Accord Speedway Season Opener - All American Ford Night
By FRANK CATIZONE Accord Speedway Media 4/26/2013
ACCORD, NY – Jackie Brown Jr. made a rousing return during All American Ford night at the Accord Speedway Friday evening as the Ulster County bullring was finally able to open the curtain on its 2013 racing season.
Brown, who hasn’t been an Accord regular competitor since the 2008 season, wasted no time rekindling his winning touch as he parked his Modified in the Lucas Oil Victory Lane following an impressive drive in capturing the 30-lap main event.
“It’s really great to be back here at Accord,’’ said Brown. “I’ve been traveling around the past few seasons and I feel that has really helped my racing style and made me a better driver. But I really enjoy racing at Accord and Gary Palmer does a great job preparing his track. It was nice and smooth out there tonight, and there were two lanes to race on. The racing surface was exceptional for opening night.’’
Brown, who hasn’t visited victory lane here in five seasons, said he was surprised how quickly he was able to find his winning touch. The 41-year-old, second-generation driver from Hurley, who is the son of former Accord driving sensation Jackie Brown Sr., has been a fixture around here for many years.
“But things happen very quickly and the racing is very tight,’’ said Brown. “I raced at Glen Ridge in 2009 and I think my time there really helped. It’s very similar to Accord, but it’s D-shaped and you have to react even quicker. My Glen Ridge experience helped me tonight because I was able to see things developing on the track more clearly.’’
Brown, after starting fifth in the 17-car field, caught a break with 13 laps completed when reigning track champion Andy Bachetti slowed down off the fourth turn and Jeff Heotzler Sr. was forced to the pits with a flat tire. The caution wiped out a nice lead Danny Creeden had built and provided Brown with his winning move following the restart.
Brown, starting on the inside, was able to get ahead of Creeden when racing resumed and soared ahead down the backstretch. The event went caution-free the rest of the way as Brown was able to pull away from his competition.
“I’m kind of surprised Danny gave me the inside for the restart,’’ said Brown. “We were really working well on the bottom and he just left it wide open for me. I was able to pull away on the start and was able to increase my lead as the race progressed.
“I understand Danny had brake problems, but my car was really good. I thought it would take some time to get back into the swing of things here, but we were really able to hit on a good set-up. This was just a great way to start off the season.’’
Creeden, who started outside pole, and Tommy Meier swapped the lead back-and-forth in the early going as three caution periods during the first nine laps brought racing to a halt. Creeden was able to move ahead of Meier on the 11th lap and remained in front until Bachetti’s troubles slowed racing for the final time two circuits later around the quarter-mile, banked oval.
Creeden managed to hold on to second place with Danny Tyler, Meier, Rich Ricci Jr., Scott Ferrier, Jerry Higbie, Brad Rothaupt, Richard Smith and Bill VanInwegen Jr. rounding out the top 10.
Youthful driving sensation Tyler Dippel continued to impress during the early stages of his racing career as he utilized a late-race move to capture the Sportsman 25-lap main event.
Dippel, after starting fifth in the 20-car field, chased leader Dave Coene and Kevin Ward for several laps as the race was winding down. Coene, who led from the start, watched his cushion evaporate when Jimmy Wells came up with a flat right rear tire with 17 laps completed.
Coene was able to maintain his lead following the restart, but had both Ward and Dippel now in hot pursuit. The three drivers ran under a blanket for several laps, before coming off the fourth turn three-wide on the 23rd circuit. Dippel was scored the leader to complete the lap just before a caution flew and Ward was scored in second.
Coene was dropped to third place and remained behind the leaders to the finish as Anthony Perrego and Mike Barrett completed the top five.Tyler Boniface, who started outside pole, opened his 2013 Accord campaign with a decisive victory as he took the checkered flag ahead of Kyle VanDuser, Joe Judge, Mike Sabia and Mike Traver in the Spec Sportsman 20-lap feature.
It was the second straight season that Boniface won Accord’s season opener. He wound up with two wins at the track in 2012.
A hard crash into the homestretch wall on the final lap cost leader Ralph Ronk and carried Emerson Cargain Jr. to a surprising victory in the Pro Stock 20-lap feature race. Ronk was able to cross the finish line in seventh place with his crippled vehicle.
Ronk, despite being slowed by several cautions, was able to remain out in front the entire race before meeting his own demise while racing off the fourth turn on the final lap. Cargain was able to sneak into the lead as Ronk made contact with the outside wall.
Tom Vasta followed in second place with Ron Rion, Paul Aragon Jr. and John Roese rounding out the top five.George Deckelman assumed command at the drop of the green flag and never wavered as he captured the caution-free Pure Stock 15-lap feature ahead of Steve Smalley, Charles Deckelman, Nick Johnson and Johnny Davis.
Joe Szczapa was able to wrestle the lead away from Zack Bennett on the eighth lap and then went on to capture the Lightning Sprints 15-lap main event. Less Burritt followed in second place with Rich Stone, Phil Bessette and Christian Wright completing the top five.