on HO Penn Night
By Steve Pados, Accord Media
As the magic and the serenity of the Hudson Valley region settles in on the approaching months of the fall season, many of the points battles at the Accord Speedway were still left to be decided on the final night of the points on HO Penn Night at Gary Palmer’s “Gem in the Catskills.” The close points battles and the growing interest for the upcoming “King of the Catskills” 2007 Accord Speedway season curtain closer on the 28th of September, set the stage for a full night of exciting racing activity the large crowd on hand at the Speedway will be talking about for some time to come.
Sheffield, Massachusetts hot shoe Andy Bachetti put on a masterful driving clinic as he drove his Albreada Waste/Wentworth Construction/PMC chassis Modified to a resounding win in the 30-lap Rhinebeck Ford Modified feature event. The triumph for the hard-charging Bachetti was his fifth of the season and tops in the stellar division at the speedway.
Mark Pullen and Scott Ferrier brought the 20-car Rhinebeck Ford Modified field to the line for the start of the race. Pullen hustled his Ramsey Mechanical sponsored mount to the lead at the start of the event, and the hard-luck campaigner would lead the first four circuits before giving way to one-time feature event winner Scott Ferrier. Ferrier, using the inside line of the multi-groove raceway to perfection, drove his Orange Energy sponsored mount to the point with a daring inside maneuver and immediately began to drive away from the field.
As the talent deep field raced through the first stages of the event, many of the Accord hot-shoes were involved with battles of their own as they tried to jockey for the advantage that would break them free to power after the high-flying Ferrier. The “Cyclone” Jamie Yannone was the first to do so as he raced past Jerry Curry and Mel Shrufer to take over the runner-up role. Robbie Green, Rich Ricci Jr, and Mike Ricci were the next to take up the chase as they also broke free and set their sights on Ferrier as well.
Rich Ricci Jr used his small block car this night to make things happen on the raceway. Lap after lap the New Paltz, New York veteran inched his way closer to the front. At the same time, Bachetti, lived up to his nickname as the “Wild Child” as he finally was able to take full advantage of the wild-side of the raceway of the raceway to begin to charge his way to the front from his 14th starting position.
Ferrier began to feel the pressure of the high-flying Ricci Jr as the many-time speedway champion disposed of Yannone and moved into second place on lap-21. Utilizing the extreme outside of the lightning-quick bullring, Ricci Jr moved alongside of Ferrier outside of turn two on lap-24 and the two warriors momentarily locked together, sending both into half-spins and losing the top spot to the daring Bachetti, who was eating up the tacky Accord real estate wherever he placed his smooth-running mount. Once in the lead, Bachetti was never headed as he crossed the line for his fifth win of the season. Yannone, who also took advantage of the Ferrier-Ricci Jr get together, was second in another great run for the rookie Modified campaigner. Mike Ricci hustled the Pine Grove Dude Ranch machine into third place and Robbie Green finished fourth in a great run with the Gary Mann owned racer. Rich Ricci Jr completed the top five and reclaimed the track championship and won his tenth Accord track title in his Apple Greens Golf Course/Dean Ale Excavating sponsored mount.
The Camper’s Barn Sportsman feature event was enhanced by a $200.00 addition to the purse courtesy of Jarvis Tree Service. This proved to be all of the incentive Howard Jarvis needed as he took the lead at the opening bell and drove to victory in the 20-lap main event. Jarvis pretty much had things go his way throughout the race as he got by John Sundlof on turn three of the opening lap and won going away. Sundlof did a masterful job in securing a second place finish as third place finisher Ray See Jr applied lots of pressure to his back bumper throughout the course of the race. Ken Ferrier finished fourth in event and Justin Holland rounded out the top five. Danny Tyler silently rode to an eighth place finish in the event and was crowned the champion of the Sportsman division with his steady driving all year.
Charlie Houghtaling led the first nine laps of the Amsoil Pro Stock feature event before yielding to the hard riding Adam Douglas. Once in the lead, Douglas had to defend his turf against the equally as hard driving Don Williams. Williams, seeking the Pro Stock division title, let it all hang out as he chased Douglas the remainder of the event, and at times pulling even with Douglas, but never able to complete the pass to take the lead. At the line it was Douglas winning his second event of the season and Williams in for second place. Williams, with his good finish , was crowned the champion of the Pro Stock division with a 16-point edge over rookie ace Bill Deak Jr. Charlie Houghtaling hung on for third with Bill Deak Jr and Rob Rowe completing the top five in a very hotly contested points chase.
