Mill, Ricci earn double feature honors at Accord

by Brett Deyo

ACCORD, N.Y. (Sept. 7, 2001) - On a busy and wild evening at Accord Speedway, Rick Mill and Rich Ricci, Jr. picked up the DIRT 358 Modified victories last Friday night in the double feature program. Mill, of New Windsor, NY won the 30-lap heldover main, while Ricci, of New Paltz, NY, took the victory in the regular 25-lap event.

Young Jeremy Matthies charged into the lead from his outside pole starting position in the heldover event and paced the field for the first eight laps in his VP Racing Fuels No. 99 before a hard charging Chris Moore moved to the inside and took command on the completion of the ninth circuit.

Moore was only able to hold on at the front of the field for one lap before ninth starter Rick Mill drove his No. 77 to the lead with eleven laps in the books. From that point on, Mill pulled away from the field, taking his third win of the season by over a straightaway.

He also clinched the 2001 358 Modified track championship, the second time that the likable veteran has collected top honors at the quarter mile oval in his career. "The car was really working tonight," Mill commented. "I got a few breaks early in the race, and I just tried to be patient and work my way to the front."

Mike Ricci rebounded from an early race incident for second with Chris Moore, Rich Ricci, Jr. and Mark Pullen completing the front five.

In the nightcap event, second generation driver Joe Winne, Jr. drove his No. 55 to the lead early on, surviving countless early cautions flag to hold onto the position. After an exciting battle for several laps, Chris Moore took his Downes Racing No. 40 to the front on the eleventh lap, while Rich Ricci, Jr. grabbed the second spot.

Lap after lap, Ricci looked high and low on Moore, but he wasn't able to make a move until, with nine laps to go, Moore got pinned behind a lapped car, allowing both Rich and Mike Ricci to move into first and second, respectively.

Mike Ricci couldn't seriously challenge his brother in this event, and it was Rich Ricci, Jr. winning his second feature of the season at the speedway despite missing about half the season. Mike Ricci was second, with Chris Moore a disappointing third. Winne and Doug Tyler, Jr. rounded out the top five.

In the heldover 25-lap DIRT Sportsman feature, Scott Ferrier of made it two wins a row, picking up a close victory over Jim Winchell.

Ferrier, who took command on the second lap, got caught in heavy lapped traffic in the final laps allowing Winchell to rapidly close the gap. Ferrier, however, negotiated the slower machines well, not allowing Winchell to pull off a pass.

Winchell was second, with Rich Oxford, Mike Van Pelt and Pete Booth in tow. Only seven cars remained on the lead lap at the finish.

Jim Winchell of Stone Ridge, NY won the regular 25-lap event for the DIRT Sportsman division after a dominating performance in his C&J; Self Storage No. 17. Winchell took over the lead on the second lap and was never seriously challenged from that point on.

Chuck Thomaschek posted his best career run in second with his No. 8C. Jimmy Johnson, Mike Van Pelt and Jay Haviland rounded out the top five.

Jimmy Johnson of Bloomingburg, NY bested Jay Haviland for the DIRT Sportsman point championship. Johnson, who came up two points shy of the title last season, was also the 1997 champ at Orange County Fair Speedway in the DIRT Sportsman division.

Tommy Kuck of Mahopac, NY made a return to the speedway and won the 20-lap Street Stock feature in his Carquest No. 79. Coming from fifteenth starting spot, Kuck drove into the lead with six laps remaining and pulled away for his third win of the season. George Christiana was second, followed by Scott Liese, Butch Winnie and Rob Rowe.

Young Mike Dutka bested George Christiana by just two points for the Street Stock championship after a close season long battle.

George Catanzano won the 15-lap IMCA Modified feature over Jimmy Fugel, Lou Gancarz, Bob Banks and newcomer Steve Hough.

Pete Sindt of Stone Ridge, NY continued his dominance of the 1200cc Mini Sprint division with yet another victory. Young Steven Lapine, a high school student, was second, just ahead of Brian Burns, Rich Sennett and Tom Richard.

The Strictly Stock feature was postponed due to time constraints and will be run at the beginning of this Friday's program with and increased purse. Also on the card Friday will be a 50-lap IMCA Modified race paying $1, 000 to the winner. The 358 Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman, Street Stocks, Strictly Stocks and Mini Sprints will also be in competition. Green flag racing begins at 7:15 p.m.

RESULTS

358 MODIFIED

Feature: Rich Ricci, Jr., Mike Ricci, Chris Moore, Joe Winne, Jr., Doug Tyler, Jr., Jackie Brown, Jr., Rick Mill, Jeremy Matthies, Brian Cobb, Al McCoy, Hank Goranson, Bob Zwart, Steve Walsh, Nick Barassi, Mike Murphy, Mark Pullen, Burt Irwin, Jr., Don Goodrich, Scott Kurtzner, Rob Green, Jeremy Markle, Barry Davis, Jim Halpin.

Heldover Feature: Rick Mill, Mike Ricci, Chris Moore, Rich Ricci, Jr., Mark Pullen, Jeremy Matthies, Doug Tyler, Jr., Hank Goranson, Jim Halpin, Jackie Brown, Jr., Barry Davis, Burt Irwin, Jr., Don Goodrich, Jeremy Markle, Rob Green, Mike Murphy, Joe Winne, Jr., Brian Cobb, Bob Zwart.

DIRT SPORTSMAN

Feature: Jim Winchell, Chuck Thomaschek, Rick Mill, Mike Van Pelt, Jay Haviland, Rich Oxford, Jeff Carr, Kevin Paffenroth, Pete Booth, George MacDonald, Joe Sarvis, Tom DeMarmels, KC McCoy, Howard Jarvis, Randy Banks, Jr., Joe Pienaizek, Lisa Schoonmaker, Scott Ferrier, Harry Baldwin, Greg Sleight, Jeff Hulseapple, Ken Moulton.

Heldover Feature: Scott Ferrier, Jim Winchell, Rich Oxford, Mike Van Pelt, Pete Booth, Joe Sarvis, Harry Baldwin, George MacDonald, KC McCoy, Greg Sleight, Alan Houghtaling, Chuck Thomaschek, Jay Haviland, Jeff Carr, Randy Banks, Jr., Tom DeMarmels, Howard Jarvis, Kenny Moulton, Chris Adams.

STREET STOCK

Feature: Tom Kuck, George Christiana, Scott Liese, Butch Winnie, Rob Rowe, Brad Curry, Chrissy Rider, Don Williams, Don Palmateer, John Odendahl, Mike Dutka, Bryan McElheny, Rob Hoar, Scott Mill, Larry Temple, Jr., TJ Pasko, Hank Morin, Nick Rhodes, Gene Palmer. DNS: Ron Jablonka, Gene Temple.

IMCA MODIFIED

Feature: George Catanzano, Jim Fugel, Lou Gancarz, Bob Banks, Steve Hough, Mike Brown, Jeff Warren, Bob Sherwood, Tom Vasta, Bud Hernberg, Travis Stevens.

MINI SPRINT

Feature: Pete Sindt, Steve Lapine, Brian Burns, Rich Sennett, Tom Richard, Tony Montesi, Joe Sanfillippo, Mark Dupuis.