Jerry Higbie is feeling right at home behind the wheel of his own Modified at the Accord Speedway.
By FRANK CATIZONE
Higbie, who drove most of the season in the New York Truck Parts No. 55 owned by Gary Mann, switched back to his own car a month ago. The move has certainly paid off as Higbie became the first driver to claim back-to-back victories at the track in 2013 behind his All American Ford Modified 30-lap triumph last Friday during Hudson Valley Cycle Center night.
“I feel I’m back in my comfort zone,’’ said Higbie. “I think I might have hit on something and racing my own equipment is the way to go from now on. I feel right at home and my car is getting better each week out.’’
Higbie, who paces all of his peers with four visits to the Lucas Oil Victory Lane this season, shook off a month of adversity behind an impressive win on Aug. 30. He followed that up with an even stronger performance as he tracked down Gary Quick after finally managing to overtake Rich Ricci Jr. for second place midway through the race.
“My car was set up to be stronger at the end of the race,’’ explained Higbie. “I went with a harder tire compound and I think Rich (Ricci) was using softer tires. That made quite a difference because his car started to fade as the race went on.’’
Higbie, after working his way around Ricci, quickly moved in on Quick and was able to nose ahead entering the first turn on the 20th lap. He then began stretching out his advantage over the rest of the field as he ran caution-free to the finish.
Jackie Brown Jr., who started 15th, worked his way around the track on the bottom and drove his way to a second-place finish as he closes in on the 2013 track championship.
“Jackie has really had quite a season,’’ said Higbie. “He’s really been consistent with a lot of top five finishes and that’s what it takes to win a championship. Unfortunately, I haven’t enjoyed that type of consistency this season. But I’m happy I’m finishing the season up strong.
Quick, who started outside pole, held on to finish in third place with Tommy Meier, Ricci, Danny Tyler, Ken Boniface Jr., Mike Ricci, Andy Bachetti and Danny Creeden rounding out the top 10.
Greg McCloskey racked up his third victory this season in the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap feature as he finished ahead of Will Dietz, Kevin Ward, Ken Ferrier and Jesse Marks.
McCloskey, who also claimed wins in 2013 on May 3 and July 19, took advantage of some early race cautions to move into contention as he stood in third place behind leader Dietz and Joe Giachinta with eight laps completed.
McCloskey was able to move past Giachinta following the restart and the began reeling in Dietz, who led from the start of the race. McCloskey wrestled first place away from Dietz while racing off the fourth turn on the 20th lap en route to his win.
Mike DuBois also pocketed his third triumph this season in the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman 20-lap main event as he held off the late-race charge provided by Tyler Boniface.
DuBois, after grabbing first place on the second lap, was embroiled in a heated battle with Brandon McGill during the early stages of the event. Tyler Boniface, a six-time winner this season, quickly started moving forward after starting seventh and was glued to DuBois’ bumper when the white flag was displayed.
DuBois, however, stood his ground to finish 0.117 seconds ahead of Tyler Boniface with Joe Judge, McGill and Ed Dachenhausen rounding out the top five.
David Demorest, who never won prior 2013, notched his fifth triumph of the racing campaign as he captured the Ruge’s GM Parts Center Pro Stock 20-lap feature ahead of Paul Aragon Jr., Ralph Ronk, Norbert Bracklow and John Roese.
Demorest, after starting sixth in the 11-car field, tracked down Aragon after grabbing second place on the eighth lap and took over first place while racing down the homestretch on the 16th circuit around the quarter-mile Ulster County bullring.
Ray Tarantino continued his torrid late-season surge as he captured his third straight victory in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock 15-lap feature.
Tarantino, who now has five wins in 2013, grabbed first place from Jay Smalley on the second lap and then went on to finish ahead of John Woinoski, Smalley, Joe Knoth and Jonathan McGibbon.
Nick Johnson, who is seeking the Pure Stock track title, was knocked out of the event before a lap was scored with radiator problems.
Doug Norrie picked up his second win this campaign in the WRWD Lightning Sprints 15-lap feature with Phil Bessette, Joe Szczapa, Justin Phillips and Christian Wright following. Szczapa was crowned this year’s track champion as the sprinters closed out their regular season.
Accord Speedway’s Insinger Performance-Sunoco Race Fuels ‘King of the Catskills’ Takes On New Look Friday, September 20; Ulster County Track Hosts Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour, Sportsman & Slingshots.
ACCORD, NY – The season-ending ‘King of the Catskills’ special at Accord Speedway will take on a different look in 2013.
The Ulster County quarter-mile hosts the next leg of the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour on Friday night, September 20 (rain date: Sept. 27). For 2013, the big-block/small-block Modifieds will run a 60-lap main event paying $5,000 to the winner and $300 to take the green flag. A contrast from previous editions is the shorter 60-lap distance and a payout that is more evenly balanced through the field for competitors.
Insinger Performance-Sunoco Race Fuels presents the ’13 edition of the ‘King of the Catskills’ special.
The Friday night ‘King of the Catskills’ will feature RoC Modifieds and the Open vs. Crate Sportsman in an accompanying 25-lap special. The Sportsman event will offer $1,500 to the winner. All-Star Slingshots complete the event in a 20-lap main offering $300 to the winner.
“We’re looking at getting people in and out, and really making it special with the Modifieds, Sportsman and Slingshots all in one night,” said Gary Palmer, Accord’s promoter since the 2001 season.
Modifieds will utilize sail panels for the special event. For complete rules and tire information, visit www.rocdirt.com as the event approaches. Accord hosts the second-to-last stop on the ’13 RoC Dirt Modified Tour and will play a key role in deciding the champion. Canadian Stewart Friesen leads the RoC standings currently in search of his second series championship.
In last year’s event, Brett Hearn of Sussex, N.J., fought off the advances of Danny Johnson to earn the ‘King of the Catskills’ crown. The most recent special event at Accord – the New York Truck Parts Inc. ‘Battle of the Bullring’ in August, proved to be a career highlight for Danny Creeden of Middletown, N.Y., who took home $5,925 from the midweek special. Creeden transfers directly to the redraw for the ‘King of the Catskills’ via his victory.
Sportsman will be permitted to use any American Racer or Hoosier tire used at a weekly track. Open Sportsman weight rules are as follows: 2,500 lbs. with aluminum wheels and 2,450 with steel wheels. Crate 602 Sportsman weight limits are 2,350 lbs. with aluminum wheels and 2,300 with steel wheels.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. Hot laps are planned for 6:45 p.m. and racing at 7:15 p.m.
All other divisions (Mini-Sprints, 305 Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks and Pure Stocks) will have their ‘King of the Catskills’ event postponed until October. There will be no racing at Accord on Saturday, Sept. 21.
To learn more about Accord Speedway, contact the track office at 845.626.3781, visit www.accordspeedway.com, e-mail accordspeedway@yahoo.com, like “The Official Accord Speedway” on Facebook or follow @AccordSpeedway on Twitter. Accord Speedway is located at 299 Whitfield Road Accord, NY 12404.