Perrego cruises to first Modified victory on Halmar International Night 6/27/2014
By FRANK CATIZONE
ACCORD, NY – Anthony Perrego took advantage of his starting position to cruise to his first victory of the season last Friday evening in the United Pump & Tank Modified 30-lap feature during Halmar International Night at the Accord Speedway.
Perrego, who has been plagued with a rash of bad luck at the track in 2014, started on the outside pole and led the entire distance to grab his second career win at Accord. The young driver upset a talented field to grab his initial triumph here in last November’s “The Gobbler.’’
Perrego, who also claimed a decisive win in the third Modified heat race, got the jump on Darrell Ford for an early lead before a multi-car crash in the second turn slowed action with two laps completed. Reigning track champion Jackie Brown Jr. was forced to the pits with a flat tire because of the incident and had to fall in at the rear of the 22-car field.
Perrego regained control when racing resumed and began stretching out his lead until Brown spun in the fourth turn with 17 laps completed. Rich Ricci Jr., meanwhile, moved ahead of Ford for second place on the restart.
But Perrego was just too strong following each restart during the remainder of the race and Ricci was forced to settle for another second-place effort. Jerry Higbie was able to come across the finish line with a third-place effort, while Ford, Danny Tyler, Jeff Heotzler Sr., Mike Ricci, Andy Bachetti, Tom Hindley and Danny Creeden rounded out the top 10.
Bachetti remained in first place in the standings with 292 points, but there’s a lot of close company behind him. Rich Ricci Jr. (284) vaulted into second place with his older brother Mike Ricci in third with 272.
Dave Coene picked up his first win this season as he captured the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap feature ahead of Davey Werber, Tommy Johnson, Randy Green and Joe Giachinta.
Coene, after starting third, chased down Johnson for several laps before grabbing the lead at the starter’s stand to complete the 21st lap. Werber was also able to pass Johnson a lap later, but was unable to track down Coene to the finish.
Robbie Knipe grabbed the first win of Accord career as he captured the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman 20-lap feature ahead of Ed Dachenhausen, Ryan Stortini, Ken Boniface Jr. and Joey Bruning.
Knipe, who led the whole race after starting on the pole, had to hold off the late-race charge provided by Dachenhasuen to earn the victory. Dachenhausen paces the Spec Sportsman standings with 330 points.
Jim Sykes was another first-time winner this season as he took the Ruge’s Performance Center Pro Stock 20-lap feature ahead of Ralph Ronk, Norbert Bracklow, John Roese and Ron Rion.
Sykes started on the pole and led the whole race as he took the checkered flag 1.346 seconds ahead of Ronk.
Nick Johnson, who has endured some recent bad luck, rebounded to capture the Arkel Motors Pure Stock 15-lap main event ahead of Ray Tarantino, Jim Maher, Bruce Gordon and Gary Ronk.
Current points leader Dan Speedling, who caused the race’s only caution with a fourth-turn spin out with five laps completed, raced all the way back to an eighth-place finish in the 18-car field race. Speedling leads Tarantino by 18 points in the standings.
Jared LaBagh made the most of his 2014 Accord debut was he won the Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshot 20-lap feature ahead of Bobby DeLeon, Chris VanDuser, Tommy Zwart and Joseph Krom.
Bobby Flood picked up his initial win in the WRWD Junior Slingshot 15-lap race as he finished ahead of Hunter Lapp, Tighe Sherlock, Michelle Campbell and Josh Marcus.