JACKIE BROWN JR. BREAKS SEVEN-YEAR DROUGHT AT ACCORD

By BRETT DEYO

ACCORD, NY - No one could blame Jackie Brown Jr. for his celebration following last Friday night's 358-Modified feature at Accord Speedway.

After all, victory lap doughnuts and a roof dance were quite appropriate after the Hurley, N.Y., driver broke a seven-year win drought in the time-shorted 23-lap Wide Open Motorsports headliner at the Ulster County quarter-mile oval.

Brown, who last won a feature in May 1997, was thrilled to be back in victory lane.

"I'm really, really happy to be here," he exclaimed.

The 32-year-old started fourth in the field and moved in on early pacesetter Hank Goranson, who jetted out from the front row. Brown powered his Wolf-tec No. 6x to the inside of Goranson on lap five, then won the drag race down the backstretch to grab the number one spot.

"The car was getting really good bite off the corners, and Hank gave me the room," Brown said of the pass.

Tenth-starter Andy Bachetti and Mike Ricci, who charged from 12th, broke into second and third, respectively, on a lap nine restart.

The top three ran nose-to-tail until Ricci slipped to the inside of Bachetti on lap 20 and almost immediately erased Brown's advantage. As Ricci was beginning to set up a patented high-low crossover move, the caution flew on lap 23 for a two-car spin in turn one.

At that point, the yellow and checkered flags were waived simultaneously due to the impending curfew, handing Brown the $1,500 win.

"I wasn't getting in the corner good at the end," Brown said. "And they (Brown's crew) said Mike was getting in a lot better than me, but I was still beating him off.

"It pays $1,500 no matter what distance it is," he said. "Hey, a win is a win no matter how you get it."

Brown's '99 Teo-Pro car is equipped with a Precision Engine owned by Rich Ricci Sr., as his own engine is still in the shop. He wished to extend his gratitude to the Ricci team for the use of the powerplant.

Rosendale, N.Y.'s Ricci was disappointed with his second place finish.

"He was going away and I was coming on," Ricci said. "I think I could have gotten him the last time out of two, but I didn't push the issue.

"That could have been his last set of corners."

Bachetti, of Sheffield, Mass., settled for third in the Downes Racing Bicknell, just in front of the veteran Goranson in his best performance of 2004. Robbie Green nipped Rich Ricci Jr. for fifth on the final lap.

Kevin Duryea of Wallkill, N.Y., was a determined man in the 25-lap Sportsman feature.

Breaking a recent string of bad luck, the 23-year-old talent roared from 16th starting position after winning the consolation to grab his fourth win of the season in his former Alan Johnson Bicknell car.

Duryea, who attempted to work by Howard Jarvis for five circuits on the inside, changed lanes and powered around the Accord, N.Y., resident with a high-line move following a 14th lap restart. From that point on, he checked out on the field for a cool $600 payday.

Jarvis held on for second, ahead of Jeff Hulseapple, Harry Baldwin and Tom Tomasko.

The Art Tyler Memorial 50-lap Pro Stock main produced a last lap pass, with former champion Elwood Hewitt of Saugerties, N.Y., in his 2004 Big A debut, taking the win in the first annual event.

The extra-distance affair featured a bizarre twist in its latter stages, as Doug Tyler Jr., who led until tangling with Lenny Brice on lap 31, slowed dramatically until the leaders encountered him in the final five laps.

At that point, he proceeded to rub wheels with rival and race-leader Don Williams, eventually taking Williams up the track, which allowed Elwood Hewitt to race by.

On lap 49, the caution was displayed as Tyler spun and track officials placed Williams back in the lead. Tyler was black flagged.

It wasn't enough for the High Falls, N.Y.'s Williams, however, as he pushed wide on the restart and Hewitt drove to the inside to take the win over John Roese and Norbert Bracklow. Williams fell to fourth and Jerry Craig rounded out the top five.

Geoff Quackenbush didn't leave any question as to who would emerge victorious from the 20-lap Mini-Sprint feature.

The teenager from Pine Island, N.Y., literally dominated the event, taking his first career win in the division.

Quackenbush took over the lead on lap one after starting fourth and checked out. Even a series of cautions in the second half of the event (the last of which came on lap 17) couldn't phase the young driver, as he marched on to a popular win.

John Matrafailo, Peter Sindt, John Lieto and James Tomlinson rounded out the top five.

Ralph Utter Jr. returned to winning form in the 250cc Micro-Sprint ranks.

