'

Brown drives low road to second victory on Arkel Motors Night



By FRANK CATIZONE Accord Speedway Media 6/2/2013

ACCORD, NY – Jackie Brown Jr. prefers racing on the bottom at the Accord Speedway.

It proved to be the right choice around the Ulster County bullring last Friday night as Brown drove the low road to his second victory of the season in the All American Ford Modified 30-lap main event on Arkel Motors Night.

Brown, who captured the season opener here on April 26, was involved in a heated battle with leader Mel Schrufer during the race’s early stages. Brown was able to slip past Jerry Higbie for second place and then began closing in on Schrufer, who led from the initial green flag.

Schrufer was racing the high groove and was able to maintain his slim margin as he was able to gain momentum off the turns. Brown, meanwhile, stuck to the low side and kept the pressure on Schrufer with each passing lap.

Schrufer was now leading by mere inches as he completed 16 laps. However, his chance at victory would end moments later.

Schrufer, just after crossing the starter’s stand, damaged the rear end on his car after the caution flew for an accident involving Gary Quick and Ken Boniface Sr. Schrufer was unable to avoid making contact with those cars before entering the first turn.

Brown inherited first place when Schrufer was forced to retire and then had another battle on his hands with Higbie. But Brown stuck to the low groove and was able to thwart off each challenge Higbie had to offer.

Higbie, who ended a two-year losing streak here two weeks ago, settled for second place with Andy Bachetti, Danny Johnson, Danny Creeden, Tommy Meier, Jeff Heotzler Sr., Danny Tyler, Brad Rothaupt and Willie Auchmoody rounding out the top 10.

Johnson, who was driving the Lee Shultz No. 27J for the second time in 2013, snuck past Creeden at the checkered flag to finish in fourth place. He finished eighth in his Accord season debut on May 17.

In the Escape RV Sportsman division, Dave Werber provided the most exciting moment of the evening as he snuck past Mike Barrett off the fourth turn on the final lap to capture the 25-lap main event for the first time this season.

Werber, after starting eighth in the 20-car field, broke into the top five by the eighth lap. He was then able to move ahead of Jesse Marks, Ken Ferrier and Dave Coene as the race progressed, and then set his sights on Barrett.

Barrett was able to maintain a slim margin as the race continued and seemed headed for his first win of the season. But Werber was able to cut into his advantage through lapped traffic and finally found an opening on the inside of the final lap to steal the victory.

Barrett finished in second place with Coene, Anthony Perrego, Ferrier, Darrell Ford, Marks, Will Dietz, Jeff Hulseapple and Tom Johnson following.

In the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman class, Mike Sabia picked up his second triumph of the season in the 20-lap feature as he finished ahead of Tyler Boniface, Mike DuBois, Joe Judge and Mike Traver.

Sabia, after starting fourth in the 13-car field, powered past Tyler Boniface following a fourth-lap restart and was able to stay ahead the rest of the way. Tyler Boniface provided some challenges for lead, but just couldn’t find enough momentum for a winning pass.

In the Ruge’s GM Parts Center Pro Stock class, Ralph Ronk held off a late-race charge by John Roese to capture his first win of 2013 in the20-lap feature.

Ronk, who started in third place, charged into first place on the first lap and never trailed despite the pressure offered by Roese.

Roese, who finished 0.246 seconds off Ronk’s winning pace, settled for second place with Tom Vasta, Jim Sykes and Paul Aragon Jr. rounding out the top five.

In the Arkel Motors Pure Stock ranks, Kevin Skelly survived a fierce battle with Nick Johnson to notch his first win this season in the 15-lap feature.

Nick Johnson, a two-time winner in 2013, and Skelly swapped the lead several times during the race. Nick Johnson’s car seemed better following the restarts, while Skelly’s was stronger after the event got moving again.

Skelly was able to pass Johnson off the fourth turn on the ninth lap and then held on for the win. Nick Johnson, Chris Kanuk, Joe Knoth and John Woiniski rounded out the top five.

In the Want Ad Digest Fireball Four-Cylinder class, Shawn Maloney, after starting last in the field, was leading by the sixth lap and then went on to capture the 15-lap feature.

Maloney, who experienced car problems earlier in the program and missed the qualifying heat, passed Matt Curry in the second turn on the sixth lap and never looked back for his first win in 2013. George Zeininger, Johnny Bankich, Tim Curry and Steve Ruger followed.