Bachetti Overhauls VanDuser To Capture Exciting Accord Speedway Modified Win

Story By: STEVE PADOS / ACCORD SPEEDWAY – ACCORD, NY – What a difference a week makes as the cold weather might have gone to sleep for now and spring has finally sprung in New York State. Friday evening brought eighty degree weather to the Catskills but it also brought some of that rain stuff the racers and promoters dread.

A rainstorm blew in and halted the action for over an hour but Promoter Gary Palmer was relentless as he and with the help of a caravan of race cars whipped the speedway back into shape and along with it produced another great night of racing. A couple of divisions did not get their features in and those races will be added on as time permits. The racing action was sponsored by Rapid Tire Service located in Montgomery, New York.

Capturing wins on Friday at the speedway were “The Wild Child” Andy Bachetti in the Insinger Fuels Modifieds as he overhauled young Kyle VanDuser to capture the victory. “The Jersey Force” Anthony Recchio picked up his first win of the season in the Arkel Motors Sportsman. Bob Tersillo celebrated his second win succession on his sponsor’s night in the WRWD Radio NEWS Sprint Cars, and Brian Durbin captured his first win in the WRWD Radio Rookie Sportsman. Mike Houghtaling took the road less traveled to come away the winner in the Northeast Vintage Modifieds as he nipped Darrell Hulbert to win yet another event at the speedway.

“Tommy Gun” Tommy Johnson and “The Concrete Kid” Kyle VanDuser brought the starting field to the green flag for the start of the 30-lap Modified headliner. VanDuser wasted no time in blasting to the front of the pack with Johnson and Anthony Perrego in hot pursuit. VanDuser was blasting off of the top of the raceway like a man possessed as he led the field lap after lap. Back in the field their were numerous battles for position and real estate but Andy Bachetti came a calling after starting from fourteenth position. Rich Ricci Jr hustled hard from tenth position and everyone on hand knew this was going to be a show-stopper to the finish. “Iron” Mike Ricci pulled up lame on turn two in lap ten bringing out the caution.

On the restart VanDuser glued himself back up to the top of the raceway and once again forged out front. He held the top spot when another caution for the disabled racer of Nick Johnson on lap-22. The restart had VanDuser back in control but with many drivers chasing him with their eyes on the prize. Ed Dachenhausen would break on lap-25. On the restart Bachetti tested low and then high and was able to drive by VanDuser on lap-27 and go on and capture the win. VanDuser ran a great race and was the runner-up with Perrego steady in third place Danny Creeden charging hard late to grab up fourth and Rich Ricci Jr finishing up the top five. The second five were Jerry Higbie, Randy Green from 13th, Scott Ferrier, Jimmy Wells who drove back through the filed after an earlier altercation and Richard Smith.

The Arkel Motors Sportsman feature headliner was a time-shortened event with Anthony Recchio leading all laps to capture his first win in the regular Sportsman division and doing it with a 2001 minted Bicknell race car. Recchio was in command all of the way. Tyler Johnston was the runner-up and he was getting stronger with each passing lap. Matt Shultz was third with Cole Hentschel fourth and Kevin Stevens rounding out the top five. The second five was headed up by Daniel Morgiewicz with Hunter Lapp, Leo Fotopolous, Chris VanDuser and Tony Kowalchuk completing the top ten.

The WRWD Radio NEWS Sprint Cars found Bobby Tersillo up to the task once again as he grabbed up the lead on the opening lap and cruised to his second straight win at the speedway. Corey Wood was the runner-up in a strong outing with Mick D’Agostino in third, followed by Eric Jennings, Jeremy Quick, Heidi Hedin and Mark Connolly.

