Ricci Jr. Tires Accord 358-Modified Field With Second Straight Win
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY - In his heat race, Rich Ricci Jr. struggled to pass a car, squeaking into the final transfer spot with a desperate last-lap move.
He didn't have that problem in the feature.
Bolting on a new right-rear tire, Ricci charged from 14th starting position to score his second consecutive 358-Modified triumph in the STS Tire/K&W Car Wash 30-lap headliner.
The New Paltz, N.Y., driver picked up $1,500 for his fourth victory of the '05 season at the Ulster County quarter-mile oval.
"In the heat race, the track was really slippery," noted Ricci, who leads the point standings in search of his ninth track championship.
"We needed a new right-rear tire. It was the one we ran in the 50-lapper; we grooved it, sanded it and it just didn't work."
With John Sanders and Larry Badaracco fighting for the lead early on, Ricci knifed through traffic quickly running the extreme outside in his Precision-powered Dirt Wheels No. 55.
When the caution flew on lap three, Ricci sat eighth. On the restart, Sanders bobbled and dropped back through the field. Sanders ultimately spun in turn four, necessitating the caution on lap four. At that point Ricci lined up fourth.
"As soon as I stepped on it, I said 'we're going to the front,'" Ricci said. "Everybody freight-trained right to the bottom. They bottled up and I just winged it right by them on the outside.
"I couldn't believe it. I looked up (at the scoreboard) and I was fourth!"
Larry Badaracco took command on the restart with Rick Mill and Ricci in hot pursuit. Mill immediately jumped to the outside and the lead pair battled side-by side for five laps before Ricci pounced.
The 38-year-old second-generation driver muscled by Mill in turn four with an inside maneuver on the ninth go-round, then switched grooves to set his sights on the impressive Badaracco.
On lap 11, Ricci swept past Badaracco in turn three to take command.
"The 17L (Badaracco) was going good," Ricci said. "I was more worried about Mill. He's tough to pass when he's running up front."
Ricci checked out following the race's final caution on lap 18, leaving the battle for second roughly a straightaway back.
Lap after lap, Mill sized up Badaracco. The two-time champion from New Windsor, N.Y., executed his move with the white flag flying, making a wide arc into turn three, then diving low to snatch the runner-up spot.
For Mill, it was sweet redemption after he failed to qualify for the Downes Memorial on June 24. After that event, team owner Peter Reynolds put the TRC chassis on the back burner, bringing out a fresh Bicknell for action at Accord.
"I like this car a lot," Mill, 45, reported. "With this car, I could move around. Actually, I was getting better as the race went on.
"I thought I could have gotten Badaracco up high, but the 220 (John Ferrier) kept sticking his nose in there. We we're good, but not good enough. Rich is fast."
Badaracco, of Danbury, Conn., brought his Pete Lawrenia-powered Teo-Pro car home third. It was the 53-year-old's first top-five finish in the Modified ranks in 15 years.
John Ferrier of Middletown, N.Y., was a solid fourth and Andy Bachetti rebounded for fifth after being swept into a third-lap pileup.
The 358-Modified field ballooned to 27 cars, with heat wins going to John Sanders, Badaracco and Bill Papula. Scott Ferrier won the consolation.
After a downright ugly six laps of the 25-lap Sportsman nightcap, the 11:30 p.m. curfew arrived amidst a smattering of caution flags. The race will resume on Fri., July 22 with Ladd Yeomans leading.
Sportsman heat winners were Ken Ferrier, Chris Grispin and Steve Krom. Whitey Slavin won the consolation.
Veteran Jeff Richardson of Goshen, N.Y., scored his fourth and fifth Spec Sportsman victories of the season in one night.
Richardson's victory in the June 24 heldover 15-lap event came easily. He took the lead when D.J. Brooks cut a right-front tire on the second circuit and raced on to the win over Alan Houghtaling, Robbie Fairweather, Al Archieri and Mike Van Tassel.
In the regularly-scheduled 15-lapper, Richardson forced his way by teenager Brett Graham with two laps remaining. Graham had to momentarily jump on the brakes for a lapped car and Richardson forced his No. 50 to the low side in turn one, making significant contact. It took another get-together on the backstretch before Richardson emerged with the lead.
In only his fourth start, Graham held on for second, with Doug Tyler Jr., Mike Van Tassel and Al Archieri in tow.
The frustration is over for Peter Sindt.
A former track champion from Stone Ridge, N.Y., Sindt turned a lackluster season around by winning the 20-lap Mini-Sprint feature. Fourth-starter Sindt took the top spot when Mark Rogers spun in turn three on the second lap, but it was by no means an easy triumph.
John Guarino, on the heels of a Central New York Mini-Sprint win at Cayuga County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway, hounded Sindt, actually working by on lap 10. However, a quick caution negated the pass.
Sindt held on for the final 10 circuits to score his first win of the season over Guarino, Skip Travis, John Lieto and Jeremy Quick.
