Mill earns fourth Accord win of 2001
by Brett Deyo
ACCORD, N.Y. (Oct. 12, 2001) - - Rick Mill of New Windsor, NY picked up his fourth victory of the year Friday night at Accord Speedway in an ultra competitive 30-lap DIRT 358 Modified main. After starting from the outside pole, Mill fought a thrilling battle with J.R. Heffner during the mid stages of the event before taking over the lead for good with ten laps remaining.
By virtue of his win in the first heat race, it was J.R. Heffner on the pole for the event, and he jumped into the lead with the drop of the green flag. In only his second appearance at the speedway, the popular Heffner paced the field for the first eight laps before Mill slipped to the inside and took command with the completion of lap 9.
Shortly thereafter, Rich Ricci, Jr. got turned around in turn one, bringing out the caution, and bunching the field up for a restart.
Heffner, running the extreme outside of the quarter mile, powered around Mill to regain the lead on the twelfth go round. Not willing to give up the point that easily, Mill drove back to the inside and made it a door to door battle for the number one position as the lead duo crossed the stripe for lap 14. For three more laps, the two leaders battled in tight formation before the 2001 track champion was able to regain sole possession of the top spot.
While Heffner was able to get close several times in the final laps, Mill held a steady line and picked up the hard earned victory by about five car lengths. "That was a great race," Mill exclaimed afterwards. "I was getting a good bite off the bottom...that was where my car was really working, so I kept driving it in under him until I got the lead back."
In post race tech inspection, however, it was found that Mill's Troyer No. 77 came up eight pounds light on the scales, which resulted in a loss of half the prize money earned for the victory. The track management used the rules and regulations set forth by DIRT Motorsports in its rule book, and it was upon those facts that the final decision was made.
Heffner, for the second consecutive week, finished impressively in the runner up position while Chris Moore had a fine run in third with the Downes Racing No. 40. Rob Green overcame an early race incident for fourth and Donnie Ackner completed the top five.
Duryea Dominates $1,000 To Win Sportsman Main
In a thoroughly dominating performance, young Kevin Duryea of Wallkill, NY picked up the victory in the 50-lap, $1,000 to win DIRT Sportsman championship event. A regular at the Orange County Fair Speedway, Duryea put his competition to shame in the extra distance grind, lapping the majority of the field in his potent No. 99K before the checkered flag flew.
"It feels great to win here," commented the promising 22-year old driver, who collected two feature victories at OCFS this season. "We always run up front when we come here, but luck hasn't been on our side. Tonight, everything went right."
After grabbing the lead away on lap 3, Duryea was untouchable for the remainder of the distance, often opening up a half track advantage at ease on the battle for second. "This car was really hooked up tonight," the exuberant Duryea echoed. "I was running right around the bottom and it was really getting a bite down there."
Lapped traffic played a major factor in much of the event, but Duryea looked like a veteran, slicing through the slower machines at will with his K&M; Sealcoating Troyer Four Link. "It got a little scary in traffic a few times," he remarked. "A lot of the cars were having trouble getting through the corners and it was tough to decide whether to go high or low."
Bill Haley led the first two circuits from the outside pole starting position, but Duryea made quick work of the veteran Haley, working to the inside and into the lead on the third go round. Several cautions for minor spins and tangles ensued, until a major incident on the backstretch slowed the action with thirteen laps in the books.
Second place runner Rich Coons got turned sideways and slammed hard into the outside boiler plate, collecting Scott Ferrier and Ken Moulton. Coons' No. 27 was severely damaged, and he jumped angrily from his car to express his displeasure toward the unsuspecting Duryea as the cars circled the track under caution.
"I'm not sure what he was mad about," Duryea said of the incident. "I felt a bump from behind, then I saw the caution lights on and him on the track. I had nothing to do with that."
From that point on, it was Duryea's race, as he cruised a half track ahead of the field for a much deserved victory, his first at Accord since competing in Go Karts several years ago.
Ladd Yeomanns, a regular at Afton Speedway, narrowly held onto second place at the line, ahead of up and coming Chuck Thomaschek. Rich Oxford was a fine fourth in the No. 99 and Jeff Hulseapple completed the top five.
Despite two flat tires midway through the event, Tom Kuck of Mahopac, NY charged back to the victory in the 50-lap Street Stock feature. After a tangle while battling for the top spot just prior to the halfway point sent him to the pit area, Kuck astonished those in attendance by working his way back into the lead with four laps remaining.
"I really worked for this one tonight," quipped Kuck, who collected $1,000 for his efforts. "I had my doubts after I got into that accident, but it all worked out."
Jackie Brown, Jr., who led the majority of the race, was forced to settle for second, ahead of Ray See, Jr., Chrissy Rider and Bob McGannon.
Peter Sindt of Stone Ridge, NY won the 15-lap 1200cc Mini Sprint main in his No. 39 over Joe Sanfillippo, Rich Sennett, Steve Lapine and Daryl Quackenbush.
In a crash filled 10-lap Strictly Stock feature, Jeff Hager of Cornwall, NY earned his first ever Accord Speedway victory. Grabbing the lead on the first lap, Hager cruised in front for the remainder of the distance in his trusty 1965 Oldsmobile.
The racing action continues at the number one action track this Friday, October 19th with a special 30-lap, $1,200 to win Eastern States Qualifier for the DIRT 358 Modifieds. The winner will earn a guaranteed starting spot in the Dynomax 150 at OCFS on Saturday. Also on the card will be DIRT Sportsman, Street Stocks, Strictly Stocks, IMCA Mods and Mini Sprints.Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing at 7:15 p.m.
A special sign in for the 358 Modifieds will be set up so that there is extra time for those making the trip from Eastern States to the speedway.
RESULTS
DIRT 358 Modified
Feature: Rick Mill, JR Heffner, Chris Moore, Rob Green, Don Ackner, Dom Roselli, Nick Barassi, Jeremy Matthies, Jeff Hulseapple, Steve Walsh, Mark Pullen, Jim Halpin, Mike Murphy, Dave Baranowski, Phil Recchio, Joe Winne, Jr., Jackie Brown, Jr., Rich Ricci, Jr.
DIRT Sportsman
Feature: Kevin Duryea, Ladd Yeomanns, Chuck Thomaschek, Jeff Hulseapple, KC McCoy, Steve Williams, Tom DeMarmels, Pete Gardiner, Ken Baker, Bill Haley, Jim Winchell, Brett Ford, Jeff Carr, Kenny Moulton, Scott Ferrier, Mike Houghtaling, George MacDonald, Harry Baldwin, Mike Van Pelt, Bill Papula.
Street Stock
Feature: Tom Kuck, Jackie Brown, Jr., Ray See, Chrissy Rider, Bob McGannon, Scott Liese, Don Palmateer, Rob Rowe, Bill Pascual, Gene Temple, John Odendahl, Rob Hoar, John Rood, Don Williams, Jim Cronk, Danny Hedges, Hank Morin, John Roese, Tom O'Connor, Bob Waters, Jr., Scott Mill, Larry Temple, Jr., Steve Murray.
Mini Sprint
Feature: Pete Sindt, Joe Sanfillippo, Rich Sennett, Steve Lapine, Darrell Quackenbush, Car No. 21, Rob Scaccio, Jeremy Vunk, Joe Barbagallo, Bob Lynt, Brian Burns, Wally Kurn, Andy Sindt, Phil Beesmer, PJ Peworchik, Steve Boyd.