Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ACCORD, NY – It’s a huge Friday of racing at Accord Speedway on August 12th.
The night’s highlight will be the return of the King Of The Catskills Race. The race also carries the designation as the Ron Van Etten Memorial Race.
Modifieds are $7000 to win the 50 lap race with an increased purse throughout the field thanks to Associates Golf Car and the Ronny Van Etten Family.
Sportsman are running with a $200 bonus to second place thanks to Phil Goetschius and Billy Liggan.
Also racing are Pure Stocks, Four Cylinders, Rookies and Slingshots.
This week’s racing is sponsored by Mark & Dave Smith Roofing and Building Experts.
Ron Van Etten was top runner at Accord, winning quite a few features throughout the years. Ron started racing in 1958 at Rhinebeck Speedway. After racing some at Arlington Speedway, Ron spent several years racing at the Orange County Fair Speedway from 1964-69. In the early 70’s Ron raced at Lebanon Valley, picking up 12 wins.
Throughout the mid 70’s, Ron picked up many wins at Accord including 2 of his 3 Accord championships in 1976 and 77.
The early 1980s saw Ron return to OCFS in a sharp looking #308.
Ron picked up his final Accord Speedway win on August 14, 1987.
In addition to winning over 50 features during his career, Ron was the 1966 NY State Driver Champion.
Ron was inducted into the Accord Speedway Hall of Fame shortly before he passed away on August 26, 2021.
Ron was a great racer and he was heavily involved in the community with the Rhinecliff Fire Department.
It’s great to see this championship racer and person honored with a race in his memory.
With 4 point races left, here’s a look at the front runners for championships:
Arkel Motors Modifieds
1. Dan Creeden 462
2. Danny Tyler 441
3. Jimmy Wells 424
4. Rich Ricci Jr. 410
5. Joe Judge 398
Mid-Hudson Concrete Sportsman
1. Tyler Johnston 474
2. Travis Green 468
3. Jimmy Johnson 466
4. Kevin Stevens 446
5. Jared LaBagh 386
Dan’s Towing Pure Stocks
1. John Hechinger 472
2. Joe Narok 470
3. Walt Henry 456
4. Jayden Sleight 444
5. Brian Walsh 366
Dan’s Towing Fireball 4 Cylinder
1. Brandon Conklin 460
2. Tim DeGrote 416
3. Chris Dyer 414
4. George Barringer 346
5. Jeff DeGroat 315
WRWD 107.3 NEWS Sprints
1. Charles Weslowski 232
2. Eric Jennings
3. Dan Malley
4. Steve Kyser
Accord Speedway All Star Slingshots
1. Amber Baccaglini 390
2 Sophia Spear 372
3. Madison Lewis 338
4. Alex McCann 302
5. Kristen Bishop 296
Accord Speedway Junior Sprints
1. Braden Traver 390
2. Walt Henry IV 382
3. Calleigh Stritmater 372
4. EJ Hatch 356
5. Bodie Marks 328
On Friday, pit gates will open at 4:30, spectator gates at 5:30 and hot laps beginning at 7:00.