GREEN BREAKS THROUGH AT ACCORD, TAKES WIN NUMBER ONE
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY - As Robbie Green exited his car last Friday night at Accord Speedway, he breathed a sigh of relief.
After a season full of top five finishes and bridesmaid efforts, Green finally emerged victorious at the quarter-mile oval, winning the night's 30-lap Minnewaska Motors 358-Modified main.
It marked his first win of the 2004 season.
"We've had good luck this year - it's been a great season so far," Green said. "We just haven't had 'win luck' until tonight."
Polesitter Joe Winne Jr. burst into the early lead in his Teo-Pro car as Green, who started tenth, methodically worked his way through the field. A pair of early cautions (laps one and eight) bunched the field and Green took full advantage, moving forward on each restart.
By lap 12, the Wallkill, N.Y., veteran advanced to third. Four laps later, he made the inside move by John Sanders for the runner-up spot and set his sights on the leader.
"When I wanted it to go green for a lot of laps it did," the 41-year-old victor said. "I like a lot of green flag racing - I don't know if it's me or the car, but I seem to be a lot better off when I get that rhythm going."
It took only two laps for Green to make his move on Winne. Powering his Reclamation No. 69 to the outside groove on the backstretch on lap 17, he raced side-by-side with Winne for one circuit before overtaking the lead.
"I have to thank the 55 (Winne)," Green exclaimed. "He gave me a lot of room out there and I respect him for that. Some day he'll need some room and I'll give it to him. It was a pleasure to race that way."
Behind the leaders, the battle for third turned ugly on lap 22 when Sanders, Andy Bachetti and Mike Ricci entered turns one and two three wide. Sanders spun wildly to the infield and track officials sent Bachetti to the rear of the field for his involvement.
One more caution on lap 25 slowed the event, but Green checked out for the popular win.
"My brother Dave has the chassis perfect on this car," he said. "I just drive it."
Winne, of Kingston, N.Y., capped off an eventful day with a second place finish. The second-generation driver discovered an engine problem at the track's Wednesday practice session, pulled the powerplant out that night and got it back on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. from Precision Engine.
In fact, he didn't even make it to the track until shortly after the 7 p.m. start time.
"I have to give all the credit to the guys at Precision," Winne, 28, said. "I can't thank them enough. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for them."
Winne said his car faded in the race's second half, letting Green slide by.
"We bought a used right rear tire for tonight because we couldn't find the compound we wanted and it faded on us," he said. "It just went away at the end."
Mike Ricci finished third, ahead of 11th starter Dom Roselli and current point leader Rich Ricci Jr.
Former track champion Jeff Hulseapple of Bloomingburg, N.Y., returned to glory in the 25-lap Sportsman feature.
Hulseapple, who started ninth, took full advantage of numerous early caution flags to grab the lead on a third lap restart. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing.
Unheralded Kenny Moulton Jr. charged from 18th on the grid to second on lap 15 and chased down Hulseapple in the final circuits, pulling even with the white flag in the air. The slower machine of Bill Van Inwegen forced Hulseapple to the inside in the final set of corners, however, shutting down Moulton's victory bid.
Rock Hill, N.Y.'s Moulton was a season-best second, ahead of L.D. Smith, Tom Tomasko and asphalt Street Stock graduate Jeff Hager in his best Sportsman run.
For the first time in several seasons, local favorite Butch Winnie of Accord, N.Y., won the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. Winnie made the winning move around John Roese with five laps remaining and raced on to victory.
Don Williams forged a late race charge for third, besting Roese, Ray See Jr. and Norbert Bracklow.
Rob Scaccio put an exclamation point on his first Mini-Sprint checkered of 2004.
The Suffern, N.Y., veteran paced every circuit of the 20-lap main, fending off top gun Peter Sindt. A caution on lap 18 gave Sindt a final shot at the victory, but Scaccio got the restart jump and raced on to the win.
Sindt, John Matrafailo, Marc Geurard and Tony Montesi filled out the front five.
Teenager Michael Storms recorded his first career victory in the 250cc Micro-Sprint feature, leading the entire 15-lap distance.
Storms, of Wantage, N.J., fought off the late race charges of Mike Casario, including an inside move in turn one with a lap remaining, to record the popular triumph.
"We've worked so hard to get here," Storms, who laid the foundation of his career in Quarter Midgets, exclaimed.
Storms is the grandson of longtime dirt Modified mechanic Whitey Memmelaar.
Mike Casario settled for second, ahead of Rick Casario, a returning Frank Venezia and Ralph Utter Jr.
Taking the heldover Pure Stock feature from June 4 was Germantown, N.Y.'s Joe DiStefano, who led from green to checkered. For DiStefano, it marked his first career victory after being stripped of a win in post-race tech earlier in the season.
Joe Giachinta, Bill Deak Jr., D.J. Brooks and Sharon Byrne trailed. Byrne's fifth place effort, however, was negated when officials deemed her 24 pounds light on the scales.
The regularly scheduled Pure Stock main fell to the curfew and will be run June 18.
