MIKE RICCI HOT IN ACCORD SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP 50
by Brett Deyo
ACCORD, NY-Mike Ricci is heating up at Accord Speedway.
The Rosendale, N.Y. driver powered to his second victory in three events at the quarter mile oval this past Friday night, winning the 50-lap $1,500 to win Jake's Auto Body Summer Championship. Ricci started from twelfth position in the extra distance affair and quickly marched forward, taking the lead just past the halfway point after a battle with Scott Ferrier.
"Man, this car was good tonight," commented Ricci after exiting his Gen-Plus No. 76 Teo-Pro mount. "I was able to come off the bottom and make passes. It made the difference tonight."
Jackie Brown, Jr. jumped into the lead on the start of the event from the outside pole, while Scott Ferrier took over the runner up position. Brown paced the field until the fifth circuit when a six car incident in the fourth turn brought out the caution. Ferrier used the outside groove on the restart to his advantage, taking the J. Baum Truck Parts No. 20 to the lead.
As Ferrier led, the battle for second position began to heat up between Brown, Andy Bachetti and an emerging Mike Ricci. Ricci advanced to third on the eighteenth go round, the set his sights on the strong running Brown. It took only three laps for Ricci to work past Brown while Bachetti followed him into third position with the Downes Racing No. 40.
On the 25th go round, a shot from behind sent Jeremy Matthies spinning in turn three, bringing out the caution.
Ferrier got a good jump on the restart, but he was not able to pull away from Ricci. The battle for the lead turned ugly on the 27th circuit. Coming off the fourth turn, Ricci dove to the inside of Ferrier. The two cars made contact down the frontstretch before, in the first turn, Ferrier's No. 20 went spinning. Ricci momentarily went airborne over Ferrier's front end, but he continued forward motion without any damage.
It didn't end there, however. Ferrier vaulted from his car and openly showed his displeasure with Ricci, running after Ricci's No. 76 under the red flag, which had been displayed because of a fire underneath Ferrier's car.
After security reported to the speedway to restrain Ferrier, and his disabled car was towed to the infield, the race got back underway with Ricci in the lead over Andy Bachetti. Track officials made the call that the incident was just a product of hard racing, not rough riding, and for that reason, Ricci maintained his position at the front of the field.
Bachetti spent much of the race's second half looking for a line to catch Ricci, but it was not to be on this night, as the 37-year old driver sliced through late race lapped traffic with ease and took the lead by a half-straightaway.
Bachetti, of Sheffield, Mass. put together a fine run for second, ahead of Brown, who finished a fine third after his best performance of the season in the Head's Up No. 6X. J.R. Heffner was fourth and Rick Mill completed the front five.
After the event, Ricci offered his opinion on the incident with Ferrier. "I felt like I had the line," he said. "I was almost completely up next to him and he tried to chop down. I wasn't going to let him run me in the infield so I kept my foot in it. We got together and he spun, that's all."
Ferrier, however, had a different view. "I got taken out," he bottom lined. "I was the leader. He got into me and turned me around."
In a caution-marred DIRT Sportsman feature, Mike Van Pelt of Pine Bush, N.Y. made his return to victory lane. Van Pelt started from eighth position and patiently worked through traffic, taking the lead from Rich Oxford on the 12th circuit of the 25-lap main. He then held off an impressive late race charged by Jeff Hulseapple for his second win of the season.
"I had a few near misses tonight," noted Van Pelt. "We needed some good luck. Finally, things went our way tonight."
Hulseapple came from 17th to finish second, ahead of Jim Winchell. Pete Booth had a strong run for fourth and Rich Oxford completed the front five.
Elwood Hewitt beat invader Jim Langenback to the line in a thrilling 20-lap Pro Stock feature. The veteran Hewitt, of Saugerties, N.Y. fought off the late race charge by the Lebanon Valley Speedway regular through lapped traffic for the victory, his sixth of the season.
