Accord, NY- Rich Ricci Dominates Field To Score Sixth Win Of The Season At Accord Speedway
By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media
Another warm summer day in the Catskill Mountains that found the temperature soaring to ninety degrees and the sights and sounds of good racing action brought out a great crowd to the Accord Speedway as the Palmer Family offered up seven divisions of racing at their Ulster County speedplant on Friday evening. The racing action on the speedway was phenomenal as once again the on track performances allowed the cream to rise to the top and allow the victors the spoils of victory in the Lucas Oil Products Victory Lane. The evening of speed was sponsored by the good folks at Mid Hudson Concrete/Redi Rock International located in Cold Spring, New York. The racing show was presented without a hitch and completed at 10:15 PM.
"The Chairman of the Board" Rich Ricci drove his Apple Greens Golf sponsored hot rod to his sixth win of the season as he completely dominated the action on his way to the win in the United Pump and Tank Modified headliner. "Jammin" Jimmy Wells left nothing to chance as he led all of the way to capture his third win of the year in the Escape RV Sportsman headliner. Allison Ricci led all of the way to score her third win of the season in a tightly heated event over "The Bushkill Bullet" Kyle Rohner and Brandon McGill. The Ruge's Performance Center Pro Stock feature found "Double D" Dave Demorest capturing his seventh win of the season. Gary Ronk raced to his fifth win of the season after he slipped pat race-long leader Steve Williams with two laps to go in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock Division feature. In the highly entertaining Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshot feature, "The Junior Rock" Matt Shultz continued with hot hand to capture his sixth win of the season at Accord. The WRWD Junior Slingshot feature found Josh Marcus racing to his eighth win of the season. With the season funneling down quickly in the 2015 racing season, all of the point's battles are still very much alive and will reach a fever pitch in the next couple of weeks. The final weeks of the season are the final building blocks to the title as all of the drivers will have to be at their best should they have aspirations to wear a speedway crown in 2015. The night of champions at the speedway is scheduled for September 11th on Taylor Rental Night at the speedway.
The United Pump and Tank Modified event began with "Primetime" Scott Ferrier pacing the field for the first lap but Rich Ricci found magic on the bottom of the raceway to rocket into the lead coming off of turn two. Once in front Ricci was on cruise control as comfortably left the rest of the field fin his wake to race to victory. Ricci stated in victory lane that the win may be his last event of the season as he is due for rotator cuff surgery very shortly. start. Ferrier enjoyed a solid night at the speedway with a runner-up finish while "Iron" Mike Ricci raced to third place. Tommy Johnson finished fourth and Jeff Heotzler Sr borrowed his son's ride to complete the top five. Robbie Green, Brad Rothaupt, Dom Roselli Sr, Ken Ferrier and Willy Auchmoody completed the top ten.
Jimmy Wells grabbed the lead at the drop of the Escape RV Sportsman event and quickly raced out front with Rich Ricci III chasing him around the speedway. Pockets of good racing action would follow for the remainder of the event but it would be Wells leading all of the way for the win with Ricci III in the runner-up role. The battle for third was a barn-burner all of the way with Kevin Ward just nipping Jesse Marks for third while Marks was fourth. Phil Goetchius, Dave Werber and night sponsor Joe Giachinta rounded out the field.
Al Christiana was the leader of the Ruge's Performance Center Pro Stock encounter for 13-laps until mechanical woes sent him limping into the infield. Dave Demorest inherited the lead and would lead the final two laps to claim his seventh win of the season. The returning Wayne Taylor put in a great run for second with Al Christiana being scored third and Bill Rion finishing fourth.
Steve Williams hustled to the front in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock division feature event. Williams would feel pressure from Gary Ronk early on but maintained his poise and remained at the point with Ronk close behind and Ray Tarantino getting into the mix as well. Lap thirteen proved to be the undoing of Williams as he traded paint with a slower race car and Ronk seized the moment to avoid the scramble and take over the lead. Ronk led the final two laps to claim the win with Williams in for a heartbreaking second place finish. Ray Tarantino was a close third and Chris Streeter was fourth in another great showing at the speedway. Harry Bachman rounded out the top five. The second five was headed up by the returning John Woinoski with Bob Palmer, Paul Aragon, Tim Southard and Olivia Johnson rounding out the top ten.
