By Steve Pados, Accord Media
The repeated curve balls Mother Nature keeps throwing in the Hudson Valley area may hinder the progress of the heavy duty construction project Accord Speedway Promoter Gary Palmer is diligently working on, but undaunted, the energetic Palmer and his Family and Staff move their work to other areas of the facility when the unpredicatable weather shuts down the outside projects. While Palmer has cancelled the first of two scheduled practice sessions, the first which was to have been this coming Friday April 4th, Palmer is hoping the weather picture will ease up to allow for the new clay to knit together for at least one solid practice session to be held on April 11th and with a raindate of April 12th. The speedway has been a bustle of activity since the 2007 season ended as a number of big construction projects were planned and underway in hopes of completion before the curtain lifts for the start of the 2008 racing season scheduled for April 18th.
Palmer, who will be opening the Accord gates for the eighth year under his regime, was a recent Monday night guest on the popular TV/Internet Show On-Track, while three of the weekly racing stars at the facility, Danny Tyler, Jerry Higbie, and Andy Bachetti were guests on CARQUEST Gasoline Alley on a night dedicated to the great racing and driving talent at the Accord Speedway. Palmer discussed all of the improvements he was making at his Ulster County speedplant and added some great commentary as to the future of the facility which enters it's 46th year of hosting racing events. Palmer points to the future of the raceway as being very bright with additional improvements forthcoming as long as the track is enjoying success.
The three racing stars interviewed on the show were happy with the progress of the raceway and are looking forward to a great season of racing as well as the added incentive of racing for the $2,000.00 to win Palmer has put in place for the new season. While the 17-year old Tyler will be racing for the Rookie of the Year honors at the track and hoping for some top finishes as he steps up his racing game, both Higbie and Bachetti make no bones about the fact they are racing for the Modified title at Accord. With Bachetti in the runner-up role in 2007 but leading the way in wins with five, and Higbie who scored two wins in 2007 to go along with his 6th place in points, the table is set for an interesting and exciting year at the "Gem in the Catskills". Current Champion Rich Ricci Jr, who secured his 10th title last year, will head the cast of combatants heading into the new season. Throw in the likes of 2006 Champion "Iron" Mike Ricci, Richie Eurich, "The Cyclone" Jamie Yannone, Scott Ferrier, "Jumpin" John McGill, and Rick Mill, one can see the talent crop at the speedpant is
skilled and capable of winning each night out.
With the widening of the track on the homestretch, racing fans will be brought closer to the non-stop, exciting action the Accord facility is noted for. In addition to the installation of the new frontstretch wall, new virgin clay has been brought in to mix with the existing great track surface to give the racers the
desired surface to race on. The additional clay will allow for higher banking in the turns and should allow the drivers to go full-throttle once the lights go green. The track will also new feature new homestretch lighting for the 2008 season.
An enlarged pit area will also greet the racers in 2008 as the popular Ulster County speedplant was running out of room in trying to place all of the cars in the pit area. The new parking layout will allow for the big rigs to be parked at an angle, eliminating the struggle to park a rig should the team arrive later than normal.
The concession area will also go through some changes for 2008 as many new exciting entrees will be added to the already extensive menu. Frito Pies, a big hit at the annual Chili Bowl, will be just one of the new entrees that await the fans looking to chow-down on some of the great food the speedway offers.
Plans call for the gates of the speedway to pen on April 11th at 12 noon. Safety inspection of all vehicles racing at the speedway will be paramount in keeping the highest of safety standards, and will take place from noon until 4. Practice will follow as the drivers will be dialing in their racers throughout the session to be ready come opening night on April 18th. Spectators will be allowed in for free for the practice session. Should there be a cancellation to the scheduled practice session, the rain date would be the following day, April12th.
Promoter Gary Palmer and his family have put a lot of hard work and effort into making Accord Speedway one of racing's highlighted success stories since the speedway has been under their direction. The improvements at the speedway continue and the racing just gets better and better and the Midweek Madness shows have seemingly become the farm system to nurture the future stars in racing we will be hearing about for years to come. Let the great work continue as the excitement is already building for a 2008 racing season that will blow the lid off of everything that has been done in the past.
The Palmer Family would like to thank all of the sponsors, competitors, fans and staff for making the 2007 racing season at Accord the best season to date since they took over the reigns at the facility seven years ago. The Palmer family looks forward to the 2008 racing season and encourage everyone to visit the newly constructed website often for continued updates and information on the great racing and at the "Gem in the Catskills"
Regular Show admission remains the same at $12.00 for Adults (12yrs+) Kids $3.00 (11yrs and under)
Pit Gates open at 4:30 and Spectator Gates open at 5 PM. Hot-Laps are at 6:30 and Racing begins at 7 PM.
For further updates and information regarding the great racing at the Accord Speedway, logon to the their newly constructed website at: http://www.accordspeedway.com or call the speedway hotline at: 845 626 3478. The website will be offering Videos on Demand.
A TRAIL OF DIRT LEADS RIGHT TO OUR DOOR