, Mike Dubois, Charlie Rose Jr, Bill Rion
THIS COMING WEEK, July 18th: Midweek Madness Featuring Karts, Quads, Bikes and Lawn Mowers on the 1/4 mile track
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
July 27th: Van Kleeck's Tire Night racing in 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. Your weekend begins at Accord.
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