BACHETTI BRINGS HOME EMOTIONAL WIN AT ACCORD
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY - Andy Bachetti may have been at the wheel last Friday night, but he undoubtedly had a passenger.
Piloting the Downes Racing No. 40, Bachetti raced to an emotional victory at Accord Speedway in the Hudson River Truck and Trailer 30-lap 358-Modified season opener.
It was the first race for the Downes team since the untimely Jan. 24 passing of John "Rene" Downes, who founded the successful Capital District operation nearly 30 years ago. His son, Donnie, is keeping his father's tradition alive in 2004 by fielding the car at the Ulster County quarter-mile oval.
"I had someone riding on the wing with me," Bachetti said. "This one's for him."
By virtue of his win in the first heat race, the 28-year-old led feature field to the green flag. However, he had to survive a slew of restarts en route to the $1,500 score.
Seven-time champion Rich Ricci Jr. moved into the runner-up spot on lap four and kept Bachetti on his toes as caution flags flew early and often in the rough-and- tumble affair.
Ricci tried high and low for several laps, but wasn't able to build enough momentum to make a serious bid for the lead.
"It was a good way to start the season," Bachetti, the 2003 Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) Speedway 358-Modified champ, analyzed. "I was hoping for some longer green flag runs. Rich is way better on the shorter runs. Our car usually gets better the longer we go under the green. I didn't want to see all those restarts."
While Bachetti paced the field in his A&C Performance-powered Bicknell, Robbie Green charged forward from his sixth starting position.
On lap 20, Green made an aggressive move to the inside of Mike Ricci to take over third spot. As both drivers fought for the preferred bottom groove, contact ensued and Ricci's No. 406 went spinning, handing Green the position.
The younger of the Ricci brothers was next on Green's agenda.
Running the inside line to perfection, the Wallkill, N.Y., talent pulled even with Rich Ricci Jr. on lap 27 and forged ahead as the field crossed the stripe for the event's final caution on lap 28.
Bachetti got a good jump on the restart, however, and motored on to the win.
"I'm very happy for the entire Downes family," Bachetti concluded.
Green's hard-fought second place finish served as an excellent start to his 25th season of dirt Modified competition. However, the tangle with Ricci left him uneasy about the $1,000 runner-up effort.
"I hate that it happened," Green said of the incident. "I went in hard for the spot; he wanted the bottom and we both got there at the same time. Racing hard, that's all it was.
"It was a good run. I'm very happy with a second to start the year."
Rich Ricci Jr. kicked off his title defense with a third place effort. Tom Hindley of Fair Oaks, N.Y., raced from eighth to fourth at the finish and ninth-starter Joe Winne Jr. rounded out the top five.
The race was marred by a hard crash on lap 24, when Joey Grammes attempted a three-wide maneuver with Tony Kawalchuk and Jeremy Markle on the backstretch. Both Markle and Kawalchuk went airborne and made heavy contact with the boiler plate entering turn three. Kawalchuk's No. T5 executed a pirouette in the air while Markle's No. 79 slapped the wall hard with the front and back.
Both drivers walked away uninjured.
Kevin Duryea pulled off the hat trick in the 25-lap Sportsman main, collecting his third consecutive opening night triumph.
Behind the wheel of his former Alan Johnson 2003 Bicknell for the first time, the 24-year-old Wallkill, N.Y., talent overcame an early race penalty and a wild battle through lapped traffic for the victory.
The key point in Duryea's winning run occurred on lap 17 when he pulled off a brilliant move, clearing four lapped cars with one inside pass. That allowed him to open up a comfortable edge over the second place battle.
"We changed everything on the car this week," the division's defending champ announced. "Between last week and tonight, we worked non-stop. I really have to thank Dave Green (noted crew chief and brother of 358-Mod star Robbie). Having him around is like 25 years of knowledge on this car."
Dave Coene raced patiently from 10th starting position to second, ahead of Rich Coons, Howard Jarvis and Harry Baldwin.
Ryan Olsommer won the 4-lap Bars for Less Sportsman Dash for Cash.
In his return to full-fendered competition, Doug Tyler Jr. of Cottekill, N.Y., scored a wire-to-wire win in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. Tyler, who curtailed his 358-Modified racing efforts following the 2001 season, dominated the event, kicking off his return in style.
"It's been at least 12 or 15 years since I won in a Street Stock," said Tyler, whose last 358-Modified win occurred on June 8, 2001.
Don Williams, John Roese, Jerry Craig and Bill Deak Sr. rounded out the top five.
John Lieto, one of the true Mini-Sprint veterans, drove to the victory in the 15-lap main for the winged warriors. The Mt. Kisco, N.Y., pilot, who will run a full schedule aboard the Wally Kurn-owned No. 0, led the entire distance.
