Accord, NY- "The Chairman Of The Board" Rich Ricci Dominates King Of The Catskills At Accord Speedway
By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media

The Ulster County weather was perfectly warm and breezy, the Accord Speedway was in top form and a great roster of drivers and a standing room only crowd proved to be a win/win for Promoters Gary and Donna Palmer to host their annual King of the Catskills event at the speedway. Working right up until race time, Gary Palmer had the pristine quarter mile clay speedplant in impeccable condition and the attention to detail enabled the stout field of Modified and Sportsman competitors to race wall to wall throughout the evening of racing events. The evening of speed was headlined by sponsor Bruce Insinger and his Insinger Fuel Team. Check them out on the web at: www.insingerperformance.com

When all was said and done, Modified short track specialist "The Chairman of the Board" Rich Ricci jumped on the talented Modified field at the drop of the green flag and never looked back as he dominated the racing action in a wire to wire triumph at the speedway. The win for Ricci was his fourth King of the Catskills triumph and Ricci walked away with the $5,000.00 prize that went along with it. In the Healey Brothers Group Sportsman Joe Giachinta Memorial 30-lap shootout, Chris Stevens led only the final turn and one half to nip Corey Cormier at the finish line to capture the win and the $1,500.00 pay day that awaited him in the Lucas Oil Products Victory Lane. In the Nightcap for the Emmanuel's Marketplace Fireball Four Cylinder Enduros, George Zeininger continued his mastery over the rest of the Enduro field to go on and win his third Enduro event of the season and with the win walk away with a hefty haul of money.

Twenty-four of some of the finest Modifieds on the East Coast today took off in a run for the roses in the King of the Catskills headliner with Rich Ricci wasting no time to blast out into the lead. Pole Sitter Jeff Strunk followed and stayed close early in the event. A few early skirmishes dropped some quality talent from the field as Danny Creeden, Anthony Perrego, Joey Grammes and Mike Colsten were some of the early casualties. On each restart Ricci was able to get the great starts and by the midpoint of the event had stepped away from the field.

Things were beginning to heat up as Mike Ricci made a run for the front and Jimmy Horton was working the baseline of the speedway as if he were on rails. Mike Ricci slipped past Strunk and a few laps later Horton was able to do the same. Tommy Meier, Andy Bachetti, Brian Krummel and Nick Rochinski were in the hunt as well and after forty laps things began to change rapidly in the make-up of the event. Mike Ricci raced into second place only to lose the spot a few laps later to Jimmy Horton who had gotten past Strunk. Tommy Meier came back to life as slipped by Bachetti. Horton closed the distance on Rich Ricci quickly and they were nose to tail on lap-48. Horton slowed for a slower car in front of him and seemed to lose a bit of momentum. The final ten laps found Rich Ricci uncontested as he drove to a convincing win in a dominating effort for the New Paltz, New York resident. Jimmy Horton began his drive to the front from eleventh starting place and did a great job of mastering the baseline of the speedway for runner-up honors. Mike Ricci was third with a real strong run. Jeff Strunk, the defending champion of the event in 2015, ran a strong fourth and Tommy Meier completed the top five finishers. Brian Krummel headed up the second five with Andy Bachetti seventh, Nick Rochinski eighth, Donnie Elliott ninth and Danny Tyler completing the top ten. Ricci turned the fastest time during the event with a 13.184 second clocking and Strunk was right behind with a 13.386 time.

Aaron Doolittle and Joe Conklin made up the front row for the Sportsman main event named in honor of the late Joe Giachinta. Giachinta was a true gentleman and friend of the speedway and lost his life in an industrial accident last November. Conklin outhustled Doolittle for the point and led the first five laps until Kenny Hinsch used the bottom of the speedway to get past him. The next time around would prove the undoing of Conklin as a skirmish removed him to the sidelines. Hinsch would lead the way until lap seventeen as Corey Cormier went topside to take command of the event and Hinsch would meet the inside barrier and be done for the evening.

