ROBBIE GREEN GRABS EXCITING ACCORD 358 MODIFIED FEATURE
By BRETT DEYO
ACCORD, NY- In a race that had the fans on their feet, popular veteran Robbie Green picked up the victory in the 358 Modified feature event Friday night at Accord Speedway.
Green, of Newburgh, N.Y., started the Brice Discount Beverage 30-lap main in seventh position and worked his way to the lead by the ninth go round before staging a thrilling battle for the top spot with invader Brett Hearn.
"That was a fun race for me," commented Green, a five time winner last season. "Brett and I ran side by side for all those laps and hardly even touched...that is how racing should be."
After getting his season off to a tough start, Green was thrilled to make it to victory lane. "This is the first race I haven't been involved in an altercation. It feels good to get here."
Hank Goranson led the 22-car starting field to the green flag, but it was outside front row starter Andy Bachetti who burst into the lead on the start. Bachetti, in his best performance of the season, held a comfortable advantage in the early laps while Green and 12th starter Hearn moved forward.
On the seventh circuit, Tom Hindley spun in the second turn, bringing out the race's first caution.
Bachetti led Green, J.R. Heffner and Hearn on the restart, with the 25-year old Sheffield, Mass. driver again into the number one position with the drop of the green flag.
Bachetti slipped high on the tenth lap, allowing Green to power to the inside and take the lead away with his Gross Graphics No. 69.
A caution on lap 13 bunched up the field again, and Hearn was able to grab second spot and quickly moved to the outside of Green aboard his Brioschi Antacids No. 20 Teo-Pro mount.
Lap after lap, the leaders ran side by side, neither gaining an advantage, until, on the 20th circuit, Green got a good run on the low side and reclaimed sole possession of the lead.
Two laps later, BK Rizzo spun, bringing out the caution flag. Unfortunately, the left rear tire on Hearn's No. 20 was slowly going down after contact early in the race and the talented Vernon, N.J. chauffeur pulled to the pit area, ending his evening.
That left Mike Ricci into the runner up spot but, despite four cautions on the final lap, the strong running Green charged to his first win of the season.
"Man, I didn't think we were ever going to get through that last lap," Green concluded. "I knew the car was good, I just wanted to get it over with."
Ricci, of Rosendale, N.Y. rebounded from an early race spin for second, while consistent Ed Strada, Jr. finished a solid third in the Ron's Route 590 Diner No. 42. Rich Ricci, Jr. made a last lap run for fourth and J.R. Heffner completed the top five.
Bachetti retired to the pit area with suspension damage late in the event, ending his night.
In DIRT Sportsman action, teenage sensation Tony Kawalchuk picked up his first career victory in just his third start.
Kawalchuk, who started from third position, took over the lead with a bold first lap move then dominated the remainder of the event, which was shortened to 16 laps due to excessive cautions.
Despite countless restarts through the event, Kawalchuk was able to keep solidly in front of the field in his Turco's Machine powered Troyer SLR car.
"I had a blast out there," the jubilant young driver said. "This car is great on here. I hope we can get some more before the season is over."
Amazingly, it was just the third career start for the former Go Kart competitor, who lives minutes from the track in Accord, N.Y.
Tim Hindley, already a winner this season, finished up second ahead of a much improved Bobby Knipe in the No. 18. Rich Oxford and Mike Trautschold completed the front five.
In what was a wild finish to the 20-lap Pro Stock main, Hank Morin of Clintondale, N.Y. earned his first career victory.
Morin and defending champion Mike Dutka battled side by side for the lead for much of the race's second half. With the white flag flying, the two cars made contact in the second turn pitching Dutka's No. 29 into the outside boiler plate.
Morin's No. 27 sustained a right rear flat, but he was somehow able to maintain control and raced back to the checkered inches ahead of Larry Temple, Jr.
Elwood Hewitt was third ahead of George Christiana and John Roese.
Peter Sindt of Stone Ridge, N.Y. took the lead away from Bob Lynt on the eighth circuit of the 15-lap Mini Sprint feature and nearly pulled off a dominant victory.
However, on the final lap, Sindt lost an engine on his No. 39 and was barely able to cost to the finish line ahead of Joe Sanfilippo and Steven Lapine.
Rich Sennett and Darrell Quackenbush completed the front five.
The 50-lap Pure Stock feature was curfewed eight laps into the event and will be the first event on the track this Friday May 10th. Jay Smalley was the leader when time ran out.
Mike Deyo, George Decker and Smalley won the heats for the 30 cars in attendance.
Racing resumes this Friday night, May 10th with a full regular program of 358 Modifieds DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Mini Sprints, Pure Stocks and Vintage Modifieds plus the remaining 42 laps of the Pure Stock main. Gates open at 4 p.m. with warm ups at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact the track office at (845) 626-3478.
DIRT 358 Modified Feature Finish: Robbie Green, Mike Ricci, Ed Strada, Jr., Rich Ricci, Jr., J.R. Heffner, Donnie Wilson, Mike Kolka, Keith Shoemaker, Tommy Meier, BK Rizzo, Jeremy Matthies, Ed Haenelt, Mike Murphy, Andy Bachetti, Scott Ferrier, Rick Mill, Brett Hearn, Barry Davis, Tom Hindley, Jackie Brown, Jr., Hank Goranson, Jeremy Markle.
Did Not Qualify: Donnie Elliott, Mark Pullen, Rich Hansen, Ken Baker.
DIRT Sportsman Feature Finish: Tony Kawalchuk, Tim Hindley, Bobby Knipe, Rich Oxford, Mike Trautschold, Jay Haviland, Jeff Hulseapple, Larry Ricci, Harry Baldwin, Pete Gardiner, Henry Sherman, Howard Jarvis, Jim Winchell, Kenny Moulton, Steve Williams, Kevin Duryea, Pete Booth, Ladd Yeommans, Mike Van Pelt, Bill Deckelman, Tom Byrne, Duane Koskey.
Did Not Qualify: Ed Redner, Wayne Hommel, Jr., Vinnie Bartholomew, Bill Liese, KC McCoy, Lem Atkins, Jimmy Lord.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: Hank Morin, Larry Temple, Jr., Elwood Hewitt, George Christiana, John Roese, Chris Adams, Mike Dutka, Don Williams, Jim Clark, Butch Winnie, Gene Temple, Clarence Palmer, Ron Hoar, Rich Suitter, Mike Menetta, Noel Osborne, Chris Bottge, Don Palmateer, John Odendahl, Steve Murray, Scott Liese, Norbert Bracklow.
Did Not Qualify: John Rood, Henry Van Houten, Charlie Swartz, Lenny Helmich.
Mini Sprint Feature Finish: Peter Sindt, Joe Sanfilippo, Steve Lapine, Rich Sennett, Darrell Quackenbush, Dave Tonic, Jeremy Quick, Keith Still, John Wullum, Jesse Baum, Rob Scaccio, Joe Pravia, Bob Lynt, Ed Burgess, John Lieto, Mark Rogers, Jack Arute, John Parete.