Rich Ricci Jr Dominates Exciting Opening Night Accord Speedway Race Card
Story By: STEVE PADOS /ACCORD SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By:DAVE DALESANDO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
ACCORD, NY – April 17, 2016- The Catskills Mountains of New York State sprung back to life Friday evening as the the sounds of race cars and the cheering of happy fans opened up the Accord Speedway for the 2016 racing season. Promoters Gary and Donna Palmer ushered in the long-awaited season opener at their pristine racing facility located in the area once known as the “Borscht Belt.” The speedway opened last evening to a cast of familiar driving stars and these stars offer high speed action with daredevil skills on a race track like no other found on the entire East Coast. A great opening night crowd witnessed six race divisions on a day that went from a mild afternoon to frigid temperature went the sun went down. The racing action was sponsored by Fast Signs of Kingston, New York www.fastsigns.com. Saunderskill Farms presented the checkered Flag Bonus.
Capturing opening night wins at the speedway were “The Chairman of the Board” Rich Ricci Jr in the United Pump & Tank Modifieds, “Jammin” Jimmy Wells in the Healey Brothers Group Sportsman, Bob Sleight in the Arkel Motors Pure Stocks, “The Young Outlaw” Jesse James Bartelson in the Ruges Performance Center NEWS Sprint Cars, Samantha Muller in the Want Ad Digest Outlaw Slingshots and Hunter Lapp in the WRWD Junior Slingshots.
Anthony Perrego and Danny Tyler brought the starting field to the green flag for the start of the 30-lap Modified headliner. Perrego wasted no time in flashing to the front of the pack with Tyler in hot pursuit. A restart found Perrego once again at the head of the field with Danny Creeden slipping past 
Tyler and making tracks for Perrego. Creeden used the top of the raceway between turns one and two to pull about event with Perrego and the two made contact with Creeden making contact with the unforgiving boiler plate and breaking off his right front wheel and causing considerable damage to his race car when it came to rest in between turns three and four.
On the restart, it was Perrego leading but Rich Ricci Jr came calling fast and hard and found the sweet piece of real estate that catapulted him past Perrego. “Showtime’ Danny Tyler kept pace with Ricci throughout the remainder of the event. Ricci would enjoy a triumphant return to racing at Accord to claim the win in his first Accord action since he had his season cut short last season with shoulder surgery. Tyler enjoyed a solid night with a runner-up finish that also found the “Dirt Diva” Allison Ricci coming from 14th starting position to nail down third place. “Iron” Mike Ricci was fourth with Perrego holding on for fifth place. Robbie Green, Richie Eurich, Corey Lowitt, Joe Judge and Ed Dachenhausen completed the top ten.
The Healey Brothers Group Sportsman feature headliner saw Jimmy Wells grab the lead at the star of the event race away at will from the rest of the field as he captured his opening night win. Robbie Knipe kept pace to record runner-up honors with Nick Plumstead third, Greg McCloskey fourth and Phil Goetchius completing the top five. Chris Stevens, Ryan Wood, Nick Johnson, Collin DuBois and newcomer Jason Feinberg completed the top ten.
Bob Sleight led all laps to triumph in the Arkel Motors Pure Stock feature race. While Sleight led all of the laps, Steve Williams kept it interesting throughout the event as he challenged on every lap and at times pulled event with Sleight but would fall inches short in completing the pass. Williams would finish a hard fought second place with Olivia Johnson in third followed by Bob Palmer and Mike DuBois Jr to complete the top five. Gary Ronk, Ray Tarantino, newcomer Travis Brockner, Steve Kanuk and Jimmy Sykes rounded out the top ten.
The WRWD Radio Junior Slingshots found Hunter Lapp wiring the field as he led all laps on his way to victory. John Kendall was the runner-up with Michael Corbin third, Jake Mason fourth and Jayden Sleight rounding out the the top five.
The Want Ad Digest Outlaw Slingshot feature found defending Junior Slingshot champion Samantha Muller race to victory in her first competition with her new division in 2016. Newcomer Dan Malley was the runner-up.
The Ruge’s Performance Center NEWS Sprint Cars found Brody Adamsky leading for a lap before Don Smith Jr took command of the race. Smith would find himself in a dogfight with Jesse James Bartelson throughout the remainder of the event. As the white flag flew, Bartleson was able to slip by Smith, whose racer was starving for fuel, Bartelson would race to his first win in his first ever racing event at Accord. Smith would hold on for second with Adamsky finishing third.
