Accord, NY- "The Rocket" Robbie Green Sizzles Field For Second Accord Speedway Triumph
By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media
The East Coast flirted with temperatures in the 90's for the early portion of the week, but a picture perfect day in the Catskill Mountains on Friday brought out a great band of loyal racing fans to witness an eight feature race card presented by Ruge's GM Parts Center located in Red Hook, New York. Speedway Promoters Gary and Donna Palmer had the speedway grounds in pristine condition and great track work prep by Gary Palmer presented the drivers with a smooth surface to thrill the racing fans. Saunderskill Farms added to the joy of being in the Lucas Oil Products Victory Lane by presenting each of the feature event winners with a bag of freshly picked sweet corn. East Coast Speedway sponsored the Checkered Flag Bonus on Friday. The eight feature event race card was completed at 10:40 PM.
When all was said and done, the resurgent Robbie Green found himself back for another visit to the Lucas Oil Products Victory lane as he fired off the rockets early to lead all thirty laps on his way to his second win of the season in the United Pump & Tank Modifieds. Former track champion John Roese let his rivals know he is back to full speed as he utilized a wire to wire run to record his first win of the season in the Ruge's Performance Center Pro Stock main event. Bob Palmer was the man on a mission as he continued his winning ways with his third win of the season in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock headliner. A tremendous rally from Kevin Ward brought him his fifth win of the season in the Escape RV Sportsman shootout as he just nipped Randy Green at the finish line. Ed Dachenhausen had a fast hot rod underneath him as he raced to victory in the Healey Brother Group Spec Sportsman encounter. Ashley Rogosich scored her second win of the season in the the Want Ad Digest Slingshot main event and Ryan McCartney was up to the task at hand to score his second win of the season in the WRWD Radio Junior Slingshot finale. Patrick Murphy scored his first career win at Accord with a solid win in the heldover Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman feature run.
The Modified field came down for the start of the 30-lap main event with Robbie Green getting the edge from Joe Judge as the pair raced through turns one and two. Green found a burst of energy down the backstretch and seized command of the event. After that it was purely academic as Green raced out to a big advantage leaving those behind him in his wake. A couple of restarts brought the field back together but in each instance Green had the hot ticket for Friday evening and raced away to his second win of the season. Richie Eurich drove a great race to finish in the runner-up slot with Mike Ricci, Jeff Heotzler Jr and Brad Rothaupt completing the top five.
The Escape RV Sportsman event had Randy Green blasting into the lead from his outside pole start. Green wasted no time in vaulting out to a huge lead. Greg McCloskey chased Green early and by midpoint had erased most of the lead Green had built up. A couple of restarts kept bringing the field back together and each time Kevin Ward would move closer to challenging Green. A restart with three laps to go proved to be the catalyst for Ward as he went to work on Green from the baseline and pulled even on the white flag but Green edged ahead in turn three. Ward got a great run off of the bottom to pull even and just nip Randy Green at the flag stand to earn the win in one of the most exciting features ever for the division. Dave Werber was third with Jesse Marks fourth and "Jammin" Jimmy Wells completing the top five. Greg McCloskey headed up the second five with Joe Giachinta, Ken Ferrier, Ralph Ronk and Phil Goetchius rounding out the top ten.
The Healey Brother's Group Spec Sportsman feature attraction had Nick Johnson jumping out front at the start with Winter Mead and Allison Ricci taking up the chase. By the midway point of the event Ed Dachenhausen moved into the runner-up slot and wasted no time in seizing the lead from Johnson on lap eleven. Dachenhausen led the remaining laps to score his second win of the season with hard riding Dana Carey racing from 11th position to land in the runner-up role. Nick Johnson was third with Winter Mead and Robbie Knipe following. Allison Ricci would head the second five with Jimmy Johnson, Dan Speedling, Phil Johnson and Danny Cross rounding out the top ten.
The Ruge's Performance Center Pro Stock show found John Roese out-dragging pole sitter Ron Rion into turn one to grab the lead. Roese, who had missed a month of racing recovering from a non-racing incident, was back on point as he never looked back and drove on for his first win of the season in his Ford powered hot rod. Ron Rion, Al Christiana, the returning Kenny Hartshorn, Dave Demorest, newcomer Larry O'Dell and Bill Rion completed the field.
Pole sitter Bob Palmer wasted no time in seizing control of the Arkel Motors Pure Stock feature attraction as he won the battle for the lead in turn one from Ray Tarantino. Palmer easily walked away from the field at will and all attention focused on the great battle behind him for as many as seven drivers fought for the runner-up slot. Nip and tuck action found drivers trading places with each passing lap and the spots changed hands coming down for the checkered flag. Palmer was the winner with Ray Tarantino second and Bob Sleight, Chris Streeter and Steve Williams following. The second five remained close throughout as well with Olivia Johnson, Joel Murns, Gary Ronk, Paul Aragon Jr and John Cole completing the top ten.