New Windsor, New York’s Mike Deyo took advantage of a front row starting spot to power his way into the lead on the backstretch of the opening lap to lead the entire 15-lap distance in the Bryant’s Towing Pure Stock feature event. For Deyo, the win was his fourth of the 2007 campaign and tops in the division. Charlie Rose Jr, who also was a heat winner, had his mount at top performance as he challenged Deyo all of the way to record his best finish ever at the speedway with his runner-up finish. Mike DuBois, who just returned to regular racing activity, continued to impress as the veteran rode to a third place finish. Bill Bulson and John Woinoski rounded out the top five. Joe Judge was another driver who drove a cautious race as he finished a very quiet ninth place but won the Pure Stock title by 52-points over Ryan Coon.
The Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints ran two feature events to complete their season at the speedway. In the held-over event, Mark Rogers led the first three laps of the event before giving way to Scott Goodrich. Goodrich used all of the raceway to drive to an impressive win over Clint Roehrs. Tim Durland, Todd Lapp, and Mark Rogers completed the top five.
In the regular scheduled event, Todd Lapp paced the field from the drop of the green to record his second win of the year. Scott Goodrich was able to mount a challenge, but fell short and had to settle for the runner-up position. Clint Roehrs, Tim Durland, and Mark Rogers rounded out the top five. Roehrs defended his track title with his performance as he won the track title by 26-points over Goodrich.
The Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman title went down to the last feature event of the evening. In the held-over event, Danny Sherlock led all of the way to capture his first win of the year. Hard-charging Danny Cross, a Quad racing graduate from the Mid-Week Madness series from a year ago, applied pressure to Sherlock from lap-10 on but couldn’t nose the Swehla Contracting/G&G Lawn and Garden Sponsored mount into the lead. Less than a car length separated the pair at the finish line. Sherlock was in for the win with Cross in second place. Eric Moon, in his best run to date, was third and Phil Recchio and Jeff Hager completing the top five.
In the nightcap, it was Greg Hastie needing points and Phil Recchio trying to protect a small points advantage, racing for the Spec Sportsman title.
Hawley Smith leading for a lap before yielding to the smooth running Dan Conklin. Conklin led the next twelve laps of the event before Hastie, using an inside run, move into the lead and drove to his third win of the year and with it capturing the Spec Sportsman division title by just eight points over the disappointed Recchio. The veteran campaigner Jeff Richardson was in for strong runner-up performance with Danny Cross racing to another strong performance by finishing third. Steve Eubanks and Dan Conklin completed the top five.
MUDPLUGS:
The Accord Speedway management and staff would like to salute all of the drivers who met their goal by winning a championship at the speedway this year. Rich Ricci Jr in the Modifieds, Danny Tyler in the Sportsman, Greg Hastie in the Spec Sportsman, Joe Judge in the Pure Stocks, Don Williams in the Pro Stock, and Clint Roehrs in the Mini Sprints earned the right to wear the Championship Crown.
The ranks of the driving rosters continued to swell as the Modifieds saw the first appearance of the year of OCFS standout Joey Barbagallo Jr.
Jeremy Smith, a strong runner in the Southern Tier, made his first appearance and took to the Accord track with ease as he won the Consolation and was credited with a 13th in the main event. Danny Oddy took over the Lutes Family racer and finished 12th in the main event. Danny Creeden brought his regular OCFS Big Block mount to the track and finished 14th in his initial run in the Modified division.
Mike Van Tassel, who won at the OCFS earlier this summer, made his first appearance of the season at Accord and qualified well, but was involved in a skirmish that sent “MVT” to the sidelines early in the Spec Sportsman main event.
The Pre-Race Show had Phil Recchio from the Spec ranks, and Bill Deak Jr and Don Williams from the Pro-Stock ranks to talk bout their racing at Accord this year and their version of the “Race to the Chase.”
The totally revamped Accord Website is fully functional and will have new features added to it as time progresses. Tri-State Studios has done an outstanding job in making the onsite navigation easier.
