By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media

After being forced to cancel out opening night a week ago due to inclement weather, Gary and Donna Palmer, owners and promoters of the Accord Speedway, will try again tomorrow evening June 16th to launch the opening of their Mid Week Madness programs. With a brand new race format and renewed interest in the small divisions of racing, the Ulster County facility will usher in the new season on Wednesday with the racing action set to kick-off at 7 PM. evening June 9th. The 2010 edition of MWM will see the return of go-kart racing back to the high banked quarter mile facility. The new and improved format is expected to add a new realm of excitement for the quick hitting weekly shows as the Karts will conform to WKA rules. Also added to the card will be the exciting 600 Wingless Micros. One show has been run at the speedway to date with the Micros and despite the small field, the racing was exciting and exhibited to the fans just how fast the four cylinder motorcycle powered creations can be on the Accord High banks as they turned very similar times to the Modified division at the speedway. The 270 Winged Micros will also be part of the Wednesday night shows as this is another division that is exciting to watch and should be a good compliment to the Wednesday shows. The remaining divisions will be the exciting race to the wall Quad divisions as well as Bikes, Lawnmowers and three divisons of  Slingshots, Rookie, Junior and Regular.
The Mid Week Madness shows have served as the farm system for the Friday night shows. Many of the stars from the Wednesday shows are now adding their luster to the Friday shows and doing so with great success. The Slingshot ranks have produced numerous driving stars to the driver rosters and include “The Bushkill Bullet” Kyle Rohner and “The Montgomery Missile” Anthony Perrego, two youngsters who have already visited the Lucas Oil Products Winners Circle in 2010. Additional driving talent includes the “Flyin’ Polock” Kayla Smykla. Smykla has already scored a top five finish in the Spec Sportsman ranks as a rookie in the division. Kyle Van Duser was a winner last season in the Slingshots and has performed well to date in the Spec Sportsman ranks. Craig Cuneo in the Pure Stocks and Chris Zeko in the Pro Stocks are graduates from the Kart ranks at the speedway. Brian Fink is a former Slingshot star who has now found a home in the Pure Stock ranks and was fourth in a recent feature outing. Clinton Mills is a Modified winner already this year at the speedway and every so often finds the need to dust off the Kart and take a Wednesday night ride at Accord. Modified Rookie of the Year in 2009 Greg Hastie is also a past Kart champion at the speedway. One time spec sportsman feature winner in 2010, Danny Cross is a graduate of the Quad ranks but every so often is back in action for the Wednesday night shows. More recently, Quad star Richard Smith has signed on for the Friday night action at Accord as he completed the purchase of the Modified equipment of the recently retired star Barry Davis. Jimmy Wells, a 14-time flat track motorcycle champion, has also joined the Friday night crowd aboard one of the former Mike Ricci owned PMC cars.
Future stars of racing expected to take part in the Wednesday night shows include Kayin Greer, Melissa Torchio, Renee Robertson, Cassidi Weiss, Alexis Van Horn, Lloyd Cooke, Griffin Robertson, Cody Greer and Brian Garvilla in the smaller Quad divisions. Trevor Hammond is expected back in Bike action along with Cody Suittor, Dylan Greer and Brittany Torchio. Eric Jennings, Jergen Breitfeld, Ray Dougherty, Tony Ghedina, Brian Demarmels, Tom Kuhn, Mike Ayers, Andy Sier, Mike Labagh, KC Oakley, Brandon Gates, Milton Smith, David Winne, Bobby Barrett, Brandon Lakin, Michael Devries, Danny Martel, Rich Franze, Rob Campbell, Mark Dvorak and many more are expected for the exciting Quad action. “The Bounty Hunter” Jimmie Leiby makes the move into the Rookie Slingshots in 2010 with his brother Jessie “The Gunslinger” Leiby set to defend his Junior Slingshot title from a season ago. “Kid Ice” Cole Hentschel, Tyler Dippel, “The Communicator” Mathew Gaughan, Rosalyn Trautschold, Tommy Zwart and Bobby “The Flash” Flood are expected to challenge Leiby for the title this season. Regular Slingshot competitors expected to do battle include winners from a season ago, “The Flying Dutchman” Richie Van Orden, Jimmy Babb and the pair just may wage a tight battle of their own to rule supreme at the speedway. All in all it will prove to be an exciting mid week show when Accord opens its gates for the Mid Week Madness racing action on June 16th.
Gates will open at the speedway at 5 PM with spectator gates opening at 5:30. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 with the racing set to begin at 7 PM. Admission for the Wednesday night show is $5.00. The well established concession stand will be open for the racing activities.
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.
Friday night racing at Accord runs from April through September with five great divisions going to war on the Accord high banks. This week, the speedway hosts the Healey Brothers Group night at the speedway. June 25th will find the exciting Lightning Sprints returning to the Accord Speedway for the first time since 2008. The 1000cc Motorcyle powered creations have renewed interest of their own and many of the drivers are looking forward to challenging the Accord high banks with their side by side brand of racing excitement. 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. July 2nd will find the Ulster County skies lighting up to the heavens under the leadership of Wild Bill as he brings his one of a kind light show and fireworks extravaganza to the Accord Speedway. The now famous Chicken BBQ will compliment the kick-off of the Fourth of July weekend.
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 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