Utter, who won the division's inaugural appearance on May 28, took over the lead from Michael Storms on a first lap restart, then fought off a strong-running Lex Burritt to record the victory.

Mark Palome, Mike Casario and Michael Storms trailed.

The Pure Stock division's 15-lap feature fell to the curfew. It will be run prior to the July 16 program. Heat winners for the 22 cars in attendance were Bill Judge, Mike Deyo and Joe DiStefano. The consolation went to Bill Deak Jr.

Racing resumes at Accord Speedway on Friday, July 16 with a full regular show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Mini-Sprints, 250cc Micro-Sprints and Pure Stocks, plus the Vintage Modifieds sponsored by Saunderskill Farms.

The 250cc Micro-Sprints will compete in a heldover feature from July 2, while the Pure Stocks will make up the curfewed July 9 main. 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 check out the official website: www.accordspeedway.com.

NOTABLE: Brown credited some of his success to a change in tire compounds. He bolted on the SD 44 American Racer, the "mid-range" of the three available choices for the 358-Modified division….

Kenny Moulton Jr.'s transmission problems forced him to relinquish a qualifying spot on the final lap of the Sportsman consolation….

Butch Tittle retired to the pits with a flat right-front tire on lap 17 . He wasn't able to negotiate his way back to the track before the race went back green….

Fireworks during the lap-17 caution period saw Dom Roselli climb over the back of Bob Hentschel's car. Hentschel subsequently returned the favor with an abrupt right hand turn on the frontstretch.

The dispute between the pair: Roselli's spin entering turn one on the same lap….

The track surface was smooth for the night's action as Gary Palmer continues to work the quarter-mile's clay. Two watering sessions during the night kept the dust down and produced several grooves….

358-Modified Feature Finish: JACKIE BROWN JR., Mike Ricci, Andy Bachetti, Hank Goranson, Robbie Green, Rich Ricci Jr., John Sanders, Marc Johnson, Phil Recchio, Mark Pullen, Barry Davis, Scott Ferrier, John McGill, Mike Van Tassel, Bobby Hentschel, Butch Tittle, Joe Winne Jr., Dom Roselli, Ryan Stortini, Bruce Leote.

Did Not Qualify: Joe Pravia, Kevin McCoy, Bob Cancellieri, Fred Newkirk.

Sportsman Feature Finish: KEVIN DURYEA, Howard Jarvis, Jeff Hulseapple, Harry Baldwin, Tom Tomasko, Larry Badaracco, Don Johnson, Chris Grispin, Danny Creeden, Jamie Yannone, Jim Fugel, Dave Coene, Mike Senecal, David Bush, Jesse Marks, Paul Minton, Will Galm, Jeff Hager, L.D. Smith, Steve Krom.

Did Not Qualify: Nicole Tracy, Don Johnson Sr., Chuck Thomaschek, Chuck Davis, Kenny Moulton Jr.

Art Tyler Memorial Pro Stock Feature Finish: ELWOOD HEWITT, John Roese, Norbert Bracklow, Don Williams, Jerry Craig, Rob Rowe, Steve Murray, George Christiana, Steve Plumstead, Scott Mill, Josh Henke, Mike Manetta, Lenny Brice, Terry O'Brien, James Devitt, Ray See Jr.

Disqualified: Doug Tyler Jr.

Did Not Start: Bill Deak Sr., Butch Winnie.

Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: GEOFF QUACKENBUSH, John Matrafailo, Peter Sindt, John Lieto, James Tomlinson, John Parete, Marshall Gogg, Clint Roehrs, John Guarino, Todd Lapp, Tom Richard, Kevin Kondelka, Rich Ford, Mark Rogers, Kevin Horton, Gary Reyer, Rich Sennett.

Did Not Start: Rob Scaccio.

250cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: RALPH UTTER JR., Lex Burritt, Mark Palome, Mike Casario, Michael Storms, Chris Weiss, Charles Redlich, Chris Kervatt, Rick Casario, Greg Stevens, Stephanie Stevens.

Pure Stock Feature Starting Lineup: Bill Judge, Sharon Byrne, Ryan Hover, Danny Tyler, Joe Giachinta, Mike DuBois, Joe DiStefano, Joe Judge, Mike Deyo, D.J. Brooks, Jay Smalley, Jim O'Neil, Will Landrum, Kyle Wright, George Decker, Bill Deak Jr., Hank Morin, Steven Kanuk, Bill Rion, Jim Baxter.

Did Not Qualify: John Cole Jr., Tony Polemeni.