By Steve Pados, Accord Media
Another beautiful summer evening in the Hudson Valley greeted a jam packed standing room only crowd as Gary Palmer's Accord Speedway was able to host their fourth consecutive racing program without any interference from Mother Nature. With the evening's sponsor Empire Forklift Company hosting the evening's show and posting $250.00 bonus checks for both the Modified and the Sportsman divisions, the packed house was treated to some great racing in all divisions and had the capacity to witness the triumphant return of the CRSA Sprint Cars and their fully supported racing program.
The Accord pit area, enlarged over the winter months, was put to the test this past Friday as more than 140-race cars from six divisions of racing took part in the exciting on track action. The track surface, through the efforts of Promoter Gary Palmer, has been a labor in progress all season long and the new clay has knitted well due to the hard work Palmer has put into making the track mirror smooth and raceable from wall to wall. With that, the fans were treated to the tremendous side by side racing one can only find at Accord.
Garden Stater Doug Ostwald and Tom Demarmels brought the 23-car starting field down for the start of the 30-lap Rhinebeck Ford Modified headliner. Ostwald was first into turn one but developed a push that allowed Demarmels to race by in turn two. Demarmels took his Artic Adventures machine to the top side of the raceway and led the first four laps before a caution was needed. On the restart, Bachetti had already hustled his Albreada Waste sponsored mount into the top four from his 12th starting position. Another restart was needed on lap-8 when a couple of cars got together off of turn two. On the restart, it was Bachetti starting from the outside lane and top siding his mount into the lead on turn one. Once in the lead, Bachetti pulled out to a comfortable lead for the remainder of the race, but at mid-pack the fans were treated to some fantastic rim-riding action with the rest of the field as the action was close knit and fast.
Mike Ricci was the first to break loose as he drove from 15th place to second by lap-19. Rich Ricci Jr made his presense known as well as he chased his brother for many laps. Demarmels was having a solid run but eventualy gave way to Jerry Higbie for fourth place for two laps only to have Higbie jump the cushion in turn three and get slowed down by the mishap and Demarmels regained the fourth position. Ricci Jr eventually moved into second by going topside around his brother but the laps ran down as Bachetti crossed the flags for his second win of the 2008 season at Accord. Rich Ricci Jr was in for a solid second while Mike Ricci was third. Demarmels was fourth and Higbie settled for a hard fought fifth place in the final rundown. The second five in-line resembled a mini-feature of their own with "Showtime" Danny Tyler continuing to impress with a 6th place finish. Hard-riding John McGill was seventh with Rick Mill eighth, Kevin Duryea ninth, and the surprising Nicky Lapp completing the top ten.
The Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman feature belonged to the veteran Jeff Richardson from the word go. Richardson, who has had a tough couple of outings the past weeks, was on the money as he easily distanced himself at will from the rest of the field during the green flag racing. Richardson was in for the win in his HigFab/Color Tricks mount. "Dynamite" Danny Cross enjoyed his best run of the year in the runner-up slot and Vinnie DeCicco made the race interesting as he drove from 12th starting place to finish third. Dan Conklin was fourth and newcomer to the Accord scene in 2008 John Calcagni was fifth.
The Bryant's Towing Pure Stock event went down to the wire as one of the most competitive features in the division in quite some time. Steve Smalley led at the start of the event before giving way before lap one was completed to the veteran campaigner Ray Tarantino, who is making Accord his Friday night place to be in 2008. By the midway point, the race had developed into a see-saw battle for the lead between Tarantino and defending track champion Joe Judge. Tarantino used the middle lane for his comfort zone but is was Judge utilizing the top side of the raceway trying to make a case for himself. Behind the two leaders, Smalley was going all out as he tried to ward off the advances of hard driving Mike Dubois. Slightly behind the pair but still within striking distance were Mike Deyo and Paul Aragon Jr. Lap after lap clicked off and it was Tarantino holding off Judge in the final verdict to win his first ever feature event at Accord. Steve Smalley was third in an excellent run with Paul Aragon Jr in fourth and Mike Deyo rounding the top five
The Camper's Barn Sportsman feature event proved to be the Tom Dakake show as the "Haskell Hornet" dominated the action in a wire to wire run to capture the extra bonus put up by the Empire Forklift people. Greg McCloskey, who has improved with each outing at the speedway, put the pressure on Dakake for most of the race and had a great run to finish second. David Coene was in for third, Darrell Ford racing from 12th to finish fourth and the steady Joe Giachinta rounded out the top five in his Mid Husdon Concrete sponsored racer.
