Bachetti Pilots Downes Racing Car To Accord Victory
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY – For two weeks, the Downes Racing small-block was idle with crippling engine problems.
When the team’s hauler swung open in the Accord Speedway pit area on Friday night, it marked the return of the sleek black No. 40. That was good news for Andy Bachetti, bad news for the rest of the 358-Modified field.
The Sheffield, Mass., star raced to his first win of the season at the quarter-mile oval, fending off Rich Ricci Jr. in the 30-lap Turco’s Machine Shop headliner.
“This car is good here,” said Bachetti, who piloted the Robert Albreada-owned Teo-Pro car in the interim. “The motor in the other car (Albreada’s) is built for Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) and Syracuse (N.Y.). This motor is built for the short tracks; it’s drivable even when the track is slick.”
Starting from sixth in Donnie and LeAura Downes’ A&C Performance-powered Bicknell, Bachetti sliced into second position by lap three, trailing only young Mark Flach Jr., who set a torrid pace from the front row.
The rim-riding Flach and Bachetti amassed a straightaway advantage on the third place battle by lap 11, when the caution lights flickered on for a Larry Hendershot spin.
Flach’s impressive ride came to an end on the ensuing restart. From the outside, Bachetti took command. Entering turn one, Tom Hindley made heavy contact with Flach, causing both cars to spin.
With the track blocked, a nine-car melee ensued and the red flag was displayed.
“On cold tires, I was good on the outside for a lap or two,” offered Bachetti, who narrowly avoided the incident. “That’s how I got around the 21L (Flach) on the restart, plus this motor’s just awesome.”
When the race resumed, 16th-starter Rich Ricci Jr. made a three-wide move to take over second. A caution on lap 14 gave Ricci an opportunity to challenge Bachetti.
Running precariously in the upper groove, the eight-time champion stayed even with Bachetti for two full laps around the tight bullring. The 29-year-old Bachetti calmly held the inside groove and reclaimed the lead.
“If I didn’t slow down, he would have got me,” Bachetti admitted. “I didn’t have the side bite, but I had the preferred line. If you stick to your guns (on the inside), it’s hard to pass.
“I felt pretty comfortable running down low and Rich is a racer. He ran me clean.”
Despite lapped traffic in the final three circuits, Bachetti gradually inched away from Ricci to post the $1,500 triumph, contuing his early-season hot streak.
He has already posted victories at Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) Speedway in big-block and 358-Modified action and took a victory in DIRT’s February Florida Tour at Volusia Speedway.
Ricci, 38, settled for a runner-up finish in his Dirt Wheels No. 55, extending his point lead.
“You can start me anywhere, it doesn’t matter,” Ricci said. “The car was handling super tonight, but we had a little motor problem.
“We ran the top with Andy (laps 14-16) but it just bogged off the corners. I couldn’t stay with him like I needed to.”
Jackie Brown Jr. of Hurley, N.Y., finished third, scoring his fourth top five finish in five ’05 starts. Barry Davis and John Ferrier were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Winning heat races for the 25 358-Modifieds in attendance were Bachetti, John Ferrier and Flach. Ricci Jr. won the consolation.
Dave Coene made the step from contender to winner in the 25-lap Sportsman feature, taking his first win at the Ulster County track after two-plus years of trying.
The Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., driver won his heat event, emerged victorious from the 5-lap Bars-for-Less Dash-for-Cash and led the entire distance from the pole. Coene had to survive numerous restarts, the last of which occurred on lap 19, to post the $600 triumph.
“It feels like forever,” a relieved Coene stated. “I can’t believe it.”
Kenny Ferrier took over second on lap 10 and raced to his best career Accord finish, holding off Jeff Geiges, Jim Fugel and Tom Tomasko.
Fourteen-year-old Robbie Fairweather became the fourth different winner in the Spec Sportsman division. The go-kart graduate from Westbrookville, N.Y., motored by D.J. Brooks on lap four and fended off the late-race challenges of Jeff Richardson to post the win. Brooks, Mike Van Tassel and Al Archieri finished third through fifth, respectively.
Wingdale, N.Y.’s Scott Mill raced to his first win of the season in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. Mill dodged a spinning Bill Deak Sr. on lap four to take command and fended off all challengers. Cliff Fitzgerald was second, ahead of John Roese, George Christiana and Terry O’Brien.
It took Skip Travis just five weeks make a successful transition to Mini-Sprint racing at Accord.
The former 358-Modified/Sportsman competitor from Peekskill, N.Y., literally dominated the 20-lap main wheeling his immaculately prepared No. 28. The only obstacle for Travis was double-file lapped traffic on lap 16.