Langenback was forced to settle for second, ahead of another invader, Kevin Ward, who put together a fine run for third in the Gary's Action Collision No. 98 after starting twelfth. Gene Temple and Scott Liese rounded out the top five.
Peter Sindt triumphed over his recent mechanical troubles, taking the win in the 15-lap Mini Sprint feature. Sindt, of Stone Ridge, N.Y., took full advantage of his pole starting position, fending off Steven Lapine for his third win of the season. Lapine was a solid second, ahead of Joe Sanfilippo, Paul Corazzo, Jr. and Tony Montesi.
Jay Smalley of Poughquag, N.Y. won the 15-lap Pure Stock feature. The hard luck driver led from the drop of the green and pulled away from the field for the much deserved triumph, his first visit to victory lane since at the track since September 15, 2000.
Trailing Smalley at the line were Joe Narok, Scott Hornbeck, George Decker and Will Landrum.
Racing resumes at the Number One Action Track this Friday, July 19th with a full program of DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mini Sprints plus 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.
Then, on Friday, July 26th the 358 Modifieds will compete in the 50-lap Bob Green Memorial. The extra distance event will pay $3,000 to win and will offer a guaranteed starting position for the October 12th 358 Modified Championship at the New York State Fairgrounds. The purse will be increased back through the field and drivers from other speedways are encouraged to attend. All cars must meet DIRT rules.
For more information, contact the track at (845) 626-3478 or check out the website: www.accordspeedway.com.
DIRT 358 Modified Feature Finish: Mike Ricci, Andy Bachetti, Jackie Brown, Jr., J.R. Heffner, Rick Mill, Rich Ricci, Jr., Jeremy Matthies, Barry Davis, Ken Baker, Jimmy Halpin, Brian Cobb, Mike Murphy, Ed Strada, Jr., Ed Haenelt, Hank Goranson, Joe Winne, Jr., Scott Ferrier, Rich Hansen, Keith Shoemaker, Jeremy Markle, Jason Tompkins, Rob Green, Mark Pullen. DNS: Fred Newkirk.
DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Mike Van Pelt, Jeff Hulseapple, Jim Winchell, Peter Booth, Rich Oxford, Poover Daley, Neil Harris, K.C. McCoy, Chuck Thomaschek, Kevin Duryea, Pete Gardner, Shan Brueckner, Tony Kawalchuk, Ladd Yeommans, Bill Deckelman, Randy Banks, Joe Worner, Harry Baldwin, Henry Sherman, Howard Jarvis, Kenny Moulton, Lem Atkins.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: Elwood Hewitt, Jim Langenback, Kevin Ward, Gene Temple, Scott Liese, George Christiana, Larry Temple, Jr., Rich Suitter, Noel Osborne, Mike Manetta, John Roese, Steve Murray, Rob Hoar, Pedro Portalatin, Henry Van Houten, Mike Dutka, John Odendahl, Jim Clark, Ray See, Jr., George Van Arsdall.
Did Not Qualify: Hank Morin, Butch Winnie, Jim Potter, Bryan McElheny, Chris Bottge, Lenny Helmich, Chris DeCiel.
Mini Sprint Feature Finish: Peter Sindt, Steven Lapine, Joe Sanfilippo, Paul Corazzo, Jr., Tony Montesi, Pat Kuerner, Mike Bosco, Chet Hinkle, John Wullum, Jeremy Quick, Jesse Baum, Paul Corazzo, Sr., Mark Rogers, Dave Tonic, Rich Sennett. DNS: Rob Scaccio, John Matrafailo.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: Jay Smalley, Joe Narok, Scott Hornbeck, George Decker, Will Landrum, Lee Gallant, Mike Deyo, Sharon Byrne, George Baxter, Paul Jordan, Joe Judge, John Hughes, Dave Gerard, Morgan Bernas, Andrew Briggs, Matt Curry, Bert Long, Mike DuBois, Bobby Brown, Peter Warren, Dan Rose, Chris Meola.