Higbie grabs third Modified victory on Tom’s Repair Shop Night
By FRANK CATIZONE
ACCORD, NY – Jerry Higbie ended a very strange August on a positive note last Friday evening as he grabbed his third victory of the season in the All American Ford Modified 30-lap feature at the Accord Speedway on Tom’s Repair Shop Night.
Higbie, after parting ways with New York Truck Parts No. 55 car owner Gary Mann prior to the inaugural Battle of the Bullring race at the track on Aug. 6, has struggled behind the wheel of his own Modified in recent weeks. The veteran driver failed to finish the past two main events and has pretty much fallen out of contention for this year’s track championship.
“I’ve had some very strange things happen the past few weeks,’’ said Higbie. “I didn’t finish the last two features because I had a wire fall off a sparkplug and we’ve also had some carburetor issues. But we got the car back running in the right direction tonight and were able to get another win.
“That was the third time I’ve won at Accord this season and I also have three in Middletown. But I just haven’t had the consistency I’ve enjoyed at Accord in the past.’’
Higbie, who fell to sixth place in the standings behind his August struggles, started on the outside pole and made the most of his opportunity. He got a quick jump on Ken Boniface Jr. when Accord starter Steve Otten waved the initial green flag and led throughout despite a rash of early-race cautions.
Danny Creeden and Mike Doty brought racing to a halt with three laps completed when they were involved in an accident on the backstretch. Creeden was forced to the pits following the incident and would eventually return to the race.
In the meantime, however, Mel Schrufer pinched Rich Ricci Jr. up against the backstretch wall under caution while the two drivers were running in third and fourth place. Ricci’s car was damaged and he was forced to the pits with a flat tire. Schrufer was shown the black flag and was disqualified for his actions.
Ricci was forced to start at the back of the field following the incident with Schrufer, but was able to race back with a ninth-place performance.
Higbie, meanwhile, was able to open up his lead with each passing lap following the race’s final caution with six laps in the books and took the checkered flag 2.577 seconds ahead of Tommy Meier. Jackie Brown Jr., who started 12th, made a late charge to finish in third with Boniface, Anthony Perrego, Scott Ferrier, Mike Ricci, Jeff Heotzler Sr., Rich Ricci Jr. and Dom Roselli rounding out the top 10.
“My car was just about perfect tonight,’’ said Higbie. “Gary Palmer did a great job preparing the track and it’s been getting better every week. There was plenty to grab on to on both the top and bottom. I had no problem racing on either groove.’’
Tom Johnson made his initial visit to the Lucas Oil Victory Lane as he picked up his first career victory in the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap main event. He was followed by Mike Barrett, Brad Szulewski, Dave Coene and Ken Ferrier.
Johnson, who picked up his last Accord triumph exactly one year ago in a Spec Sportsman race on Aug. 31, 2012, grabbed the lead away from Ferrier following a 15th lap restart. Ferrier, who led from the start, faded as the race went on as Barrett, Szulewski and Coene also passed him.
Tyler Boniface continued his dominance in the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman class this season as he claimed his sixth victory of 2013 in the 20-lap feature race. He was followed by Mike Traver, Joe Judge, Mike DuBois and Ed Dachenhausen.
Tyler Boniface, who started sixth, wrestled the lead away from Traver while racing into the first turn on the 11th lap and never looked back as he cruised to another win.
Ron Rion started on the pole and withstood the pressure applied by John Roese in the latter stages to pick up his second win this season in the Ruge’s GM Parts Center Pro Stock 20-lap main event.
Roese, after starting fifth, worked his way into second place before Paul Maiolo forced a caution with 12 laps completed. The incident erased Rion’s cushion and put Roese on his bumper for the restart.
But Rion, who had to withstand four restarts en route to the win, was able to stave off any challenge offered by Roese to the finish.
Ray Tarantino grabbed his second straight triumph in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock division as he outraced Nick Johnson, Charlie Houghtaling, Steve Smalley and John Woinoski in the exciting 15-lap main event.
Tarantino, who grabbed his fourth win of 2013, took over first place from leader Ant Marguglio while racing three-wide down the homestretch to complete seven laps. Tarantino, Marguglio and Houghtaling all made contact, with Marguglio’s car coming to a rest to force a caution.
Marguglio, who led from the start, was forced out of the event and Tarantino assumed first place. He went on from there to nose out Nick Johnson at the finish.
Greg Cohen grabbed his first win in the Want Ad Digest Fireball Four-Cylinder 15-lap feature with Mike Travis, Johnny Bankich, Brian Bauernfeind and Brittney Curry following.