On the restart it would Cormier showing the way with Chris Stevens taking up the chase from 14th starting position. Cormier was back at the top of the speedway and as the leaders came upon slower traffic, Stevens was working the bottom to erase any lead Cormier had built up. Slower traffic would come into play quickly as a pack of cars were running together and Cormier went to the top to slip past them. As the white flag flew Cormier and Stevens were nose to tail and dodging traffic left and right. As they reached turn three, Cormier went to the top and Stevens went to the baseline with Stevens sliding up and Cormier driving down and the two cars touched and it would be Stevens just nipping Cormier for the win.

Joey Bruning from 13th starting position would finish third with Tyler Johnston fourth and Allison Ricci from 17th completing the top five. The second five were steady Milton Mann, Daniel Morgiewicz, Chris Lynch, Nick Plumstead and Phil Goetchius. Corey Cormier turned the fastest lap when he clocked 13.557 seconds.

The veteran campaigner George Zeininger wasted no time in charging to the front in the 50-lap Emmanuel's Marketplace Fireball Four Cylinder Enduro excursion. Zeininger, who captured two wins earlier in the 2016 season and the defending champion of the event last year, had himself a stout race car and was able to drive away from the field and go on to victory. Former Street Stock campaigner Gene Helms has found a new place to race with the Enduros as he enjoyed a solid run for runner-up honors. Johnny Bankich paced himself throughout the event and finished just behind Helms for third place money.

GEMSTONES:

The showcased event of the season at Accord for the Palmer Family was another spectacular event for the successful promotional team now in their 16th season at operating their Ulster County facility. The racing was superb as every Modified and Sportsman heat resembled a mini feature event. The standing room only crowd came from far and wide with as many as twelve states representing the statewide support of the tremendous racing activity. Parking was at a premium and the grounds were abuzz with excitement for the long awaited evening of racing at the "Gem in the Catskills". The turnstiles of fans filled the concession areas all night long as they devoured the great cuisine offered up by the speedway concessions.

41 Modifieds made their way to the pit area along with 39 sportsman and 31 Four Cylinder Enduros. Five heats were needed for the Modifieds with Joey Grammes, Ed Dachenhausen, Brian Krummel, Mike Ricci and Nick Petrilak scoring wins. The Sportsman division cars also ran five heats with Aaron Doolittle, Joe Conklin, Corey Cormier, Brandon McGill and Tyler Boniface capturing the wins. Three B-Mains were needed for the Modifieds with Danny Creeden, Brain Malcolm and Danny Tyler collecting the wins. Three Sportsman B-Mains were needed and won by Leo Fotopolous, Jimmy Johnson and Rich Ricci III.

Both divisions were in abundance with drivers on this evening and many did not make the final transfer into the feature and the speedway management would like to thank everyone for making a fine effort to get into the lineup. Brad Szulewski, Ken Ferrier, Mike Butler, Bobby Trapper, Bob Hentschel, Chris Shultz, Chuck McKee, Kurt Hundeland, Danny Kronk, Brett Graham, Ray See, Richard Smith, Ed Burgess, Brad Rothaupt and Joe Judge. Sportsman drivers included Jamie Yannone, Vinnie Gress, Stan Vishinski, Mike Murphy, Ryan McCartney, Phil Johnson, Jim Introne, Kyle Rohner, Mark Connolly, Matt Shultz, Dave Demorest and Travis Codswell.

Grandma Annies Pies were back in victory lane last evening courtesy of Liggan Insurance, Wright's Farm Market, Rosendale Farmers Market and Cousin Pete Donohue.

Condolences go out to the Tyler Racing Team as Mike Edwards, the longtime crew chief for Doug Tyler, passed away during the past week.

"Uncle" Mike Hansen from WRWD Radio 107.3 FM was back in the house and once again enjoyed the show as he helped out with commentary throughout the evening.

The Giachinta Family was at the speedway and presented the Joe Giachinta Cup to the winner Chris Stevens.