The Healey Brothers Group Spec Sportsman headliner found Allison Ricci nipping Brandon McGill at the start of the event and take the lead. The racing was close and worth the price of an admission ticket as Ricci held a close lead over McGill and Dana Carey. From tenth starting position came Kyle Rohner and the former two-time track champion was methodical in putting himself into contention. As the laps clicked off Ricci had McGill and Rohner close on her tailpipes with McGill on the topside and Rohner finding magic from the baseline. On the white flag lap, Ricci bobbled just a bit on the second turn with Rohner diving low down the backstretch and McGill remaining on the top. Ricci would take the close win with Rohner just nipping McGill at the line for second with McGill in third. Dana Carey was fourth and Robbie Knipe had a steady run for fifth. Patrick Murphy headed up the second five followed by Nick Plumstead, Jimmy Johnson, Ed Dachenhausen and Greg McCloskey.
The Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshot feature found Matt Shultz jumping into the lead but receiving pressure from Wyatt Clark. As the laps clicked off, Shultz would increase his advantage and go to record his sixth win of the season. After event tech found two cars being disqualified and with that moving to runner-up status would be Ashley Rogosich with Vinnie Visconti third and Don Boonstra fourth.
Josh Marcus grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the WRWD Radio Junior Slingshot feature. First time racer in 2015, Tighe Sherlock found the speedway to his liking and gave chase to Marcus throughout the event but it would be Marcus scoring the victory. Sherlock was second with Hunter Lapp in third, Samantha Muller fourth, and Justin Mills borrowing a ride to gain a fifth place finish. Jake Mason headed up the second five with John Kendall, Matt DeRitter, newcomer Tyler Banks and Michael Corbin completing the top ten.
"The Banzai Kid" Aaron Bush did an exhibition run with his Northeast Wingless Sprint Car.
GEMSTONES:
Once again the speedway was in excellent racing trim from top to bottom and once again found the drivers utilizing three distinct racing channels to battle on the raceway.
New drivers that made their first appearances of the season included Austin Smith in Bob Sleight's ride. James Goetchius had a sharp looking Pure Stock on hand for it's maiden voyage, and the car looked like a throwback from the Bobby Allison Late Model days. John Drake and Tom Hausman returned to action. Jimmy Johnson returned to action with his sharp looking number 77 Spec Sportsman. Tyler Banks made his initial appearance at the speedway in the Junior Slingshot division. "The High side Hustler" Justin Mills has enjoyed a great season on the Junior Slingshot circuit and is a welcome addition to the division. Jeff Heotzler Sr had his Academy Transmission mount break in hot laps and jumped aboard the family owned car to keep his points up to snuff. Jackie Brown and Mark Pullen got together in the Modified main with Pullen suffering heavy front end damage and Brown going pit side to temporarily fix his car but dropped out early in the event.
Heat race wins went to Rich Ricci III in the Sportsman ranks. Brandon McGill and Allison Ricci claimed wins in the Spec Sportsman. The Modifieds had three heats with Scott Ferrier, Jackie Brown and Rich Ricci claiming the wins. Al Christiana won the Pro Stock heat. Gary Ronk and Steve Williams grabbed up the wins in the Pure Stock encounters. Josh Marcus and Justin Mills captured heat race wins in the Junior Slingshot division and Matt Shultz was on top for the All Star Slingshot heat.
The speedway is selling lap sponsorship for the upcoming King of the Catskills event on September 18th. Modified laps are at $20.00 each and Sportsman laps are at $10.00 each. All of the monies collected go straight to the drivers so it is a good opportunity to support your favorite racer, sponsor or business. All sponsors will be named on race night.
Emma's Sweets and Treats offered up Pina Colada Milk Shakes during the evening and the kitchen staff offered up the fan favorite Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
A mighty thanks to John McGill for handling the Lucas Oil Products Victory Lane interviews as well as going trackside with track announcer Steve Pados to announce the starting line-up for the feature that also included the tennis ball throw. All drivers managed to clear the safety fencing but needless to say, no major league scouts opted on to the speedway grounds to see if they had the right stuff. Miss Accord Speedway Erika Decker returned to the speedway last evening. Special thanks to race director Dave Rocket for keeping the show moving quickly through the evening.
Just as the races were completed, word came to the speedway that Sprint Car driver Jim Campbell Jr was fatally injured at Williams Grove. The staff and management at Accord Speedway offer their sincere condolences on Jim's passing.