RPW Column: With A Successful 2019 Behind Him, Cody Higbie To Run Accord & OCFS In ’20

RPW Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – GOSHEN, NY – The Higbie name has long been around in northeast dirt racing, and with the emergence of Cody Higbie in 2019, it looks like the name will continue in racing for a long time.

The iconic Higbie Brothers 97 was driven to many victories by several great drivers at Orange County and Nazareth Speedways in the 70’s and 80’s. Modified ace Jerry Higbie is a multi-time OCFS Modified Champion, a past winner of the Eastern States 200 and now his son is continuing the family tradition.

The likable, always smiling Cody took to the track at Accord Speedway in the Rookie Sportsman division in 2019. With no prior racing experience, nobody on the Higbie team knew what to expect. However, it was the start of a season to remember for Cody, his team and his family.

Cody’s plan was to take it easy at first and get comfortable with the car and the track. As the Friday nights moved from June into July, it was easily apparent to the team and the fans at Accord that Cody was gaining speed and confidence with each week that passed.

On August 9th, Cody decided it was go time to go full-bore. He won his heat, then won his first feature and it was a very popular win with the Accord fans as he was loudly cheered. Another victory followed on August 30th and Cody finished up his time in the Rookies with two victories on September 13th.

He then moved into the Sportsman division and Cody adapted quickly. In his third start, he was able to drive from 19th to victory in the Halloween Havoc event at Accord on October 12, his final race of 2019.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect this season,” Higbie said. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to hang with the front runners, but it worked out well and we all had a lot of fun doing it.”

Dad was happy too.

“We were a little taken by surprise with how the season went for Cody,” Jerry Higbie said. “He always gives it his best with full intensity whether it’s academics, working on the car or whatever he does. Our season with Cody was the most enjoyment with racing we’ve had in awhile”

With the success of 2019 behind them, Cody is planning on running the Sportsman division at both Accord and Orange County in 2020. He will have a pair of HigFab Chassis cars numbered 97C. His Middletown car will be Dad’s 358-Modified machine which Jerry has given him.

The years of working in the HigFab shop have paid off as Cody can maintain and do the work on his cars himself.

“It will be good for us to have two cars this year,” Cody said. “If we run into problems at Accord on Friday, we will already be set for Middletown the next night. However, that just means extra work in the shop during the week.”

The team’s sponsors for 2020 are Ice Less, Upstate Auto, Mister Race Oil and HigFab Chassis. The crew consists of Dad Jerry, Grandfather Gerry, Mark Rutherford and Mr. K.