Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – It was truly a big night for Andy Bachetti Saturday at the Lebanon Valley Speedway 2021 Awards Banquet.
Bachetti was the man of the hour as he and his race team were officially crowned both the Big Block and Small Block Modified champion for last season.
However, it was the nugget of information he let slip at the end of his speech with track announcer John Stanley that answered a lot of questions.
Bachetti, the now four-time Lebanon Valley DIRTcar Big Block Modified champion, and twice-in-a-row, will call the Valley of Speed home again in 2022.
“We’re business as usual this year at Lebanon,” Bachetti said. “My brother (Greg Bachetti) is putting a team together for our Small Block Modified with the Carlotto family again, and we’re going after two more titles here at the Valley.”
With the way the Bachetti team has been running in recent seasons at the West Lebanon, NY oval, there’s nobody that wouldn’t classify Andy as one of the favorites heading into the new year.
Even though he seriously entertained the option of leaving and heading to Orange County Fair Speedway this season, he ultimately decided to return to Lebanon and he’ll look to keep the momentum of his fortune going.
“Momentum is a big thing in this sport,” he said. “Anything can happen really and things do turn and change but my team is on top of things. We’re working hard in the shop to get things ready to go and always trying to learn about the new stuff to stay at the top of our game.”
Bachetti is now fourth on the all-time Lebanon Valley Speedway Modified wins list behind three legends of the sport…Tremont, Hearn and Corellis. Amazingly, though, he still feels like he hasn’t reached the best part of his career just yet.
“Learning is definitely what it’s all about in this deal,” he said. “Kenny (Tremont) is the king here and it’s taken me three years to get going with this here. I feel like we’re just starting.”
The black and green #4 car will begin its title defense during the Valley’s 70th lid-lifter on Saturday, April 23rd.