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NEWS FROM JERRY HIGBIE RACING GOSHEN, NY-- Jerry Higbie Racing Update; Higbie Captures Joe Winne Memorial Race At AccordBy Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media Jerry Higbie captured the Joe Winne Memorial race last Friday night at the Accord Speedway and in doing so came away with his first win of the 2008 racing season at the speedway. The timing and the drive to the victory couldn't have come at a better time as the Slate Hill, New York driving star has been slowly nipping his way back into the title picture at the speedway with his recent exciting great runs to the front. This past Friday night was exceptional for Higbie as he was a longtime friend of Joe Winne and his family and to win on a night with a special dedication and tribute to the late Joe Winne was priceless for the Modified hot shoe. Higbie began the Winne 55-lap Memorial race from the 6th starting position. Sorting things out early, Higbie used all of the racing lanes early in establishing the direction he needed to go to challenge Modified great Richie Eurich who had begun to check out on the field early from his front row starting spot. Higbie on the other hand was trapped behind a couple of cars in the early going that almost allowed Eurich to get away. As the laps clicked off, Higbie found his way into second place and began his assault to get to the lead knowing full well the race was drawing near to curfew time. On lap-30 Higbie raced to the top of turn three and got an outstanding run off the cushion in turns three and four to chase Eurich down the front stretch. Keeping up the revs in his Big Block powered Mid City Transit sponsored machine, Higbie raced into turn one on the topside and Eurich opted for the basement lane. Higbie kept the momentum rolling in turn two and halfway down the backstretch blazed by Eurich with an outstanding drive into the lead. Once in front, Higbie raced out to a good sized advantage and the next caution on lap-33 brought the curfew to the event and a victory for the popular "Statesman From Slate Hill". Eurich was second in the event with Andy Bachetti racing to third and Rick Mill and Mike Ricci rounding out the top five. Hibgbie earned a cool $2,500.00 for his winning efforts. The win also allowed Higbie to move closer to the points leader Andy Bachetti and even closer to the second place man in points Rich Ricci Jr. A wreck in the Big Block portion of the Saturday night action at Orange County Fair Speedway left Higbie with a poor finish in the final place tally but again the 358 Modifed action found Higbie racing to a top five finish and with it came out of the Saturday 358 Modified action leading the points in the points chase. Higbie leads the division with 304 points with Tim Hindley in second with 280 markers. Craig Mitchell is third with 270 points, David Van Horn is fourth with 267 and John Gaurino is fifth with 256 points. In the Big Block points it is David Van Horn leading the way with 510 points and Chuck McKee is right behind with 498. Jerry Higbie comes in at third place with 446 points and Michael Storms has 430 to remain in fourth. Jeff Heotzler, the winner of the Saturday night feature event completed the top five in points with 426. Two Fridays ago at Accord, Jerry Higbie put on a racing clinic that will be talked about fro some time to come. In the Heat race, Higbie was a victim of skirmish that left the signature 97 race car needing wrecker assitance back to the pit area. The Higbie Team went to work. Led by Crew Chief Jerry Higbie Sr, the team made the necessary repairs and had the car on the raceway for the consolation event that Higbie led through the entire distance. With the finish, the best Higbie could start in the feature was 19th. Starting the race slowly, Higbie drove to the lane openings he could find in the early going and soon had the crowd on it's feet as he got behind a very wide Mike Ricci and was having trouble getting around him. Using the top, the bottom, and working against the blocking maneuvers, Higbie finally found his way around Ricci and took off after the popular John McGill who had run away and hid from the field. Jerry Higbie had other ideas though and began to work his magic on the topside of the raceway and with it began to shrink the big advantage McGill was enjoying. With two to go Higbie pulled up on the back bumper of "Jumpin John" and a two lap drag race was the order of the day. McGill stayed in front to win his second career feature at Accord and Higbie was aclose second in a fantastic run from the 19th starting place. Mike Ricci, Rich Ricci Jr and Mark Pullen completed the top five. The following night at the Orange County Fair Speedway, Higbie began the race in 9th starting position and found the sledding and the track tough as very little passing occurred throughout the race and Higbie finished in 9th place in a very uneventful run for the popular campaigner. Higbie also ran the ROC event over at the Five Mile Point Speedway and although he won his heat event, was an early casualty in the feature event retiring with a seized up front brake. This week will find the Higbie Racing Team once again heading to Accord for the Friday action 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 finds him in the thick of the racing action as he challenges for the Accord Speedway and Orange County Fair Speedway Championships this year. Higbie also has hopes of challenging for the ROC title. For the Accord and ROC events, Higbie will race the family owned 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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