Robbie Green Picks Up Second Accord Victory Of 2002

By BRETT DEYO

ACCORD, NY - 060702 - Robbie Green returned to form Friday night at Accord Speedway,

taking the win in the 30-lap DIRT 358 Modified feature. Green, of Newburgh,

N.Y., who has struggled in recent weeks, started seventh and raced to the

lead by the fifth lap, then fought off the charges of Mike and Rich Ricci for

his second triumph of the season.

“It was a good race for us,” Green commented. “I was able to get to the

front fast which helped us a lot, and Mike raced me clean. It was how a race

should be.”

Donnie Wilson powered his No. 7 into the lead on the start of the PX Mart

feature, as the Ramsey, N.J. chauffeur opened up a comfortable lead in the

early laps, despite a series of yellow flags that slowed the action.

However, with five laps in the books, Wilson bobbled in the third turn,

allowing Green and tenth starter Mike Ricci to advance into the top two

positions. Four laps later, Rich Ricci, Jr. powered the Fall Fittings No. 55

into third, making it an exciting three

car fight for the top spot on the tacky, fast quarter mile.

Green, holding a tight inside line, was not able to pull away from the

two kingpins of the Ulster County oval. With thirteen laps in the books, Don

Goodrich got turned around in turn four, bringing out the caution. Green was

able to get a good jump on the restart, but this race was far from over.

Both Mike and Rich Ricci remained in striking distance as the leaders

encountered a pack of lapped traffic.

However, with 23 laps complete, a spin by Bob Gaetenello brought out the

caution flag, sparking a wild restart incident. Ed Strada, Jr. tangled with

Don Goodrich as the field came around for the green flag, ripping the right

front wheel off of his No. 42. He quickly got airborne and rolled onto his

roof. Strada, of South Canaan, Pa. was uninjured, though his Bicknell car

sustained significant suspension and sheet metal damage.

When the race resumed, Green again resumed control of the field, and

despite heavy pressure for the remainder of the distance, he held on for the

$1,200 triumph.

“I really have to thank my brother Dave,” Green noted. “We have been

struggling lately, but he worked hard on this car and it was hooked up

tonight.”

Mike Ricci finished a solid second in his Gen-Plus Generators No. 76,

taking over the point lead as a result of his runner-up performance. “I was

able to get a run on Rob,” he said. “But I just couldn’t get the angle I

needed entering the turn to make a move on him.”

Rich Ricci, Jr. was third, ahead of Barry Davis, who rebounded from an

early race incident for fourth. Jackie Brown, Jr. narrowly edged Rick Mill

at the line for fifth.

In DIRT Sportsman action, teenager Tony Kawalchuk picked up his second

victory of the season. Kawalchuk, of Accord, started second and took over

the lead early on with his No. T5 Troyer SLR car. From that point on, he

went unchallenged in the caution marred, time shortened 23-lap main.

“This is really great,” Kawalchuk commented. “The car is fast. The last

few weeks have not been good at all, so it makes this win even better. I

have to thank everyone for sticking with me over the last month.”

Howard Jarvis crossed the stripe a career best second, but was

disqualified for being light over the scales. He was stripped of all points

and money. Mike Van Pelt had a strong run for second, ahead of Ladd Yeomanns

and Pete Gardner. The strong run for Gardner, of Lafeyette, N.J., was foiled

as he was fined $100 for a carburetor infraction.

Point leader Elwood Hewitt of won the 50-lap, $1,000 to win Pro Stock

feature in dominant fashion. The crafty veteran from Saugerties, N.Y. took

over the lead early on and fought an ill-handling car in the final laps for

the victory in the extra distance event.

Hewitt started from seventh position and steadily worked his way forward,

taking the lead from Butch Winnie with ten laps in the books. Invaders Ken

Hartshorn and Tom Kuck advanced through the pack and took over second and

third by the halfway point. Despite suffering from a severe push, Hewitt was

able to hang onto the lead and took the biggest victory of his career.

However, in post race tech inspection, an infraction was discovered in

the carburetor of Hewitt’s No. 87 and he was fined $100.

