Bachetti earns first career Accord victory
ACCORD, NY (May 17, 2002) - It didn’t take long.
Just five weeks into the season, Andy Bachetti made his first visit to victory lane at Accord Speedway. Bachetti, of Sheffield, Mass. triumphed in a thrilling 30-lap DIRT 358 Modified feature at the quarter mile oval Friday night, his first ever victory at the Ulster County, N.Y. facility.
"I like when the track is slick and smooth," the personable 25-year old commented. "We’ve got a good set up for this surface. I've really got to thank the crew, they worked hard for this one."
Bachetti didn’t do too bad himself. Starting in sixth position, he advanced the Rene and Donnie Downes owned Troyer mount to third by the seventh lap, then came out on top of a wild three car battle for the lead with Tom Hindley and Rich Ricci, Jr.
"I enjoy racing on this bullring," Bachetti, a two time Orange County Fair Speedway 358 Modified champion, exclaimed. "I had to adjust to the style of racing here, but I’m starting to figure it out."
Mark Pullen led the 21-car field down to the green flag for the Shadow Racing Products 30-lapper and got the early jump, while the field scrambled behind him. Pullen remained at the front of the field until, on lap 4, Rich Hansen and Mike Murphy spun in turn four, necessitating a caution flag. On the restart, Tom Hindley was able to power by on the outside for the top spot, while Bachetti and Ricci followed him for second and third.
For the next ten laps, the trio staged an exciting battle for the lead, with Hindley using all of the track to keep his ill-handling No. 17H in front.
Finally, on the 15th lap, he couldn’t hang on anymore, and the Fair Oaks, N.Y. driver lost control in the second turn and spun, handing the lead to Bachetti.
Bachetti got a good jump on the restart and was able to gradually inch away from Ricci in the final laps with his Kool Temps Heating and Cooling No. 40.
Not even lapped traffic could slow Bachetti down on this night, as the young driver took the immensely popular victory by a full straightaway.
"I knew that Hindley couldn’t hang onto it because he was really loose," Bachetti noted. "I just went around the outside of him and I told myself to just slow down and hug the bottom. It feels great to get a win tonight."
Rich Ricci, Jr. continued his string of solid performances for second in the No. 55, ahead of Mike Ricci, who nursed a bent car home to third at the checkered.
Jeremy Matthies of Germantown, N.Y. had a fine run in the VP Racing Fuels No. 99 for fourth and Rick Mill rounded out the top five.
Only two caution flags slowed the event, and every one of the race’s 21 starters finished the race.
Ladd Yeomanns of White Lake, N.Y. took his first career Accord victory in the heldover 25-lap DIRT Sportsman main from May 10th. Yeommans, who started second, grabbed the lead on the start and fought off a late race charge by Kevin Duryea for the victory.
"There are a lot of good cars here," Yeomanns, a former regular at the Afton Raceway, commented. "So it makes this mean so much more to beat them."
Kevin Duryea, who started back in 20th position, worked patiently through traffic, taking over the runner up position with five laps to go.
Duryea quickly closed in on the leader, but time ran out and the 22-year old driver had to settle for second in the K&M; Sealcoating Troyer Four Link. Bill Deckelman was third, but was disqualified for failing to report directly to the scales after the race. Jeff Hulseapple and Steve Williams completed the front five.
In the regular 25-lap DIRT Sportsman main, two time track champion Jeff Hulseapple of Bloomingburg, N.Y. made his return to victory lane.
Steve Williams led the first twelve laps of the event while Hulseapple, who started eighth charged to the front. After two laps of side by side racing, Hulseapple powered his S&J; Towing/Quality Engine No. 14H to the lead with thirteen laps in the books.
From that point, he pulled away for his first win since July 28, 2000.
"The car felt good tonight," Hulseapple commented. "I was lucky to get out front before the rest of the guys. That helped tonight."
Tim Hindley was second ahead of Ladd Yeomanns, Williams and Kevin Duryea.
Elwood Hewitt of Saugerties, N.Y. picked up his third victory of the season in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. Hewitt started tenth and methodically worked his way to the front, taking the lead away from a strong running Charlie Swartz on the thirteenth lap.
Scott Liese was second, with Don Palmateer, Swartz and Don Williams rounding out the top five.
