Rich Ricci, Jr. and Rick Mill Split Accord 358 Modified Mains

By: Brett Deyo

ACCORD, NY- Rich Ricci, Jr. and Rick Mill split the two DIRT 358 Modified

features this past Friday night at Accord Speedway. Ricci, of New Paltz, NY,

took a close victory over his brother in the 25-lap heldover main, while

Mill, of New Windsor, NY pulled off a dramatic late race pass to secure the

second 25-lap feature.

In the heldover race, Jeremy Matthies led the field to the green flag,

and quickly moved into the top spot over Chris Moore. Moore’s strong run

came to an end on lap 4, when a flat right front tire caused him to slow, and

the first yellow flag of the race flew. The restarting order saw Matthies

still on the point over Rich Ricci, Jr.

Ricci wasted little time and grabbed the lead on the outside groove,

while Mike Ricci took over the runner up spot two laps later. Another

caution for Moore, this time with Jeremy Markle on lap 8, set the Ricci

brothers up side by side for the restart. Rich Ricci edged back into the

lead with his brother tight on his rear bumper.

The lead duo raced through lapped traffic for the second half of the

event, preventing Mike Ricci from making a move. On the final lap, Mike made

a run to the high side in turn three, then pulled a slingshot move to the

inside. At the line, however, it was Rich Ricci, Jr. holding him off by a

half car length for his first win of the 2001 season, driving the trusty 1987

Olsen that has visited victory lane numerous times at the quarter mile oval.

Mike Ricci settled for a close second place run in his No. 76, ahead of

Robbie Green, who turned in a strong run with the Gross Graphics No. 69.

Donnie Wilson of Ramsey, NJ came home fourth after starting twelfth and Rick

Mill rounded out the top five.

In the regular feature, Joe Winne, Jr., racing in memory of his father,

moved into the lead on the start from his second place starting position.

Numerous caution flags slowed the pace early on, but through all the

restarts, Winne, a winner last in 1996, remained comfortably at the front of

the field in his No. 55 Teo Pro Car.

Rick Mill moved into second on lap 6 and began to challenge the

determined Winne, who held a consistent line at the front of the field. The

final caution of the race flew on lap 13, and it was Winne still leading over

Mill. When the race resumed, Winne actually began to pullaway from the rest

of the field in by far his best performance of the season.

However, as starter Rich Roosa gave the five laps to go signal, the

leaders reached lapped traffic, allowing Mill to again close in on Winne.

After negotiating several of the slower cars flawlessly, Winne got caught

behind Burt Irwin, Jr. with only two laps remaining, allowing the veteran

Mill to power around the outside into the lead.

Mill held on for the remainder of the event to pick up his first win of

the year in the CV Auto Machine No. 77. “I saw he got caught behind the

lapped car,” said Mill. “I just went for the outside and I got by him.”

Winne, of Kingston, NY, had to settle for a disappointing second over

Robbie Green, Rich Ricci, Jr., and Chris Moore.

In DIRT Sportsman action, Mike Van Pelt drove his Gateway Motorsports No.

112 to an impressive victory in the 30-lap Syracuse Qualifier. After

starting from second position, the personable Van Pelt, of Pine Bush, NY took

over the lead early on, the just pulled away for a popular win, his first of

the 2001 season.

Bill Papula led the first three laps before Van Pelt made a run on the

high side to take command. Numerous caution flags slowed the event, but no

one was able to touch Van Pelt, who opened up a full straightaway lead on the

field and, in turn, earned a spot in the July 3 Firecracker Spectacular at

the New York State Fairgrounds.

Jimmy Winchell, returning after a two week absence, finished a strong

second with his No. 17. Jimmy Johnson was third, ahead of Orange County Fair

Speedway regular Bill Haley, who piloted his Burger King No. 99H from tenth

starting position to fourth. Alan Houghtaling completed the front five.

George Catanzano of Hudson, NY won the 15-lap IMCA Modified feature.

Catanzano, after starting sixth, took over the lead on the seventh circuit,

the cruised in front for his first ever Accord Speedway victory. Lou Gancarz

was second, ahead of Bob Banks, Jimmy Fugel and newcomer Walter Cook.

