The History Of The King Of The Catskills At Accord Speedway In Review
Story By: STEVE PADOS / ACCORD SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
ACCORD, NY – September 15, 2016-The always popular King of the Catskills event at the Accord Speedway will be a great way to cap off a solid year of racing events in the Catskill Mountains as some of the big names in the Northeastern Modified ranks are set to converge on the tiny village of Accord, New York this coming Friday night, September 16th to go head to head in a sixty lap battle royal and to be named King of the event and along with it a big $5,000.00 payday offered up by Accord Speedway Promoters Gary and Donna Palmer.
The expected huge crowd will have the opportunity to many of their favorite stars in action on the always pristine, semi-banked quarter mile speedplant as three divisions of racing have been selected to work their magic out on the raceway. As always, the hard working Accord Promoter Gary Palmer has been feverishly at task to attend to his duties to give the the talented combatants a moist and tacky track surface they can race from wall to wall throughout the evening. The event is sponsored by Insinger Performance and Sunoco Race Fuels located in Dushore, Pennsylvania.
The evening of speed will bring out the United Pump and Tank sponsored mighty modifieds in a sixty lap excursion as the hometown aces of the Accord Speedway will defend the home turf against the anticipated invaders of the Northeastern Modified world. The evening will bring in the King of the Catskills 60 lap event Modified event that will pay $5,000.00 to the first driver under the checkered flag at the end of 60 laps of the hard driving excitement.
The speedway office has received many calls regarding the event and drivers expected in for the event include the winner of the 2015 event, “The Bechtelsville Bullet” Jeff Strunk. Strunk will be defending the crown with the powerful Glenn Hyneman owned 126 hot rod and is coming off a week in which he captured the coveted Freedom 76 for the sixth time in his career to the tune of $25,000.00.
The opposition will be strong as New Jersey racing legend Jimmy Horton returns to do battle in one of the Halmar International race cars. Jimmy has been strong all season long and is hoping for much better results than in 2015 when he captured a heat win only to be found light as the scales. Along with Horton comes Orange County Speedway Big Block Modified and 358 Modified Champion Tommy Meier. Meier is coming off one of the biggest seasons of his career. From Sheffield, Massachusetts, “The Wild Child” Andy Bachetti is coming off a superb season in which he captured the 2016 I-88 Speedway track championship and will be making a return to the speedway for the event.
Bachetti is a two-time track champion at Accord and a past winner of the King of the Catskills. “Flyin” Brian Malcolm from Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania is another driver who will be in the starting line-up to earn a spot for the KOTC event. Malcolm has enjoyed a strong season in 2016. “The DC Express” Danny Creeden is coming off an excellent season on the circuit. Creeden captured the Thunder Mountain Speedway Modified Championship and led all regulars in wins at Accord with four victories.
Accord Speedway offers some great in-house driving talent as the newly crowned United Pump and Tank track champion, “The Montgomery Missile” Anthony Perrego will be out to defend his turf as the 2016 speedway champion. Anthony enjoyed a great season in 2016 with three wins behind the wheel of the potent New York Truck Parts owned hot rod. “Iron” Mike Ricci, who scored two wins during the season and fell just a few points short of the 2016 title, is a master of the short track real estate and will be well prepared with his Backwoods Blends/Direct Fleet Service/Halmar International sponsored racer for the King of the Catskills headliner, an event he has captured in the past. “Showtime” Danny Tyler captured two wins during the season and the popular third generation driving star would love to add a KOTC win to his racing resume. The brothers Ferrier, “Primetime” Scott Ferrier and “The KF Flyer” Kenny Ferrier each captured wins earlier in the season and know the quick way around the Accord clay. Additional Modified winners in 2016 and expected in for the event include, “The Iceman” Dom Roselli.
The Modified roster at Accord is diverse with lots of talent throughout the ranks with names such as “The Legend” Richie Eurich, “Double J” Joe Judge, “The Rhinebeck Rocket” Brad Rothaupt, Jesse Marks, Brett Graham, Mark Pullen, Ed Dachenhausen and Corey Lowitt and bolstered late in the season with the addition of Mike Butler, Donnie Elliott, Bobby Hentschel, Ray See Jr and Ed Burgess. Many others will be showcased as they do their best to earn their way into the starting feature line-up and looking for the $5,000.00 pot of gold in the Lucas Oil Products Victory Lane.