After his lead shrunk dramatically while slicing through the slower cars, Travis pulled away from Peter Sindt to post his first career Mini-Sprint win. It marked his first checkered flag since Sept. 1, 2001 when he won an Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway Sportsman feature.
John Lieto, John Guarino and Mark Rogers completed the front five.
Mike Deyo won the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, becoming the first driver other than Mike Sabia to score a win in the division this season.
Sabia appeared to be en route to his fifth straight victory, racing to the lead by lap eight. However, Joe Narok took Sabia around in turn three moments after he took command, handing the top spot over to 10th-starter Deyo.
The New Windsor, N.Y., native fended off Bill Deak Jr. to take the win. Joe Judge came home second, ahead of Paul Aragon Jr., Deak, who fell to fourth after breaking a left-rear axle on the final lap, and Jim O’Neil.
Howie Murphy of Verplanck, N.Y., won the 15-lap Vintage Modified feature after apparent victor Pete Gardner failed post-race tech inspection.
Racing resumes on Fri., May 27 with a full program of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Spec Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Mini-Sprints and Pure Stocks sponsored by Hig Fabrications. 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 official website at: www.accordspeedway.com.
BIG A NOTES: The precipitation stayed far to the south and a beautiful night greeted 25 358-Modifieds, 28 Sportsman, six Spec Sportsman, 12 Pro Stocks, 17 Mini-Sprints, 20 Pure Stocks and 13 Vintage Modifieds….
Following the restart incident, Tom Hindley headed to the pits with a right-front flat tire on lap 14. He raced back to eighth….
Only Rick Mill was eliminated in the 358-Modified division’s lap-11 “big one.” The former champion retired from the event with a broken spring rod….
Bill Papula’s career-best 358-Modified finish of ninth came with a leaking steering box….
Crew chief turned racer John Howell qualified for his first 358-Modified feature, finishing fifth in the consolation….
TURCO’S MACHINE SHOP RACE SUMMARY
358-Modified Feature Finish: ANDY BACHETTI, Rich Ricci Jr., Jackie Brown Jr., Barry Davis, John Ferrier, Jimmy Johnson, Jeremy Markle, Tom Hindley, Bill Papula, Rich Salisbury, Mark Flach Jr., Phil Recchio, Larry Hendershot, Ryan Stortini, John Howell, Mark Pullen, John Sanders, Dom Roselli, Hank Goranson, Rick Mill.
Did Not Qualify: Bruce Leote, Andy Schlagel, Cliff Bush, Larry Badaracco, Bob Cancellieri.
Sportsman Feature Finish: DAVE COENE, Ken Ferrier, Jeff Geiges, Jim Fugel, Tom Tomasko, Jamie Yannone, Mike Ketcham, Howard Jarvis, Jesse Marks, Steve Krom, L.D. Smith, Jeff Hager, Kenny Moulton Jr., Whitey Slavin, Keith Leonard, John Lieto, Danny Creeden, Ladd Yeomans, Chad Hadlick, Nicole Tracy.
Did Not Qualify: Mike Senecal, John Sundlof, Paul Minton, David Bush, Jeff Warren, Dave Harris, Don Johnson, Keith Van Oyan.
Spec Sportsman Feature Finish: ROBBIE FAIRWEATHER, Jeff Richardson, D.J. Brooks, Mike Van Tassel, Al Archieri, Tom Athanas.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: SCOTT MILL, Cliff Fitzgerald, John Roese, George Christiana, Terry O’Brien, Jared Hayes, Katie Nugent, Mike Manetta, Jerry Craig, Danny Tyler, Jim Sykes, Bill Deak Sr.
Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: SKIP TRAVIS, Peter Sindt, John Lieto, John Guarino, Mark Rogers, John Lodini, Marshall Gogg, Kevin Horton, Hank Katz, Kevin Kondelka, Gary Reyer, Jeremy Quick, Joe Bergin, Bob Lynt, Mel Lewis, Marc Guerard, Clint Roehrs.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: MIKE DEYO, Joe Judge, Paul Aragon Jr., Bill Deak Jr., Jim O’Neil, Mike DuBois, Kevin Krusewski, Mike Sabia, Kyle Wright, James DeCicco, Steven Kanuk, Herb Dewitt, John Woinoski, Bill Rion, Joe DiStefano, Ryan Hover, John Cole Jr., Bill Judge, Todd Houghtaling.
Disqualified (Black Flag): Joe Narok.