RPW Column: Solid Run With DKM Chassis In Jumpin’ Jack Memorial At Fonda Has Andy Bachetti Excited
News Director 
Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – It’s no secret that the Fonda Speedway isn’t one of Andy Bachetti’s favorite tracks.
However, during Saturday’s Montgomery Co. Open honoring the memory of his father-in-law, you’d never know it as the Sheffield, MA driver drove his bright #4 towards the front of the field and came away with a well-deserved fourth-place finish.
Bachetti fired from the 11th starting position and methodically worked his way through the field made better by the fact that he was running a new DKM Cyclone chassis that he’s only race a handful of times.
“This was a great run for our team today,” Bachetti said. “This DKM car was great and everything we did to improve it made the car even faster. Today was just the type of race we needed, especially here at Fonda.”
Working with the guys at DKM has been a welcomed addition to the Bachetti team and the proof is in the results. While he didn’t win, the driver of the Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming #4 was fast.
“Eric (Mack), Dave (Constantino) and their team at DKM along with my crew are all good guys and really seem to work well together,” he said. “We’re starting to figure this thing out a little bit with every lap we make.”
It sure seemed like the new Cyclone Chassis really helped Bachetti’s performance at the Track of Champions. In previous years, he’s struggled but as the 40-lap feature raced on, Bachetti seemed to get faster and faster.
“This thing was really pretty good on long runs,” he said. “You have to give up a little bit in the beginning of a run in order to be good at the end. We were lucky things worked out in our favor, but this car was really good.”
The Bachetti team has utilized several different chassis manufacturers over the years from Teo to PMC to most recently Bicknell. In fact, he’s won the last three Big Block Modified titles at Lebanon Valley in Bicknells.
“Each car builder has their own advantages that make them good,” he said. “They just make you find the right niche to get them better than anyone else so you can get to victory lane.”
Right now, though, for his time on the road, it appears as if working with the team at DKM is paying dividends for Bachetti.
However, he is still a championship driver with many years of experience. He knows how to set up a car for his driving style.
“To be good, you have to stay basic,” he said. “You can fine tune, but if you start with a baseline, you will be in the hunt.”
Last weekend during the Valley’s first of two open practices, Bachetti turned laps with both his DKM and Bicknell. Does he have a choice as to which car he’ll run on the high banks for this season, or even, for opening night?
“We haven’t decided just yet,” he said. “Both cars were good but we’re not sure yet. We’re still working on some things.”
No matter what car he straps into, it appears Andy Bachetti is on track for a very successful 2023 season.
