Jimmy Wells Collects Accord Speedway Modified Gold Friday Night

Story By: STEVE PADOS / ACCORD SPEEDWAY – ACCORD, NY – The always unpredictable weather pattern in the Northeast has kept the speedway promoters on their toes with mops in hand for the early part of the 2018 racing season.

Accord Speedway Promoters Gary and Donna Palmer have witnessed the highs and the lows of the crazy weather for the past 18 years and have weathered those storms and gales to produce some of the most highly-spirited racing action in the Northeast. Friday found the the rare occasion when the threat of a storm wasn’t present in the area and the racers put on a great show last night at the speedway.

The favorable weather brought out the largest crowd of the season to enjoy a great night of entertainment. Arkel Motors was the headline sponsor for the evening of speed.(www.arkelmotors.com)

Hard working Accord promoter Gary Palmer continues to work overtime to give his driving roster the best possible racing facility he can and the race to the walls speed channels were a true testament to his dedication to his craft as the speedway offered many racing seams for the drivers to display their speed and guile.

The exciting seven feature race card found “Jammin” Jimmy Wells returning to the WRWD Radio Victory Lane for the first time in 2018 in the Insinger Fuels Modified division. “The Big D” Danny Morgiewicz scored his first ever win at Accord in the Arkel Motors Sportsman division finale. Travis Brockner was fast and then some as he top-sided his way to victory in the Upstate Auto Pure Stock Division feature event. Bob Tersillo was lightning fast as he grabbed up his third win of the season in the WRWD Radio NEWS Sprint Cars. Charles Loiodice captured the WRWD Radio Rookie Sportsman feature event. Jeff DeGroat captured the pair of Emmanuels Marketplace Fireball 4-Cylinder events held at the speedway.

Brad Rothaupt and Ray See Jr brought the Insinger Fuels Modified starting field to the line for the start of the 30-lap main grind. Rothaupt would lead the first lap before sixth starting Jimmy Wells put his Upstate Auto Wagon at the top of the staircase and assumed control of the lead. Wells, to put it bluntly, was on his own set of rails as he stretched his lead with every lap. Uncle Mike Ricci shot between a couple of cars to take over second and Anthony Perrego broke free to fall in behind Ricci. By the halfway point
Wells enjoyed more than a straightaway lead and then began to hit traffic.

Ricci closed the gap to within six car lengths with Perrego in tow. This night, however, belonged to Wells as he crossed under the checkered flag with room to spare and with it his first win of the season. Mike Ricci was a strong runner-up just nipping Anthony Perrego who finished third. Danny Creeden came on strong from eleventh to finish fourth and Tommy Johnson ran an exceptional event to claim fifth. Brad Rothaupt headed up the second five with Danny Tyler, Richard Smith, Ed Dachenhausen and Eddie Burgess completing the top ten.

The Arkel Motors Sportsman event was a true to life barnburner as a fast field of race cars highlighted another great event. It would be the youngster Ryan McCartney jumping into the lead at the start and he would lead through the first six laps. Danny Morgiewicz took over the lead on a restart on lap seven and a couple of laps later reigning track champion Kyle Rohner would begin an all out assault for the top spot. Lap after lap the duo battled it out with Morgiewicz controlling the top line and Rohner digging for all he was worth from the baseline. Rohner would pull even at times but Morgiewicz had that little extra to hold off Rohner. The event became an immediate classic as two talented drivers duked it out for the win. Morgiewicz would not be denied as he edged Rohner for his first ever win at Accord. Rohner was second with Nick Plumstead third, Matt Shultz fourth and Jamie Yannone completing the top five. Tyler Johnston headed up the second five with Hunter Lapp, Leo Fotopolous, Ryan McCartney and Chris VanDuser completing the top ten.

“The Travelin Man” Mick D’Agostino jumped out front in the WRWD Radio NEWS Sprint Car division twenty lap main and the rookie sprint driver appeared headed to victory. On lap-18 D’Agostino slid up over the cushion and allowed Bobby Tersillo and Eric Jennings to get by. Tersillo would lead the final two laps to claim his third straight win for the season. Jennings was second with the disappointed D’Agostino third Jordan Lawrence fourth and the returning Don Smith fifth. Dan Malley and Mark Conolly followed.

The Upstate Auto Pure Stock main event began with Travis Brockner grabbing the lead at the start with Ray Tarantino sliding into second and it set-up another great feature attraction. Brockner was fast on the top of the raceway and Tarantino kept hounding him lap after lap for the top spot. Brockner never waivered as he led all of the way to claim his first feature win of the season. Tarantino was the runner-up with Livy Johnson giving her Tom’s Repair Shop hot rod a good work out with a third place run. Steve Williams and John Hechinger completed the top five. Steady Jay Smalley, opening night winner Emerson Cargain Jr, Chris Kanuk, newcomer Amber VanOrden and Bob Sleight completed the top ten.