Speedway management thanks all of our drivers and fans for a great season at the speedway.

Halloween Havoc is next up on the Accord Speedway schedule. The date is October 29th with a full itinerary of racing and fun things for the families of racing to enjoy. Hay Rides, Balloon Sculpturing, Pumpkin Painting, Kid's Costume Parade, Bike Raffle Give-a-ways courtesy of Upstate Auto and just a part of some great fall fun.

RESULTS:

United Pump and Tank Modifieds: (60 laps $5,000.00) Rich Ricci, Jimmy Horton, Mike Ricci, Jeff Strunk, Tommy Meier, Brian Krummel, Andy Bachetti, Nick Rochinski, Donnie Elliott, Danny Tyler, Scott Ferrier, Jesse Marks, Nick Petrilak, Rob Rowe, Brian Malcolm, Ed Dachenhausen, Richie Eurich, Joey Grammes, Danny Creeden, Anthony Perrego, Jimmy Wells, Bobby Trapper Jr, Mike Colsten, Mike Kolka

Healey Brothers Sportsman: (30 Laps $1,500.00) Chris Stevens, Corey Cormier, Joey Bruning, Tyler Johnston, Allison Ricci, Milton Mann, Daniel Morgiewicz, Chris Lynch, Nick Plumstead, Phil Goetchius, Troy Arnold, Ralph Ronk, Jimmy Johnson, Brandon McGill, Leo Fotopolous, Connor Otten, Rich Ricci III, Jim Kraus, Frank Venezia, Brad Horton, Robbie Knipe, Jimmy Wells, Kenny Hinsch, Tyler Boniface, Joe Conklin, Aaron Doolittle

Emmanuel's Marketplace Fireball Four Cylinder Enduros: George Zeininger, Gene Helms, Johnny Bankich

Racing every Friday night from April through September.
Saturday, October 29th finds the speedway swinging back into action for the Halloween Havoc spectacular at the speedway sponsored by the Liggin's Insurance Agency. More information regarding the event will follow.

For more information regarding the great racing action found at the Accord Speedway, call the speedway hotline at: 845 626 3478 or log-on to their newly designed and well documented website at: http://www.accordspeedway.com We are easy to find at 299 Whitfield Road, two miles off Route 209. At the Accord Speedway..................................

A Trail Of Dirt Leads Right To Our Door

Accord, NY- All Systems Go For The King Of The Catskills September 16th At Accord Speedway
By: Steve Pados, Accord Speedway Media

Accord Speedway is coming off a very successful last weekend in which six division champions were named for the 2016 racing season and a spectacular patriotic intermission tribute absolutely rocked the house. The Accord Speedway management team has the "House in order" in preparing for the biggest event of the season at the speedway. Promoters Gary and Donna Palmer and staff have burned the midnight oil and have been working hard to greet the participants who will be working their magic on the Accord clay. The highly anticipated evening of racing excitement and the expected huge crowd will have the opportunity to see many of their favorite stars in action on the pristine, semi-banked quarter mile speedplant on September 16th. Gary Palmer will attend to his duties with an all-out effort in giving the combatants a moist and tacky track surface they can race from wall to wall throughout the evening. The action on the speedway will be brisk and it will be thrill a second when the King of the Catskills event is unleashed. Donna Palmer and her staff will work their magic with great attention to detail from ticket sales to the food concessions as the well noted kitchen at Accord has been serving up great cuisine all season long. The weekend of racing excitement is sponsored by Bruce Insinger and his Insinger Fuel and Performance Team.

The Friday night show in 2016 will bring in three divisions of hot rod racers and all with special events to try their hand at winning some high paying dollars on the quarter mile, clay cushioned speedway. 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.

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. "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 for the event. "The DC Express" Danny Creeden, has enjoyed a great season at Accord as has "Showtime" Danny Tyler. The brothers Ferrier, "Primetime" Scott Ferrier and "The KF Flyer" Kenny Ferrier, "The Iceman" Dom Roselli, "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, Chuck and Tyler McKee, Bobby Hentschel, Ray See Jr and Ed Burgess.

