ROBBIE GREEN WINS ACCORD IN A BATTLE OF FRIENDS WITH MCGILL
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY - Robbie Green won the 358-Modified feature last Friday night at Accord Speedway, but he wasn't exactly thrilled with who he passed to do so.
Green battled with good friend John McGill throughout the distance, before finally working by late in the 30-lap Awesco Welding Supplies main. In the process, he denied McGill his first ever open-wheel victory.
For Wallkill, N.Y.'s Green, it marked his third victory of the 2004 season as he continues to chip away at the point lead of Rich Ricci Jr.
"I hated to have to pass Johnny for the lead," admitted Green, who pocketed $1,500 for his efforts. "He and I have been friends for a long time.
"Wins are hard to come by, though. I had to do it."
The 41-year-old Green started 12th and moved quickly forward while McGill, in the drive of his career, blasted off from the outside pole. Plattekill, N.Y.'s McGill opened up nearly a straightaway on the field following the race's final caution-flag on lap three.
Piloting his No. 62 Troyer, McGill cruised in front as Green patiently picked his way forward. On lap nine, Green cleared Jackie Brown Jr. for second in turn four and set his sights on the lead.
Inching up gradually, Green caught McGill with ten laps remaining and the 25-year veteran saw his opportunity as his No. 69 Teo-Pro car hugged the inner hub of the track.
"Johnny's car was drifting off the inside, that was my chance," analyzed Green. "My brother Dave had this car hooked up. It had a lot of bite right on the bottom."
On lap 22, Green made his run to the inside in turn four, pulling even with McGill at the starter's stand. The persistent McGill clung to the upper groove for one circuit before finally relinquishing the position.
"He had a tremendous run going," the victor added.
Double-file lapped traffic directly in Green's path kept McGill within striking distance over the final five laps, but the savvy veteran held on for the win.
McGill, a colorful character in the sport who has served as an announcer and MC for various motorsports events, collected $1,000 for the career-best second place effort.
Tony Kawalchuk of Accord, N.Y., returned to his stomping grounds and rallied from 13th to finish third. The talented teenager has focused the majority of his racing efforts at Woodhull (N.Y.) Raceway this season, with only infrequent stops at Accord.
Jackie Brown Jr. was fourth and Butch Tittle fought off Rich Ricci Jr. for fifth.
Winning the heat races for the 25 358-Modifieds in attendance were Scott Ferrier, Rich Ricci Jr. and Andy Bachetti, while Ryan Stortini topped the consolation.
A heads-up restart maneuver landed Danny Creeden in Victory Lane following the regularly-scheduled, rain-shortened Sportsman headliner.
The 21-year-old from Middletown, N.Y., raced from 10th into contention before making the winning move on Jamie Yannone following a ninth-lap caution period. Yannone opened the inside for an instant when the green dropped and Creeden immediately drove by, a move that handed him the $600 win.
"I knew how he starts races from when we raced together in Go-Karts," explained the second-generation driver.
"I just turned left as soon as he fired and drove under him. He chugged it down so much on the start I was ready."
On lap 13, heavy rain moved over the speedway and the checkered was waved, as the event hit the halfway mark. Jeff Hulseapple was second, ahead of rookie Steve Krom, who matched his best ever run in third. A soft right-rear tire relegated the luckless Yannone to fourth and Mike Senecal rounded out the top five.
Kevin Duryea put together an emotional victory in the curfew-postponed Sportsman feature from August 6, an event that was part of the Bob Green Memorial festivities.
The Wallkill, N.Y., 25-year-old, a lifelong friend of the Green family, led easily from the point the race resumed on lap five. Despite numerous restarts, Duryea maintained the advantage in his Bicknell No. 99K, cruising to a division-high sixth feature win.
"I'd like to dedicate this one to the Green family," noted Duryea.
In the best performance of her career, Danbury, Conn., teenager Nicole Tracy finished second. Tracy is in her second season of Sportsman competition after competing - and winning - in the Go-Kart ranks over the years.
Danny Creeden, 19th starter Jeff Hulseapple and Howard Jarvis rounded out the top five.
Rebounding from heartbreak two weeks earlier, Mike Manetta of Milan, N.Y., went the distance to win the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. Manetta, a longtime full-fendered competitor at the Big A, grabbed the lead early on and ran a methodical race at the front of the field.
Ray See Jr. emerged from a heated battle for second, ahead of a hard-charging Don Williams, Norbert Bracklow and Doug Tyler Jr.
Clint Roehrs made his sophomore season memorable with a win in the Mini-Sprint feature, posting win number one in dominant fashion.
The New Paltz, N.Y., teenager distanced himself from the field in his Apple Greens Golf Course No. 48, slicing through lapped traffic in the second half of the main en route to the breakthrough score. Rob Scaccio, John Parete, Peter Sindt and Todd Lapp were second through fifth, respectively.