The WRWD Radio Rookie Sportsman feature became a shortened event at fourteen laps due to time restraints but the racing was good throughout. Cole Stangle led the first lap and then gave way to Jared Miller. Miller would lead through lap seven when Stangle regained control of the lead. Slower traffic found the leaders trying to figure out the best way around them but Charles Loiodice found the upper reaches of the speedway open and he placed his car there and came out of turn four as the race leader. A caution on lap fourteen ended the event with Loiodice winning his first ever at the speedway with Stangle in the runner-up role and Travis Green finishing third. Jeff Higham and Joe Coppola completed the top five. Newcomer Jason Armstrong, Mike Travis, Jared Miller, Amanda Carson and Jamie Doolan finished up the top ten.

The Fireball 4-Cylinders first event was the held over event from a week ago. Willie DeGraw led the first two laps before yielding to Jeff DeGroat. DeGroat raced through the field with ease and won over Richard Smith, DeGraw, Ken Barringer and Anthony Tarantino.

The second event for the Fireballers found pretty much the same scenario as this time it would be Gary Quick leading the first two laps before DeGroat took over. DeGroat would go on to his win of the evening with Jerry Kingeter second, while Richard Smith, Ryan Heady and Gary Quick completed the top five.

Gemstones:

Heat winners for the evening included Andrew Davis and Bobby Tersillo in the Sprint heats. Travis Brockner and Ray Tarantino scored wins in the Pure Stock division. The Sportsman ranks found Harry Baldwin, Nick Plumstead and Hunter Lapp scoring victories. Enjoying wins in the Modified heats were Brad Rothaupt, Joe Judge and Tommy Johnson. Rookie heats went to Cole Stangle, Charles Loiodice and Travis Green Two heats were needed for the Fireballers and Jerry Kingeter and Jeff DeGroat were the winners.

New cars on hand included Kurt Hundeland, Jessie Marks and Mark Pullen in the Modifieds. Collin DuBois and Mike Murphy made their first starts of the season in the Sportsman. Don Smith and Rich Mellor were nice additions to the Sprint Car Ranks. Johnny Miracle, Curt Ayers and James Goetchius were first timers in the Pure Stocks. Jason Armstrong, Jamie Doolan, Keith Johannesen and Billy Fiske new new additions to the Rookies.

Bob Sleight and Steve Williams traded cars for the evening.

A tip of the fedora to Promoter Gary Palmer for having the speedway groomed to perfection for the evening of speed. The track was racy from top to bottom and three and four wide racing were commonplace
throughout the night.

Grandma Anne’s fresh pies made it back to victory lane as all winners received some goodness for their quest for victory lane.

RESULTS:

Insinger Fuels Modifieds: Jimmy Wells, Mike Ricci, Anthony Perrego, Danny Creeden, Tommy Johnson, Brad Rothaupt, Danny Tyler, Richard Smith, Ed Dachenhausen, Eddie Burgess, Joe Judge, Kyle VanDuser, Randy Green, Alyssa Cody, Kurt Hundeland, Ray See Jr, Mark Pullen, Nick Johnson, Jerry Higbie. (DNS) Scott Ferrier, Ken Ferrier, Rich Ricci III, Rich Ricci Jr, Jessie Marks

Arkel Motors Sportsman: Danny Morgiewicz, Kyle Rohner, Nick Plumstead, Mayy Shultz, Jamie Yannone, Tyler Johnston, Hunter Lapp, Leo Fotopolous, Ryan McCartney, Chris VanDuser, Harry Baldwin, Collin DuBois, Mike Senecal, Shane Henion, Michael Murphy, Chris Stevens, Alex VanPelt, Jimmy Devitt, Anthony Recchio

WRWD Radio NEWS Sprint Cars: Bob Tersillo, Eric Jennings, Mick D’Agostino, Jordan Lawrence, Don Smith Jr, Dan Malley, Mark Conolly, Rich Mellor, Andrew Davis

Upstate Auto Pure Stocks: Travis Brockner, Ray Tarantino, Livy Johnson, Steve Williams, John Hechinger, Jay Smalley, Emerson Cargain Jr, Chris Kanuk, Amber VanOrden, Bob Sleight, Johnny Miracle, Austin Smith, Curt Ayers, Rich Scott, James Goetchius

WRWD Radio Rookie Sportsman: Charles Loiodice, Cole Stangle, Travis Green, Jeff Higham, Joe Coppola, Jason Armstrong, Mike Travis, Jared Miller, Amanda Carson, Jamie Doolan, Erin Paulison, Keith Johannesen, Robbie Colburne, John Brown, Brian Durbin, Fred Smith, Billy Fiske

Emmanuel’s Marketplace Fireball 4-Cylinders: Jeff DeGroat, Jerry Kingeter, Richard Smith, Ryan Heady, Gary Quick, Brandon Conklin, Nikolas Curry, Ken Barringer, Jesse Torrens, Anthony Tarantino, Ed King, Marisol Torrens, Samsara Torrens, Willie DeGraw, Anthony Zecchino

Emmanuel’s Marketplace Fireball 4-Cylinders: (Heldover from May 4th) Jeff DeGroat, Richard Smith, Willie DeGraw, Kenn Barringer, Anthony Tarantino, Ryan Heady, Brandon Conklin, Gary Quick, Jerry Kingeter