WINNIE'S "PHENOMENAL" CAR LEADS TO ACCORD VICTORY

By BRETT DEYO

ACCORD, NY - It took just one word for Joe Winne Jr. to describe his winning mount last Friday night at Accord Speedway.

"Phenomenal."

The second-generation star thoroughly dominated the night's Reclamation, Inc. 30-lap 358-Modified feature. In the process, he secured his second victory of the season at the Ulster County quarter-mile oval.

"I'm just ecstatic," exclaimed Winne, on the rebound from a six-week stretch that included three engine failures.

"We went with a totally different set-up last week and I couldn't be happier with it. I've got seven wins here and I'd have to say this was probably the fastest car I've ever run. I'm a happy camper right now."

The Kingston, N.Y., native started from the outside-pole in his Precision-powered '04 Teo-Pro car. However, Winne took a back seat to fellow front-row starter John McGill in the early circuits, as the fun-loving driver burst out to the lead.

A lap-four restart proved to be McGill's undoing.

When the race resumed, Winne blasted off turn two, pulled even with McGill entering turn three, and grabbed the top spot away to complete lap five.

"I was catching him before that caution," noted the 29-year-old Winne. "I could see he was skating up, so I pulled out the textbook Mike Ricci high-low crossover move going into three.

"The car was getting tremendous bite," he continued. "I could pull right on the bottom."

The battle for the lead was effectively over once Winne took command, as he methodically opened up an advantage on second-running McGill.

With ten laps remaining, Winne entered into lapped traffic, but nothing could hinder his spectacular run.

"I knew I must've had some distance (on the field)," said Winne, who sliced through the slower machines effortlessly. "I was lapping some good cars."

McGill, 42, of Plattekill, N.Y., posted his second runner-up effort of the season in his Troyer-chassied Mid-Hudson Concrete No. 62.

"I don't know what I could have done to beat Joe," McGill admitted. "This is the best my car's driven and Joe just drove right by me. I made some adjustments to the car and it really was great.

"He was hooked up tonight. I mean, he just drove away"

The finish was a morale-booster for McGill, who failed to qualify the previous Friday night after missing the consolation call.

Mike Ricci worked by Jackie Brown Jr. on lap 28 and turned his string of lackluster efforts around with a third place effort. Brown, of Hurley, N.Y., crossed the stripe fourth and veteran Barry Davis rounded out the top five.

Heat wins went to Winne, Davis and McGill, while Robbie Green won the consolation. Twenty-one cars checked into the pit area.

Kevin Duryea pulled off the impossible in the 25-lap Sportsman feature, roaring through the field on the outside to snatch his seventh victory of the year with a last-lap, banzai run coming to the checkered.

The Wallkill, N.Y., 25-year-old was involved in a first-lap incident, then lost significant ground on the ensuing restart when he was pinched down into the wet infield.

Un-phased, Duryea picked his way calmly through the pack as rookie David Bush led, in search of career win number one.

When yellow flew on lap 21, it gave Duryea the opportunity he needed. He worked by second-running Jesse Marks coming to the white flag, then moved his Bicknell No. 99K to the outside of Bush on the backstretch.

Keeping his momentum up in turns three and four, the defending champion beat Bush in the drag race to the stripe.

"I really surprised myself," quipped a visibly-enthused Duryea.

"After I got in that tangle, I was hoping for a top five, but the car was working great on the top. The two leaders were slow on the bottom, I just took it up high - I didn't even know it was the last lap."

Bush, of Accord, N.Y., was a disappointing second, ahead of Jesse Marks, Jamie Yannone and L.D. Smith.

Racing from 14th on the grid, Doug Tyler Jr. got the job done in the 25-lap Pro Stock main. The Cottekill, N.Y., driver completed his patient ascent through the field with an inside maneuver on Bill Deak Sr. with 18 laps complete.

For Tyler, it marked win number five of the 2004 campaign.

Finishing second through fifth were John Roese, Don Williams, Deak and Steve Plumstead in his career-best effort.

Rob Scaccio's hard-luck doldrums took a 180-degree twirl in the Mini-Sprint feature.

The Suffern, N.Y., native sat second with seven circuits complete in the 20-lap affair when leader John Matrafailo dropped off the pace. That was all Scaccio needed, as he took advantage of the good fortune to outrace former champion Peter Sindt for his third win of the year.

Geoff Quackenbush was third, ahead of Bob Lynt and John Parete.

