Rich Ricci Jr. Goes Back To Basics, Wins Accord
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
That was Rich Ricci Jr.'s mantra last Friday night at Accord Speedway, as the seven-time champion raced to his first 358-Modified win of the season at the Ulster County quarter-mile oval.
Ricci picked up $1,500 for his triumph in the 30-lap Daley Diesel main event.
"We needed this one," the relieved New Paltz, N.Y., chauffeur admitted.
"It was all going back to what worked here in the past; a basic set up and all our old engine parts from last year. We learned to stick to what works."
Following the May 7 program, Ricci discovered water in the oil as a result of a cracked engine block. He and his father, noted mechanic Rich Ricci Sr., tore the powerplant apart on Sunday afternoon.
They dropped it off at Middletown, N.Y.'s Precision Engine shop on Tuesday and had it back for Thursday night, when they got it in the car.
"I have to thank Bob Wendland and John Finley from Precision," Ricci said. "We brought the motor to them in pieces on Tuesday and they got it done for Thursday. They did it with what a lot of people would consider junk, but it was quick."
As for the event itself, Ricci made quick work of the field.
Coming from ninth starting position in his Dirt Wheels car, Ricci found a home on the outside and roared through the field.
He moved by Jeremy Markle for second on lap seven, then one lap later pulled off the power move past early leader John Sanders to take over the lead on the backstretch.
"Those guys were all hugging the bottom," Ricci, 37, said. "They left the whole track open for me to drive around them.
"I had to get by them quick before they got the chance to see me and come out to the wall. That's the only downside to running up high - they see me, say 'there's Ricci' and come up the track."
As Ricci paced the field, several of his adversaries encountered problems. After climbing to second, Andy Bachetti headed to the pits with a flat right rear tire on lap 18. Ricci's older brother Mike then emerged as a contender, but he tangled with John Sanders while fighting for second on lap 20.
That left Joe Winne Jr. in the runner-up slot, but even he encountered a scare.
Following the race's final caution on lap 29, Winne's car momentarily popped out of gear entering the first turn, nearly costing the Kingston, N.Y., driver a top five finish.
"It jittered real bad going into one and it popped out of gear," the 28-year-old Winne said. "I quick slammed it back into gear and drag raced Robbie down the backstretch for second.
"We made a bunch of changes after the heat race (front springs, panhard bar, stagger, nitrogen levels in shocks) and we were a lot better. Rich was really good. He was a better man tonight."
Robbie Green rebounded from a fifth lap spin to claim third at the finish. Barry Davis came from 12th to finish fourth and popular John McGill was fifth, picking up his first top five in a number of seasons.
After two sub-par weeks, Kevin Duryea appeared to be back on track, winning the 25-lap Sportsman feature.
The Wallkill, N.Y., talent powered his No. 99K Bicknell to the outside of Jesse Marks on a ninth lap restart then checked out on the field, picking up his second win of 2004 in dominant fashion.
However, in post race tech inspection, the track scales had Duryea's car at 2431 pounds, 19 pounds short of the minimum (including the allowed two percent).
Duryea lost all points and money for the evening, but kept the win in accordance with the DIRT Rule Book, which the track still follows with exception of the American Racer tire rule.
Jesse Marks of Napanoch, N.Y., put together strong run to finish second ahead of Howard Jarvis, Harry Baldwin and Rich Coons.
Doug Tyler Jr. wouldn't let a minor deterrent like an early race flip stop him from reaching Pro Stock victory lane.
After overturning his No. 22 on the backstretch with five laps complete, the Cottekill, N.Y., driver fired the car back to life and roared through the field, picking up his second win of the 2004 season. He grabbed the lead from Lenny Brice on lap 15.
"As long as it was straight and I could drive it," Tyler said. "I was going for it."
Al Cheney III of Cranbury, N.J., was third, besting Lenny Brice, Norbert Bracklow and Donald Williams.
John Lieto returned to winning form in the 20-lap Mini-Sprint feature.
Mt. Kisco, N.Y.'s Lieto made a calculated charge through the field, coming from eighth to the lead in just three laps in the Wally Kurn-owned No. 0.