Mike Brown of High Falls, N.Y., recorded his second win of 2004 in the 15-lap Vintage Modified headliner.
Racing resumes at the Action Track on June 18 with a 30-lap $750 to win Mini-Sprint main plus 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and 250cc Micro-Sprints sponsored by Milford Suzuki. The Mardis Gras Monster Truck will be on hand giving rides.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. For more info, contact the track office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.
NOTABLE: The Winne team was appreciative of the Wednesday practice session, as it allowed them to recognize their engine problem. Winne believed something went through the radiator in the previous Friday's 55-lap main, causing the car to run hot and cause the damage….
Hank Goranson, a veteran of many seasons at Accord and Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway, made his 2004 debut….
In an attempt to change his luck, Jeremy Markle's 358-Modified carried the number 313 instead of the traditional 79. The significance behind the number: Markle and longtime girlfriend Kellie Leavens wed on March 13….
Former Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) Speedway Sportsman campaigner Will Galm made his return to the Big A. Galm, who has four wins to his credit on the West Lebanon, N.Y., high banks, plans to call the Ulster County oval home for the season.
The Highland, N.Y., driver last won at Accord in 1995. His return ended in a seventh place finish. Rich Ricci Jr. shook down the car in Wednesday's practice session….
The second 358-Modified heat race produced its share of action. First, a wild scramble in turn one sent Mike Ricci up over the nose of Scott Ferrier. The mix-up was followed by some caution flag antics between the pair. Following the race (which Ricci won from the rear), Dom Roselli and Ferrier exchanged pleasantries….
When the call was made for Andy Bachetti to fall in at the rear for his involvement in the 22nd lap spin by John Sanders, the Sheffield, Mass., driver headed pitside to consult with team owner Donnie Downes.
"I didn't know if he wanted me to run it from the back or just park it," Bachetti said.
Downes gave him the okay, but the track entrance gate was closed and he could not return. Bachetti vehemently disagreed with the call and left the speedway shortly after the main….
358-Modified Feature Finish: ROBBIE GREEN, Joe Winne Jr., Mike Ricci, Dom Roselli, Rich Ricci Jr., Marc Johnson, John McGill, Ryan Stortini, Scott Ferrier, Jackie Brown Jr., Jeremy Markle, Barry Davis, Phil Recchio, Mark Pullen, Mike Van Tassel, Bob Cancellieri, John Sanders, Andy Bachetti, Hank Goranson.
Sportsman Feature Finish: JEFF HULSEAPPLE, Kenny Moulton Jr., L.D. Smith, Tom Tomasko, Jeff Hager, Kevin Duryea, Will Galm, Jim Fugel, Dan Creeden, Howard Jarvis, Chad Hadlick, Dave Coene, Jesse Marks, Steve Krom, Bill Van Inwegen, Joe Pravia, Harry Baldwin, Nicole Tracy, Larry Badaracco, David Bush, Mike Senecal.
Did Not Qualify: Dick Shaddock, Paul Minton, Don Johnson, Dave Harris, Cliff Bush.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: BUTCH WINNIE, Don Williams, John Roese, Ray See Jr., Norbert Bracklow, Al Cheney III, Doug Tyler Jr., Jerry Craig, Mike Manetta, Bill Deak Sr., Terry O'Brien, Eric Moon, Lenny Brice, Steve Murray.
Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: ROB SCACCIO, Peter Sindt, John Matrafailo, Marc Guerard, Tony Montesi, John Guarino, Rich Sennett, Mark Rogers, Geoff Quackenbush, Todd Lapp, Phil Beesmer, Kevin Kondelka, Rich Ford, Joe Bergin, Bob Lynt, James Tomlinson, Jeremy Quick, Clint Roehrs, John Wullum, Gary Reyer, Marshall Gogg.
250cc Micro-Sprint Feature Finish: MICHAEL STORMS, Mike Casario, Rick Casario, Frank Venezia, Ralph Utter Jr., Jay Hartman, Ed Krupa, Doug Wessel, Lex Burritt, Charlie Redlich. Doc Young, Jeff Hartman.
Pure Stock Heldover Feature Finish (6/4): JOE DISTEFANO, Joe Giachinta, Bill Deak Jr., D.J. Brooks, Sharon Byrne (DQ - Light), Mike Deyo, Kevin Krusewski, Ryan Hover, Bill Judge, Mike DuBois, Tony Polemeni, Joe Judge, Danny Tyler, Kyle Wright.
Curfewed Pure Stock Feature Starting Lineup (To Be Run 6/18): Joe DiStefano, Sharon Byrne, Kevin Krusewski, Joe Judge, George Decker, Bill Deak Jr., Greg Meola, Danny Tyler, Chris Meola, Greg Kurtzman, Rocky Warner, Luke Horning, Ryan Hover, Bill Judge, Christopher Kanuk, D.J. Brooks, Peter Warren, Mike Deyo, Tony Polemeni, John Cole Jr.
Did Not Qualify: Kyle Wright, Joe Giachinta, Chip Banney, Mike DuBois.
Disqualified: Jason Walsh.