Mike Ricci dominates Healey Brothers Night with third Modified victory

By FRANK CATIZONE 6/14/15

ACCORD – Mike Ricci was in a league of his own last Friday as he drove to a convincing victory in a wild United Pump & Tank Modified 30-lap feature at the Accord Speedway on Healey Brothers Night.

Ricci, who started eighth, took advantage of some early cautions as he quickly worked his way into third place behind leader Joe Judge and Brad Rothaupt by the third lap. He grabbed second place just before Jackie Brown Jr. slowed to force a caution with seven laps in the books.

Ricci, who notched his third win this season, then outpowered Judge on the restart to grab first place and never trailed the rest of the way.

However, while Ricci was enjoying a commanding drive, the action behind him was intense as three drivers ended up being disqualified for fighting and not obeying track officials.

Corey Lowitt and Brown were disqualified after both drivers exited their cars and began fighting on the second turn following a caution with 12 laps completed. Lowitt blasted his car into Brown’s to incite the altercation after the two drivers were involved in a fourth-turn accident with Richie Eurich and Mark Pullen.

Danny Tyler was also disqualified for failing to adhere to track officials’ commands during the event. Tyler was asked several times to go to the rear for aggressive driving or take his car to the pits. He decided to park his car, but then came back on the track a lap later under caution.

Jerry Higbie, who is still seeking his first win this season, moved into second place after all of the commotion, but was unable to chase down Ricci. Rich Ricci Jr. followed in third place with Jeff Heotzler and Robbie Green rounding out the top five.

Kevin Ward, who has run into some tough times in recent weeks, started on the pole and led the entire distance as he grabbed his third win this season in the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap main event.

Ward was able to hold off Jesse Marks throughout the race as Jimmy Wells, Dave Werber and Rich Ricci III cioncluded the top five spots at the finish line.

Dan Speedling grabbed his first career win in the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman 20-lap feature as he finished ahead of Robbie Knipe, Phil Johnson, Brandon McGill and Nick Johnson.

Speedling, who started fourth, avoided several early cautions and grabbed first place away from Phil Johnson following a fifth-lap restart. He then held off late pressure provided by Knipe to earn his initial Accord triumph.

Emerson Cargain Jr. and David Demorest switched roles in a pair of Ruge’s Performance Center Pro Stock 15-lap features.

Cargain finished second to Demorest in a held-over feature from June 5 and then scored his first triumph of the season as he led from start-to-finish. Demorest earned his third victory of 2015 in the held over race.

Bob Palmer was awarded his second triumph this season in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock 15-lap feature when Bob Sleight Jr. was disqualified during the post-race inspection for using an illegal carburetor. Gary Ronk, Chris Streeter, Nick Johnson and Paul Aragon followed Palmer across the line.

Tommy Zwart picked up his first win this season in the Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshot 15-lap feature with Wyatt Clark and Matthew Shultz following.

Josh Marcus earned his fourth win of the campaign in the WRWD Junior Slingshot 15-lap main event with Vinnie Visconti and Hunter Lapp capping the top three finishers.

Johnsons grab center stage with first wins on Halmar Night

By FRANK CATIZONE 5/29/15

ACCORD, NY – Another prominent racing family stole the headlines at the Accord Speedway last Friday as Modified rookie driver Tommy Johnson and his younger brother Nick each claimed their first career victories on Halmar Night.

Tommy Johnson, who was making only his eighth career start, held off several challenges by Danny Tyler to earn his initial victory in the United Pump & Tank Modified 30-lap main event. Nick Johnson, meanwhile, staged a fierce battle with Brandon McGill before earning his first triumph in the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman 20-lap feature race.

Tommy Johnson, after starting on the pole, led the entire distance as he drove a high line around the quarter-mile bullring to keep Tyler and the rest of his competition behind. The 22-year-old rookie navigated his way through lapped traffic like a seasoned veteran as Tyler closed in looking for a passing lane.

“I saw the nose of his car a few times,’’ said Tommy Johnson, referring to Tyler. “But i was getting some good momentum coming off the turns on the outside and was able to stay just ahead each time he tried to pass me on the bottom.

“My car really handled well throughout the race and the lapped traffic really wasn’t much of a problem. I knew there was some real good cars right there behind me because there’s some strong competition here. I just concentrated on keeping my car straight and getting this win is just unbelievable.’’

Tommy Johnson got the quick jump on Richie Eurich to grab the early lead before Lem Atkins’ fourth-turn incident forced the only caution of the event with two laps completed. Jeff Heotzler Sr., Tyler, Eurich and Jackie Brown Jr. were racing in the top five at that point.

Tyler was able to get around Heotzler for second place shortly after the caution, but could only sit back and watch Tommy Johnson grab his first career win. Tyler, who won a week ago, was followed across the finish line by Heotzler, Jerry Higbie, Robbie Green, Mike Ricci, Jeff Heotzler Jr., Brown, Eurich and Corey Lowitt.

Nick Johnson, who started on the pole, powered past McGill on the 18th lap and then went on to score his victory in Spec Sportsman action. The 16-year-old driver credits some advice from his older brother helped him to victory lane.

“My brother gave me some driving tips and helped shake down the car for me,’’ said Nick Johnson. “I was having some handling problems and was breaking too hard. He showed me some things to try and it really worked out.’’

Nick Johnson, a former Pure Stock champion here while only in eighth grade, chased down McGill for several laps before finally finding an opening just two laps from the finish. He went on to take the checkered flag ahead of Winter Mead, Danny Cross, Robbie Knipe and Ed Dachenhausen.

McGill was disqualified after the event for unsportsmanlike conduct when he rammed into Mead’s car several times.

Dave Werber picked up his second win this season in the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap feature as he finished ahead of Joe Bonetti, Ken Ferrier, Jesse Marks and Greg McCloskey.

Werber, after battling with Bonetti for several laps, grabbed first place while racing off the second turn on the 15th lap and never looked back.

Ron Rion grabbed his first win this season in the Ruge’s Performance Center Pro Stock 15-lap main event with David Demorest and Jim Sykes following him across the finish line.

Ray Tarantino finally returned to his winning ways in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock 15-lap race with Gary Ronk, Bob Sleight Jr., Paul Aragon Jr. and Steve Williams following.

Wyatt Clark picked up his second straight win in the Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshot 15-lap feature when he nosed out Ashley Rogosich at the finish line. Rogosich had led from the start before Clark surged ahead.

Josh Marcus bounced back for this third win this season in the WRWD Junior Slingshot 15-lap race with Ryan McCartney and Vinnie Visconti following.