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by Steve Pados, Accord Media
As the summmer breeze gently rolls though the peaks and valleys of the Catskill Mountains throughout the majority of the week, every Friday night during the spring and summer months, five hours are set aside in the small village of Accord, New York for eager racing fans and participants who rush to the "Gem in the Catskills," the Accord Speedway, to witness the very best that short track racing has to offer. Friday night at the speedway was no different as a huge crowd was on hand to see defending track champion Mike Ricci utilize all of his racing skills and knowledge to track down his younger brother Rich, and then drive away from the rest of the field to win his second feature event of the 2007 racing season, and his fourth consecutive Joe Winnie Memorial Race, on B. Millen and Son Recycling night at the speedway.
The race is an annual event named in honor of one of the great champions at the Accord track, Joe Winnie, who was felled by a massive heart attack while competing at the Eastern States weekend in Middletown, New York back in 2003. The distance of the race is 55-laps, the signature number of the cars Winnie competed in.
Modified newcomer Richie Budd and veteran champion campaigner Dom Roselli brought the talent-laden Rhinebeck Ford Modified field down for the start of the event and Roselli immediately jumped into the lead as the two fought for real estate down the backstretch. Roselli, known to his legions of fans as the "Iceman," sent a message to the rest of the field as he began to distance himself from the competition. Roselli was using his own version of the "Yannone Line" as he opened up a big lead on the field through the early going. After a restart bunched the field back together following a three car jam session on lap-12, the green flag again saw Roselli continue in the lead but this time Rich Ricci Jr, who quickly moved his way to the front from his 11th starting position, began to challenge Roselli. Ricci Jr, who was using the bottom of the raceway in his charge to the front, got underneath Roselli on the third turn of lap-13 and assumed command of the lead.
With Ricci Jr in command, and Roselli now in pursuit, the racing mid-pack was phenomenal, as two, three, and sometimes four wide action had the fans on the edge of their seats as the multi-groove track surface allowed the drivers to find the fast way to the front. Mike Ricci was one such individual. By the time race was stopped on lap-28 for a broken axle suffered by Accord veteran Barry Davis, Mike Ricci had already siezed control of third place. When the green was displayed, Mike Ricci quickly used the inside lane to take over the runnerup slot from Roselli. Taking up the chase to catch his brother, it was noted that Ricci Jr changed his line on the raceway as he was no longer able to keep the Apple Green Golf Course Big Block powered car on the lowside of the raceway. Lap after lap Mike Ricci took a look, inched closer, and prepared to make a run for the lead.
On lap-41, Mike Ricci got the strong run he needed off of the bottom of the raceway on turn four, and powered past his younger brother for the lead. While Ricci Jr remained close, older brother Mike sped underneath starter Kenny Marshall's checkered flag to secure his fourth consecutive Joe Winnie Memorial victory. Rich Ricci Jr was second in a great run, and Slate Hill's Jerry Higbie came on late in the race to pass Roselli to finish third. Roselli was fourth in a another stellar performance, and Robbie Green came from 14th starting position to round out the top five. Last week's feature event winner Jamie Yannone started 16th, went pitside after an early skirmish, and then hustled back through the field to finish a solid sixth.
The Amsoil Pro Stock 20-lap feature event began just as it did a week ago with Charlie Swartz Jr leading the way and dominating the early action. As the high flying Swartz entered lapped traffic on lap-12, things happened quickly as Swartz got behind a lapped car, and both Rob Rowe and John Roese slipped past the trapped racer. A caution immediately halted the action, but when racing resumed it was Schoharie's John Roese moving past Rowe for the lead. As the laps clicked down Roese and Rowe thrilled the fans with their refuse to yield driving styles. Roese raced to his second win of the season with Rowe finishing second. Charlie Swartz Jr, in another heartbreaker, was third with Don Williams finishing fourth, and Cannan, Connecticut's John Routhier continuing to impress with a solid top five finish.
Second year competitor Tom Dakake, riding out of Haskell, New Jersey, drove his Accurate Construction/HR Auto/Central Park Auto Body sponsored mount to his first career win in the Camper's Barn Sportsman feature event.
Dakake, who three weeks ago won the $50.00 prize posted by CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV show for being the first alternate in the Rusty Creeden Memorial Race, has really picked up the pace since then, and wired the field in what proved to be a very popular win for the newcomer to the Accord scene. Danny Creeden drove his back-up car to a
fine second place finish with Ray See Jr winding up third. David Bush finished fourth and Jesse Marks completed the top five finishers.
Tommy Johnson, the 14 year old Middle School rookie, led the first four laps of the Bryant's Towing Pure Stock feature event. After a caution on lap-4, Johnson's Let's Ride/Bill Dietz Tree Service sponsored mount shut-off and wouldn't refire, ending his night prematurely. On the restart it was Ryan Coon leading into turn one but the "heartbreak kid" Don J Williams kep his revs up and took over the lead by the time they reached the end of the backstretch. Williams led from lap five until lap nine when a right rear tire was deflated by the front bumper of the Wayne Hajek machine. Hajek was penalized for his misconduct in the incident. On the restart ,Don Coon blasted from his fourth running position to take the lead off of turn two. Coon led the rest of the way to claim his first win of the 2007 racing season. Bill Rion was a strong second with Mike Dubois, Joe Judge, and John Woinoski completing the top five.
