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GOSHEN, NY-- Higbie Enjoys Great Weekend With A 3rd Place Run At Accord And A Runnerup Role At OCFS In 358 Action
By Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media
New York Modified talent Jerry Higbie enjoyed his best weekend of the 2008 racing season last week when he enjoyed two top finishes at the tracks he is hoping to challenge for Championships at this year. The weekend began for Higbie when he drove his Mid City Transit signature numbered 97 race car to a third place finish in the Modified feature at the Accord Speedway in a night sponsored by his very successful HigFab racing fabrication shop located in Goshen, New York. Higbie flexed his muscles at the very start of the evening when drove his Modified into the lead on the first lap of the first heat and put on a dazzling display of rim-riding in scoring the heat race victory and making him a favorite to win the feature event.
Come Rhinebeck Ford feature event time, Higbie began the 30-lap headliner from his third place starting place. At the drop of the green it was Danny Tyler driving from the outside lane into the lead and the "Showtime" kid wasted no time in opening up an advantage over the rest of the field. Jerry Curry, who started on the pole, was a bit hesitant on the start and the inside line of racers suffered from it and Higbie was momentarily trapped behind him allowing Rick Mill to race into the runnerup role. Tyler opened up a huge lead but it all went for naught when Tom Demarmels slammed the third turn fence and sheered off the right side of the front end on his Empire Packing machine. The restart proved to be good one for the top three as they began to distance themselves from the rest of the field when they came upon lapped traffic on lap-16. Mill seized the moment and went to the outside while Tyler went bottom feeding with Higbie nipping at his heels and applying a ton of pressure to the teenage driver. Mill, getting the better run off of turn three, powered out of turn four with the lead and went on to win the feature event. Tyler was in for the runnerup spot and Higbie remained steady throughout the race and finished a steady third. For Higbie it was the first feature event he has finished at Accord this year.
The action moved to the 5/8 mile hard clay at Middletown for Saturday night racing. With both the Big Block Modifieds and the 358 Modifieds headlining the show, Higbie would have two opportunities to shine on this night. In his Modified heat, The "Statesman From Slate Hill" moved his Shaver Big Block machine from 7th to 2nd place after one lap of action only to have the jackshaft break in the rear and Higbie having to sit out the rest of the race. On the basis of his top five in points status, Higbie began the feature event and sensed a problem with the electrical system of the race right away and rolled into the pit area. Sensing the car was out of commission for the evening, Higbie went to the top of the trailer to enjoy the remainder of the feature event. One lap later, the crew summoned him back to the race car and Higbie slid back behind the belts and once again took to the speedway one lap down to the rest of the field. Racing only a lap, Higbie again took the racer to the pit area. The pack of cars Higbie was racing at the time of his departure then made some heavy contact and Danny Creeden went flipping hard into the fence, signaling a possible good omen for the Higbie Racing Team.
In 358 action, Higbie began his drive forward from 12th starting position. Higbie was at his best in hustling the Affordable Transmission car forward as the racer was on a roll. Higbie utilized the racing real estate to his advantage as he climbed towards the front with his lap after lap passing ability and finally slid into the runnerup role. At one point in the race Higbie actually took over the lead but Tim Hindley was able to regain control of the point and won in a close battle over the determined Higbie.
This week will find the Higbie Racing Team once again heading to Accord for the Friday action at Gary Palmer's "Gem in the Catskills" and then back to Orange County Fair Speedway for the weekly Saturday night racing action. Higbie is hoping for another solid weekend of racing to keep pace with the top racers in the divisions he is racing.
Higbie's aggressive 2008 racing schedule will find him in the thick of the action as he prepares for his runs at the Accord Speedway and Orange County Fair Speedway Championships this year. He will also be challenging for the ROC title. For the Accord and ROC events, Higbie will race his signature numbered 97 cars and for his assault on OCFS and select WRG Series Races, Higbie will once again strap himself into the Team Shaver numbered 47 equipment as the Shaver Team will have two Big Block cars for Higbie to steer. Sponsorship for the Teams comes from a great group of loyal sponsors who have supported Higbie throughout his successful racing career. Mid-City Transit, Mr K's Carpet Service, Behrent's Speed Center, SKJ Towing and BadaBing Pizza have all lent their support to the 97 cars, and Beaverkill Trout Hatchery, Superior Building Supply and Woodburne Lawn & Garden lend their support to the Shaver Team. In addition to his Big Block rides, Higbie will be slipping behind the belts of the Affordable Transmission numbered 17 for a run at the 358 Small Block title at OCFS.
Jerry Higbie Racing would like to thank the entire racing community for their support and well wishes as the team prepares for a great season in racing this year.
Higbie's business, HigFab, has been busy throughout the new racing season helping many teams with their racing programs. For more information regarding the services and capablities of the highly trained HigFab Staff, please contact the shop at: 845 294 0898.
For additional information and updates regarding Jerry Higbie Racing, go to their newly constructed website at: http://www.higbieracing.com
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