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MIKE RICCI FINISHES UNSCATHED, GRABS ACCORD WIN



By BRETT DEYO

ACCORD, NY - Standing by his No. 406 in the Accord Speedway pit area, Mike Ricci looked relieved.

Following a raucous first two weeks, Ricci powered to his first 358-Modified feature win of 2004 last Friday night at the Ulster County quarter-mile oval. The Rosendale, N.Y., talent collected $1,500 for the win in the B&P Homes 30-lap main event.

"We've got all the wheels on the car tonight," Ricci laughed. "I'm happy. The third race in to get it out of the way is great, now we can concentrate on consistency."

On opening night, a rear panhard bar that got stuck down and contact with Robbie Green spoiled his run. One week later, the 25-year dirt Modified veteran broke a left front shock and shock tower, forcing him to manhandle the car to a fourth place finish.

Week three, however, was all clear sailing.

Upset-minded Phil Recchio jumped into the lead from his pole starting position and paced the first five circuits before Andy Bachetti, who started eleventh, slid to the inside following a restart.

A hard-charging Joe Winne Jr. unseated Bachetti for the top spot on lap nine after a full circuit of side by side action. 10th starter Ricci made his presence felt on the 12th go round, slipping to the inside of Bachetti for second aboard his JPM-powered Teo-Pro car.

Ricci stalked Winne, until, with ten laps remaining the second-generation chauffeur slipped off the bottom groove in turn four. Ricci pounced on the opportunity, and snatched the lead away.

"Joe was running real good," Ricci, 39, remarked. "We were just a little better on the long runs than he was. If we had a few more cautions I think it would have been tougher."

Once out front, Ricci walked away from a heated battle for second involving Winne, Bachetti and Robbie Green.

"The track was good for us," he said. "We did our homework this week. We've been working on the car all week, and it paid off. It worked out for us that the track slicked up a little."

In a wild, three-wide scramble coming to the checkered, Bachetti used the outside groove to reclaim second spot in the Downes Racing No. 40.

Robbie Green, in the process, slipped to the inside of Winne to nab third, while Winne settled for fourth. J.R. Heffner completed the top five.

Jeff Hulseapple of Bloomingburg, N.Y., took advantage of a near-perfect racecar to win the 25-lap Sportsman feature, pulling off a late race pass for his first win of 2004.

Hulseapple, who started twelfth, made a slick crossover move on Garden State driver Tom Tomasko on lap 20.

Winding his No. 14H up in the outside groove entering turn three, Hulseapple drove to the bottom off turn four and beat Tomasko to the stripe to grab the lead. He then raced on for the $600 triumph.

"This car was a dream tonight," the former champion exclaimed. "I pitched the car in high going into three. As I was coming down to exit the corner he slid up and I drove right under him."

Hulseapple, who missed the April 16 opener, finished third in his April 30 debut.

Tomasko, of Somerville, N.J., fell just shy of his career first Accord triumph, settling for second. Jesse Marks put forth his best effort of the season, coming home a stout third, just in front of Danny Creeden.

Harry Baldwin overcame a 17th starting spot and a pair of early race tangles to rebound for fifth.

Lenny Brice found a home in the outside groove and used it to his advantage, working by Norbert Bracklow on lap 18 and motoring on to win the 20-lap Pro Stock main. Brice had trailed the leader closely for several laps before building enough momentum to make the move.

For the Ulster Park, N.Y., native, it marked the second win of his career. He was also a winner in the 2003 Fall Series.

Bracklow led from the outset, but lost his tires late in the going and finished second, ahead of Butch Winnie, George Christiana and Bill Deak Sr.

Peter Sindt returned to glory in Mini-Sprint action, leading the entire distance to top the 20-lap main event. Sindt, a two-time track champion from Stone Ridge, N.Y., negotiated lapped traffic flawlessly en route to the win.

John Parete remained within two car lengths of Sindt for much of the distance and finished a season-best second. Young Clint Roehrs put together another stellar run in third, just ahead of Marc Gerard and Geoff Quackenbush.

In a post-race turn of events, Mike DuBois of Highland, N.Y., earned his first career win in the 15-lap Pure Stock main. DuBois actually lost the lead on the final lap to Joe DiStefano, but the apparent victor was disqualified after coming up light on the track scales.

That handed the win to DuBois, as DiStefano was stripped of all points and money for the night. George Decker, Greg Meola, Mike Deyo and Kevin Krusewski rounded out the top five.