The WRWD Rookie Sportsman field was a good one and even though the event became time shortened the action was good throughout the pack. Winning his first ever Accord feature was Brian Durbin as he grabbed the lead in turn one and held the field at bay throughout the duration of the event. Charlie Loiodice was the runner-up with Travis Green, Joe Coppola and Mike Travis completing the top five. Samantha Muller recovered from an earlier spin and headed up the second five with Robbie Colburne, Amanda Carson, Fred Smith and Erin Paulison completing the top ten.

Darrell Hulbert lead the entire Vintage Modified race except for the final two turns as Mike Houghtaling saw Hulbert try to go underneath a slower car in turn three and Houghtaling decided to go high and the travel-line brought Houghtaling another Accord Speedway win. Hulbert was the runner-up with Ray See Sr, Mike Brown and Bob Harless finishing up the top five..

GEMSTONES:

Heat winners for the evening event included Matt Shultz, Anthony Recchio and Nick Plumstead in the Sportsman division. Pure Stock heats were won by Ray Tarantino and Travis Brockner. Three heats were needed to set the field for the Modified division with Richie Eurich, Kyle VanDuser and Jimmy Wells claiming wins. Bob Tersillo captured the lone heat in sprint car action that saw Jeremy Quick take a wild ride after hopping a wheel. Rookie Sportsman heats were claimed by Jared Miller and Brian Durbin.
Preliminary Fireball heats were claimed by Jeff DeGroat, Jerry Kingeter and Dave Donovan.

The speedway itself was in spectacular condition both times as Promoter Gary Palmer spent the entire week in working his magic grooming the multi-channeled raceway that saw three and four wide action throughout the evening of events.

Jim and Ginnie Douglas are celebrating their 55th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations to the happy couple.

Best wishes go out to Kurt Cross as he will have knee surgery this coming Tuesday.

It was nice to see Former Miss Accord Speedway Erica Decker in attendance and she informed us she is planning her wedding coming up shortly.

Jim Silinski was also on hand. Jim is the orchestrator of the First Responders Night at the speedway.

Uncle Mike Hansen from WRWD Radio also was on hand for the event.

Randy Filipowski handled the flags for the evening.

RESULTS:

Insinger Modifieds: Andy Bachetti, Kyle Van Duser, Anthony Perrego, Danny Creeden, Rich Ricci Jr, Jerry Higbie, Randy Green, Scott Ferrier, Jimmy Wells, Richard Smith, Kenny Ferrier, Joe Judge, Rich Ricci III, Danny Tyler, Ed Dachenhausen, Tommy Johnson, Nick Johnson, Mike Ricci, Alissa Cody, Rich Eurich, Brian Malcolm (DNS), Ray See Jr (DNS), Brad Rothaupt (DNS)

Arkel Motors Sportsman: Anthony Recchio, Tyler Johnston, Matt Shultz, Cole Hentschel, Kevin Stevens, Daniel Morgiewicz, Hunter Lapp, Leo Fotopolous, Chris VanDuser, Tony Kowalchuk, Mike Senecal, Jimmy Devitt, Alex VanPelt, Robbie Knipe, Jamie Yanonne, Ryan McCartney, Nick Plumstead, Kyle Rohner, Harry Baldwin (DNS), Ryan Stortini (DNS)

WRWD Radio NEWS Sprint Cars: Bob Tersillo, Corey Wood, Mick D’Agostino, Eric Jennings, Jeremy Quick, Heidi Hedin, Mark Conolly, Andrew Davis

Upstate Auto Pure Stocks: Postponed to a later date

WRWD Radio Rookie Sportsman: Brian Durbin, Charles Loiodice, Travis Green, Joe Coppola, Mike Travis, Samantha Muller, Robbie Colburne, Amanda Carson, Fred Smith, Erin Paulison, John Brown, Jared Miller, Cole Stangle, Kenny Ryder, Michael Corbin

Emmanuel’s Marketplace Fireball 4-Cylinders: Postponed to a later date

Northeast Vintage Modifieds: Mike Houghtaling, Darrell Hulbert, Ray See Sr, Mike Brown, Bob Harless