A lap-three restart played into the hands of Denville, N.J.'s Mike Casario in the 15-lap 250cc Micro-Sprint main.

When the front row of Rick Casario and Lex Burritt headed up the track, Mike Casario aimed for the bottom, snatched the lead and motored on for his second consecutive victory over Ralph Utter Jr., Burritt, Rick Casario and Mike Barrett.

Joe DiStefano of Germantown, N.Y., registered his fifth win of the season in the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, inheriting the top spot when early pacesetter D.J. Brooks headed pitside with a dragging rear bumper on lap four.

Mike DuBois finished second, tightening up the point battle with Mike Deyo, who was the victim of a late-race incident.

Asphalt convert Mike Sabia was third, ahead of Danny Tyler and Phil Goetschius.

The Atlantic Coast Old Timers were on hand with a display in the grandstand area, The cars of yesteryear also took part in an on-track exhibition.

NOTABLE: Night sponsor Reclamation, Inc. of Kingston, N.Y., led by representative Jay Castimore organized a bicycle giveaway for the kids in attendance during the Autograph and Camera session….

The track surface was under water as late as Wednesday night after heavy rains early on in the week, but Gary Palmer worked tirelessly to pump off the surface and massaged it into shape for the night's action.

Palmer posted a picture of the flood situation on the pit shack to show the drivers….

New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway regular Jeff Geiges made his Sportsman debut at the Big A. Geiges, of Lawrenceville, N.J., is a feature winner at NES in 2004….

Jackie Brown Jr.'s top-five finish came with a Sportsman powerplant purchased from Chuck Thomaschek….

To expedite the program, the 250cc Micro-Sprints and Pro Stocks competed in a features-only format….

Racing resumes on Saturday, September 11 with a full-program of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, Mini-Sprints and 250cc Micro-Sprints sponsored by Goldenarea Furniture. Gates open at 3 p.m., with hot laps at 5 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.

For more info, contact the speedway office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the official website: www.accordspeedway.com.

Reclamation, Inc. Race Summary

358-Modified Feature Finish: JOE WINNE JR., John McGill, Mike Ricci, Jackie Brown Jr., Barry Davis, Andy Bachetti, Robbie Green, Rich Ricci Jr., Dom Roselli, Scott Ferrier, Marc Johnson, Ryan Stortini, John Sanders, Cliff Bush, Mark Pullen, Jim Winchell, Rich Salisbury, Jimmy Halpin, Phil Recchio, Larry Hendershot.

Did Not Qualify: Bobby Hentschel.

Sportsman Feature Finish: KEVIN DURYEA, David Bush, Jesse Marks, Jamie Yannone, L.D. Smith, Howard Jarvis, Danny Creeden, Jeff Hager, Harry Baldwin, Steve Krom, Mike Senecal, Jeff Geiges, Paul Minton, Jeff Hulseapple, Nicole Tracy, Dave Coene, Don Johnson, Don Johnson Sr.

Did Not Start: Larry Badaracco, Dave Harris.

Pro Stock Feature Finish: DOUG TYLER JR., John Roese, Don Williams, Bill Deak Sr., Steve Plumstead, Terry O'Brien, Ray See Jr., Mike Manetta, Norbert Bracklow, John Rood, Steve Murray, Bob Gibson, Rob Hoar, Jerry Craig.

Did Not Start: Scott Mill.

Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: ROB SCACCIO, Peter Sindt, Geoff Quackenbush, Bobby Lynt, John Parete, Jake Schlagel, Rich Sennett, Todd Lapp, John Guarino, Marshall Gogg, Gary Reyer, Kevin Kondelka, Jim Halpin, James Tomlinson, Mark Rogers, Michael Storms, Kevin Horton.

250cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: MIKE CASARIO, Ralph Utter Jr., Lex Burritt, Rick Casario, Mike Barrett, Joe Welch, Rich McKay, Chris Weiss, Jeremy Redlich, Chris Kervatt, Charles Redlich, Mark Palome, Phil Bessette.

Pure Stock Feature Finish: JOE DISTEFANO, Mike Dubois, Mike Sabia, Danny Tyler, Phil Goetschius, Kevin Krusewski, Sharon Byrne, Bill Deak Jr., Greg Meola, John Woinoski, Joe Giachinta, Christopher Kanuk, Bill Rion, Erik Holmgren, D.J. Brooks, Jim O'Neill, Mike Deyo, Kyle Wright, Joe Narok, Jay Smalley.

Did Not Qualify: John Davis, Joe Kasulis.