The entry list for the King of the Catskills spectacular changes by the hour and there are many behind the scenes situations playing out as some top drivers are without rides as of this writing and hopefully some solid resolutions will add additional drivers into the starting field. Longtime Modified contender Jeff Rudalavage has indicated he is entering the upcoming event. Rookie Modified talent, “The Shohola Slingshot” Brad Szulewski has informed the speedway he will be in action.
Racing is on tap every Friday night from April through September. The King of the Catskills event is this week for the speedway on Friday evening, September 16th. Pit Gates will open at 5:00; Spectator Gates open at 5:30; Hot Laps are at 7:00 and the racing begins at 7:30 PM. Admission at the gate for the spectacular show is Adults $24.00 Seniors $22.00 (12+) Children $5.00 (11+ under) Reserved Indoor Seating $30.00; Family four pack special: 2 Adults + 2 Children and $20.00 in Food Vouchers for $68.00 (a savings of $10.00)
A look back over the years of the prestigious event have shown a dominance of Accord regulars in being able to more than hold their own against most of the outside invaders. The event began in 2005 and has shown a great history of tremendous battles between both outside competition and the track regulars. Jeff Strunk is the defending champion of the event and the following results range from 2015 to 2005, showing the many great names that have been victorious or have enjoyed great runs at the facility.
2015- King of the Catskills Modifieds: Jeff Strunk, Jeff Heotzler Sr, Scott Ferrier, Mike Mahaney, Danny Johnson, Andy Bachetti, Richard Smith, Joe Judge, Craig Mitchell, Robbie Green, Corey Lowitt, Nick Rochinski, Jimmy Wells, Dave Hinsch, Danny Creeden, Anthony Perrego, Matt Janiak, Tommy Meier, Danny Tyler, Shaun Walker, Dan Humes, Tim Hindley, Chuck McKee, Mike Ricci
2014- King of the Catskills Modifieds: Mike Ricci, Jackie Brown, Rich Ricci, Jeff Strunk, Danny Creeden, Tommy Meier, Danny Tyler, Chuck McKee, Jeff Heotzler Sr, John Ferrier, Nick Rochinski, Richie Eurich, Ray Jashembowski, Mike Mahaney, Tommy Johnson, Scott Ferrier, Andy Bachetti, Brett Hearn, Bobby Hentschel, Mike DuBois, Jeff Heotzler Jr, Anthony Perrego, Chris Shultz, Richard Smith, Darrell Ford
2013- King of the Catskills Modifieds: Jackie Brown, Danny Johnson, Anthony Perrego, Matt Sheppard, Tommy Meier, Jerry Higbie, Kenny Tremont, Andy Bachetti, Danny Creeden, Stewart Friesen, Brett Hearn, Jeff Heotzler Sr, Chuck McKee, Mike Mahaney, Bobby Varin, Brett Haas, Mel Schrufer, Mike Sabia, Keith Flach, Kevin Bates, Mike Ricci, Jeff Strunk, Pat Ward, Dave Hinsch, Rick Laubach, Bob Hentschel, Elmo Reckner, Danny Tyler, Craig Mitchell, Richie Eurich
2012- King of the Catskills: Brett Hearn, Danny Johnson, Duane Howard, Jerry Higbie, Pat Ward, Kevin Duryea, Mel Schrufer, Jimmy Phelps, Ryan Godown, Jeff Heotzler, Jackie Brown, Justin Holland, Butch Tittle, Stewart Friesen, Mike Mahaney, Danny Creeden, Jim Davis, Chuck McKee, Mike Ruggiero, Danny Tyler, Doug Manmiller, Mike Ricci, Bobby Varin, David Hunt
2011- King of the Catskills Modifieds: Andy Bachetti, Bobby Varin, Duane Howard, Jeff Heotzler, Brett Hearn, Jeff Strunk, Justin Holland, Mike Ricci, Butch Tittle, Pat Ward, Richard Smith, Michael Storms, Danny Tyler, Mel Schrufer, Mike Mahaney, Jeremy Quick, Danny Creeden, Danny Johnson, Rick Holsten, Billy Decker, Wade Hendrickson, Stewart Friesen, David Hunt, Ryan Watt, Jerry Higbie, Shaun Walker