Ken Hartshorn of Stormville, N.Y. was a strong second in an infrequent

appearance at the quarter mile. Tom Kuck was third, followed by Chris Adams

and Don Palmateer.

32 cars entered the extra-distance, higher purse event.

After going winless for several seasons, John Parete of Stone Ridge, N.Y.

made it two in a row in the 15-lap Mini Sprint feature. Parete, who started

fourth, took over the lead on the ninth lap when John Matrafailo dropped off

the pace, then fought off the challenges of Rich Sennett in an exciting late

race battle through lapped traffic.

Sennett finished a season best second, ahead of Steven Lapine, Bob Lynt

and Tony Montesi.

Joe Narok of Highland, N.Y. took his first win of the season in the

15-lap Pure Stock main. Narok grabbed the lead from Jay Smalley on the ninth

lap, then fought off Dave Gerard for the triumph. Smalley was third, ahead

of Greg Meola and Lee Gallant.

Racing resumes at the Action Track on Friday, June 14th with Senior

Appreciation Night. Seniors (62 and over) will have a $4.00 grandstand

admission. On the card will be a 30-lap DIRT Sportsman Syracuse Qualifier

plus a full program of DIRT 358 Modifieds, Mini Sprints, Pro Stocks, Pure

Stocks and Atlantic Coast Old Timers. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps

at 6

p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. For more info call (845) 626-3478.

DIRT 358 Modified Feature Finish: Robbie Green, Mike Ricci, Rich Ricci, Jr.,

Barry Davis, Jackie Brown, , Rick Mill, Donnie Wilson, Mike Murphy, Mark

Pullen, Don Goodrich, Jeremy Matthies, J.R. Heffner, Ed Haenelt, Ed Strada,

Jr., Bob Gatenello, Scott Ferrier, Ken Baker, Jeremy Markle, Hank Goranson,

Jason Tompkins.

Did Not Qualify: Andy Bachetti, Joe Winne, Jr., Rich Hansen., Ken McGuire.

DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Tony Kawalchuk, Howard Jravis, Mike Van Pelt,

Ladd Yeomanns, Pete Gardner, Jeff Hulseapple, Rich Oxford, Jim Winchell,

Steve Williams, Harry Baldwin, Peter Booth, Kenny Moulton, Tom Byrne, Kevin

Duryea, Henry Sherman, Poover Daley, K.C. McCoy, Bill Deckelman, Larry Ricci,

Larry Badaracco.

Did Not Qualify: Lem Atkins, Ed Redner, Chuck Thomaschek, Duane Koskey.

Pro Stock Feature Finish: Elwood Hewitt, Ken Hartshorn, Tom Kuck, Chris

Adams, John Roese, Don Palmateer, Chrissy Rider, Mike Dutka, John Odendahl,

Scott Liese, Larry Temple, Jr., Rob Hoar, Henry Van Houten, Noel Osborne, Al

Christiana, Rudyu Lopez, Don Williams, George Christiana, Gene Temple, Buddy

Henckem Butch Winnie, Jim Potter, Steve Murray, Charlie Swartz.

Did Not Qualify: Josh Hencke, Dave Colwell, Bryan McElheny, Hank Morin, Chris

Bottge, Mike Manetta, John Rood, Jackie Brown, Sr.

Mini Sprint Feature Finish: John Parete, Rich Sennett, Steven Lapine, Bob

Lynt, Tony Montesi, Peter Sindt, Joe Sanfilippo, Rob Scaccio, Tom Richard,

John Wullum, John Matrafailo, Jesse Baum, Mark Rogers, Gary Reyer, Jeremy

Quick, Joe Pravia, Pat Kuerner, Ed Burgess, Dave Tonic.

Pure Stock Feature Finish: Joe Narok, Dave Gerard, Jay Smalley, Greg Meola,

Lee Gallant, Joe DiStefano, Chris Meola, George Decker, Mike Deyo, Sharon

Byrne, William Landrum, Morgan Bernas, Kevin Krusewski, Bob Gibson, Paul

Jordan, Scott Hornbeck, Doug Chase, Dan Bertholf, Bert Long, Bobby Brown, Joe

Judge, George Baxter, Mike DuBois, Larry Ball.