The CRSA provided a great show with their 305 Sprint cars. In the 25-lap main event, Marshall Gogg paced the field for the first two laps before yielding to
"Captain Quick" Jeremy Quick and the veteran campaigner from nearby Kerhonkson left no stone unturned as he quickly showed he was the class of the field on this night of racing. John Matrafailo ran a steady race to finish in the runner-up slot. Matt Tanner was third in the final rundown with Danny Ody settling for fourth and Kory Gurney completing the top five.
The Enzo's Ristorante and Pizza Pro Stock feature was curfewed and will be made up on this week's racing card.
MUDPLUGS:
Garden State Modified talent John Dixon was notified during the course of the racing action his Grandfather William Dixon had passed way and it was decided he run the feature as that is what his grandfather would have wanted him to do. A pace lap was run in the late Mr Dixon's honor.
Accord Speedway was graced and honored to have the 104th Military Police Battalian of the US National Guard take part in the evening's festivities. Having recently returned home from an extended stay in Iraq. Specialists Taylor, Specialist Walker, Specialist Exner and Staff Sargeant Van Vleet did the flag raising ceremonies with the assistance of another member of the military, US Marine Private Seasons. The Accord crowd gave them a rousing round of applause with their participation in the show.
This coming week the US National Gaurd will be displaying the Dale Earnhardt Jr, US National Guard Sponsored numbered 88 show car at the speedway and there will be National Guard recruiting brass on hand to answer any questions for the young men and women who have an interest in military duty and serving in the armed forces of our great country.
The CRSA brought with them 26 race cars to do battle at Accord. A few of the names were familiar with fans in the Northeastern part of Pennsylvania as many of them were former Lake Mocatek Speedway competitors. Brian Davis, Bruce Evans Jr and Tom Laner were all solid runners at the now defunct racing playground. For Laner, a former Sportsman Champion at Lake Mocatek, the evening went downhill quickly as during the running of the first heat while racing towards the front, Laner hooked the cushion on turn one and immediately went into a series of snap rolls that found him vaulting the pit exit fence and becoming lodged in between the two fences. Laner was unhurt in the scary incident.
The CRSA is a solid combination of veteran campaigners and up and coming rookies who are looking at new challenges in racing while still being able to stay within a set budget. The Pre-race show behind the grandstands featured the defending Champion in the series out of Middletown, NY Chuck Alessi in his Planet Wings machine and a newcomer to the series Mark Zemcik in his Seward Farms machine as they answered many questions about the series and their race cars with track announcer Steve Pados. Following the two sprint pilots was an animated interview session with the always popular "Jumpin" John McGill as the veteran driving talent explained his reasoning behind making the 2008 season his "Last Campaign". Whle John may be leaving the driving side of racing, it is certain he will still remain around the racing scene for many years to come.
Miss Accord Speedway Loralyn Brinster will be making the trip South to the Victory Junction Camp this week with 17 other racing people including the 2008 Miss Motorsports, Tiffany Skias.
Mid Week Madness will begin this coming Wednesday night, June 18th as Karts, Quads, Bikes, Lawn Mowers and Slingshots traverse the quarter milier in style. Gates open at 5 PM with hot laps beginning promptly at 6:15. Racing commences immediately after hot laps. Admission for the quickly paced show is a very affordable $3.00.
