Ricci Jr. races to Accord checkers

by Debbie Gardner

ACCORD, NY (July 28, 2000) — It was a combination sponsorship night for this past Friday night's action at the Accord Speedway. The held over 30-lap feature for the 358 DIRT Modified was held in conjunction with the 50-lap Sportsman event. Brett Deyo handed out trophies to the feature winners of each event as Thunder Country 99.3 broadcasted live from the track.

The 30-lap Modified event began with Doug Tyler Jr. taking the lead ahead of Randy Dymond's #1. After leading for more than 12 laps, Rich Ricci Jr. took over and kept Tyler behind for the remainder of the race. Mike Ricci took over the 3rd spot on lap 9, and it was Ricci, Tyler, Ricci for the rest of the night. Joe Winne was trailing in the 4th place position and settled for that at the wave of the checker. Ricci Jr. will represent the Accord Speedway at the October Syracuse DIRT Week. Tyler was 2nd, Mike Ricci 3rd, Joe Winne 4th and Randy Dymond finished a very impressive 5th.

Fifty laps for the Sportsman Division with a $750 purse was an incentive for all 17 competitors! Jim Fugel started on the pole and kept the pack behind him for only five laps. Harry Baldwin was in the shotgun position but both lost to Jim Wnchell and Jimmy Johnson by lap 7. Winchell was passed by Johnson, but Baldwin kept up the pressure for the two top leaders. Out of nowhere came last year's champion in this class, Jeff Hulseapple! He ran 3rd for more than 9 laps with an extraordinary move on the last lap that saw him literally FLY by Winchell on the last lap to take the victory away! Hulseapple ran a very high groove that proved to be the way to go to the checker.

Nineteen Street Stocks entered the Accord arena, but by lap 9 a pile up took the field down to 9. Bill Liese led from green to checker but not without a lot of action for the fans. Gene Palmer finished his best of the season with 3rd as Rich Dymond took the 2nd place at the end of the race. Ray See Jr. was 4th with Bob Hasbrouck 5th.

The Strictly Stock Division saw George Miles take the lead from George Decker and never look back. Miles was the victor over Decker, and Scott Kilmer was 3rd.