By Steve Pados, Accord Media
It is all good news. Capturing a full head of steam in the past two weeks and receiving some favorable assistance from the sometimes unpredictable Mother Nature, Accord Speedway Promoter Gary Palmer will open his totally refurbished speedway this coming Friday night on April 18th when the Terra Nova 4 Seasons Pizza sponsors the Scott Harvey Memorial Night at the speedway. For the opening event, Palmer will have five of the speedway's divisions competing for the first time on the totally reshaped and always impeccably groomed raceway. Palmer and his staff are looking forward to the lid-lifter at the Ulster County speed plant with much hope and anticipation as the winter long project took longer to complete than expected, but the delay has peaked the interest of racing fans in and around the tri-state area all hoping to get a first hand look at the new track layout and the exciting racing season planned by Palmer and his Accord Speedway staff.
Palmer, who will be opening the Accord gates for the eighth year under his regime, has completed most of the work at the speedway but will need an additional week or two to finish up the cosmetics on the huge project that was in the planning stages for some time. The delay has also given relief to the many drivers who were not ready for the two scheduled practices that were ultimately cancelled. The phone lines at the speedway have ringing off the hook all week long as driver after driver has checked in to see if all systems were go. A strong group of outside invaders is expected in for the opener to test the new surroundings at the speedway and have indicated may become regulars for the upcoming season. As good as the racing was during the 2007 season, most drivers who have dropped by to see the new layout feel the racing will be even more exciting in 2008, citing the wider track (70 feet wide all of the way around) and the increased number of talented racers all challenging for the added incentive of racing for the $2,000.00 to win Palmer has put in place for the new season.
Opening night at the speedway will be dedicated to longtime speedway Announcer Scott Harvey who passed away from a long battle with cancer just after the 2007 racing season got underway last year. Harvey was the Announcer at Accord since 1992 and proved to be the instrumental person to have Promoter Gary Palmer take a look at the speedway when then Promoter Dave Flach wished to step down. Harvey called his last race at Accord at the King of the Catskills event in 2006. Harvey, in addition to calling the races at Accord, was the longtime voice for the WKA Karts in the Northeast and announced at most tracks within the region. Expected in for the opening night show include the likes of Jerry Higbie, Andy Bachetti, Rich and Mike Ricci, Richie Eurich, "The Cyclone" Jamie Yannone, Danny Tyler, Rick Mill, Scott Ferrier, and "Jumpin" John McGill. With the 17-year old Tyler moving up to the Modified Division, the door opens up for all of the hopefuls in the challenging Sportsman ranks. All of the divisions at the speedway will be well represented when the curtain rises on the new season at the "Gem in the Catskills".
Plans call for the pit gates of the speedway to open on April 18th at 4:30. Spectator gates will open at 5 PM. Hot Laps are set to begin at 6:30 and the racing will kick-off at 7 PM. A standing room only crowd is expected for the opening night races so fans are encouraged to come early.
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.
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