Scott Ferrier Takes First 358 Modified Victory At Accord

By BRETT DEYO

ACCORD, NY - 062102 - After a terrible start to the season, Scott Ferrier raced to

the victory in the 30-lap DIRT 358 Modified feature Friday night at Accord

Speedway. The first year small-block racer from Bloomingburg, N.Y. grabbed

the lead on the first lap of the Ellenville National Bank main then pulled

away, giving high profile car owner Jim Baum his first victory at the popular

quarter mile oval.

“We needed this,” noted Ferrier, a multi-time Sportsman winner at the

speedway. “The year definitely didn’t start out like we wanted it to, but

Jimmy has stood behind me here. I felt like the car has been getting better,

we just needed some luck.”

Ferrier led the 21-car starting field to the green flag, and jumped out

to the early lead with his J. Baum Truck Parts Teo Pro mount. As Ferrier

led, a wild scramble for position led to the first caution of the event on

lap 4, when Robbie Green, Donnie Wilson, Andy Bachetti and Ken McGuire

stacked up on the frontstretch.

When the race resumed Ferrier held a solid lead, and actually began to

open an advantage on the field running a smooth, inside line. A yellow for

Ed Haenelt with twelve laps in the books bunched the field again. After a

restart incident involving Barry Davis, Jason Tompkins and Rick Mill, the

race went green for the remainder of the distance.

While Ferrier remained the leader, Rich Ricci, Jr. and Mike Ricci moved

into second and third in the late stages of the event. Mike, the older of

the two Ricci brothers, worked hard in the final laps to get around his

brother but they finished second and third, respectively, a half straightaway

behind the strong-running No. 20 of Ferrier at the checkered.

“We started the year here with a Troyer,” the happy victor noted. “But a

few weeks into the season we switched to the Teo, so it has taken some time

to adjust to that change. Hopefully, they’ll be some more this season.”

Rich Ricci, Jr. had a strong run for second after starting ninth in the

Fall Fittings No. 55, ahead of point leader Mike Ricci in third spot. Jackie

Brown, Jr. was fourth and J.R. Heffner completed the top five. However,

Heffner was fined $100 in post race inspection for liquid on the sidewall of

his tire.

A solid field of 26 358 Modifieds entered competition with heat wins

going to Joe Winne, Jr. Mike Ricci and Ferrier. Donnie Wilson topped the

consolation.

Bill Deckelman of Freemont Center, N.Y. raced to his first victory of the

season in the 25-lap DIRT Sportsman Syracuse Qualifier. Deckelman, an on

again, off again competitor in recent seasons, started from third position

and grabbed the lead on the first lap. He was never seriously challenged for

the remainder of the distance.

A caution on the final lap bunched the field and put runner up Pete Booth

on Deckelman’s rear bumper, but on this night it was all Deckelman, who

brought the No. 4 Teo Pro mount home to the $600 triumph. Booth, of Pine

Bush, N.Y. had his best run of the season in second spot with the Pine Bush

Equipment No. 3. Jeff Hulseapple was third ahead of Jim Winchell and Mike

Van Pelt.

In Pro Stock action, veteran racer Tom Kuck of Mahopac, N.Y. charged from

12th starting position to the win the 20-lap main. Kuck, an Orange County

Fair Speedway regular, took over the lead just past the halfway point in his

Carquest No. 79 then cruised to his first Accord win of the year.

Rob Rowe moved into the second position late in the race, but couldn’t

make a move on Kuck and was forced to settle for second, ahead of Scott

Liese, John Roese and John Odendahl.

In the heldover Pro Stock 20-lapper from May 24th, George Christiana made

his first trip to victory lane of the season. Christiana, of Accord, N.Y.

fought off the challenges of Elwood Hewitt in a spirited final lap battle for

the win. Hewitt, the division’s point leader, ended up second with Noel

Osborne, Mike Dutka and Don Williams in tow.

John Matrafailo of Washingtonville, N.Y. trumphed in the 15-lap Mini

Sprint main. A former full-sized Sprint car campaigner, Matrafailo powered

his No. 8 to the lead on the eleventh circuit with an inside pass on Bob

Lynt, then held off the charges of defending champ Peter Sindt for the win.

Rich Sennett, John Parete and Darrell Quackenbush trailed at the finish.

With a huge field of thirty Pure Stocks in attendance, the field was

split into two 12-lap features. Dave Gerard came out on top of a wild bump

and grind scramble with Jay Smalley to win the first main. Smalley was

second, ahead of Joe Narok, Bobby Brown and George Decker.

