RPW Exclusive: Danny Tyler Sweeps Accord’s Features; Hunter Lapp Wins Phil Goetschius Memorial

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ACCORD, NY – It has been a frustrating season thus far for Danny Tyler. After scoring 18 career Modified wins, including 3 in 2022, Tyler had been held winless so far in 2023.

But that all ended in grand fashion on Friday night as Tyler did the sweep. winning the holdover race from August 4th and then taking the regularly scheduled feature.

“We made lots of changes to the car. We not only changed the body, but this is the motor that we won all the races with last year, a big difference,” Tyler said after he completed the sweep.

The holdover feature was a flag-to-flag win for Tyler as he got the lead at the start from Daniel Morgiewicz and withstood several restarts to take the win.

“I’ve been a little rusty this year, not much racing,” Tyler said after the win. “These guys have been working hard all year and it’s been a tough year. But when you still have guys in your corner, even with bad finishes, that’s when you know that you have the right group.”

And Danny talked about winning a race on a night that his friend, Phil Goetschius was remembered.

“I’m super happy to win this on this night. Phil was one of our best friends for years. I didn’t win his race, but I’m happy to win on the night that they are representing him.”

Corey Cormier advanced from 13th to finish 2nd. Randy Green was 3rd, Joe Judge 4th and Dillon Steuer 5th. Completing the top 10 were Allison Ricci 6th, Cody Higbie 7th, Morgiewicz 8th, Chris Stevens 9th and Scott Ferrier 10th.

The regularly scheduled feature was not as easy of a win for Tyler. Starting 8th, he didn’t gain much the first few laps, but by lap 10, he was running 3rd behind Scott Ferrier and Morgiewicz. Passing Morgiewicz for 2nd on lap 12, he went after Ferrier.

Meanwhile, Cody Higbie, with just a handful of Accord Modified starts, was running great and got by Tyler and Ferrier to take the lead. As Cody took the lead, Tyler moved past Ferrier into 2md. And the two #97’s battled it out with Tyler taking the lead with 3 to go.

“I actually thought Jerry was in the 97, props to the kid. He ran a smooth race and he snookered me. I was very patient with Scott. And Cody went by both of us. I went to the outside and it felt good. Once I cleared him, it was like whew!!”

Higbie finished 2nd, 9/10ths of a second behind. Ferrier was 3rd, Steuer 4th and Green 5th. Stevens finished 6th with Morgiewicz 7th, Justin Holland 8th, Ken Ferrier 9th and Cormier 10th.

After numerous 2nd place finishes, Hunter Lapp put it all together to win his first Accord Speedway Sportsman victory in the 30 lap Phil Goetschius Memorial. The win was worth $3,000 to Lapp.

The first lap proved to be disastrous for front row starters Pat Mann and Roger Hummer as they got hung up together on the backstretch. After Aidan Elliott led a couple of laps, it was Lapp moving to the lead with Travis Green in pursuit.

Green was able to stay fairly close and was able to close in on Lapp in the corners. But Hunter looked to have the advantage on the straightaways and was able to control the lead.

At the finish, it was Lapp taking the coveted win by .44 over Green. Mike Doty was 3rd, Jared LaBagh 4th and Tyler Treacy 5th. Joe Toth made the long tow from southern Pennsylvania for the special race to finish 6th. Tyler Johnston was 7th, Kevin Stevens 8th, Tighe Sherlock 9th and Mike Travis 10th.

“Finally,” exclaimed Lapp in Victory Lane. “It’s been a tough year but it’s been a good year. I can’t complain about it, but man, this is awesome. It’s my first ever win here in the Sportsman. That was the longest 30 lap race I’ve ever run.”

Walt Henry’s chances of a win on Friday looked bleak as he had early race problems with a flat that put him to the rear of the Pure Stock field. But Walt never gives up and sliced through the field to take Friday’s Pure Stock win. J.B. Morris finished 2nd, Aiden Demorest was 3rd, Shawn Williams 4th and Goerge Van Ardsall 5th.

Preston Brown ran off and hid to win the Harold Montayne Memorial Race in the Accord Vintage Modifieds division. In fact, he was so far in front that 2nd place Harry Baldwin that Harry inadvertently pulled into Victory Lane, thinking that he had won.

But it was Preston with the win with Baldwin 2nd, Adam Douglas was 3rd, Mike Brown 4th and Larry Stokes 5th.

A.J. Albreada kept his Accord 2023 record perfect as he picked up his 3rd win in as many races in the All Star Slingshots. Madison Lewis finished 2nd, Sophia Spear was 3rd, Alex McCann 4th and Kristen Bishop 5th.

E.J. Hatch was Friday’s winner in the Junior Slingshots. The rest of the top positions were not available for this column.

Mike Mikulski was a first time winner in the Rookie Sportsman as he outraced Lenny Hemlich III and Donnie Campbell 3rd.

The 4 Cylinders feature was won by Edwin King. Tim DeGrote was 2nd and Chris Dyer 3rd.

Next Friday, September 8th, Accord Speedway presents Fireworks and First Responders Night. It’s always a great night at Accord.