Brown pads lead in Modified standings with third win on Jesco Night
By FRANK CATIZONE - Accord Speedway Media7/22/13
ACCORD, NY – Jackie Brown Jr. is certainly establishing himself as the driver to beat this season for the All American Ford Modified championship at the Accord Speedway.
Brown, who returned to the track in 2013 following a five-year hiatus, rebounded from mechanical issues a week ago to capture the Modified 30-lap feature last Friday during Jesco Night. It was the third time he parked his car in the Lucas Oil Victory Lane this season and also extended his advantage in the standings.
Brown, who entered the evening with a 14-point cushion over Danny Creeden, utilized his division-leading triumph to pick up some breathing room as the competition behind him was shuffled among the top five. The second-generation Hurley driver has accumulated 506 points and reigning champion Andy Bachetti moved into second with 479.
Brown, who was forced to drive his back-up car a week ago after breaking the master cylinder in his regular ride, started fourth in the 21-car field and wasted no time working his way to the front. He was in third place when Ray Curry Jr. forced a caution with two laps completed because of a spin in the second turn.
Brown then moved ahead of Danny Tyler to stand in second place with three laps down and then passed leader Scott Ferrier on the fourth circuit around the Ulster County bullring.
Creeden, meanwhile, worked his way into third place behind Brown and Ferrier before racing was cautioned with five laps completed for Brad Rothaupt. The race was cautioned once again following the restart for an incident involving Gary Predmore and Joey Bruning. Creeden pitted under caution and didn’t return.
Creeden’s departure moved Tyler into third place and Bachetti into fourth. But neither driver ever posed a threat to Brown, who started running away from the rest of his competition when racing resumed. Mike Ricci, in fact, loomed as the biggest challenger as he moved into third place by the 21st lap when Rothaupt spun to force the race’s final caution with 21 laps completed.
Ricci was able to slip past Ferrier for second place following the restart, but never challenged for the lead as Brown drove uncontested to the checkered flags. Ricci followed with with another second-place effort behind the wheel of the Jimmy Wells owned No. 831.
Bachetti settled for a third-place performance with Ferrier, Tyler, Jerry Higbie, Tyler Dippel, Rich Ricci Jr., Danny Johnson and Donnie Elliott rounding out the top 10.
Dippel was making his Modified debut at Accord and Rich Ricci Jr. unveiled his new Modified mount.
Danny Johnson was aboard the Atlas Paving No. 66 for the first time in 2013.
Anthony Perrego had quite an evening for himself as he captured two features and finished third in the Sportsman held-over 25-lap feature rained out from June 28.
Perrego notched his first Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman 20-lap feature of 2013 as he finished ahead of Mike DuBois, Ed Dachenhausen, Tyler Boniface and Joe Judge.
Perrego, who won for the last time in this class on July 6, 2012, passed DuBois at the starter’s stand to complete 18 laps and then held off DuBois to the finish.
Perrego capped off his evening by capturing the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap feature for the third time this season. He finished ahead of Dave Werber, Dave Coene, Will Dietz and Jesse Marks.
Dietz, after starting on the pole, led throughout the event and was able to remain in command despite several restarts. But Perrego closed in on Dietz following a caution with 17 laps completed and grabbed first place two laps later.
Greg McCloskey picked up his first win since May 18, 2012 as he captured the held-over Sportsman 25-lap feature ahead of Marks, Perrego, Tom Johnson and Ken Ferrier.
McCloskey inherited first place on the 10th lap when leader Kevin Ward slowed in the fourth turn and was forced out of the event. McCloskey led from that point on and ran away from the rest of the 19-car field.
Nick Johnson became the first driver to notch three wins in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock class this season as he took the 15-lap, caution-free feature ahead of Ray Tarantino, John Woinoski, Jonathan McGibbon and Ant Marguglio.
Brittney Curry picked up her second career win in the Want Ad Digest Fireball Four-Cylinder 15-lap feature as she finished ahead of Shawn Maloney, George Zeininger, Kayla Curry and Johnny Bankich.
Brittany Curry, who won here on June 21, took the lead away from Maloney while racing down the backstretch on the 12th lap. Maloney, who led from the second lap, finished a close second.
In the Pro Stock division it was David Demorest, ahead of Ralph Ronk, Tom Vasta, Norbert Bracklow and John Roese.