The second feature event went to Cornwall, N.Y. driver Mike Deyo, who

took over the lead on the third lap, then powered away for his second victory

of the season. Joe DiStefano, Sharon Byrne, Greg Meola and Scott Hornbeck

completed the front five.

The pit area at the Ulster County, N.Y. facility was again jammed to

capacity with 26 358 Modifieds, 27 DIRT Sportsman, 30 Pro Stocks, 24 Mini

Sprints and 30 Pure Stocks on hand.

On tap at the Number One Action Track for Friday, June 28th will be a

full five division program of DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks,

Pure Stocks and Mini Sprints, plus a gigantic fireworks display presented by

Pine Bush Equipment. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and

racing at 7 p.m. For more info, contact the track office at (845) 626-3478

or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.

358 Modified Feature Finish: Scott Ferrier, Rich Ricci, Jr., Mike Ricci,

Jackie Brown, Jr. J.R. Heffner, Joe Winne, Jr., Rick Mill, Jeremy Markle,

Scott Dickie, Jason Tompkins, Barry Davis, Mark Pullen, Mike Murphy, Ed

Strada, Jr., Ken McGuire, Jeremy Matthies, Robbie Green, Ed Haenelt, Andy

Bachetti, Donnie Wilson, Ken Baker.

Did Not Qualify: Rich Hansen, Don Goodrich, Hank Goranson, Benny Rizzo, Fred

Newkirk.

DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Bill Deckelman, Peter Booth, Jeff Hulseapple,

Jim Winchell, Mike Van Pelt, Kevin Duryea, Larry Ricci, Ladd Yeomanns, Lem

Atkins, Larry Badaracco, Duane Koskey, Tom Byrne, Henry Sherman, Steve

Williams, Rich Oxford, Harry Baldwin, Chuck Thomaschek, Poover Daley, Tony

Kawalchuk, Kenny Moulton, Howard Jarvis.

Did Not Qualify: K.C. McCoy, Pete Garner, Bill Liese, Joe Worner, Jim Fugel,

Neil Harris.

Pro Stock Feature Finish: Tom Kuck, Rob Rowe, Scott Liese, John Roese, John

Odendahl, Don Williams, Butch Winnie, Rob Hoar, Larry Temple, Jr., Mike

Dutka, Gene Temple, Elwood Hewitt, Don Palmateer, Hank Morin, Steve Murray,

Chris Bottge, Rich Suitter, Henry Van Houten, Noel Osborne, Al Christiana,

George Christiana.

Did Not Qualify: John Rood, Bryan McElheny, Jim Clark, Charlie Swartz, Josh

Henke, Jim Potter, Leonard Brice, Chris Deciel, Lenny Helmich.

Pro Stock Heldover Feature Finish: George Christiana, Elwood Hewitt, Noel

Osborne, Don Williams, Larry Temple, Jr., Tom Kuck, Rob Hoar, Scott Liese,

Gene Temple, Henry Van Houten, John Rood, Rob Rowe, Steve Murray, Chris

Bottge, John Odendahl, Don Palmateer, Jim Potter, John Roese, Hank Morin.

Mini Sprint Feature Finish: John Matrafailo, Pete Sindt, Rich Sennett, John

Parete, Darrell Quackenbush, Jeremy Quick, Joe Sanfilippo, Paul Corazzo, Jr.,

Mark Depuis, Paul Corazzo, Sr., John Wullum, Mark Rogers, Bob Lynt, Jim

Donelli, Mark Depuis, Chet Hinkle, Ed Burgess, Mike Bosco, Dave Tonic, Jesse

Baum.

Did Not Start: Rob Scaccio, Gary Reyer.

Pure Stock Race #1 Finish: Dave Gerard, Jay Smalley, Joe Narok, Bobby Brown,

George Decker, Joe Judge, Lee Gallant, Andrew Briggs, Paul Jordan, Gary

Predmore, Lars Petri, Morgan Bernas, Dan Bertholf, Chris Meola.

Pure Stock Race #2 Finish: Mike Deyo, Joe DiStefano, Sharon Byrne, Greg

Meola, Scott Hornbeck, Randy Myers, Ray Curry, Chris Hutnick, George Baxter,

Mike DuBois, Peter Warren, William Landrum, Doug Chase, Dan Rose.