HAENELT AND HEFFNER PICK UP ACCORD MOD VICTORIES by Brett Deyo

ACCORD, NY-Ed Haenelt and J.R. Heffner picked up the DIRT 358 Modified victories Friday night at Accord Speedway.

Haenelt, of Bloomingburg, N.Y. earned his first career triumph at the speedway in the heldover 30-lap main, while Heffner, of Averill Park, N.Y. bested the field in the Turco's Machine Shop regularly scheduled feature. It was his fourth victory of the season.

Jim Halpin led the 20-car field to the green flag for the rain-postponed event from August 2nd, but Haenelt quickly made it three wide, powering his Vitale Lumber No. 11E to the lead on the first go round.

Haenelt rapidly opened up a large advantage as the rest of the field scrambled for position behind him. The strong-running 44-year old driver reached lapped traffic by the ninth go round, and was negotiating the slower machines when the race's first caution flew on lap 10.

As Haenelt led, thirteenth starter Jackie Brown, Jr. came charging forward in his No. 6X. The Hurley, N.Y. driver broke into the runner up position on the fifteenth circuit and he set his sights on Haenelt. Brown pulled even with the leader with ten laps remaining, but Haenelt's Mopar powered Troyer mount powered off the outside and maintained the position.

Brown made several attempts over the final laps, but it was Haenelt who held on for his first career victory at the Ulster County, N.Y. oval, and first win in over seventeen years, when he last was victorious at Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) Speedway.

"Wow, it's been a while," noted the happy Haenelt. "It's been a struggle to figure out this track. The guys that are running up front here know this place...for me in my first full season it's really tough to get the car dialed in."

So what exactly made the difference for Haenelt, whose previous best finish this season was a sixth? "Our car is good when the track is still wet," he commented. "I knew we had a shot when they said this race was running at the beginning of the night."

Brown finished a season-best second in a strong performance, ahead of Rich Ricci, Jr., Robbie Green and Barry Davis.

The second event took the green with Joe Winne, Jr. at the point. Winne led the first seven circuits before a strong running Barry Davis whipped around the outside to take command. J.R. Heffner followed Davis forward, powering his A. Colarusso and Sons No. 74 to the runner up position with eight laps in the books.

In a battle that had the crowd on its feet, Davis and Heffner ran wheel to wheel for three laps before Heffner slipped by on the inside to take command on the 12th circuit.

Mike Ricci took over second spot from Davis on the 20th circuit, but the Rosendale, N.Y. driver couldn't seriously challenge Heffner, who negotiated lapped traffic flawlessly for the popular victory, worth $1,200.

"I had a lot of fun racing with those guys," Heffner quipped. "We've been working hard to get the car hooked up. It was really good tonight...and I really enjoyed being a part of a clean race like that. Barry and Mike are two good racers."

Ricci maintained his point lead with a solid second place run, while Robbie Green charged from twelfth to third in the Gross Graphics No. 69. Local favorite Davis held on for fourth in another stout performance and defending champion Rick Mill completed the front five.

Lem Atkins drove his fourteen year old car to the victory in the 25-lap DIRT Sportsman feature. Atkins, of New Paltz, N.Y., took advantage of a late race tangle between race leaders Kevin Duryea and Bill Deckelman to take over the lead. He then fought off all challenges for the hard earned victory, his first at the track since 1999.

"This is one for the no budget racer," joked Atkins. "This thing is an '88 Olsen...I didn't know if it had any wins left in it. I guess I have to thank those guys for getting together in front of me and giving me the lead. I couldn't believe it."

Atkins actually led the race's first twelve laps, battling side by side with Deckelman for much of the distance in an exciting fight for the lead. Deckelman was able to power his No. 4 into the top spot at the halfway point while tenth starting Kevin Duryea moved into the runner up position.

Duryea closed on Deckelman and attempted to make an inside move entering turn one with three laps remaining. However, he ran out of room and the two cars collided. Deckelman got turned around and Durya piled in, ending both drivers' chance for victory.

That handed the top spot back to Atkins and he held on for the victory over Chuck Thomaschek, Mike Van Pelt, Tony Kawalchuk and Jeff Hulseapple.

In the heldover Pro Stock feature from August 2nd, point leader Elwood Hewitt of Saugerties, N.Y. took the victory over Jim Langenback, John Roese, Tom Dembek and Ray See, Jr. In post race tech inspection, however, See was disqualified for failing to report to the scales and Hewitt was fined $300 for unapproved brake components.

After a late race tangle took out the top two drivers, Scott Liese of Port Ewen, N.Y. inherited the top spot and drove to victory in the regularly scheduled 20-lap Pro Stock main. Liese took over the lead when leaders George Christiana and Tom Dembek got together with 14 laps in the books and pulled away for his third victory of the season.

