MIKE RICCI LOVES OPENING NIGHT AT ACCORD -- COLLECTS $1,500 WIN
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY - Mike Ricci is beginning to love opening night at Accord Speedway.
For the third consecutive year, Ricci, of Rosendale, N.Y. drove to a victory in the quarter mile oval's season opener on Friday night. But this one didn't come easy.
Ricci got shuffled back from his pole starting position in the early portions of the Roberti Motorcar 30-lap main, then withstood a determined late race charge from younger brother Rich Ricci, Jr. for the victory, worth $1,500.
"You can't ask for anything better than that," exclaimed Ricci. "The car was really good tonight and the track surface was awesome. Gary (Palmer) deserves a lot of credit for a great two groove track where the fastest car can win, not just any car."
Ricci started from the pole via his heat race victory, but it was teenager Tony Kawalchuk who got the jump on the initial green. Kawalchuk paced the first four laps before sliding high in the fourth turn, opening the door for the elder Ricci, who, after dropping back to fourth, powered his Gen-Plus No. 76 to the lead. Rich Ricci, Jr. muscled into the runner up spot by the eighth circuit and slowly began to build momentum in the track's upper groove.
By the halfway point, the Ricci brothers had separated themselves from the field, as Rich Ricci, Jr. began to pressure his brother heavily. He was able to build enough momentum on the top side to pull even with Mike as the lead duo approached the stripe for the 23rd circuit, but a caution for J.R. Heffner bunched the field and put Mike Ricci in sole possession of the top spot for the single file restart.
Once the event went green, Ricci actually began to inch away from an intense battle for the runner up spot between Rich Ricci, Jr., Andy Bachetti and Robbie Green. One final caution with two laps remaining slowed the action, but no one could challenge Ricci's Teo-Pro car, and the defending track champion opened his title defense in grand style.
"Rich was going good on the top," Ricci commented. "I knew he was up there, and before that caution came out, I was gonna move my line up. I didn't want to move up high and give up the bottom, but he almost had me, so I knew I'd have to run high if he got close to even with me again."
For Ricci, the triumph in the lid-lifter was a step towards the $5,000 point title.
"We're going for the championship," Ricci smiled. "I want that money."
After a second place run Rich Ricci, Jr. was thrilled with the performance of his Fall Fittings No. 55 Olsen Mount. "It was awesome," he exclaimed. "I had it right against the berm wide open - I hardly lifted. I was running it as hard as it could go, trying to get enough steam to get around him."
A loose plug wire in the final laps spoiled his victory bid, however.
"A plug wire came off with five to go and I had to go back to the bottom to protect second. I think we might've got by him if that didn't happen. This car was on tonight."
Robbie Green moved quietly from eighth to third in the Gross Graphics No. 69, just ahead of Andy Bachetti, who finished a solid fourth in his first outing aboard an A&C Performance-powered Bicknell 2003x. "The car was good for right out of the box," Bachetti reported. "We didn't run any practice with it, and everything's new, so I'm pretty happy. We weren't as good as Mike and Rich, but we were close - a few adjustments and it'll be better next week."
Up and coming Greentown, Pa. talent Allen Shiffler piloted the Crackers Motorsports No. 73 Kneisel mount from 14th starting position to the final top five slot.
In DIRT Sportsman action, Kevin Duryea recorded his second consecutive opening night win. Duryea won the first heat, started from the pole and dominated the 25-lap event, leading from green to checkered in his K&M Sealcoating Troyer Four-Link. Only lapped traffic and a slew of late race cautions hampered the 23-year old's $600 victory effort.
"The car was good, but I think we can make it a little better," the Wallkill, N.Y. resident remarked. "I didn't think it was ever going to end with all the cautions. I was beginning to wonder if I had enough gas in the car to make it to the end. That had me kind of worried."
Mike Van Pelt broke into the runner up spot on lap 19, but couldn't seriously challenge for the victory and settled for a solid second place run. Newcomer David Towns finished a strong third, just ahead of 12th starter Glenn Daley and a returning George Johnson.
Over the winter months, Jim Langenback made the decision to make Accord his Friday night home, and the decision immediately paid off in the opener, as the 62-year old from Pittsfield, Mass. raced to a $400 victory in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. Langenback's most serious challenge came early on by Dickie Colesanti, but a flat tire eliminated him on the seventh circuit.
From that point on, the Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) Speedway regular pulled away for the victory over George Christiana, Elwood Hewitt, Rob Johnson and Tommy Kuck.
In his second career start at the speedway, Jeff Lamothe recorded his second 1200cc Mini Sprint triumph, leading all 15-laps in a green to checkered performance. John Matrafailo charged from last to finish second in the Sunset Strip No. 8, just ahead of Steven Lapine, Riki Likowski and veteran Rich Sennett.
Mike Tholin was victorious in a wild 15-lap Pure Stock feature. It was his first career Accord triumph in just his second start. Joe Narok, Chris Meola, Greg Meola and Pat Zimmer rounded out the top five in the hotly-contested event.
On a dank, dreary Friday evening, 18 358 Modifieds, 23 DIRT Sportsman, 19 Pro Stocks, 19 1200cc Micro Sprints and 19 Pure Stocks filled the pit area. A solid crowd descended on the facility for the third season opener under the management of Gary and Donna Palmer.
Racing resumes at the Action Track on Friday, April 26 with a full program of 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and 1200cc Micro Sprints sponsored by John Arturi of D&J Racing Collectibles. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact the speedway at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.
358 Modified Feature Finish: Mike Ricci, Rich Ricci, Jr., Robbie Green, Andy Bachetti, Allen Shiffler, Rick Mill, Fred Newkirk, J.R. Heffner, Phil Recchio, Tony Kawalchuk, Scott Ferrier, Jeremy Markle, Barry Davis, Bruce Leote, Jimmy Johnson, Mark Pullen, John Sanders, Ken McGuire.
DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Kevin Duryea, Mike Van Pelt, David Towns, Glenn Daley, George Johnson, Jimmy Fugel, Keith Still, Larry Ricci, Harry Baldwin, Jimmy Lord, Paul Minton, Jim House, L.D. Smith, Henry Sherman, Tommy Roscoe Laner, Ray See, Jr., Dave Coene, Jimmy Winchell, Larry Badaracco, Rich Oxford.
Did Not Qualify: Billy Van Inwegen, Nicole Tracy, Herb Gannon.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: Jimmy Langenback, George Christiana, Elwood Hewitt, Rob Johnson, Tom Kuck, Noel Osborne, John Odendahl, Butch Winnie, Chris Bottge, Henry Van Houten, Josh Henke, Terry O'Brien, Car No. 15, John Roese, Dave Colwell, Larry Temple, Jr., Dickie Colesanti.
Did Not Start: Scott Mill, Chris DeCiel.
1200cc Mini Sprint Feature Finish: Jeff Lamothe, John Matrafailo, Steve Lapine, Riki Likowski, Rich Sennett, Ed Burgess, John Wullum, Jesse Baum, Steve Diffendorf, Marshall Gogg, Chet Hinkle, Mark Rogers, Jeremy Quick, Geoff Quackenbush, Peter Sindt.
Did Not Start: Matt Rozsitch, Clint Roehers, Kyle Lucas, Sammy Rogers.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: Mike Tholin, Joe Narok, Chris Meola, Greg Meola, Pat Zimmer, Will Landrum, Joe Judge, Scott Kilmer, Matt DuBois, Peter Warren, Mike DuBois, Jay Smalley, Sharon Byrne, Bruce Ackerley, Shannon Cole, Tony Polemeni, Kevin Krusewski, Mike Deyo, James Goetchius.