Friday, April 24th Recap

By FRANK CATIZONE 4/27/15

ACCORD, NY - Jimmy Wells took center stage at the Accord Speedway last Friday evening as he battled both the cold and Davey Werber to score his first victory this season in the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap feature on Dig Safely New York Night.

That all came after Wells watched his uncle, Mike Ricci, get behind the wheel of his Modified racer and drive to a convincing triumph in the 30-lap main event. Wells is the owner of both open-wheel cars and was ecstatic following the night’s activities.

“This has been a great night,’’ said Wells. “This is the first time Mike and I won on the same night and I can’t be happier.’’

Wells, after starting on the pole, surrendered first place to Randy Green at the start in a race that was marred by several cautions. Green was able to maintain his lead following each restart until Wells got an edge while racing off the fourth turn with 16 laps completed.

“My tires were just spinning early in the race and I wasn’t getting any kind of a bite,’’ said Wells. “But the car was getting better as the race went on and Randy was driving on the inside. I decided to go up top and the car really stuck on the outside.’’

But Wells didn’t have any easy time of it after grabbing the lead. Werber also moved ahead of Green for second place and then set his sights on Wells. Werber was able to close right in on Wells, who took the checkered flag just .220 seconds ahead of him.

“I wish my dad could have been here tonight,’’ said Wells, whose father (Jim) passed away after a heart attack in 2010. “I think about him all the time. He helped me get this car, but really never got a chance to see me race because he died two months later.’’

Reigning track champion Kevin Ward finished in third place with Phil Goetschius Jr. and Jeff Hulseapple rounding out the top five.

Ricci, after a bout with bad fuel on opening night, started on the pole and ran caution-free to the checkered flags to earn his first win of the 2015 racing season in the United Pump & Tank Modified feature.

“This was a big night for everyone involved with this racing team,’’ said Ricci. “We all work on the cars at my garage in Rosendale and I just can’t be happier for Jimmy.

“The car was really fast tonight and I think we would have had a good finish in the opener. But the car had some bad fuel in it. I had to park it.’’

While Ricci was enjoying a comfortable lead, there was an intense battle behind him among the top five competitors. Jerry Higbie, after starting fourth, was able to advance to second place with Corey Lowitt, Jeff Heotzler Sr. and Jackie Brown Jr. racing close behind.

Reigning track champion Rich Ricci Jr., who took the season opener, pulled off the track after just 10 laps and settled for a 14th place finish.

Robbie Knipe grabbed his first win this season in the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman 20-lap feature as he finished ahead of Kenny Hinsch, Nick Plumstead, Kyle VanDuser and Jimmy Johnson.

Knipe and Brandon McGill were embroiled in a fierce battle during the early stages of the race as they swapped the lead back and forth. But while approaching lapped traffic, McGill was taken out by Mike Soules and Knipe inherited first place.

David Demorest grabbed first place at the drop of the green and never looked back as he finished ahead of John Roese in the Ruge’s Performance Center Pro Stock 15-lap main event. It was Demorest’s first win of 2015.

Gary Ronk took advantage of lapped traffic to score his first win this season in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock 15-lap feature.

Ronk, after battling Ray Tarantino for most of the race, took advantage of slower traffic on the 13th lap when Tarantino got caught behind Harry Bachman on the homestretch. Ronk sailed into the lead and then held off John Woinoski to the finish.

Tarantino, who led from the first lap, settled for a third place effort with Chris Streeder and Bob Palmer following.

Joe Krum won for the first time this season in the Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshot 15-lap feature with Wyatt Clark, Tyler Pirone, Bobby Flood and Tommy Zwart following.

Josh Marcus picked up his second straight triumph in the WRWD Junior Slingshot 15-lap feature with Ryan McCartney and Samantha Muller completing the top three.