Ryan McCartney blasted out front at the drop of the green flag and led all laps enroot to his second win of the season in the Junior Slingshots. Josh Marcus was second with Vinnie Visconti, Hunter Lapp and Samantha Muller following. Jake Mason, John Kendall, Peyton Speedling and Ashton DeWitt completed the field.
The All Star Slingshot main found Ashley Rogosich grabbing the lead early and fought off many challenges from Matt Shultz to race to her second win of the season. Shultz, Don Boonstra and newcomer Taylor Hurban completed the field.
In the holdover Spec Sportsman encounter, "The Fighting Irishman" Patrick Murphy used the top of the raceway to race into the lead on lap one and then held off all challengers to go on and earn his first career victory at the Accord facility. Ed Dachenhausen was second with Robbie Knipe, Allison Ricci and Dan Speedling completing the top five. Danny Cross headed up the second five with Winter Mead, Brandon McGill, Phil Johnson and Nick Plumstead rounding out the top ten.
In the Northeast Wingless Sprint exhibition, Bloomingburg's Don Smith raced to a close win over "The Banzai Kid" Aaron Bush, who was making his debut in the division. Bush is entering the sprint car competition after having a good year last season while campaigning a Slingshot at Accord, Oakland Valley and Hamlin.
GEMSTONES:
Kudos to Gary Palmer for working right up until race time to have the track in superb condition for the evening and congratulations to Race Director Dave Rocket and Staff for a high quality run program.
Heat races were run off quickly and Sportsman heat wins went to Dave Werber and Rich Ricci III. Ed Dachenhausen, Brandon McGill and Allison Ricci captured the Spec Sportsman heat events. Modified heats were claimed by Robbie Green and Tommy Johnson. Ryan McCartney in the All Stars and Josh Marcus in the Juniors were victorious in the Slingshots. Bob Sleight and Bob Palmer were triumphant in the Pure Stock heat encounters and John Roese captured the Pro Stock heat event.
New cars and new faces dotted the Accord landscape on Friday evening as Justin Gozzi returned to the Accord scene with his race car and enjoyed a solid first run in his maiden voyage. Jimmy Johnson made his return back to the speedway and was seventh in the Spec Sportsman feature event. Ken Boniface also returned to action in a sharp looking race car and it was great to see return to the speedway. Larry O'Dell was solid in first Accord appearance and Kenny Hartshorn returned to the speedway by strapping himself into the Wayne Taylor owned Dick Shaddock and Cooper Henion were new faces for the Pure Stock division and "The Duker" John Cole splashed some fresh paint on his trusty racer. Taylor Hurban has been missing in action since the early part of the season but it was great to see the Sarvis Tree Service Team back at the speedway. Jeff Heotzler Jr had a great paint scheme on his racer and enjoyed a great evening behind the wheel.
The evening of racing excitement was sponsored by Ruge's GM Parts Center located in Red Hook, New York and they supply GM, Chrysler, Subaru parts for passenger, light truck and SUV's throughout a five state area with more than 35,000 parts on inventory at all times. The phone number to reach them is: 845 876 1090 and their extensive website is: www.rugesparts.com East Coast Speed was the Checkered Flag Bonus sponsor for the evening. Saunderskill Farms provided the winning drivers with a bag of freshly picked sweet corn.
The always popular annual Camera & Autograph Night will take place next Friday, July 31st, on United Pump & Tank night at the speedway. After the heat racing is completed, the fans will be allowed onto the racetrack to visit with their favorite drivers with driver interviews being conducted trackside.
Racing is on tap every Friday night at Accord Speedway from April through September. Pit Gates open at 4:30; Spectator Gates open at 5:00; Hot Laps are at 6:30 and the racing begins at 7 PM. Admission for Adults $14.00; Seniors (65+) $12.00; Children $3.00 (11+ under) Indoor Seating $20.00; Family four pack special: 2 Adults + 2 Children and $20.00 in Accord Bucks for $44.00 (a savings of $10.00) Special shows do have an increase in admission.
July 31st brings United Pump & Tank Night to the speedway for seven divisions of great racing excitement and the always popular annual Camera and Autograph Night.
Racing fans are encouraged to begin making plans for the "King of the Catskills" spectacular coming to the speedway on September 18th and sponsored by Insinger Fuels. More details will follow shortly.
For further updates and information regarding all of the news and additions to the Accord Speedway, log on to their well documented website at: http://accordspeedway.com or call the speedway hotline at: 845 626 3478. For photo and video work of the latest Accord Speedway racing action, contact Northeast Racing Videos at: 518 535 0020 or through their website at: http://northeastracingvideos.com