2010- King of the Catskills Modifieds: Danny Johnson, Andy Bachetti, Matt Sheppard, Stewart Friesen, Mike Ricci, Brett Hearn, Pat Ward, Meme DeSantis, Bobby Varin, Duane Howard, Robbie Green, Jamie Yannone, Doug Manmiller, Sean Gunther, Craig Mitchell, Shaun Walker, John Willman, Rick Laubach, Dom Roselli, Bobby Trapper, Mel Schrufer, Brian Weaver, Neil Harris, Rick Mill, Frank Cozze, Jerry Higbie, Greg Hastie, Jeff Heotzler, Ronnie Johnson
2009- King of the Catskills Modifieds: Jerry Higbie, Andy Bachetti, Mike Ricci, Mike Colsten, Pat Ward, Greg Hastie, Chuck McKee, Kevin Duryea, Danny Johnson, Billy Pauch, Stewart Friesen, Jamie Yannone, Brian Weaver, Clinton Mills, Brett Hearn, John Lutes Jr, Russ Zimmerman, Jeff Richardson, Vinny DeCicco, Rick Mill, Bobby Trapper, Brian Malcolm, Brent Boyer, Jeremy Markle, Danny Creeden, Shaun Walker, Ricky Yetter, Mark Pullen, Howard Jarvis
2008-King of the Catskills: Rich Ricci Jr, Brett Hearn, Danny Tyler, Chuck McKee, Billy Van Pelt, Pat Ward, Keith Hoffman, Jimmy Johnson, Andy Bachetti, Jackie Brown Jr, Mike Ricci, Richie Eurich, Stewart Friesen, Jerry Higbie, Joey Grammes, Jeff Heotzler, Kevin Duryea, John McGill, Scott Ferrier, Tom Hindley, Ricky Yetter, Mike Colsten, Danny Johnson, Bobby Trapper, Jeff Rudalavage, Alan Rudalavage, Brian Weaver
2007- King of the Catskills: Rich Ricci Jr, Mike Ricci, Danny Johnson, Jackie Brown Jr, Danny Tyler, Robbie Green, Donnie Elliott, Jamie Yannone, Rick Mill, Scott Ferrier, Joey Grammes, John McGill, Joe Barbagallo Jr, Mark Pullen, Danny Creeden, Brian Weaver, Jerry Higbie, David Bush, Brett Hearn, Andy Bachetti, Richie Eurich, Alan Rudalavage, Jeremy Smith, Mel Schrufer
2006- King of the Catskills: Rich Ricci Jr, Tom Hindley, Jerry Higbie, Andy Bachetti, Dave Camara, Brian Malcolm, Jason Hamilton, John McGill, Rick Mill, Tom McGurrin, Hank Goranson, Mark Pullen, Chris Johnson, Joe Barbagallo Jr., Jackie Brown Jr., Ernie Palmer Jr., Jeff Heotzler, Larry Badaracco, Dom Roselli, Ryan Stortini, Mel Schrufer, Vinnie DeCicco, Barry Davis, Jim Winchell.
2005- King of the Catskills: Mike Ricci, Jackie Brown Jr., Rich Ricci Jr., Craig Mitchell, Jason Hamilton, Joe Barbagallo Jr., Marc Johnson, Barry Davis, John McGill, Scott Ferrier, Mike Tholin, Stan Lemiesz, Jack Gentile, Robbie Green, Ed Strada Jr., Larry Hendershot, Mark Pullen, Rick Raisner, Tom Mayberry, Darren McCaughey.
Racing is on tap every Friday night from April through September. The King of the Catskills spectacular is this week for the speedway on September 16th. Pit Gates will open at 5:00; Spectator Gates open at 5:30; Hot Laps are at 7:00 and the racing begins at 7:30 PM. Admission at the gate for the show is Adults $24.00 Seniors $22.00 (65+) (12+) Children $5.00 (11+ under); Reserved Indoor Seating $30.00; Family four pack special: 2 Adults + 2 Children and $20.00 in Food Vouchers for $68.00 (a savings of $10.00)
For further updates and information regarding all of the news and additions to the Accord Speedway, log on to their very well documented website at: http://www.accordspeedway.com or call the speedway hotline at: 845 626 3478.
