By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media

As the countdown continues towards the opening bell of the start of the Accord Speedway racing season, two legendary racing figures, who have been the focal point of many a racing battles, have given the Accord Speedway management team all indication they will be among the field of top-flight Modified hopefuls ready to tackle the tricky high banks of the Ulster County speedplant this coming Friday evening when the Accord Speedway swings open it’s gates for the 2010 racing season on April 23rd. All five of the speedway’s regular divisions will be in action as the headline sponsor Mombaccus Excavating Night presents the running of the annual Scott Harvey Memorial race will featuring the VP Fuels/Rhinebeck Ford Modified division going to war in a 30-lap feature offering $2,000.00 to the winning driver who can steer his hot rod into the Lucas Oil Products winners circle. While the opening event has had the airwaves buzzing with excitement for weeks as to what one might expect at the “Gem in the Catskills” speedplant, the addition of superstar driving talents Danny Johnson and Brett Hearn will only increase the hype for the event as these two legendary racing warriors have duked it out for years on numerous occasions on many of the speedways throughout the East Coast. Both drivers are coming into the upcoming Accord event after securing victories over the past weekend, Hearn at Orange County and Johnson being victorious at Cayuga County. Both drivers bring along with them a ton of superlative driving credentials to back up their superstar status with Hearn winning more than 750 times in his illustrious career and Johnson over the 500 win total in his stellar driving career.
“The Corporate Jet” will be at the controls of the famous Madsen Motorsports owned number 20 Wentworth Construction/Benjamin Moore Paints/Kruger/WLR Construction/BPG/TEO sponsored machine while “The
Doctor” will counter with one of the Tri-State Roofing sponsored machines out of the Sherlock Stables. The rivalry of the Hearn-Johnson duals in the past have been textbook and the upcoming battle may lean a bit towards Johnson’s favor as Johnson began last season as a regular at the Accord facility and recorded three early wins with the Atlas Paving machine that is now being steered by defending track champion “The Stateman” Jerry Higbie. Johnson left the ride and then came back a few weeks later and drove the Mike Trautschold owned Quality Forestry car into victory lane making it four wins at Accord in 2009 for Johnson. Hearn made only a couple of Accord starts in 2009 and disn’t fare as well as he would have liked but enjoyed success in the past, the most recent being a spirited battle with Rich Ricci in 2008 with the running of the King of the Catskills event when Ricci narrowly beat Hearn to the finish line in the 100-lap headliner.
While the addition of Hearn and Johnson to the Accord opener is a huge bonus for all racing fans, the quality of the Accord Modified field is filled with top notch driving talent from front to back and they too may want have a final word in the outcome of this opening night shootout. The field of opposition will be led by track champion Jerry Higbie as ”The Statesman” sets his sights on a second consecutive driving title at the speedway in 2010, and he will be at the controls of the Mike Petruska owned Hutching Insurance/Atlas Paving/Mr K’s Carpet sponsored machine he captured the King of the Catskills event with. The 2008 speedway champion, “The Wild Child” Andy Bachetti, will have his Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming/Bachetti’s Auto Sales/PMC sponsored mount ready for battle as he looks to reclaim the title he captured in 2008. Driving star Ronnie Johnson, hailing out of Duanesburg, New York , will have his Stone Ridge Tire/Mickle Automotive/B-Dry Systems sponsored machine ready for battle at Accord and previous feature event winners such as Rick Mill, Richie Erurich, David Bush, John McGill, Scott Ferrier, Mike Ricci and Robbie Green will provide plenty of competition to the tough Modified field. Add to the list plenty of second and third years racers and newcomers to the Accord Family such as Redline Raceway champion Brian Malcolm, Mike Kolka, Mike Marold, Geoff Quackenbush, David Hinsch, Danny Tyler, Tony Kowalchuk, Greg Hastie, Lex Burritt, Brad Rothaupt, Clinton Mills, Neil Harris, Ricky Holsten, Ricky Wegner, Sean Gunther, Vinny DeCicco and Jeff Richardson, one can ascertain the list is formidable and will create a tremendous season at the race to the walls facility.
A standing room only crowd is expected for the opening night event and racing fans should make note to give themselves plenty of additional time to travel to the speedway as there are a few detours heading to the speedway from their respective areas. All competitors using the Route 213 route to the speedway in Rosendale, New York between Cottekill and Binnewater Roads, may want to consider to use an alternate route to the speedway. Those heading to the speedway from Pennsylvania cannot cross the bridge into New York on Route 209 and must travel to the first exit and follow the detours signs to be re-routed back to Route 209 North or travel to Route 17 West to connect with Route 209 for the trip North to the speedway. The 2010 Accord Speedway racing schedule is now complete and is available online at the revamped speedway website. Driver profile sheets are available online and print ready for completion and will also be available for drivers to fill out and update in order to get a jump start on the busy season ahead. While the initial rosters have been posted, many changes will occur in the next few weeks as the racing equipment is completed for the racing action and the website staff will make the necessary changes on a weekly basis.
All feature events for the Modifieds will offer $2,000.00 to the winner.The Friday night racing will culminate with the running of the King of the Catskills weekend set for September 24th and 25th. The yet to be determined distance of the ROC Modified portion of the event will once again see $6,000.00 awaiting the winner of the feature event in the Lucas Oil Products winners circle.. A series of qualifiers will be in place in conjunction with other area speedways in an effort to have all of the speedways working together in a cohesive manner. The new American Racer East Coast Modified Cup program is in place at Accord and will provide some excellent opportunities for the drivers and teams in 2010. The Accord Speedway management is appreciative of all of the assistance they have received from track sponsors Lucas Oil Products, VP Fuels and American Racer, all divisions sponsors Rhinebeck Ford, Camper’s Barn, DC Landscaping, Healey Brothers Group and Bryant’s Towing, all of the many speedway billboard sponsors and the great fan base for their continuous support of the great racing found at the Accord Speedway.
Midweek Madness will kick-off on June 9th and the speedway will once again have go-karts returning to the weekly Wednesday racing activity under the rules of the WKA. To compliment the full show, the speedway will have 270 winged Micros and 600 wingless Micros going to war on the Accord high banks and the addition of those two exciting divisions will produce some excellent side by side racing on the ultra-wide channeled speedway. An additional race series in conjunction with the 1/5 mile Hamlin Speedway in Pennsylvania, will find the 600’s being added to the Friday evening card for four shows and the home and home series known as the Keytstone/Empire Series will offer four Saturday nights at Hamlin as well. The 270’s and 600’s will be included in the King of the Catskills weekend.

Admission for the great racing action remains the same from a season ago as Adults (12+) will be $12.00; Children (11 and under) will be $3.00. The Family Value Pack that was met with much success last season is once again offered and is: 2 Adults, 2 Children, and $20.00 in food vouchers for $40.00, a savings of $10.00 to the consumer. Pit Gates open at the speedway at 4:30 and Spectator Gates open at 5. Hot laps kick off at 6:30 and the racing is slated to start at 7 PM.
For further updates and information regarding all of the news and additions to the Accord Speedway, log-on to their well documented website at: http://www.accordspeedway.com or call the speedway hotline at: 845 626 3478. For video work or questions regarding the purchase of videos from the exciting on-track action at the Accord Speedway, contact Jason at: http://www.tristatestudios.com For the purchase of the banquet, action or victory lane track photos, contact Kevin at: http://kbsracingphotos.com
At the Accord Speedway……………………………………..

We Measure Excitement A Quarter Mile At A Time