The impressive young rookie Michael Dutka of Gardiner, NY won an ultra

competitive 20-lap Street Stock feature. Dutka, a former WKA Go Kart

champion, started seventh and made a steady move to the front of the field,

grabbing the lead on the tenth lap, then holding off the charges of Tommy

Byrne for his second win of the year. Don Williams was third, ahead of Larry

Temple, Jr. and TJ Pasko.

Dave Gerard of Gardiner, NY won both the regular and heldover 15-lap

Strictly Stock features. In the heldover main, Gerard grabbed the lead on

lap 4, then bested Ron Irvin, George Decker, Scott Hornbeck and Joseph Narok.

In the regular main, it was Gerard holding off the strong charges of Ray

Tarantino, Jr. at the line. Irvin was third, ahead of Charlie Rose, Jr. and

Donald Chase.

Pete Sindt won the 12-lap feature for the 1200cc Mini Sprints. Rob

Scaccio was second, followed by Chet Hinkle, Duby Woodruff and Rich Parate.

The racing continues at the number one action track, Accord Speedway,

Friday, June 22nd with a regular show of DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman,

Street Stocks, Strictly Stocks, sanctioned IMCA Modifieds and 1200cc Mini

Sprints. The DIRT Sportsman division and the Strictly Stocks will also have

heldover features. Warm ups begin at 6:15 p.m. with green flag racing

promptly at 7 p.m. For more info, contact the track at (845) 626-DIRT or

check the track’s website: www.accordspeedway.com.

358 Modified Feature Finish: Rick Mill, Joe Winne, Jr., Robbie Green, Rich

Ricci, Jr., Chris Moore, Barry Davis, Doug Tyler, Jr., Donnie Wilson, Mike

Ricci, Jeremy Matthies, Brian Cobb, Mike Murphy, Jeremy Markle, Don Goodrich

III, Burt Irwin, Jr., Don Goodrich, Mark Pullen, Hank Goranson,

Henry Sherman, Ronnie Johnson, Jimmy Halpin.

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

Green, Donnie Wilson, Rick Mill, Joe Winne, Jr., Jeremy Matthies, Chris

Moore, Barry Davis, Brian Cobb, Jeremy Markle, Mark Pullen, Henry Sherman,

Don Goodrich.

DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Mike Van Pelt, Jim Winchell, Jimmy Johnson,

Bill Haley, Alan Houghtaling, Jay Haviland, Bill Papula, Duane Koskey, Harry

Baldwin, Rich Oxford, Pete Booth, KC McCoy, Neil Van Buren, Randy Banks, Jr.,

Tom Athanas, Scott Ferrier, Bill Deckelman, Chuck Thomaschek, Chris Adams,

Mike Trautschold.

Street Stock Feature Finish: Mike Dutka, Tom Byrne, Don Williams, Larry

Temple, Jr., TJ Pasko, George Christiana, Hank Morin, Steve Williams, Bob

Hasbrouck, Butch Winnie, Chrissy Rider, Ray See, Jr., Bryan McElheny, John

Rood, Bob Hoar, Ron Jablonka, Scott Liese. DNS: Gene Temple.

IMCA Modified Feature Finish: George Catanzano, Lou Gancarz, Bob Banks, Jim

Fugel, Walter Cook, Travis Stevens, Mike Brown, Bud Hernberg.

Strictly Stock Feature Finish: Dave Gerard, Ray Tarantino, Ron Irvin, Charlie

Rose, Jr., Donald Chase, Jay Smalley, George Decker, Phillip Decker, Jr.,

Lars Petri, Don Coon, Sharon Byrne, Joseph Narok, Scott Hornbeck, Dave

Pomerantz, Larry Pregent, Jr., Kevin Schlossareck, Bobby Brown. DNS: Trevor

Waterman.

Heldover Strictly Stock Feature Finish: Dave Gerard, Ron Irvin, George

Decker, Scott Hornbeck, Joseph Narok, Jay Smalley, Ray Tarantino, Bobby

Brown, Don Chase, Larry Pregent, Sharon Byrne, Trevor Waterman, Charlie Rose,

Jr., Dave Pomerantz, Kevin Schlossareck, Lars Petri.