What started out as a forgettable night turned around at the last possible moment for Ralph Utter Jr. in the 250cc Micro-Sprint feature.
The West Milford, N.J., driver, who changed two engines on his No. 19J prior to feature time, inherited the lead when race-long pacesetter Mark Palome slowed coming to the white flag. He then raced on for the win, his fourth of the year.
Pat Bealer was second, followed by Lex Burritt, who climbed to third despite wing damage. Chris Weiss and Jason Von Doren rounded out the top five.
For the first time in his career, Phil Goetschius of Rosendale, N.Y., took the checkered first, winning the 15-lap Pure Stock main. Goetschius led the entire distance in a car purchased from George Decker less than a month ago. Kevin Krusewski put together his best ever run in second, ahead of Joe Narok, Jay Smalley and Jim O'Neill.
NOTES: Rain surrounded the speedway all afternoon, with a brief shower at 5:30 p.m., before the strong thunderstorm cut the Sportsman feature short to end the evening….
Car counts were off with the threat of weather. Still, 25-358-Mods, 22 Sportsman, 18 Pro Stocks, 16 Mini-Sprints, 20 Pure Stocks and 16 250cc Micro-Sprints signed in for competition….
Joe Winne Jr. watched the main from the pit area when the team found water in the oil of their freshened powerplant. They got the new piece in late Thursday night…
Andy Bachetti finished dead after busting the left-rear shock off the Downes Racing No. 40 in a lap-three frontstretch skirmish. He also sustained a flat tire in the jingle and decided to call it a night….
Involved in the only two cautions of the 358-Mod main was Mike Ricci, who rallied back for seventh….
Racing resumes at Accord Speedway on August 27 with a full show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, Mini Sprints, 250cc Micro-Sprints and Vintage Modifieds presented by Fabrications by Tauschman and Crackers Motorsports. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact the speedway office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website at: www.accordspeedway.com.
358-Modified Feature Finish: ROBBIE GREEN, John McGill, Tony Kawalchuk, Jackie Brown Jr., Butch Tittle, Rich Ricci Jr., Mike Ricci, Dom Roselli, Hank Goranson, Bobby Hentschel, Ryan Stortini, Mark Pullen, John Sanders, Scott Ferrier, Marc Johnson, Greg Morgan, Phil Recchio, Barry Davis, Jim Winchell, Andy Bachetti.
Did Not Qualify: Chris Johnson, Mike Van Tassel, Larry Hendershot, Cliff Bush, Joe Winne Jr.
Sportsman Feature Finish: DANNY CREEDEN, Jeff Hulseapple, Steve Krom, Jamie Yannone, Mike Senecal, Dave Coene, Kevin Duryea, David Bush, Jesse Marks, Don Johnson, Paul Minton, Chuck Davis, Nicole Tracy, Richie Rutski, L.D. Smith, Chris Grispin, Howard Jarvis, Jim Rossell, Harry Baldwin, Jeff Hager, Don Johnson Sr.
Did Not Start: Larry Badaracco.
Sportsman 8/6 Heldover Feature Finish: KEVIN DURYEA, Nicole Tracy, Danny Creeden, Jeff Hulseapple, Howard Jarvis, Mike Senecal, Paul Minton, Jeff Hager, Harry Baldwin, Steve Krom, Chris Grispin, Dave Coene, Don Johnson, L.D. Smith, Jamie Yannone, Larry Badaracco, Jesse Marks, David Bush, Chuck Davis.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: MIKE MANETTA, Ray See Jr., Don Williams, Norbert Bracklow, Doug Tyler Jr., Bill Deak Sr., George Christiana, Scott Mill, Steve Murray, Steve Plumstead, Terry O'Brien, Butch Winnie, John Rood, John Roese, James Devitt, Jerry Craig, Rob Hoar.
Did Not Start: David Gould.
Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: CLINT ROEHRS, Rob Scaccio, John Parete, Peter Sindt, Todd Lapp, John Matrafailo, John Guarino, Rich Sennett, Mark Rogers, Kevin Horton, Geoff Quackenbush, Kevin Kondelka, John Wullum, Gary Reyer, Michael Storms.
Did Not Start: Bobby Lynt.
250cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: RALPH UTTER JR., Pat Bealer, Lex Burritt, Chris Weiss, Jason Von Dohren, M.C. Bodick, Jordan Tittle, Mark Palome, Brandon Artibani, Jeremy Redlich, Mike Casario, Charles Redlich, Coleman Gulick, Chris Kervatt.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: PHIL GOETSCHIUS, Kevin Krusewski, Joe Narok, Jay Smalley, Jim O'Neill, Mike DuBois, Danny Tyler, Bill Deak Jr., Joe DiStefano, Ryan Hover, Sharon Byrne, Bill Rion, Hank Morin, Joe Giachinta, Mike Deyo, Kyle Wright, Steven Kanuk, John Davis, John Cole Jr.
Did Not Start: D.J. Brooks.