RICK MILL BREAKS OUT OF ACCORD SLUMP - WINS FIRST IN TWO YEARS
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY - After a two year absence, Rick Mill found his way back to victory lane at Accord Speedway Friday night.
The veteran from New Windsor, N.Y. triumphed in the evening's Minnewaska Motors DIRT 358 Modified main, collecting his first checkered flag at the quarter mile oval since October 12, 2001. Mill jumped out to an early lead and dominated the remainder of the 30-lap event - only lapped traffic in the final laps hampered his $1,500 victory run.
"We've been struggling a little bit here this season," Mill, 40, commented. "Last Friday night, I got caught up in a wreck early, but we tried a few things with the suspension of the car and it was pretty fast; I think we got back up to eighth. Tonight, after the heat we put that set up back in and changed a few other things and it was good, probably the best I've ever been here."
An upgrade in equipment over the off-season didn't hurt, either.
Mill traded in his vintage 1990 Troyer for an updated 1999 Teo-Pro Car.
"These cars are fast everywhere. You can look through the paper and see that most of the fast cars at each track are Teo-Pro cars. I know I'm happy with mine."
Young Tony Kawalchuk led the early stages of the event as Mill, who started sixth, steadily worked forward in his CV Automotive Machine-powered No. 77. By the race's first caution on the fourth lap, Mill had climbed to second. He took full advantage of the double file restart to grab the lead with a swift outside pass. The final caution of the event flew on lap 6 - from that point on, Mill opened up a sizable advantage on the field.
12th starter Rich Ricci, Jr. made an impressive run through traffic, making the move past Kawalchuk with six laps remaining, then forged a hard charge for the lead, but came up just a few car lengths short of Mill, who was slowed considerably by a pack of lapped cars.
"The lap counter never got changed," Mill explained. "I thought the T5 was in second the whole time and I was trying to be easy in traffic. When I came in, the crew told me it was Rich Ricci running second - if I had known that, I would have stepped it up a little bit with the slow cars."
It was Mill's second win this year - he also collected an early season triumph in the Sportsman ranks at Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway, where he competes on Saturday nights.
Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass. put together a solid run, charging from 15th to finish third, making a bold inside move on Kawalchuk on lap 26. The 14-year old Sportsman graduate was fourth - his best career 358 Modified finish - and Jeremy Markle nosed out Allen Shiffler by inches at the stripe for fifth.
Jeff Hulseapple was happy to have luck on his side in the 25-lap DIRT Sportsman feature. The three time track champion from Bloomingburg, N.Y. took advantage of a 21st lap tangle between Mike Van Pelt and Howard Jarvis to take over the top spot, then raced on for his first victory of the 2003 campaign, worth $600.
"I always try to put myself in a position to take advantage of situations," Hulseapple said. "I was close enough to see that happening and avoid it - and you've gotta feel for Van Pelt. But I've had nights when I had a dynamite car and didn't win. Tonight, I had a little luck on my side."
Van Pelt, who won out on a fierce battle with Larry Ricci for the lead on lap 14, appeared to have a second consecutive victory in his grasp until Jarvis made a bold inside move with four laps remaining in turn three, sending both cars spinning in front of the field.
Kevin Duryea made a late run from deep in the field for second. In the process, the 23-year old from Wallkill, N.Y. took over the point lead. Former track champion Jimmy Winchell was third, ahead of a steadily improving Harry Baldwin and Henry Sherman.
Jim Langenback appeared to be on track for a third place finish in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. However, a lap 15 incident that eliminated Elwood Hewitt and Tom Kuck handed the Pittsfield, Mass. resident the top spot - and his third Accord triumph of 2003, worth $400.
Local favorite George Christiana was second, with Butch Winnie, Dickie Colesanti and Don Williams in tow.
Stephen LaPine used the outside groove to his advantage in the 15-lap 1200cc Mini Sprint main, pulling off a dramatic 11th lap pass of 16-year old Geoff Quackenbush for the win. It marked the Mahopac, N.Y. talent's second visit to victory lane this season. In only his sixth start since making the jump from the 250cc Micro Sprints, Quackenbush was a career best second, ahead of Richard Sennett, James Tomlinson and Rob Scaccio.
Joe Narok of Highland, N.Y. bested Mike Deyo by inches in a drag race to the stripe in the 15-lap Pure Stock feature. Todd Houghtaling charged from deep in the field for third, with Pat Zimmer and second year racer Kevin Krusewski filling out the front five.
Once again, the track was smooth, tacky and dust free. Three and four wide racing dominated the evening and the action was completed by 11 p.m., including a Camera and Autograph Session on the frontstretch during intermission.
Despite the damp, threatening weather conditions the rain held off and car counts remained solid at 21 358 Modifieds, 27 DIRT Sportsman, 21 Pro Stocks, 22 Mini Sprints and 19 Pure Stocks.
Racing resumes at the Action Track on Friday night, May 23 with a full program of 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and 1200 cc Mini Sprints, plus a salute to auto racing's past with the Northeast Vintage Dirt Modifieds and Atlantic Coast Old Timers.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
For further information, contact the track office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the official website at www.accordspeedway.com.
DIRT 358 Modified Feature Finish: Rick Mill, Rich Ricci, Jr., Andy Bachetti, Tony Kawalchuk, Jeremy Markle, Allen Shiffler, Scott Ferrier, Mike Ricci, Tom Hindley, Jimmy Johnson, Robbie Green, Barry Davis, Larry Hendershot, Kenny McGuire, Phil Recchio, Mark Pullen, Fred Newkirk, Ryan Stortini, John Sanders, Kenny Baker, Bruce Leote.
DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Jeff Hulseapple, Kevin Duryea, Jim Winchell, Harry Baldwin, Henry Sherman, Keith Still, Larry Ricci, Mike Van Pelt, Kenny Moulton, Jr., L.D. Smith, Howard Jarvis, Don Johnson, Tommy Laner, Billy Van Inwegen, Glenn Daley, Jimmy Fugel, George Johnson, Dave Coene, David Towns, Larry Badaracco.
Did Not Qualify: Paul Minton, Jimmy Lord, Jim House, Tommy Byrne, Nicole Tracy, T.J. Pasko, Ray See, Jr.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: Jim Langenback, George Christiana, Butch Winnie, Dickie Colesanti, Don Williams, Rob Rowe, Dave Colwell, Mike Manetta, Don Palmateer, John Roese, Rob Johnson, Chris Adams, John Odendahl, Steve Murray, Leonard Brice, Hank Morin, Chris DeCiel, Elwood Hewitt, Tommy Kuck, Noel Osborne. DNS: Josh Henke.
Mini Sprint Feature Finish: Stephen LaPine, Geoff Quackenbush, Rich Sennett, James Tomlinson, Rob Scaccio, Jesse Baum, Clint Roehrs, Ed Burgess, Rich Wood, Jr., Kyle Lucas, Louis DuPuis, Mark Rogers, Shea Montgomery, Brian Baxter, Marshall Gogg, Kevin Kondelka, John Wullum, Peter Sindt, Gary Reyer, Marc DuPuis. DNS: Duane Koskey, Duby Woodruff.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: Joe Narok, Mike Deyo, Todd Houghtaling, Pat Zimmer, Kevin Krusewski, Sharon Byrne, William Landrum, Joe Judge, Mike DuBois, Chris Meola, Scott Kilmer, Greg Meola, Ira Landrum, Peter Warren, Jim Baxter, Bert Long, Jay Smalley, Charlie Houghtaling, Paul Jordan.