Action returns Friday night at Accord Speedway with the host sponsor being Escape RV. The night will see the return of the Accord Mini Sprints. Pit Gates open at 4:30 and Spectator Gates open at 5. Hot laps are at 6:30 and th racing begins at 7 PM. Admission is $12.00 for Adults and $3.00 for those 11 and under.
June 27th brings back the return of Wild Bill and his sensational Fireworks Extravaganza. Wild Bill is noted for his sky-lighting expertise and always gives the fans a light show to remember. July 4th is the famous Chicken BBQ night at the speedway so make sure you arrive early for some sensational vittles.
July 11th will be a night to remember at the speedway as the "Three-Wide is Standard" ARDC Midget racing club brings their side by side style of racing to the Accord facility. Along with two time champion Andy Martin, the traveling club is blessed with a combination of youth and veteran driving talents. Among the ranks will be Nick Wean, Ryan Smith, Stephanie Stevens, Brett Arndt, Eric Heydenreich, Randy Monroe, Steve Lenig, Steve Craig, Drew Heistand and a talented band of hard-chargers that will test their skills on the Accord clay. The ACOT Old-Timers will pay a role in the evening as well as the fans get a look at how the Midgets looked and raced back in the golden era of racing. The Grand Marshall for the event will be open wheel legend, the great Jimmy Maguire.
Bryant's Towing Pure Stock: Ray Tarantino, Joe Judge, Steve Smalley, Paul Aragon Jr, Mike Deyo, Bill Judge, Tommy Johnson, Charlie Rose Jr, Will Dietz, Gary Ronk, Mike Malarczyk, Joe Knoth, John Woinoski, Mike DuBois, Ryan Coon, Bill Merten, Rich Scott
Rhinebeck Ford Modifieds: Andy Bachetti, Rich Ricci Jr, Mike Ricci, Tom Demarmels, Jerry Higbie, Danny Tyler, John McGill, Rick Mill, Kevin Duryea, Nick Lapp, David Bush, Mel Schrufer, Jerry Curry, Bill Papula, Jackie Brown Jr, Mark Pullen, Jamie Yannone, John Lutes Jr, John Dixon, Doug Ostwald, Scott Ferrier, Jimmy Halpin, Danny Creeden (DQ)
Enzo's Ristorante & Pizza Pro Stocks: (Curfewed Until Next Week)
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: Jeff Richardson, Danny Cross, Vinnie DeCicco, Danny Conklin, John Calcagni Jr, Sammy Dwy, Kyle Rohner, Bobby Hassenmayer, Scott Mathews, AJ Williams, Eric Moon, Tyler Boniface, Phil Recchio, Steve Pinto, Tyler Odendahl, Greg Hastie, Richard Smith, Jack Skeritt, Kyle Plumstead
Campers Barn Sportsman: Tom Dakake, Greg McCloskey, David Coene, Darrell Ford, Joe Giachinta, Howard Jarvis, Jesse Marks, Jerry Craig, Mike Senecal, John Sundlof, Steve Meilleur, Randy Banks Jr, Brian Krummel, Ken Ferrier, Shane Jablonka, Larry Hendershot, Jeff Hulseapple, Justin Holland, Vinnie Gress, Steve Krom
CRSA Sprint Car Series: Jeremy Quick, John Matrafailo, Matt Tanner, Danny Ody, Kory Gurney, Chuck Alessi, Matt Demitraszek, Brian Davis, Anthony Brennan, John Lieto, Chad King, Billy Jaycox Jr, Warren Alexson, John Hagen, Dyaln Swiernik, Craig Rochelle, Jami Russell, Mark Zemcik, Marshall Gogg, Peter Sindt, John Lodini, Jeff Van Steenburg, Bruno Leombruno, Bruce Evans Jr, John Leombruno, Michael Bush
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
A TRAIL OF DIRT LEADS RIGHT TO OUR DOOR