GEMSTONES:
Heat winners for the opening night event included Robbie Knipe and Chris Stevens in the Sportsman division. Pure Stock heats were won by Bob Sleight and Ray Tarantino. Three heats were needed to set the field for the Modified division with Corey Lowitt, Anthony Perrego and Danny Tyler all claiming wins. In the Junior Slingshot heat it was John Kendall winning and Samantha Muller captured the Outlaw Slingshot heat. Andrew Davis was victorious in sprint car heat action.
The start of the event was delayed for a few minutes to allow the crowd a chance to find their way to their seats in a solid opening event for the speedway and the Palmer Family. The Palmer Family is celebrating their sixteenth anniversary as the owners and promoters of the Accord facility.
The Accord concession stands were at full tilt as the hardworking staff busted their humps to cover the hungry racing crowd that came out to support the speedway, especially after the sun went down and the frigid air rolled into the speedway grounds.
The speedway itself was in spectacular condition as Promoter Gary Palmer spent the entire week in working his magic on the multi-channeled raceway that saw three and four wide action throughout the evening of events. All of the drivers offered praises for the well groomed facility.
Many new cars and paint schemes were the order of the day for the pit area that bustled all evening long. Eleven time Accord Modified Champion Rich Ricci Jr was back in action and triumphed in his return to racing at Accord. Dave Demorest was on hand and the reigning Pro Stock champion has moved into the Sportsman ranks with a sharp looking new 1D race car. with his but encountered problems early on to put a damper on his evening. Former Spec Sportsman champion Ed Dachenhausen has made the move into the Modified division with his sharp looking Sanford Racing Modified. Tyler Johnson was on hand in the Davis owned number 5 but they had some opening night troubles hindering their performance. The same can be said for Conner Otten in Sportsman, Ryan Auchmoody in Slingshots, Brian Malcolm, Dom Roselli and Mark Pullen in the Modifieds as they all suffered some problems during the evening.
Hunter Lapp and Greg McCloskey did interviews with speedway announcer Steve Pados that was well received by the crowd. Grandma Annie’s pies were distributed to all feature winners.
The first Enduro event presented by Emannuel’s Marketplace will be added to the regular six division card for the April 22nd race card with $2,000.00 on the line for the winner, $750.00 for second and $500.00 for third.
RESULTS:
United Pump & Tank Modifieds: Rich Ricci Jr, Danny Tyler, Allison Ricci, Mike Ricci, Anthony Perrego, Robbie Green, Richie Eurich, Corey Lowitt, Joe Judge, Ed Dachenhausen, Ken Ferrier, Dan Humes, Brad Rothaupt, Dom Roselli Sr, Brian Malcolm, Lem Atkins, Danny Creeden, Scott Ferrier, Mark Pullen (DNS)
Healey Brothers Group Sportsman: Jimmy Wells, Robbie Knipe, Mick Plumstead, Greg McCloskey, Phil Goetchius, Chris Stevens, Ryan Wood, Nick Johnson, Collin Dubois, Jason Feinberg, Rich Ricci III, Dave Demorest, Tyler Johnston (DNS), Conner Otten (DNS)
Ruge’s Performance Center NEWS Sprint Cars: Jesse James Bartleson, Don Smith Jr, Brody Adamsky, Don Smith Sr, Andrew Davis (DNS)
Arkel Motors Pure Stocks: Bob Sleight, Steve Williams, Olivia Johnson, Bob Palmer, Mike DuBois Jr, Gary Ronk, Ray Tarantino, Travis Brockner, Steve Kanuk, Jimmy Sykes, Harry Bachman, Alan Tarantino, James Goetchius, John Cole (DNS), Tom Hausman (DNS)
Want Ad Digest All Star Slingshots: Samantha Muller, Jordan Lawrence, Dan Malley
WRWD Radio Junior Slingshots: Hunter Lapp, John Kendall, Michael Corbin, Jake Mason, Jayden Sleight, Ryan Auchmoody (DNS) Ashton DeWitt (DNS)
Racing is on tap every Friday night at Accord Speedway from April through September. Pit Gates open at 4:30; Spectator Gates open at 5:00; Hot Laps are at 6:30 and the racing begins at 7 PM. Admission for Adults $14.00; Seniors (65+) $12.00; Children $3.00 (11+ under) Indoor Seating $20.00; Family four pack special: 2 Adults + 2 Children and $20.00 in Accord Bucks for $44.00 (a savings of $10.00) Special event shows do have an increase in admission.
April 22nd brings Mombaccus Excavating Night to the speedway for seven divisions of great racing excitement as the first of six Enduro events will take place with a $2,000.00 prize for the winner of the 100 lap grind. Emannuel’s Markeplace will sponsor the Enduro series.
For further updates and information regarding all of the news and additions to the Accord Speedway, log on to their well documented website at: http://www.accordspeedway.com or call the speedway hotline at: 845 626 3478.