The upcoming “King of the Catskills” race has kept the Accord lines constantly busy. With the big money on the line, a tremendous field of competitors is expected to battle it out to be the “King.” The date for the year ending spectacular is September 28th and a rain-date of September 29th, 2007 has been set aside in case of inclement weather.
A new addition to the Meilleur household kept Steve from racing on Friday night. A baby boy weighing 5-pounds and 5-ounces will keep the Meilleur name in racing for years to come.
The tickets for the Awards Banquet are moving along at a brisk pace and everyone who is hoping to attend should make the necessary arrangements as quickly as possible. The date set aside is November 10th and the Prices of $55.00 for Adults and $22.00 for Children are a lock until the 17th of October.
A ton of interest continues to pour in for the Small Car Nationals this coming Saturday Night, September 22nd. Interest from a five state radius should prove to be a great night of racing for the small car faithful.
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman (Held Over Event): Danny Sherlock, Danny Cross, Eric Moon, Jeff Hager, Phil Recchio, Jeff Richardson, Greg Hastie, Scott Mathews, Vinnie DeCicco, Hawley Smith, Dan Conklin, John Gesztesi, Steve Eubanks, Steve Pinto, Burt Irwin Jr
Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints (Held Over Event): Scott Goodrich, Clint Roehrs, Tim Durland, Todd Lapp, Mark Rogers, JD Casazza, Kevin Horton, Phil Beesmer, Tom Kanan
Rhinebeck Ford Modifieds: Andy Bachetti, Jamie Yannone, Mike Ricci, Robbie Green, Rich Ricci Jr, Scott Ferrier, Jerry Higbie, Mel Shrufer, Rich Eurich, Rick Mill, Hank Goranson, Dan Oddy, Jeremy Smith, Dan Creeden, Donnie Elliott, John McGill, Joe Barbagallo Jr, Mark Pullen, Jackie Brown Jr, Jerry Curry
Amsoil Pro Stock: Adam Douglas, Don Williams, Charlie Houghtaling, Bill Deak Jr, Rob Rowe, Mark Lathrop, John Roese, Charlie Swartz Jr, Jon Routhier, Bill Deak Sr, Larry Temple Jr, Paul Hubbard, John Rood, Al Christiana, Kenny Atkins, Jim Grippin, George Christiana
Camper's Barn Sportsman: Howard Jarvis, John Sundlof, Ray See Jr, Ken Ferrier, Justin Holland, David Bush, Steve Krom, Danny Tyler, Keith VanOyan, Jesse Marks, Mike Senecal, David Coene, Tom Dakake, Vinnie Gress, Jerry Craig, Joe Giachinta, Clinton Mills, Charlie Winne, Carl Dawes
Heart Chevrolet Spec Sportsman: Greg Hastie, Jeff Richardson, Danny Cross, Steve Eubanks, Dan Conklin, Jeremy Quick, Phil Recchio, Vinnie DeCicco, Jeff Hager, Sammy Dwy, Jason Thew, Hawley Smith, Steve Pinto, Danny Sherlock, John Gesztesi, Mike Van Tassel, Eric Moon
Bryant's Towing Pure Stocks: Mike Deyo, Charlie Rose Jr, Mike DuBois, Bill Bulson, John Woinoski, Wayne Hajek, Don Coon, Paul Aragon Jr, Joe Judge, Jay Smalley, Tom Johnson, Ralph Ronk, Steve Kanuk, Ryan Coon, Bert Long, Sharon Byrne, Gary Ronk, Kyle Wright, Will Dietz, Kyle Plumstead,
Kingston Nissan Mini Sprints: Todd Lapp, Scott Goodrich, Clint Roehrs, Tim Durland, Mark Rogers, JD Casazza, Phil Beesmer, Kevin Horton, Bob Lynt, Brandon Bachor, Tom Kanan
THIS COMING WEEK:
September 22nd, Super Nationals Midweek Madness, Karts, Quads, Bikes, Lawn Mowers
September 28: Rhinebeck Ford "King of the Catskills" 75 Laps Modifieds $5,000.00 to Win, Bars For Less Modified Dash For Cash $1,000.00 to Win, Plus Racing in All Divisions (Rain Date, Sept 29)
November 10th: Accord Awards Banquet: Hudson Valley Resort, Kerhonkson, NY
For updated information regarding Accord Speedway, log on to their website at:
www.accordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Hotline at: 845 626 3478
Your Weekend Begins at Accord