Accord, NY- Heotzler Remains Hot In Convincing Drive To Third Win In Exciting Accord Speedway Modified Action
By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media
On a beautiful warm summer day in August, the Accord Speedway swung back into action on Friday evening. With temperatures in the low 80's and a warm gentle breeze blowing across the speedway grounds, Promoters Gary and Donna Palmer reeled off an outstanding racing card for the good crowd on hand that witnessed the excellent racing action. The evening of speed was sponsored by the good folks at Kingston Nissan and their representatives were on hand to take part in the victory ceremonies at the Lucas Oil Products victory lane. For information regarding Kingston Nissan, go to their extensive website at: www.kingstonnissan.net. The evening of events was completed by 10:30 PM.
The final outcome of the great evening of racing action found "The Jeffer" Jeff Heotzler Sr continuing his excellent work as he steered his Academy Transmission sponsored hot rod to his third Accord Speedway win of the season and the 53rd win in his Accord career. Nick Plumstead raced to his second win of the season in the Healey Brothers Group Spec Sportsman headliner. "Double D" Dave Demorest was spot on as he recorded his sixth win of the season in the Ruge's Performance Center Pro Stock feature event. Veteran campaigner Bob Sleight continued with his great season at Accord by claiming his fourth win of the season with a late charge to victory in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock ranks. After many weeks of trying, Phil Goetchius scored his first career win in the Escape RV Sportsman main event as he dominated the action in a wire to wire run. Ashley Rogosich captured her third win of the season in the Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshot finale. Samantha Muller earned her first career win at the speedway when she inherited the victory after apparent winner Josh Marcus was found with a post race infraction causing his disqualification from the event.
An all Heotzler front row kicked off the United Pump and Tank Modified field for the start of the 30-lap main event. Heotzler Sr found the top of the speedway to be the fast way forward and grabbed the lead out of turn two. Heotzler Jr remained close through the first third of the event but was under siege from a quadrant of racers moving their way forward. "Iron" Mike Ricci was the first to break through as he climbed into the runner-up slot by the midway point of the race but by that time Heotzler Sr had checked out into his own time zone. Jeff Heotzler Sr secured the win with Ricci in for the runner-up role. Jackie Brown hustled hard for third place money and Jeff Heotzler Jr ended up fourth and Rich Ricci Jr completed the top five. The second five were Robbie Green, Corey Lowitt, Brad Rothaupt, Scott Ferrier and Ken Ferrier, who was making his Modified debut.
The Escape RV Sportsman event proved to be a great race as Phil Goetchius found the fast line at the top of the raceway and powered into the lead. Goetchius opened up a big lead on the field but "Jammin" Jimmy Wells had other ideas about the outcome of the event. Wells worked the bottom of the raceway and and would get close, showing the bugle of his hot rod to Goetchius on numerous occasions as the laps clicked off. Goetchius would not be denied on this night as after many weeks of trying he finally nabbed his first career win at Accord Speedway. Wells would be second with Kevin Ward, Dave Werber and Rich Ricci III completing the top five. Following the top five were Jesse Marks, Ralph Ronk, the returning Jeff Hulseapple, Frank Smith and Travis Green.
The Healey Brother's Group Spec Sportsman feature attraction found Nick Plumstead with the hot hand as he powered into the lead at the drop of the green flag and would open up some distance on the field. Robbie Knipe took over the runner-up slot by the midway point in the event and would cut into the lead but Plumstead was in the zone and went to record his second win of the season. Knipe would finish second with Dan Speedling, Winter Mead and Dana Carey rounding out the top five. Kyle Rohner, Allison Ricci, Nick Johnson, Brandon McGill and Patrick Murphy would complete the top ten.
The Ruge's Performance Center Pro Stock feature would prove to be a Dave Demorest night as he drove off with the lead at the drop of the green flag and would lead all of the way enroot to recording his sixth win of the season at Accord. Al Christiana was second with the Ford powered racer of John Roese in third and Ron Rion Fourth.
Gary Ronk was the early leader in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock main event and led through the first seven laps of the 15-lap encounter. Bob Sleight took up the chase and was working the baseline of the speedway to perfection as he closed the gap between he and Ronk. A slight slip by Ronk allowed Sleight to pull even and power by to secure the point. Sleight would lead the remaining laps to garner his fourth win of the season with Gary Ronk a close second. Chris Streeter, Paul Aragon and Tanner Johnson would complete the top five. The second five were Harry Bachman, newcomer Tim Southard, Olivia Johnson, Steve Williams and Cooper Henion rounded out the top ten.
Ashley Rogosich started from the pole position but lost the lead to defending track champion Wyatt Clark at the start of the event. Rogosich came storming back and regained the lead and was never headed as she drove to her third win of the season. Wyatt Clark, Vinnie Visconti, Matt Shultz, Vermont's Marty Kelly, and newcomer Martin Lizotte rounded out the field.
Josh Marcus was gunning for his eighth win of the season at Accord and at the start of the event drove away from the field to an apparent win. Post race inspection found an infraction of the rules relegating Marcus to the back of the line for the finish. With that, Samantha Muller gained the win, her first ever at Accord, with Ryan McCartney second, John Kendall third, newcomer Alex Lizotte fourth, Peyton Speedling fifth, Ryan Auchmoody sixth and Ashton DeWitt seventh.
GEMSTONES:
The good friends from Kingston Nissan were the headline sponsor for the evening and proudly displayed one of their company cube trucks on the pace laps around the speedway. The visiting group from Kingston Nissan was very impressed with the pristine Accord facility and are offering up a raffle of great prizes that will have the winners drawn on King of the Catskills Night on September 18th.
Heat races were run off quickly and Sportsman heat wins went to Rich Ricci III and Phil Goetchius. Dan Speedling and Allison Ricci captured the Spec Sportsman heat events. Modified heats were claimed by Jeff Heotzler Sr and Jeff Heotzler Jr. The Pro Stock heat was claimed by Al Christiana. The Pure Stock heats were claimed by Gary Ronk and Ray Tarantino. Ryan McCartney captured the Junior Slingshot heat and Wyatt Clark captured the lone heat for the All Star Slingshots.
Wright's Farm Market was back at the Speedway on Friday offering up those great pies to the winning drivers.
Alex and Martin Lizotte were new entries for the Slingshot divisions and Tim Southard enjoyed a strong run in a new racer he brought to the speedway. Joe Judge picked up a ride in one of the United Pump and Tank Modifieds. "The Iceman" Dom Roselli and "The Ice Cube" Dom Roselli Jr made their first appearances of the season. Ken Ferrier did a great job in his first outing in a Modified. Aaron Bush was on hand with his Northeast Wingless Sprint Car in an exhibition run.
Marty Kelly, a racer out of Vermont, was on hand last night at speedway racing his Domino's Pizza wagon to a fifth place finish. When the racing was completed he joined announcer Steve Pados in the booth for an interview and then helped call a couple of the feature events. Marty is the announcer for the Kart Racing action at the small Lebanon Valley Speedway. He did a great job in his debut in the Accord booth.
A big thanks goes out to Sound Man Wes Davis for heeding the call to get the audio working at the speedway. Wes made quick work of the problem and kudos to him for a job well done.