After three runner-up finishes earlier this season, Jerry Craig of Chester, N.Y., earned his first career victory in the 20-lap Pro Stock main.
Starting second, Craig wheeled around the outside of early leader George Christiana to snatch the lead on lap seven and raced on to the win over Christiana, point leader Scott Mill, Danny Tyler and a returning Lenny Brice.
Returning with the appropriate adjustments after a June 24 disqualification, Easton, Conn.'s Mike Sabia dominated the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, leading the entire distance to notch his fifth victory of the '05 campaign.
Bill Rion, Bill Deak Jr., Mike Deyo and Joe DiStefano filled out the front five.
Racing resumes at the Action Track on Fri., July 22 with a full show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Spec Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Mini-Sprints and Pure Stocks sponsored by Wide Open Motorsports. The remaining 19 laps of the July 15 Sportsman race will fill out the card, in addition to a Bars-for-Less Sportsman Dash-for-Cash. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
For more info, contact the speedway office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.
BIG A NOTES: On a humid evening, the pits were jammed with 27 358-Modifieds, 21 Sportsman, nine Spec Sportsman, 14 Pro Stocks, 20 Mini-Sprints and 30 Pure Stocks. A capacity crowd took in the action....
It was a festive program highlighted by a fireworks extravaganza, mechanical bull rides, a chicken barbecue and numerous giveaways....
Robbie Green and Scott Ferrier returned to the 358-Modified ranks.
For Green it was his first start this season at the Big A after departing to run The New Afton (N.Y.) Speedway following the '04 campaign.
The multitude of rainouts at Afton, the weekly long haul and having to compete against big-blocks and other powerful engine combinations led the Wallkill, N.Y., driver to return to the track a half-hour from his home....
Ferrier had found a home at Afton following his three-week suspension from an April 29 brawl, winning a feature there on June 24. The two-hour ride from Bloomingburg, N.Y., became a burden, and Ferrier decided to rejoin his brothers John and Kenny at Accord....
Other newcomers to the 358-Mod field included Pa.'s Greg Morgan and Mel Schrufer, a longtime big-block Modified racer....
Pure Stock racer Joe DiStefano will donate 25 percent of his earnings for the remainder of the season to the American Cancer Society. He and wife Lisa will also man a booth at the track to distribute materials and information on cancer, collect donations and conduct raffles....
STS TIRE/K&W CAR WASH RACE SUMMARY
358-Modified Feature Finish: RICH RICCI JR., Rick Mill, Larry Badaracco, John Ferrier, Andy Bachetti, Jackie Brown Jr., Ryan Stortini, Dom Roselli, Robbie Green, Jimmy Johnson, Bobby Hentschel, Mark Flach Jr., Scott Ferrier, Tom Hindley, Phil Recchio, Jeremy Markle, John Sanders, Bill Papula, Hank Goranson, Mike Murphy.
Did Not Qualify: Mark Pullen, Rich Salisbury, Jimmy Halpin, Larry Hendershot, Mel Schrufer, Barry Davis, Greg Morgan.
Sportsman Feature: Curfewed with six laps complete. Will resume on July 22.
Spec Sportsman Feature Finish: JEFF RICHARDSON, Brett Graham, Doug Tyler Jr., Mike Van Tassel, Al Archieri, Alan Houghtaling, Andy Schlagel, D.J. Brooks, Robbie Fairweather.
Spec Sportsman Heldover Feature Finish (From June 24): JEFF RICHARDSON, Alan Houghtaling, Robbie Fairweather, Al Archieri, Mike Van Tassel, Brett Graham, Andy Schlagel, Doug Tyler Jr., D.J. Brooks.
Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: PETER SINDT, John Guarino, Skip Travis, John Lieto, Jeremy Quick, Kevin Horton, Bob Lynt, Ralph Utter Jr., Marshall Gogg, Darrell Quackenbush, Clint Roehrs, Gary Reyer, Mark Rogers, Dana Carey, Philly Melrose, John Lodini, Kevin Kondelka, James Tomlinson, Ed Burgess, Chris Haskell.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: JERRY CRAIG, George Christiana, Scott Mill, Danny Tyler, Lenny Brice, Mike Manetta, Bill Deak Sr., Ray See Jr., Katie Nugent, Don House, Terry O'Brien, Jared Hayes, Bill Liese.
Did Not Start: Dave Slate.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: MIKE SABIA, Bill Rion, Bill Deak Jr., Mike Deyo, Joe DiStefano, Kyle Wright, Jim O'Neil, John Woinoski, Bob Gibson, Jay Smalley, Joe Judge, Paul Aragon Jr., Charlie Winne, Sharon Byrne, Adam Douglas, Tony Squicciarini, John Davis Jr., Kevin Krusewski, Joe Narok.
Disqualified: Scott Ackerley.
Did Not Qualify: Fred Briggs, Joe Wilson, Ralph Ronk, Tony Polemeni, Bill Judge, Sam Dwy, Chris Kanuk, Mike DuBois, James DeCicco III, Jeff Hager.