Red-Hot Barry Davis Drives To Accord Victory

By BRETT DEYO

ACCORD, NY – Barry Davis has shown repeatedly this season that he has speed.

Now the 30-year veteran finally has a victory.

Davis, a fan favorite from Accord, N.Y., pulled off an immensely popular triumph Friday night at Accord Speedway, winning the Minnewaska Motors 30-lap 358-Modified headliner in convincing fashion.

It was a much-deserved trip to Victory Lane for the red-hot 52-year-old driver, who scored two runner-up finishes in his past three starts at the Ulster County quarter-mile.

“It’s nice to finally get a win,” a smiling Davis said while celebrating in the pit area. “We’ve been close here a few times this year. Tonight it went our way.”

Davis started 11th in his Turco’s Machine-powered Troyer four-link and stormed through the field in the opening circuits, passing cars high and low with ease. By the third lap, Davis had claimed fourth position from John Sanders.

“Right now, I’ve got the car where I can ‘muscle it’ around,” Davis said. “It’s been comfortable for the past month.”

While Connecticut statesman Larry Badaracco slipped by Rich Salisbury to take command on a fifth-lap restart, Davis burst into third with his No. 9D and set his sights on the lead duo.

He snuck under Salisbury for second on lap seven, then powered around the outside of Badaracco to emerge as the leader in turn two with 11 laps complete.

Moments later, a two-car jingle necessitated the caution. On the restart, Badaracco outgunned Davis to retake the top spot.

However, it took the determined Davis only two laps to reclaim the lead with a slide-job in turn four.

“My car had a little bit of a bobble on the restarts, just when I’d get in the gas,” Davis said. “It had the same problem Tuesday at Big Diamond (Pa.) in the RoC race. Once I got under speed and had some momentum it was okay.

“That’s how he (Badaracco) got me. He did a good job, I thought.”

A lap-16 restart scramble eliminated Badaracco, moving Salisbury and John Ferrier into second and third, respectively.

With six laps remaining, Salisbury executed a half-spin in turn two. As Ferrier straightened him out trying to squeeze by on the inside, Andy Bachetti powered around both to snatch second.

Bachetti was no match for Davis, who negotiated lapped traffic flawlessly in the waning laps to collect a cool $1,500 payday.

Sheffield, Mass.’s Bachetti felt fortunate to finish second on an “off night” for the Downes Racing No. 40.

“Luck, that was the main thing for us tonight,” Bachetti, 29, offered. “I saw that 24s (Salisbury) start to go around (on lap 19) and I jumped high. I was fortunate there.

“We a tried a different deal tonight and it didn’t work out. The car was real, real tight. Overall, it was still a good night.”

Ferrier, of Middletown, N.Y., finished third, with Salisbury and Mark Flach Jr. completing the front five. For Flach, it was a satisfying performance after he rallied back from a first-lap skirmish.

With threatening weather in the area, 22 Modifieds signed in. Heat winners included Rich Ricci Jr., John Ferrier and Andy Bachetti.

Jamie Yannone didn’t even start the Sportsman feature on June 3. Seven days later, he dominated the division’s 25-lap main.

Wallkill, N.Y.’s Yannone took advantage of a top-three starting position to drive by polesitter Ladd Yeomans on lap three in his No. 21 Moshier-powered Teo-Pro car. Yannone wasn’t headed for the remainder of the distance, motoring away for the $600 triumph, his second of ’05.

Yannone’s last win came in the April 15 Season Opener.

“It feels good to get back on track after last week,” offered Yannone.

Kenny Moulton Jr. of Rock Hill, N.Y., finished a season-high second in his No. 22 Ford-powered mount. Nicole Tracy, Danny Creeden and Mike Ketcham rounded out the top five.

At 14 years of age, Robbie Fairweather is already a repeat winner. The talented racer from Westbrookville, N.Y., drove to Spec Sportsman win number two of his career in the 15-lap feature. Fairweather inherited the top spot after a jingle involving early leader D.J. Brooks on lap five.

Jeff Richardson finished second, ahead of newcomer Brett Graham, Mike Van Tassel and Brooks.

In Pro Stock action, Milan, N.Y.’s Mike Manetta scored his first triumph of the season. Manetta started fifth, powered around George Christiana on the 11th circuit and pulled away, despite a final-lap restart. Jerry Craig made a late rally for second. Christiana, rookie Danny Tyler and Scott Mill filled out the front five.

Skip Travis scored his second Mini-Sprint feature of the season – barely.

Peekskill, N.Y.’s Travis slid under Hank Katz to take the lead on lap six, but a problem with the chain on his Henchcraft No. 28 nearly cost him the win. Moments after the checkered flew, the chain came apart and Travis had to be pushed to Victory Lane.