Jim Langenback, Elwood Hewitt, Noel Osborne and Don Palmateer trailed at the finish.

Rob Scaccio returned after several weeks off and drove straight to victory lane in the 15-lap Mini Sprint feature. The Suffern, N.Y. driver took over the top spot on the fifth lap and pulled away for the popular victory.

Mark Dupuis was second, ahead of John Parete, Peter Sindt and Jeremy Quick.

Mike Deyo of Cornwall, N.Y. bested the Pure Stock field for the second consecutive week. Deyo started tenth and took over the lead from George Decker on the seventh circuit of the 15-lap affair, then survived several late race restarts for the victory. Decker, Dave Gerard, Joe Narok and Lee Gallant rounded out the top five.

With the weather finally cooperating, a jam-packed grandstand and full pit area of 21 358 Modifieds, 24 DIRT Sportsman, 30 Pro Stocks, 19 Mini Sprints and 23 Pure Stocks participated in the action.

Racing continues this Friday night, August 16th with double points for the 358 Modifieds plus a full regular show of DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mini Sprints. The held over DIRT Sportsman and Pure Stock features from August 2nd will also be on the card, sponsored by Trackside Magazine. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. For more info, contact the track at (845) 626-3478.

Heldover DIRT 358 Modified Feature Finish: Ed Haenelt, Jackie Brown, Jr., Rich Ricci, Jr., Robbie Green, Barry Davis, J.R. Heffner, Mike Ricci, Mike Murphy, Jeremy Markle, Ken Baker, Rick Mill, Fred Newkirk, Mark Pullen, Rich Hansen, Andy Bachetti, Jim Halpin, Jeremy Matthies, Joe Winne, Jr., Scott Ferrier, Ken Maguire.

Regular 358 Modified Feature Finish: J.R. Heffner, Mike Ricci, Robbie Green, Barry Davis, Rick Mill, Donnie Wilson, Jackie Brown, Jr., Rich Ricci, Jr., Jeremy Matthies, Jeremy Markle, Scott Ferrier, Mike Murphy, Ken Baker, Rich Hansen, Jimmy Halpin, Ed Haenelt, Joe Winne, Jr., Ken Maguire, Fred Newkirk, Mark Pullen, Andy Bachetti.

DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Lem Atkins, Chuck Thomaschek, Mike Van Pelt, Tony Kawalchuk, Jeff Hulseapple, Henry Sherman, Larry Ricci, Steve Williams, Ladd Yeommans, Tom Byrne, Joe Worner, Kevin Duryea, Howard Jarvis, Pete Gardner, Bill Deckelman, Ken Moulton, Jr., Larry Badaracco, K.C. McCoy, Poover Daley, Frank Doty.

Pro Stock Held over Feature Finish: Elwood Hewitt, Jim Langenback, John Roese, Tom Dembek, Ray See, Jr. (DQ), Rob Johnson, Larry Temple, Jr., Steve Murray, Mike Dutka, Jerry Craig, Noel Osborne, Henry Van Houten, John Odendahl, George Christiana, Leonard Brice, Scott Liese, John Rood, Jim Clark, Don Palmateer, Chris Bottge, Butch Winnie, Mike Manetta, Rob Hoar.

Pro Stock Regular Feature Finish: Scott Liese, Jim Langenback, Elwood Hewitt, Noel Osborne, Don Palmateer, Mike Dutka, John Roese, Ron Jablonka, Tom Dembek, Chris Bottge, Hank Morin, Steve Murray, Rob Reilly, Rob Rowe, Josh Henke, Larry Temple, Jr., John Odendahl, Leonard Brice, Henry Van Houten, George Christiana, Gene Temple, Ray See, Jr.

Mini Sprint Feature Finish: Rob Scaccio, Mark DuPuis, John Parete, Peter Sindt, Jeremy Quick, Bob Lynt, Joe Sanfilippo, Rich Sennett, Ed Burgess, Joe Pravia, Mark DuPuis, Jesse Baum, Tim Lapp, John Matrafailo, Darrel Quackenbush, John Wullum, Rodney White, Steven Lapine, Mark Rogers.

Pure Stock Feature Finish: Mike Deyo, George Decker, Dave Gerard, Joe Narok, Lee Gallant, Peter Warren, Joe Judge, Bert Long, Scott Hornbeck, Sharon Byrne, Kevin Krusewski, Paul Jordan, John Hughes, Will Landrum, Andy Briggs, Mike DuBois, Shawn Maher, Lars Petri, Chris Meola, Dan Rose, Jay Smalley, Joe Dembek.