GREEN WINS BY A BUMPER IN WILD ACCORD 358 MOD MAIN
by Brett Deyo
ACCORD, NY ... In a classic short track battle, popular veteran Robbie Green bested Ed Strada, Jr. for the 358 Modified victory Friday night at Accord Speedway.
After a wild exchange in the final circuits of the Pine Bush Equipment 30-lap main, Green pulled off a daring last lap pass, beating Strada to the stripe by a bumper for the $1,500 triumph.
"I got pretty excited out there," quipped Green. "I felt like I was racing him pretty clean, I can't really say the same on his part...but I was pretty happy to come out on top. Those last few laps really got me wired in the car, that's for sure."
Hard luck driver Fred Newkirk led the 20-car field to the green flag and jumped out to a healthy early advantage aboard his No. 9. As Newkirk led, Rick Mill, Strada and Robbie Green began to work through traffic, moving into second, third and fourth, respectively by the seventh circuit.
Multi-time feature winner Mike Ricci got turned around in the first turn on the eighth lap, bringing out the race's first caution. On the restart, Newkirk and Mill got together and slid up the track, opening the door for Strada, who powered his Ron's Route 590 Diner No. 42 to the lead with a thrilling three wide maneuver.
One lap later, tenth starter Green took over the runner up position and set his sights on Strada. With the assistance of several caution flags in the race's mid-portion, Green was able to close in on the strong-running Strada, but the Lake Ariel, Pa. chauffeur closed the door on all of Green's bids for the position.
The race's final caution flag flew with 23 laps complete, setting up a seven lap dash to the checkered. That's when it got interesting.
Green got a run on the leader with three laps remaining and made a charge to the inside on the backstretch. Strada moved down to throw the block and the two cars made heavy contact, sending Green sliding into the infield.
Though he lost momentum, Green was able to re-enter the track in turn three, nearly a half-straightaway behind the determined Strada, who sustained significant left rear suspension damage in the incident.
Green quickly closed the gap on Strada, and pulling up to his rear bumper with the white flag flying. He powered his Gross Graphics No. 69 to the extreme outside of the oval down the backstretch, pulling even with Strada between turns three and four. The two cars made contact once again as the duo raced down the frontstretch, but Green edged ahead at the stripe, beating Strada to the line by two feet for his sixth victory of the season.
"I don't know what the deal was," Green stated bluntly. "He ran me off the backstretch with three to go and it got me mad. I knew I was going to have to do it on the outside if I was gonna get around him, so when I caught him that's what I did."
Strada's bid for the victory came up short, though the soft-spoken driver felt lucky to hang on for second. "I was the leader," he commented. "I was just trying to protect the bottom and all of a sudden I felt him on my quarter panel. It broke the shock and the mount off the left rear of the car, so I was just hanging on those last two laps."
Fred Newkirk held on for third, his best ever finish at the speedway. Rick Mill was a strong fourth and J.R. Heffner completed the front five.
Heat races for the 31 cars in attendance went to Joe Winne, Jr., Mitch Gibbs, Green and Heffner. Larry Hendershot and Bob Gaetenello won the consolations.
After failing to qualify in his first Accord appearance, Jesse Marks rebounded in grand style Friday night, winning the 25-lap DIRT Sportsman feature in a dominant performance. The 20-year old from Napanoch, N.Y. started on the pole and was never seriously challenged, pulling away from the field in his Bill-Haenelt-powered Bicknell.
Marks encountered heavy lapped traffic in the final circuits of the event, but the Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway regular negotiated the slower machines like a veteran and held off three time track champion Jeff Hulseapple for the $600 triumph.
"This feels really good," noted Marks. "I was used to winning in Go Karts and it's been three years in Sportsman without a win. We were hooked up tonight...everything went right for us."
Jimmy Johnson was third, ahead of Kevin Duryea and Howard Jarvis.
John Roese picked up his third victory of the season in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. Roese started eighth and took over the lead at the halfway point. He then fought off a last lap challenge from Butchie Irwin for the much deserved victory. Irwin was second, ahead of Ron Jablonka, Dave Colwell and George Christiana.
John Matrafailo broke his string of bad luck and returned to Mini Sprint victory lane, besting Bobby Lynt for the victory after a thrilling battle for the lead. Matrafailo and Lynt traded the top spot several times during the 15-lap main before the Milford, Pa. driver regained the position for good with three laps remaining.
Lynt settled for second, with Jeremy Quick, Rob Scaccio and Rich Sennett rounding out the top five.
Charlie Houghtaling of Parksville, N.Y. earned his first career Accord victory in the 15-lap Pure Stock feature. Houghtaling started on the outside pole and led the entire distance, besting Will Landrum, Scott Hornbeck, Joe Narok and Jeff Hager.
Ken Hotaling won the 12-lap Four Cylinder feature over Mike Houghtaling and Eric Andresen.
358 Modified regular Jimmy Halpin of Wappingers Falls, N.Y. picked up the ride in the No. 50 Pinto and triumphed in the 15-lap Vintage Modified feature.
Racing resumes at the Number One Action Track this Friday, September 20th with the return of the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman Super DIRT Series for the first time since 1996. The best of DIRT Motorsports will do battle with the Accord regulars for 50-laps on the quarter mile. Also on the card is a $1,500 to win 358 Modified feature, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mini Sprints.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing aty 7 p.m. For more info, contact the track at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.
358 Modified Feature Finish: Robbie Green, Ed Strada, Jr., Fred Newkirk, Rick Mill, J.R. Heffner, Dom Roselli, Andy Bachetti, Rich Ricci, Jr., Hank Goranson, Barry Davis, Billy Thornton, John Finley, Jeremy Markle, Mark Pullen, Mike Ricci, Larry Hendershot, Bob Gaetenello, Mitch Gibbs, Ric Hill, Joe Winne, Jr. Did Not Qualify: Phil Recchio, Kevin Bates, Bruce Leote, Keith Shoemaker, Jason Tompkins, Chic Chandler, Danny Creeden, Kenny Baker, Burt Irwin, Tommy Perrego.
DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Jesse Marks, Jeff Hulseapple, Jimmy Johnson, Kevin Duryea, Howard Jarvis, Tommy Perrego, Glenn Daley, Larry Badaracco, Chuck Thomaschek, Tommy Laner, Bill Papula, Jim Secor, Henry Sherman, Randy Banks, Jr., Jim Barrett, Joe Worner, Kenny Baker, Jr., Charles Hendrickson, Bobby Gaston.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: John Roese, Butchie Irwin, Ron Jablonka, Dave Colwell, George Christiana, Mark Effner, Mike Manetta, Ray See, Jr., Leonard Brice, Tommy Vigh, Rob Johnson, Butch Winnie, Scott Liese, Jerry Craig, T.J. Pasko, Danny Hedges, Chris Feola, Tommy Kuck, Bill Knapp, Steve Murray. Did Not Qualify: Steve Plumstead, Ed Kulisz, Kenny Hulse, Mike O'Hara, John Rood, Hank Morin.
Mini Sprint Feature Finish: John Matrafailo, Bob Lynt, Jeremy Quick, Rob Scaccio, Rich Sennett, Steven Lapine, Ed Burgess, E.J. Douville, John Wullum, Chet Hinkle, Jesse Baum, Gary Reyer, Joe Pravia, Rocky Picciano, Kevin Kondelka, Pat Kuerner, P.J. Peworchik, Dave Tonic, John DeMarmels, Mark DuPuis, Brian Burns. Did Not Start: Rodney White, Kyle Lucas.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: Charlie Houghtaling, Will Landrum, Scott Hornbeck, Joe Naro