Bachetti, five other drivers take first 2013 victories during Fast Signs Night
By FRANK CATIZONE Accord Speedway Media 6/23/13
ACCORD, NY – Andy Bachetti led a parade of six newcomers to the Lucas Oil Victory Lane this season as he captured the All American Ford Modified 30-lap feature last Friday evening during Fast Signs Night at the Accord Speedway.
Bachetti, who blitzed the Ulster County bullring with 11 triumphs last season en route to capturing the 2012 Modified track championship, has been mired in an awful slump at the track this year. The veteran Sheffield, MA., driver has been plagued by a rash of crashes and mechanical breakdowns.
But Bachetti pushed aside his adversity this time around as he chased down Mel Schrufer to grab his first win of the season. Bachetti, who started eighth in the 14-car field, found the outside cushion to his liking as he marched towards the front during the early stages of the event.
Schrufer, meanwhile, who has also struggled this season, was having things his way as he sailed well ahead of his competition. But Bachetti took over second place by the 13th lap and then began reeling in Schrufer as the race went on.
Bachetti was already on Schrufer’s heels by the 19th circuit and was looking for the right move to overtake the leader. Schrufer, however, wasn’t about to give up his advantage easily as he was able to stave off Bachetti’s challenges for the lead.
But Bachetti finally found an opening as he drove higher off the fourth turn and was scored the leader as he beat Schrufer down the homestretch to complete the 22nd lap. Bachetti then went on to stretch out his lead to the checkered flags as he finished ahead of Schrufer, Jackie Brown Jr., Danny Creeden and Jerry Higbie.
Those joining Bachetti as first-time winners this season were Will Dietz, David Demorest, Ray Tarantino, Doug Norrie and Britney Curry. Both Demorest and Curry enjoyed their first career wins at the track.
Tyler Boniface was the only repeat winner as he grabbed his second victory of 2013 by capturing the Healey Brothers Spec Sportsman 20-lap main event.
Dietz, who hasn’t visited victory lane since Aug. 26, 2011, picked up the most exciting win of the evening as he held off both Tyler Dippel and Dave Werber to capture the Escape RV Sportsman 25-lap main event.
Dietz, who started on the pole, led the entire race. But he was forced to survive several restarts in the early going and then the presence of Dippel breathing down his neck for most of the race. Dippel was in second place by the third lap and kept the pressure on Dietz throughout the event.
Werber made it a three-car dash during the last five laps, but Dietz held his ground as he finished 0.278 seconds ahead of Dippel . Werber was just inches behind in third place with Tom Johnson and Kevin Ward rounding out the top five.
Boniface, who grabbed the season-opener on April 26, drove past Ed Dachenhausen down the homestretch on the seventh lap and then went on to score an impressive win in the Spec Sportman main event. Dachenhausen was second with Mike Lewis, Mike Sabia and Jim Rajczi rounding out the top five.
In the Ruge’s GM Parts Center Pro Stock class, Demorest, a senior at Rondout Valley High School, made his Graduation Night a memorable one as he scored his first career victory in the 20-lap feature. Demorest was presented his diploma trackside prior to the main event.
Demorest, who started outside pole in the 12-car race, moved to the front past pole-sitter Wayne Taylor at the drop of the green flag and never trailed. But Norbert Bracklow gave Demorest some anxious moments in the race’s closing stages before settling for second place.
Norbert closed in on Demorest and finished just 0.809 seconds behind him when the checkered flags flew. John Roese, Ralph Ronk and Jim Sykes completed the top five.
In the Arkel Motors Pure Stock ranks, Tarantino, who won twice last season, held off the late-race challenge provided by Nick Johnson to grab his first win in the 15-lap main event. Tarantino’s last win came here on July 13, 2012.
Tarantino, after starting third in the nine-car race, grabbed the lead away from John Woinoski on the fourth lap and then went on to finish ahead of Nick Johnson, Harry Bachmann, Joe Knoth and Woinoski.
In the WRWD Lightning Sprints, Norrie, who won three times here in 2012, started on the pole and led the entire 15-lap distance as he scored his first victory this season in the main event. Joe Szczapa was a distant second with Jon Moore, Justin Phillips and Rich Stone following.
The Want Ad Digest Fireball Four-Cylinders authored a bizarre 15-lap feature race as two leaders both lost their front wheel tires – helping Britney Curry pick up her first career Accord victory.
Matt Curry turned the lead over to Britney Curry when he lost his tire while leading with seven laps down. Shawn Maloney powered ahead on the restart and remained ahead until losing his tire with 13 laps down.
Britney Curry inherited the lead once again and remained there as she finished ahead of Tim Curry, Johnny Bankich, John Bankich Sr. and Robert Hoar.