Ricci opens new Accord era with victory
by Brett Deyo
ACCORD, N.Y. (May 4, 2001) - The dawning of a new era took place this past Friday night at Accord Speedway with a very successful first event under the new management of the Palmer family. Veteran Mike Ricci of Rosendale, NY took home top honors in the 30-lap DIRT 358 Modified feature. Ricci, after starting third, burst into the lead on the eleventh circuit, then pulled away for the victory, worth $1,000.
Rich Ricci, Jr. led the field to the green flag by virtue of his heat race victory, but it was Robbie Green aboard his Gross Graphics No. 69 jumping out into the top spot by the completion of the first lap. The caution lights flickered on almost immediately, though, for a three car tangled in the first turn.
Green used the outside groove to his advantage on the restart, while Mike Ricci powered past his brother for the runner up spot, then closed in on the strong running Green's rear bumper. The duo battled door to door for three laps, and made contact several times before again Green nosed out in front on the eighth lap.
On the tenth go round, Green got a little loose off of turn two, giving Ricci just enough room to wedge into the inside groove. By the time the leaders reached the third turn, Ricci had forged into the lead. One lap later, Henry Sherman looped his machine in the second turn, bringing out the second caution of the event.
When the race restarted, a tap from behind got Green sideways off of turn four, causing the field to bunch up and collecting Jeremy Markle and Rich Ricci, Jr. Another caution forSherman slowed the race at the halfway point, but there was no stopping Ricci, who despite early season success elsewhere, returned to his home stomping grounds and pulled away from the second place battle in his Teo Pro Car.
"Robbie was tough running the outside," commented Ricci. "I found in the heat race that I could run well off the bottom, so I kept working on him down there and I finally got up next to him and that's what I needed."
Green, of Newburgh, NY, made his first start at the quarter mile oval since 1982 and put forth an excellent effort, coming home second to the delight of the crowd. Mill put the pressure on late in the event, but had to settle for a third place run, while Orange County Fair Speedway regular Tommy Meier of Waldwick, NJ came home fourth in his No. 33 1/3. A returning T1m Hindley filled out the final top five slot.
It was a long time coming, but Harry Baldwin finally earned his first feature win in the 25-lap DIRT Sportsman main event. Starting from the pole position, Baldwin, who was agonizingly close to a win last year, jumped out to an early lead but had to work through heavy lapped traffic in the late stages of the event to secure the victory.
Baldwin had opened up a full straightaway advantage on the field when the caution flag flew on lap 13 for Chris Adams' stalled No. 92. Alan Houghtaling immediately put the pressure on Baldwin with the drop of the green flag, but the two time Street Stock champion blocked every attempt aboard his No. 21B.
The lead battle reached a large pack of slower machines with five laps remaining and Houghtaling made a charge to the inside, but was forced to back off and the popular Baldwin, of Willow, NY maintained his lead. He then negotiated the lapped cars very carefully in the final four circuits and actually opened a bit of an advantage by the time the checkered fell.
"The top started to loosen up on me...so that's why I moved to the bottom," the exuberant Baldwin exclaimed. "I was really hanging on there at the end. The lapped traffic was a little scary, but I made it through."
Houghtaling, making his first Accord start in some time, managed a second place run ahead of Jay Haviland. Defending champion Jimmy Winchell fought his way to a fourth place finish, and newcomer Greg Sleight powered his No. 26 from the fourteenth starting position to fifth, ahead of Bill Papula.
In Street Stock action, Tommy Byrne of Clintondale, NY made a triumphant return, winning the 20-lap feature in dominating fashion. After starting from the pole, Byrne, who has not been an Accord regular in many years, was long gone in his No. 7. By the midway point, Byrne was leading by nearly a half track, and not even a large pack of lapped traffic could slow the consistent veteran down in the final laps.
Gene Temple, Jr. finished in second with his No. J26, ahead of Al Christiana, George Christiana and Scott Liese, son of last year's champion Bill Liese.
The Strictly Stock division put on one of their best races in recent memory, and it was Ron Irvin of Hyde Park, NY winning the 15-lap main. Irvin and George Miles swapped the lead several times in a spirited battle before Irvin regained the top spot for the final time in a bump and grind tussle on the tenth lap. Miles held on for second, ahead of Bobby Brown, Scott Hornbeck and George Decker.
A very large crowd and a good number of competitors took part in the inaugural event and track management received a lot of positive feedback for the improvements made to the track itself and the grounds. The Palmer family would like to thank all that participated and made their promoting debut a success.
The action continues this Friday night, May 11, with 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsmans, Street Stocks, Strictly Stocks, and the first appearance by the Vintage Modifieds. Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. For more information, contact the track at (845) 626-DIRT or check out www.accordspeedway.com.
RESULTS
Feature finishes:
DIRT 358 Modified: Mike Ricci, Robbie Green, Rick Mill, Tommy Meier, Tim Hindley, Rich Ricci, Jr., Bobby Zwart, Doug Tyler, Jr., Jeremy Markle, Brian Cobb, Jackie Brown, Jr., Henry Sherman, Burt Irwin, Jr., Joe Winne, Jr., Barry Davis, Donnie Elliott, Chris Moore. DNS: Jeremy Matthies.
DIRT Sportsman: Harry Baldwin, Alan Houghtaling, Jay Haviland, Jim Winchell, Greg Sleight, Bill Papula, Jimmy Johnson, Pete Booth, Rich Oxford, Jim Fugel, Neil Van Buren, Chuck Thomaschek, Mike Van Pelt, Chris Adams, Kenny Moulton, Jr., Jay Trowbridge, George MacDonald.
Street Stock: Tom Byrne, Gene Temple, Al Christiana, George Christiana, Scott Liese, J.J. Pasko, Hank Morin, Chrissy Ryder, John Rood, Don Williams, Mike Dutka, Steve Williams, Joe Rohacevich, Bob Hasbrouck, Larry Temple.
Strictly Stock: Ron Irvin, George Miles, Bobby Brown, Scott Hornbeck, George Decker, Larry Pregent, Jr., Shawn Laport, Buck Dunning, Lars Petri, Sharon Byrne, Jay Smalley, Trevor Waterman. DNS: Kenny Hulse.