Peter Sindt charged from the consolation up to the runner-up spot but couldn't pose a serious challenge to Lieto, who raced on to his second win of the year. He was last in victory lane on April 16.
Sindt, current point leader Clint Roehrs, Marshall Gogg and James Tomlinson completed the front five.
Mike DuBois of Highland, N.Y., recorded his second straight win in the 15-lap Pure Stock feature. He fought off Mike Deyo, Joe Judge, George Decker and Danny Tyler to record the win.
Racing resumes at the Action Track on May 21 with a full show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mini Sprints plus the Vintage Modifieds sponsored by Bob Gaydos Auto Body. 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 track office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.
NOTABLE: Understandably, Rich Ricci Sr. was concerned when he diagnosed the engine problem following the previous week's event. "Our spare is in Jackie Brown's car until his engine is done," the elder Ricci said. "And I wasn't going to tell him he couldn't race so we could have it back."….
Robbie Green's crew made a steering box change at intermission after stripping out the gears in the heat race….
Butch Tittle finished a solid sixth in the feature but fought power steering for much of the night. The team felt it was the Teflon lines that caused the problem….
Andy Bachetti and Mike Ricci exchanged on-track blows during a lap 27 caution period, making contact on several occasions before falling into line. The caution mayhem began with a spin by Bachetti, who felt Ricci assisted in turning him around….
John McGill's first top five in a number of seasons came in dramatic fashion: the transmission was barely in the car as he took the checkered.
"It was making all kinds of noises," McGill exclaimed. "It was in there by a thread."….
L.D. Smith returned after a series of barrel rolls in an April 30 Sportsman consolation. Smith was behind the wheel of his spare car, a 2001 Troyer SLR, as his main chassis was sent to Rochester, N.Y., Troyer headquarters for an evaluation….
358-Modified Feature Finish: RICH RICCI JR., Joe Winne Jr., Robbie Green, Barry Davis, John McGill, Butch Tittle, Marc Johnson, Fred Newkirk, Jeremy Markle, J.R. Heffner, John Sanders, Jackie Brown Jr., Ryan Stortini, Andy Bachetti, Mike Ricci, Phil Recchio, Mark Pullen, Scott Ferrier, Tom Hindley.
Did Not Start: Larry Hendershot.
Sportsman Feature Finish: KEVIN DURYEA (DQ), Jesse Marks, Howard Jarvis, Harry Baldwin, Rich Coons, Jim Winchell, Chris Grispin, L.D. Smith, Larry Badaracco, Danny Creeden, Jeff Hager, Mike Senecal, Dave Coene, Nicole Tracy, Cliff Bush, Bill Van Inwegen, Don Johnson, Jeff Hulseapple, Paul Minton, Tom Tomasko.
Did Not Qualify: Joe Pravia, Chad Hadlick, Dave Bush, Dave Archieri, Steve Krom.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: DOUG TYLER JR., Al Cheney III, Lenny Brice, Norbert Bracklow, Don Williams, Bill Trego, Scott Mill, Pat Zimmer, Steve Murray, John Roese, Bill Deak Sr., Terry O'Brien, Mike Manetta, Butch Winnie, Les Gillette, Ray See Jr., Jerry Craig.
Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: JOHN LIETO, Peter Sindt, Clint Roehrs, Marshall Gogg, James Tomlinson, Rich Sennett, John Guarino, Gary Reyer, John Wullum, Randy Caruso, Tom Richard, Rich Ford, Jeff Van Ben Schoten, Marc Gurard, Mark Rogers, Geoff Quackenbush, Kevin Kondelka, Duby Woodruff, Jeremy Quick, John Parete, Rob Scaccio.
Did Not Qualify: Bob Lynt, Joe Bergin.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: MIKE DUBOIS, Mike Deyo, Joe Judge, George Decker, Danny Tyler, Bill Deak Jr., Joe Giachinta, Kevin Krusewski, Sharon Byrne, Chris Meola, Scott Hornbeck, Bill Judge, Stephen Kanuk, Peter Warren, Greg Meola, Joe DiStefano, John Cole Jr., Fred Davis Jr.