“We started having a problem with the chain about lap 10,” he said. “I’m glad it waited until after the race to come apart.”

Fifteen-year-old John Guarino rebounded from a scary June 3 incident to finish second. Guarino challenged Travis briefly after a lap-12 caution period but fell three car-lengths back at the finish.

Ralph Utter Jr., Clint Roehrs and John Lieto finished third through fifth, respectively.

Bill Deak Jr. of New Milford, Conn., topped the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, taking advantage of a lap-six restart to race into the lead. It marked Deak’s first career win after a pair of runner-up efforts early this season. Mike Deyo was second, with Kevin Krusewski, Joe DiStefano and Jim O’Neil in tow.

Racing resumes at Accord Speedway on June 17 with a full program presented by Milford Chrysler-Suzuki, plus double-points for the Mini-Sprints, an appearance by the Vintage Modifieds, and a Bars-for-Less Sportsman Dash-for-Cash.

An addition to the program is an exhibition of the “top flame shooters in the east” including “Waterloo Torch,” “Dangerous Dave,” and “Lady Firebug Bea” among others.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the speedway office at (845) 626-3478 or visit the website: www.accordspeedway.com.

NOTABLE: Lightning was evident over the backstretch throughout the night, but race director Rich Roosa spun the show off rapidly. The program was in the books by 10:15 p.m., despite a start that was delayed by afternoon thunderstorms….

Car counts were 22 358-Modifieds, 25 Sportsman, five Spec Sportsman, 13 Pro Stocks, 15 Mini-Sprints and 16 Pure Stocks….

Jackie Brown Jr.’s sixth-place effort was enough to propel him to the point lead. He holds a one-point edge on Bachetti and four points on Rich Ricci Jr., who fell from first to third….

Ricci Jr. complained of a “flat” engine after finishing ninth….

Tom Hindley was involved in an opening lap incident, carved back through the field to run fifth, but broke a right-front shock tower on the lap-16 restart skirmish that eliminated Badaracco….

Brett Graham, 17, made his debut in the Spec Sportsman division. He is the son of Kerry Graham, a former flagger at Afton (N.Y.) and Lake Moc-A-Tek (Pa.)….

MINNEWASKA MOTORS NIGHT RACE SUMMARY

358-Modified Feature Finish: BARRY DAVIS, Andy Bachetti, John Ferrier, Rich Salisbury, Mark Flach Jr., Jackie Brown Jr., Dom Roselli, Rick Mill, Rich Ricci Jr., Jeremy Markle, Ryan Stortini, Bill Papula, John Sanders, Mark Pullen, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Murphy, Larry Badaracco, Tom Hindley, Andy Schlagel, Phil Recchio.

Did Not Qualify: Larry Hendershot, Jimmy Halpin.

Sportsman Feature Finish: JAMIE YANNONE, Kenny Moulton Jr., Nicole Tracy, Danny Creeden, Mike Ketcham, Jesse Marks, Dave Coene, Jeff Geiges, Whitey Slavin, Chad Hadlick, Jim Fugel, Kenny Ferrier, Tom Tomasko, Steve Krom, John Sundlof, Mike Senecal, Don Johnson, Howard Jarvis, David Bush, Jeff Hager, Will Galm, Ladd Yeomans.

Did Not Qualify: Keith Van Oyan, John Lieto, Eric Moon.

Spec Sportsman Feature Finish: ROBBIE FAIRWEATHER, Jeff Richardson, Brett Graham, Mike Van Tassel, D.J. Brooks.

Pro Stock Feature Finish: MIKE MANETTA, Jerry Craig, George Christiana, Danny Tyler, Scott Mill, Norbert Bracklow, Steve Plumstead, Terry O’Brien, Jared Hayes, Katie Nugent, Bill Deak Sr., Ray See Jr.

Did Not Start: Bill Liese.

Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: SKIP TRAVIS, John Guarino, Ralph Utter Jr., Clint Roehrs, John Lieto, Peter Sindt, Hank Katz, John Lodini, Gary Reyer, Marshall Gogg, Will Cazazza, Mark Rogers, John Wullum, Kevin Kondelka, Mel Lewis.

Pure Stock Feature Finish: BILL DEAK JR., Mike Deyo, Kevin Krusewski, Joe DiStefano, Jim O’Neil, Herb Dewitt, Kyle Wright, John Woinoski, Tony Squizzarini, Paul Aragon Jr., Chris Kanuk, James DeCicco III, John Cole Jr., Mike Sabia.

Did Not Start: Bill Rion.

Disqualified (Heat Race Black Flag): Mike DuBois.