Wild Accord Finish Hands Mike Ricci 358 Mod Victory

By: Brett Deyo

ACCORD, NY- Not even Mike Ricci imagined that he would end up in victory

lane Friday night at Accord Speedway. After running a patient race from his

mid pack starting position, Ricci inherited the lead with only two circuits

remaining in the 25-lap 358 Modified feature, then cruised to his sixth win

of the season at the quarter mile oval.

Second generation driver Joe Winne, Jr. led the field to the green flag

and jumped out to a commanding lead by the completion of the first lap, while

the rest of the pack diced wildly for position behind him. Winne, driving a

Teo Pro car campaigned by his late father, Joe Sr. last year, had opened up

nearly a straightaway advantage when the first yellow flag of the race flew

for a Robbie Green, Rick Mill and Jackie Brown, Jr. tangle on the sixth lap.

Winne again got out to the front spot, while Chris Moore made his way

from seventh into second on the eighth lap with the Downes Racing No. 40.

For much of the mid portion of the race, Winne maintained a comfortable

advantage on Moore in chase of his first victory since July 1996 and only the

second of his career.

A series of late caution flags, however, played a deciding factor in the

outcome of the event. With 22 laps complete, Jeremy Matthies and newcomer

Charles Humes got together in turn two, setting up a three lap dash to the

finish.

In the first turn, Winne pushed up out of the groove just a bit, opening

up the inside line for Moore, who made a bold move for the lead. Exiting turn

two, the cars made contact and Winne spun his No. 55. Moore was then sent to

the rear for his involvement in the incident, handing Mike Ricci, who was

third, the lead for the restart.

Ricci then fought off the challenges of a hard charging Rick Mill over

the final laps to take his fourteenth overall victory of the season in the

Ricci’s Barber Shop No. 76. “I didn’t expect to get this one,” commented the

Rosendale, NY veteran. “We were a little tight and I was picking them off

one at a time on the bottom. I was content to finish third.”

The happy victor continued, “It’s a shame for both those guys, but that’s

the way it goes in racing sometimes. I’ve lost some like that and tonight I

won one that way.”

Rick Mill, after the early race incident, was able to come from the rear

to second in the CV Machine No. 77, protecting his point lead. Doug Tyler,

Jr. was a strong third ahead of Barry Davis, who finally was able to overcome

his season long bad luck. Robbie Green was fifth despite racing with a large

amount of suspension damage.

In a thrilling 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature Mike Van Pelt pulled of a

daring late race pass to pick up his fifth win of the year in the Gateway

Motorsports No. 112. Van Pelt, having by far the best year of his career,

came from tenth starting position before making the move to the lead with

only two laps remaining for a hard earned victory.

Jeff Carr led the first nine laps of the caution filled affair before

Scott Ferrier, a winner already this season, took command in the WWF No. 20,

with Van Pelt in tow. Van Pelt made several attempts for the lead on the

inside, with Ferrier closing the door on each challenge.

With only two laps remaining, Van Pelt made charged into turn three on

the outside of Ferrier and squeezed past, nearly tagging the wall. Somehow

he kept his momentum off and completed the pass, then held on for the win.

“I couldn’t quite get by Scott on the bottom,” he commented afterwards. “I

knew if I was going to get by, I had to do it on the outside so that’s what I

did. Luckily, I pulled it off.”

Ferrier was forced to settle for second, ahead of Pete Booth, who had by

far his best run of the season in third. Jay Haviland was fourth and

sixteenth starter Jeff Hulseapple charged to fifth in an impressive

performance.

Tommy Kuck made an infrequent visit to the speedway and returned to

victory lane in the 20-lap Street Stock feature. A former Mr. DIRT Pro Stock

champion, Kuck charged from deep in the field to take the lead with only two

laps remaining in the event for his second Accord win of the year. Larry

Temple, Jr. was second ahead of Butch Winnie, point leader George

Christiana and rookie Mike Dutka.

In the 15-lap heldover IMCA Modified feature from July 4th, Olive Bridge,

NY driver Jim Fugel drove his homebuilt No. 2 into victory lane for the

fourth time this season. George Catanzano was second, with Lou Gancarz, Mike

Brown and rookie Travis Stevens filling out the front five.

George Catanzano topped the regularly scheduled IMCA 15-lapper over Jim

Fugel, Mike Brown, Travis Stevens and Keith Ackerknect.

Dave Gerard again visited victory lane in the Strictly Stock feature,

this time besting Ron Irvin, George Decker, Jay Smalley and Mike Deyo in what

was a competitive 15-lap main.

Jeff Richardson of Goshen, NY dominated the 15-lap Vintage Modified

feature in his No. 50 Pinto ahead of Edgar Hedges, Tom Athanas Mike Cole and

Tim Toombs.

Racing continues at the number one action track this Friday night with a

regular show of DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Street Stocks, Strictly

Stocks, 1200cc Mini Sprints and sanctioned IMCA Modifieds. The heldover DIRT

Sportsman feature from July 4th will also be on the card. Racing gets

underway at 7:15 p.m. For more info, contact the track office at (845)

626-DIRT or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.

DIRT 358 Modified Feature Finish: Mike Ricci, Rick Mill, Doug Tyler, Jr.,

Barry Davis, Rob Green, Mark Pullen, Hank Goranson, Jackie Brown, Jr., Jimmy

Halpin, Mike Murphy, Jeremy Matthies, Jeremy Markle, Don Goodrich, Brian

Cobb, Charles Humes, Joe Winne, Jr., Chris Moore, Burt Irwin, Jr., BK Rizzo.

DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Mike Van Pelt, Scott Ferrier, Pete Booth, Jay

Haviland, Jeff Hulseapple, Mike Trautschold, Jimmy Johnson, George MacDonald,

Chuck Thomaschek, Alan Houghtaling, Harry Baldwin, Rich Oxford, Ken Baker,

Neil Van Buren, Jeff Carr, KC McCoy, Randy Banks, Jr., Tom DeMarmels, Howard

Jarvis, Bill Papula, Jimmy Winchell.

Street Stock Feature Finish: Tommy Kuck, Larry Temple, Jr., Butch Winnie,

George Christiana, Mike Dutka, Chrissy Rider, Scott Liese, Hank Morin, Gene

Palmer, TJ Pasko, Don Williams, Al Christiana, Gene Temple, Bob Hoar, Don

Palmateer, John Rood, Mike Tiani, Bryan McElheny.

Strictly Stock Feature Finish: Dave Gerard, Ron Irvin, George Decker, Jay

Smalley, Mike Deyo, Bobby Brown, Scott Hornbeck, Joe Narok, Larry Pregent,

Lars Petri, Charlie Houghtaling, Morgan Bernas, Ray Tarantino, Jr.

IMCA Modified Feature Finish: George Catanzano, Jim Fugel, Mike Brown, Travis

Stevens, Keith Ackerknecht, Tom Vasta, Joey Williams, Bob Banks, Jeff Warren,

Bud Hernberg, Lou Gancarz.

IMCA Heldover Feature Finish: Jim Fugel, George Catanzano, Lou Gancarz, Mike

Brown, Bob Banks, Travis Stevens, Jeff Warren, Bud Hernberg.