Heotzler chases down Bachetti for 47th career Modified win on Dig Safely NY Night
By FRANK CATIZONE Accord Speedway Media 5/12/2013
ACCORD – Jeff Heotzler Sr. could feel his car getting better and better with each passing lap last Friday night at the Accord Speedway.
Heotzler, one of the most dominant drivers in the track’s history, knows the fast way around the Ulster County bullring and put all of his years of experience to good use as he chased down reigning Modified champion Andy Bachetti.
Heotzler, after stalking Bachetti throughout the race, finally saw an opening off the fourth turn on the 28th lap and took advantage of the situation as he went on to capture his first win of the season in the All American Ford 30-lap main event during Dig Safely NY Night. It was the veteran driver’s first victory at Accord since last Sept. 7 and the 47th of his legendary career at the track.
“Andy just bobbled a little off the turn and the bottom was wide open for me,’’ said Heotzler. “I don’t know if he had a right rear tire going down on his car, but my car was getting better as the race went on and it seemed like his was getting worse. He just got a little wide off that turn and I was there to take the lead.’’
Bachetti, who has been plagued with early season problems, also relinquished second place to Danny Tyler before Heotzler grabbed his first checkered flag of the 2013 Accord season.
“My car was really strong on the bottom, but I just couldn’t seem to build up enough momentum to make a pass for the lead,’’ said Heotzler. “Andy is a very good driver and I don’t think he was bothered at all by my pressure. He just made a mistake off the turn and I was there to capitalize on it.’’
Bachetti, after starting on the pole, was able to build a commanding lead in the early going as the race ran caution free until Tommy Meier and Ken Boniface Jr. had their cars get hooked together with 14 laps completed.
The accident enabled Heotzler to draw side-by-side with Bachetti for the double-file restart. Bachettii, however, was up for the challenge and remained in front until racing was halted a second time with 17 laps down for a fourth-turn incident involving Danny Creeden and Mel Schrufer.
Bachetti vaulted back in front and remained there until Heotzler was able to complete his winning pass on the 28th circuit and Tyler followed behind moments later. Bachetti was able to hold on for third place with Jackie Brown Jr. and Meier rounding out the top five.
Jerry Higbie also continued his early-season struggles and only was able to complete two laps as he finished in 13th place. Richie Eurich never took the green flag.
In the Escape RV Sportsman division, Kevin Ward took advantage of a late-race caution to pick up his first victory this season in the 25-lap feature. It was the 11th victory this decade for Ward, who collected five checkered flags in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Ward, after starting eighth in the 22-car field, seemed destined for a second-place finish as Jimmy Wells, who led from the start, built a commanding lead during the first 23 laps. However, that cushion vanished when Al Archiere was involved in an accident on the backstretch.
Wells, who was seeking his first career win, was unable to hold off Ward following the restart and relinquished first place off the second turn of the 24th circuit. Ward then went on to finish ahead of Wells, Dave Coene, Anthony Perrego and Jeff Hulseapple.
In the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman class, Mike Sabia notched his first victory of the season in the 20-lap feature as he outdueled both Nick Plumstead and Tyler Boniface.
Sabia, after starting sixth in the 13-car field, chased Plumstead for the first eight laps when Jason Thew brought racing to a half with rear end problems to his car. Sabia vaulted ahead of Plumstead on the restart and was in command until the 16th lap when Plumstead hit the backstretch wall.
Boniface inherited second place because of the accident and grabbed first place when the bottom was left wide open following the restart. However, Sabia rebounded on the next lap to regain the lead and then went on for the win.
Boniface settled for second place with Ed Dachenhausen, Joe Judge and Andrew Reeves completing the top five.
The Ruge’s GM Parts Center Pro Stock class 20-lap feature was won by John Roese, who has been one of the most dominant drivers at Accord during the decade. Roese, who secured his first win of 2013, finished ahead of Jim Sykes, Tom Vasta, Paul Maiolo and Ralph Ronk in the 20-lap main event.
Roese, who led the race start-to-finish, has reached victory lane 14 times since the 2010 season. His last win at Accord came on Sept. 14 last year.
In the Arkel Motors Pure Stock ranks, Nick Johnson, who opened last season with back-to-back wins, reached the Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time in over a year as he captured the 15-lap feature ahead of Dom Marguglio, Ray Tarantino, Joe Knoth and Jerry Craig Sr.
George Deckelman, who won the first two races this season, finished in second place, but was disqualified during the post-race inspection for an illegal distributor. Kurt Hundeland, who was scored fifth, was also disqualified because of an illegal carburetor.
In the WRWD Lightning Sprints, Jon Moore grabbed his first win this season in the 15-lap feature ahead of Christian Wright, Zack Bennett, Jason Roe and Justin Phillips.
Phil Bessette, who took an apparent lead following a sixth-lap restart, was penalized two spots for jumping the start when action was halted for Phillips’ spin with 14 laps down. Bessette was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct after the event.
Kurt Conklin flipped his sprinter while racing in second place in the first turn just after a lap was scored. Conklin wasn’t injured.