Mike Ricci Takes Checkers Over Jackie Brown, Jr. At Accord Speedway
Accord, NY - 8/6/99 - Mike Ricci of Kingston NY and Jackie Brown Jr of Hurley kept the fans waiting to see who would be the winner at Connie Foster Memorial Night at Accord Speedway. Although Brown led the race for 23 laps, Ricci passed him with 2 to go. Brown then retaliated and took back the lead on lap 24. However, Ricci would not concede and passed Brown once again and took the checkered flag. Barry Davis watched the two chauffeurs challenge each other and waited for one of them to make a mistake. Unfortunately for Davis, a mistake was never made and he had to settle for 3rd. Tom Hindley was able to pass Rich Ricci Jr. to take 4th spot away and Ricci had to go home with 5th.
As Connie Foster was a former sponsor of point leader, Jeff Hulseapple, it was his goal for the night to take home the Foster Night award. Elliott's Ambulance Service of Middletown NY sponsored a "dash for cash" for the 2 winners of the Modified heats and the 2 winners of the Sportsman heats. It was Hulseapple on the pole with Jay Haviland 2nd, Mike Ricci 3rd and Joe Winne 4th to start the 4-lap "shoot out." Ricci and Winne got tangled up which forced Ricci to the pits. Winne was left to take on the two Sportsman cars. Hulseapple was determined to win for Connie and was able to do so. Connie's wife, Bev, presented her former driver a check for $75 and hoped she would see him again in victory lane at the finish of the feature. Jay Haviland of Dover Plains had the pole and remained there for the entire 20-lap feature. Hulseapple spun with 5 laps to go and his bubble was popped for the evening's win. Jimmy Johnson stayed in 2nd position the entire race keeping 3rd place Lem Atkins behind him. Jim Winchell finished 4th with Bill Haley rounding out the top 5.
Street Stock action gave Rich Dymond of Wawarsing a chance to polish up his strategy and come home the winner. Dymond was able to hold off Butch Winnie and Harry Baldwin of Willow NY and tighten up his distance behind point leader Baldwin in the point chace. Taking over the lead from Winne on lap 5, Dymond was able to keep a fair distance between the challengers. Winnie finished 2nd, Baldwin 3rd, Stan Temple was 4th and Jeff Jones was able to come home with a 5th place finish.
A major pile up on lap seven in the Strictly Stock division involving most of the field stopped Charlie Rose's lead. After the dust settled Ron Irvin was able to take the checkered flag, Rose was 2nd and Buck Dunning was 3rd.
Connie Foster Night was a success with Connie smilen down on us holding off the threats of rain. Maintaining point leads is now crucial. Join us next week for green flag racing that starts at 7:30 at the area's only ¼ mile oval DIRT track.