Former I.M.C.A. Modified driver Mike Brown of High Falls, N.Y., won the 15-lap Vintage Modified main. Brown roared through the field after stalling while in the lead on a lap six caution.

Racing resumes at the Action Track on May 14 with a full program of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mini-Sprints sponsored by Daley Diesel. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. For more info, contact the track office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the official website: www.accordspeedway.com.

NOTABLE: After a twenty year absence, Modified veteran Butch Tittle returned to Accord. Tittle, of Saylorsburg, Pa., picked up the ride in the Pete Reynolds-owned No. 73 Kneisel after the seat was vacated by Allen Shiffler following the season opener.

Tittle lost a cylinder during heat race action, but completed the feature in 11th position, steering clear of the early race jingles. The former Penn-Can (Pa.) Speedway mainstay, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will compete on a regular basis with the car, which will be maintained at the Greentown, Pa., Fabrications by Tauschman shop.

There is also a possibility of Tittle running some Sunday night events at Cayuga County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway in the team's Bicknell car. The details are still being worked out….

2000 Sportsman track champion Jim Winchell was back on hand with his No. 17. Winchell has been busy serving as a car owner for Jerry Higbie Jr.'s 358-Modified endeavors at Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway….

Kevin Duryea made two valiant charges through the Sportsman field only to spin from contention in turn two on a pair of occasions. While in fifth spot, the Wallkill, N.Y., hotshoe spun on lap six. He then rallied back to third only to loop his No. 99K again on the 24th circuit.

In his second spin, Howard Jarvis was collected, ending his top five run. Jarvis is very pleased with the performance of his new PMC chassis, and is especially enthused with the hands-on efforts of owner Pete Chukta….

The return of Tony Kawalchuk following the hard opening night crash, and the first 2004 appearance by Barry Davis aided in bringing the Modified count back to 22….

358-Modified Feature Finish: MIKE RICCI, Andy Bachetti, Robbie Green, Joe Winne Jr., J.R. Heffner, Rich Ricci Jr., Phil Recchio, Jeremy Markle, Barry Davis, Marc Johnson, Butch Tittle, Fred Newkirk, John McGill, Ryan Stortini, Scott Ferrier, Mark Pullen, Tony Kawalchuk, Jackie Brown Jr., Tom Hindley, Chris Johnson.

Did Not Qualify: Larry Hendershot, John Sanders.

Sportsman Feature Finish: JEFF HULSEAPPLE, Tom Tomasko, Jesse Marks, Danny Creeden, Harry Baldwin, Dave Coene, Kenny Moulton Jr., Chris Grispin, Paul Minton, Jeff Hager, Don Johnson, Kevin Duryea, Mike Senecal, Larry Badaracco, Howard Jarvis, Jim Winchell, Rich Coons, Whitey Slavin, Bill Van Inwegen, Nicole Tracy.

Did Not Qualify: Joe Pravia, Chad Hadlick, Cliff Bush, Bill Van Inwegen, Dave Bush.

Pro Stock Feature Finish: LENNY BRICE, Norbert Bracklow, Butch Winnie, George Christiana, Bill Deak, Ray See Jr., Steve Murray, Terry O'Brien, Don Williams, Rob Hoar, Al Cheney III, Pat Zimmer, Mike Manetta, Doug Tyler Jr., Scott Mill, Rich Wheeler, Jerry Craig, John Roese.

Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: PETER SINDT, John Parete, Clint Roehrs, Marc Gerard, Geoff Quackenbush, Rob Scaccio, John Guarino, Bob Lynt, Rich Sennett, Randy Caruso, Rich Ford, Mark Rogers, Joe Bergin, Todd Bernier, Jeff Van Ben Schoten, Todd Lapp, Darrell Quackenbush, Gary Reyer, Jeremy Quick, Kevin Kondelka.

Did Not Start: Marshall Gogg, James Tomlinson.

Pure Stock Feature Finish: MIKE DUBOIS, George Decker, Greg Meola, Mike Deyo, Kevin Krusewski, Scott Hornbeck, Sharon Byrne, Ryan Hover, Bill Deak Jr., D.J. Brooks, John Cole Jr., Christopher Kanuk, Joe Judge, Joe Giachinta, Bill Judge, Danny Tyler.

Disqualified: Joe DiStefano.
Did Not Start: Ira Landrum.