Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ACCORD, NY – Danny Creeden’s week at Accord finished on a high note. During Tuesday’s STSS Battle of the Bullring, Creeden was not happy with the contact he received on a restart from Mat Williamson that he felt cost him a shot at the victory.
But the defending Accord Speedway Modified champion was sharp on Friday night as he posted the Opening Night win over Jimmy Wells and Danny Tyler.
It was Wells and Creeden on the front row for the start as it took several attempts to get the race going. Creeden pulled out to the lead over Wells and was putting down some very fast laps. As Danny was well out front, the racing back in the pack was quite intense.
Tyler made good gains from starting deep in the pack and made it into the top 5. Shane Jablonka closed in on Wells for 2nd and he eventually made the pass of Jimmy. At the finish, it was Danny taking the double checkers by a straightaway. Jablonka crossed the line in 2nd, but he received the DQ. This elevated Wells to 2nd with Tyler 3rd, Chris Stevens 4th and Rich Ricci Jr. 5th.
Completing the top 10 were Craig Mitchell 6th, Ken Ferrier 7th, Randy Green 8th, Joe Judge 9th and Richard Smith 10th.
“It was a good race, the top is dominant here,” Creeden said. “Jimmy and I race each other hard, but clean. I kind of squeezed him once, but I gave him enough room. I love racing with this group, the Wells family, the Ricci family, all great people.”
In the Sportsman division, Jimmy Johnson survived numerous restart challenges and a late race charge from Tyler Johnston to take top honors in the 25 lap test.
It was Johnson and Johnston that led the field to the green. A flurry of cautions ensued which caused the race to restart single file with only one lap scored, It was Johnson in command, but he was constantly under pressure from Johnston. Time after time, Johnston would try every line to try to get around Johnson.
On the final lap, Johnston got a great run on the inside, but it fell just short as Johnson was the victor by about 3/4 of a car length.
Dominic Roselli Jr. finished 3rd with Jared LaBagh 4th and Cody Higbie 5th, Kevin Stevens finished 6th with Kyle Rohner 7th, Charles Loiodice 8th, Travis Green 9th and Jared Miller 10th.
Joe Narok raced his way to Friday’s Pure Stock win at Accord followed by Walt Henry in 2nd, John Hechinger 3rd, Henry Morin 4th and Jay Smalley 5th.
Charles Weslowski was the North East Wingless Sprints winner over Eric Jennings and Dan Malley.
Scott Zehnacker was the Rookie Sportsman winner over Mike Travis and John Cole Jr.
In the All Star Slingshots, Amber Baccaglini was victorious over Sophia Spear and Madison Lewis.
Chase See was Friday’s Junior Slingshot winner over Brayden Marks and Calleigh Stritmater.
And wrapping up the Friday night action at Accord were the 4 Cylinders where Robert Beach topped the field over Camereon Reichenbaugh, Brandon Conklin, Jeff DeGroat and Tyler White.
Action returns to the Big A on Friday, May 20th.