Jeremy Quick charged from 11th into the runner-up spot by lap four and looked to have a shot at the win, but mechanical problems sidelined him on lap 10.
Clint Roehrs collected a career-best second place finish, crossing the stripe ahead of Rob Scaccio, Marc Gerard and consolation winner Todd Lapp.
In a curfew-shortened 9-lap Pure Stock feature, George Decker of Highland, N.Y., was declared the victor. Decker and Mike Deyo spent much of the distance running wheel-to-wheel for the lead. Deyo settled for second, just ahead of 14-year-old rookie Danny Tyler, Kevin Krusewski and 18th starter Joe Judge.
Racing resumes at the Action Track on April 23 with a full program of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mini-Sprints sponsored by Apple Greens Golf Course. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and green flag racing at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact the speedway office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.
NOTABLE: All eyes in the pit area were on Tony Kawalchuk's severely damaged No. T5. The car, a 2004 Troyer Four-Link in its maiden voyage, will need both a front and rear clip before it sees action again, along with several new suspension parts, rubrails, wheels and tinwork. The car was left in the infield during the final two features of the night before a borrowed open trailer was sent to retrieve it.
Still managing a smile, Tony's father, former Sportsman driver Tony Sr. remarked. "On the clock, we were the fastest car out there."…
Likewise, Jeremy Markle's mount looked the worse for wear. His list of damaged parts included a left rear axle tube and axle, two tires and wheels, body work, a shock and a rear bumper. Markle visibly expressed his displeasure with Grammes on the track following the incident.
A piece of Markle's body was actually stuck in the wall. It took several members of the wrecker crew to remove it…
Allen Shiffler was done for the night following the heat race. The culprit: a broken rocker arm…
Joe Winne Jr. was all smiles following his first run in a brand new Teo-Pro car. The advantages of the new ride? "Easy adjustability, great pull off the corners and phenomenal side bite."
Winne classified the mount as "way better than any car I've ever had."…
Standing in the pit area after the night's conclusion, Donnie Downes smiled and said "Dad would have like this one tonight."…
The track was smooth, tacky and fast for the opener, which saw 110 cars in the pit area…
358-Modified Feature Finish: ANDY BACHETTI, Robbie Green, Rich Ricci Jr., Tom Hindley, Joe Winne Jr., Mike Ricci, Joey Grammes, Fred Newkirk, Ryan Stortini, Ed Strada Jr., Mark Pullen, Tony Kawalchuk, Jeremy Markle, Chris Johnson, Marc Johnson, John McGill, Scott Ferrier, Jackie Brown Jr., J.R. Heffner, Phil Recchio.
Did Not Qualify: John Sanders, Allen Shiffler.
Sportsman Feature Finish: KEVIN DURYEA, Dave Coene, Rich Coons, Howard Jarvis, Harry Baldwin, Ryan Olsommer, Bill Van Inwegen, Whitey Slavin, Danny Creeden, Tom Tomasko, L.D. Smith, Don Johnson, Chuck Davis, Jeff Hager, Nicole Tracy, Steve Krom, Larry Badaracco, Jesse Marks, Kenny Moulton Jr., Paul Minton.
Did Not Qualify: Mike Senecal, Chris Grispin, Cliff Davis.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: DOUG TYLER JR., Don Williams, John Roese, Jerry Craig, Bill Deak Sr., Mike Manetta, George Christiana, Al Cheney III, Pat Zimmer, Nick Petrilak, Steve Murray, Terry O'Brien, Tom O'Connor, Tom Cole, Tony Santos, Rich Wheeler, Ray See Jr., Lenny Brice, Rob Hoar.
Did Not Start: Norbert Bracklow.
Mini-Sprint Feature Finish: JOHN LIETO, Clint Roehrs, Rob Scaccio, Marc Gerard, Todd Lapp, Don Harvey, John Parete, John Guarino, Duby Woodruff, Bob Dance, Peter Sindt, Geoff Quackenbush, Rich Ford, Todd Bernier, Jeremy Quick, Bubba Broderick, Darrell Quackenbush, Rich Sennett, Glen Pressel, Marshall Gogg.
Did Not Qualify: Joe Bergin, Gary Reyer, Josh Webb, Chris Van Buren, Paul Bigelow, Mark Rogers.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: GEORGE DECKER, Mike Deyo, Danny Tyler, Kevin Krusewski, Joe Judge, Fred Davis, Bill Judge, Mike DuBois, Sharon Byrne, Scott Hornbeck, Bill Deak Jr., Joey Giachinta, D.J. Brooks, Dan Bertholf, Tony Polemeni, Greg Meola, Peter Warren, Joe DiStefano.
Did Not Start: Wayne Kershaw.