Defending King of the Catskills winner "The Bechtelsville Bullet" Jeff Strunk has informed speedway management he will be back to defend the crown. Strunk is coming off one of his greatest triumphs in his illustrious career last Saturday night when he captured the coveted "Freedom 76" event at the Grandview Speedway to the tune of $25,000.00. Strunk will be aboard the powerful Glenn Hyneman owned 126 for the event. Jeff will face plenty of opposition as New Jersey racing legend Jimmy Horton will come into the event flying the colors of the Orange County Fair Speedway where he captured an earlier qualifier for the event. Orange County Speedway Big Block Modified and 358 Modified Champion Tommy Meier will be in competition at Accord on Friday. "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, "The Shohola Slingshot" Brad Szulweski, "The Speed Trap" Bobby Trapper, Bobby Trapper Jr, Jeff Rudalavage and many are expected in for this event.

The Healey Brothers Group Sportsman will be in action and pointing towards a $1,500.00 prize as the speedway offers a memorial event to one of the truly good guys in racing, Joe Giachinta. Joe lost his life last year in an industrial accident after the season ended but was instrumental in assisting the Accord Speedway with his innovative Redi Rock International concrete blocks that make up the speedway retaining barriers from turn three all of the way into turn one. Joe competed at Accord since 2003 and his missing name on the driving roster is heart breaking to everyone who knew him. Joe assisted with the career of "Jumpin" John McGill and followed up by helping Sportsman racer Brandon McGill and Junior Slingshot racer Jake Mason. All those who have come in contact with Joe Giachinta knew he was a great guy from the first Hello. He is truly missed by his family and his family of friends from the Accord Speedway.

The new crowned Sportsman track champion "Jammin" Jimmy Wells will head up a top flight contingent of drivers seeking to pull off the big win. Wells earned ten wins during the season in his Backwoods Blends/Rycor HVAC sponsored racer to earn his first track title at Accord. Plenty of competition will arrive to try to tip Wells off his pedestal and included in the group are track regulars Phil Goetchius, Chris Stevens, Corey Cormier, Ralph Ronk, Connor Otten, Brandon McGill, Nick Johsnon Dave Demorest and Nick Plumstead. Joey Bruning, "Mr Excitement" Kevin Ward, Milton Mann, Tyler Johnston, Jim Introne, Brad Cicio, Mike Senecal and last season's winner of the event, "The K-Man" Robbie Knipe, who has raced on a limited schedule this season. Winter Mead, who captured a win last season, has been working the gremlins out of her racer the past few weeks.

Former two-time speedway champion "The Bushkill Bullet" Kyle Rohner has signed on for the event. Rohner is coming off a season in which he captured the Five Mile Point Sportsman title.

The thrill a second Emmanuel's Marketplace Fireball Four Cylinder Enduro gang will also be on the race card. One hundred laps of racing on the Accord clay will determine the winner of the $2,000.00 prize offered up by the speedway. There have been five events in 2016 with George Zeininger winning the first two events. Dave Donovan captured the next two features and was on his way to a third win until fuel woes placed him on the sidelines. Derek Delaney would go on to win the feature and all three winners are expected back for the big money event.

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)

The always spectacular King of the Catskills weekend lands on Friday evening at the speedway. The date is September 16th with a rain date in place for September 23th. The multi-division show will feature the United Pump and Tank Modifieds in a 60 lap feature attraction with $5,000.00 on the line for the winner and presented by Insinger Fuel and Performance. The Joe Giachinta Memorial for the Sportsman division will offer a $1,500.00 to win prize and the Emmanuel's Markeplace Fireball Four Cylinder Enduros will duke it out for $2,000.00 for the winner.

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://.accordspeedway.com or call the speedway hotline at: 845 626 3478. At the Accord Speedway............................................

A TRAIL OF DIRT LEADS RIGHT TO OUR DOOR