Rob Scaccio, the opening night winner, made his return to victory lane in the 15-lap Mini Sprint feature. Scaccio, of Suffern, N.Y., took over the lead on the third circuit, then fought for the remainder of the distance with young gun Steven Lapine.
Lapine dropped off the pace on the final lap and Scaccio picked up his second victory of the season. Peter Sindt, Joe Sanfilippo, Jeremy Quick and John Parete trailed.
Dave Gerard of Ardonia, N.Y. topped the 15-lap Pure Stock feature. Gerard took over the lead just past the halfway point and pulled away for his fourth win of the year. Mike Deyo was second, ahead of George Decker, William Landrum and Bobby Brown.
The restored cars of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers were on display behind the spectator area and they also put on a short exhibition, giving the fans a glimpse into racing’s past.
With rain in the forecast, track officials pushed the program through rapidly, with the last checkered flag falling at 10:43 p.m. The precipitation began at 11 p.m.
Racing resumes at the Action Track next Friday night, May 24th with a full regular show of DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Mini Sprints and Pure Stocks. They will be joined by the Vintage Dirt Modifieds. Gates open at 4 p.m. with practice at 6 p.m. and green flag racing at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact the track office at (845) 626-3478 or check out the track’s official website: www.accordspeedway.com.
DIRT 358 Modified Feature Finish: Andy Bachetti, Rich Ricci, Jr., Mike Ricci, Jeremy Matthies, Rick Mill, JR Heffner, Barry Davis, Joe Winne, Jr., Ed Strada, Jeremy Markle, Mark Pullen, Jackie Brown, Jr., Scott Ferrier, Kenny Baker, Robbie Green, Tom Hindley, Donnie Wilson, Mike Murphy, Rich Hansen, Ken Maguire, Eddie Haenelt.
DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Jeff Hulseapple, Tim Hindley, Ladd Yeomanns, Steve Williams, Kevin Duryea, Henry Sherman, Rich Oxford, Kenny Moulton, Mike Van Pelt, Mike Trautschold, Peter Booth, Lem Atkins, Tommy Byrne, Pete Gardner, Howard Jarvis, Wayne Hommell, Harry Baldwin, Tony Kawalchuk, Larry Ricci, Bill Deckelman, Joe Higgins.
Did Not Qualify: Jay Haviland, Poover Daley, Ed Redner, Jimmy Lord, Tony Kawalchuk, Duane Koskey, KC McCoy.
DIRT Sportsman Heldover Feature Finish: Ladd Yeomanns, Kevin Duryea, Bill Deckelman (DQ), Jeff Hulseapple, Steve Williams, Jay Haviland, Larry Ricci, Tommy Byrne, Pete Gardner, Harry Baldwin, Poover Daley, Ken Moulton, Lem Atkins, Peter Booth, Rich Oxford, Tim Hindley, Tony Kawalchuk, KC McCoy, Wayne Hommel, Mike Van Pelt, Henry Sherman, Mike Trautschold.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: Elwood Hewitt, Scott Liese, Don Palmateer, Charlie Swartz, Don Williams, John Roese, Noel Osborne, Mike Dutka, Larry Temple, Jr., Mike Menetta, Gene Temple, George Christiana, Butch Winnie, John Odendahl, Rob Hoar, John Rood, Henry Van Houten, Jackie Brown, Sr., Steve Murray, Hank Morin.
Did Not Qualify: Lenny Helmich, Nick Rhodes, Bryan McElheny, Chris Bottge, Jim Clark.
Mini Sprint Feature Finish: Rob Scaccio, Peter Sindt, Joe Sanfilippo, Jeremy Quick, John Parete, John Matrafailo, Bob Lynt, Rich Sennett, Keith Still, Dave Tonic, Jesse Baum, John Wullum, Joe Pravia, Mark Rogers, Steve Lapine, Darell Quackenbush, Ed Burgess.
Pure Stock Feature Finish: Dave Gerard, Mike Deyo, George Decker, William Landrum, Bobby Brown, Joe Narok, Lee Gallant, Joe DiStefano, Sharon Byrne, Kevin Krusewski, Lars Petri, George Baxter, Mike DuBois, Paul Jordan, Jay Smalley.