By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media

Duanesburg, New York Modified star Ronnie Johnson came, saw and conquered Gary Palmer’s “Gem in the Catskills” Accord Speedway last Friday evening as an outside invader for the opening night of action for the 2010 racing season. After capturing his heat event win, “RJ” started the 30-lap headliner for the Modifieds from his outside front row starting position and grabbed the lead at the outset of the event and drove off to a convincing win over Danny Johnson and Jerry Higbie. As a jubilant victor in the Lucas Oil Products Winners Circle, Johnson immediately announced his intentions to make the Ulster County hot spot his regular Friday night stop for the 2010 racing season. Fueled by the Accord win, Johnson rolled on to a great weekend in racing as he was victorious at the Fonda Fairgrounds the following evening and came back on Sunday to grab a solid ninth place finish in the “Thunder on the Thruway” series event at the Utica Rome Speedway.
While Johnson was enjoying his new found home at Accord, Modified racing legend Brett Hearn was forced to witness the feature race from the grandstands at Accord when his primary machine broke after Hearn secured a solid third place finish in his heat event. Hearn finished twelfth in the Lebanon Valley opener on Saturday night and then drove off to a convincing win on Sunday at the Utica Rome event. The “Corporate Jet” enjoyed a lengthy conversation with Gary Palmer on Saturday morning as he spent the night on the Accord Speedway grounds in preparation for the Lebanon Valley event and indicated to Palmer he would be back in action this coming Friday evening at Accord for the regular five card show.
The headline sponsor for the Friday night racing action at Accord will be Foamco Incorporated, the insulation specialists of the Hudson Valley, who can turn your beautiful home into an energy savings showcase. All eyes will focus on the VP Fuels/Rhinebeck Ford Modified division as they go to war in a 30-lap feature event offering $2,000.00 to the winning driver who can steer his hot rod into the Lucas Oil Products winners circle. Lias Tire will be the Modified bonus sponsor for the evening. Last week 33-Modifieds were on hand for the opener that offered 22-starting spots for the talented field of racers to vie for. The opening event had the airwaves buzzing as it brought out a standing room only crowd to the race to the walls quarter-miler nestled in the Catskills. Another banner crowd is expected for the second show of the season as all indications call for a favorable weather forecast for the evening’s events.
The “Corporate Jet” will once again 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 opening night winner “RJ” will be at the controls of his Stone Ridge Tire/Mickle Automotive/B-Dry Systems/Teo Pro hot rod. Third place finisher a week ago and defending track champion Jerry Higbie will be at the controls of the Hutchings Insurance/Atlas Paving/Mr K’s Carpet/Teo Pro machine owned by Mike Petruska and he too was victorious a week ago at the Orange County Fair Speedway when he captured the win in the make-up feature event from last season. The addition of Ronnie Johnson as an Accord regular and another appearance from long-time racing star Brett Hearn will open up the chatrooms for the racing railbirds to talk about and see if Johnson can continue with another good outing at Accord and if Hearn can shake the bad luck he has encountered in his most recent Accord visits. The remainder of the tough Accord Modified field is filled with top notch driving talent from front to back and they too may want to produce their own ending to the final saga on Friday evening. 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. Previous Accord Speedway 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 year racers and newcomers to the Accord Family such as Redline Raceway champion Brian Malcolm, 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. Robbie Green, who enjoyed an incredible drive last week from 16th starting position to fourth, and the veteran Neil “The Wheel” Harris completed the top five finishers last week and both drivers have seemingly found the sweet spot for excellent seasons at Accord.
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 Keystone/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