The Kingston Nissan Mini Sprint event had the Japanese school teacher Dan Carey wheel his Phillips Surfboard sponsored mount to an early lead for the first nine laps of the event. Phil Beesmer, driving his Monster Energy Drink number 111, felt something break on his car and he left the racing surface and vaulted the inside barrier that saw him come very close to a plunge into Lake Accord. Beesmer was uninjured in the accident. On the restart, Scott Goodrich took over the lead from Carey and began to pull alway from the field. An incident between Clint Roehrs and Jimmy Broderick found both cars facing the wrong direction. As the caution light came out, Carey drove over the berm on turn three and began a series of flips that found the car end up in turn four. Carey walked away for the mishap, but the car suffered extensive damage. On the restart, Goodrich drove away to secure his second win of the season. Todd Lapp was second, with Raplh Utter Jr recovering from a spin to finish third. Jimmy Broderick finished fourth and Roehrs fifth as the two warriors raced each other back through the field to register top five finishes.
The Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman race was curfewed and will be the first event run next wext week at the Speedway.
MUDPLUGS:
The Area Auto Racing news was in the house on Friday night, promoting the newspaper, selling subscriptions and having Miss Motorsports, Chelsea Miller on hand to greet the fans and take part in the evening's festivities. Miss Miller sang the National Anthem and together with Miss Accord Speedway, Loralyn Brinster, assisted with "Luau Night" and the speedway promotions for the evening that included $25.00 gas cards as well as two sets of tickets for the World of Outlaws show this coming Sunday night at the Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Both Chelsea Miller and Loralyn Brinster took part in the Pre-Race interview session hosted by track announcers Andy Crane and Steve Pados. Miss Miller talked about the role she plays with the very popular Thunder on the Hill Series that is promoted by her father Bob Miller, and the history of the 18-year-old series that is enjoying a banner year in 2007. Miss Miller also talked of her budding musical career that will have her back in the studio soon to work on some new material she will be doing.
Tom Hindley was named the new driver of the Keicher Metal Parts/Lutes Family Racing 21L car during the week after current driver Bill Papula and the team split after their last outing together. Hindley qualified the car but was involved in an early skirmish in the feature event that saw him sit out the remainder of the race. Papula, dubbed "the fastest school teacher in the East," will return to the Accord racing scene in two weeks aboard his family owned mount.
The Spec Sportsman division saw a new face with Scott Mathews making his first appearance of the season
The Pure Stock division saw four more new cars arrive at the speedway. Tommy Bryne, Bob Hoar, Woodrow Wilson, and Ira Landrum made their first appearances of the season as the Accord Pure Stock payout is one of the strongest around the region.
A $300.00 bounty, headed up by Kurt Cross, was placed on Mike Ricci prior to the heat races for the Joe Winnie Memorial event. The prize was posted with the stipulation Ricci had to be running at the finish of the event for the driver beating Ricci to win the prize.
Sportsman action had two relative necomers make it into the feature event. Randy Banks Jr and Ted DeGroat both had good runs going until some problems occurred in front of them. The final results had DeGroat in with a 15th and Banks with a 16th place finish.
Again the track was in great shape, and a small douse of water was added prior to the running of the Modified feature, making the surface great and multi-grooves of racing available to the racers.
The Palmer Family would like to thank the Joe Winnie Family for their support and help during the evening with the "Luau Night" festivities.
Rhinebeck Ford Modifieds: (55-Laps) Mike Ricci, Rich Ricci Jr, Jerry Higbie, Dom Roselli, Robbie Green, Jamie Yannone, Rich Budd Jr, John Lutes Jr, John McGill, Rick Mill, Rich Eurich, Mel Shrufer, Mark Pullen, Barry Davis, Scott Ferrier, Jackie Brown Jr, Hank Goranson, Andy Bachetti, Jerry Curry, Tom Hindley
Amsoil Pro Stock: John Roese, Rob Rowe, Charlie Swartz Jr, Don Williams, John Routhier, Larry Temple Jr, Bill Deak Jr, Bill Deak Sr, Adam Douglas, Norbert Bracklow, Kenny Atkins, John Hager, Bill Halstead, Scott Liese, John Rood, Emerson Cargain Jr, Al Christiana
Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints: Scott Goodrich, Todd Lapp, Ralph Utter Jr, Jimmy Broderick, Clint Roehrs, Will Casazza, Mike Goodnow, JD Casazza, Mark Rogers, Brian Collier, Dana Carey, Kevin Horton, Brandon Bachor, Phil Beesmer, Tim Durland
Campers Barn Sportsman: Tom Dakake, Danny Creeden, Ray See Jr, David Bush,
Jesse Marks, Ken Ferrier, Howard Jarvis, Larry Hendershot, Keith Van Oyan, John Sundlof, Mike Senecal, David Coene, Joe Giachinta, Justin Holland, Ted DeGroat, Randy Banks Jr, Vinnie Gress, Steve Meilleur, Steve Krom, Danny Tyler
Bryant's Towing Pure Stocks: Don Coon, Bill Tion, Mike DuBois, Joe Judge, John Woinoski, Gary Ronk, Mike Deyo, Sharon Byrne, Ryan Coon, Bill Bulson, Kyle Wright, Don J Williams, Paul Aragon Jr, Ralph Ronk, Woodrow Wilson, Tommy Johnson, Bill Judge, Ken Hopkins, James DeCicco III, Wayne Hajek (DQ)
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: Curfewed...First event next week
**Full Story to Follow.................................
THIS COMING WEEK, July 25th: Midweek Madness Featuring Karts, Quads, Bikes and Lawn Mowers on the 1/4 mile track
July 27th: Van Kleeck's Tire Night, Racing in all Divisions
August 3rd: Pine Grove Dude Ranch "Western 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
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