RPW Exclusive: Late-Race Pass Nets Rich Ricci Jr. Accord Speedway Feature Win Friday
Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ACCORD, NY – Rich Ricci Jr. had finished 2nd twice already in this early season at Accord Speedway, Opening Night to Andy Bachetti and earlier this week at the Short Track Series Battle at the Bullring to Stewart Friesen.
Rich, the all time leading Modified winner at Accord, was able to seal the deal with a late race pass in the 35 lap feature of Ken Ferrier to win his 105th race at the Ulster County oval.
“This car is some hotrod,” said Rich who is driving Allison Ricci’s #55 this season. “This car is so smooth to drive, it’s too much for this old man, I can’t handle it.”
Ferrier took off from the pole and built up a good lead over Rich Eurich and Joe Judge. Lap 4 saw Jared Miller do a rollover on the backstretch, no injuries.
Ferrier continued to lead as 11th starting Ricci Jr. moved into contention, taking 2nd from Eurich on lap 20. Ferrier continued to have a good lead, but a caution with 9 to go closed up the field.
After several laps of side by side racing, Ricci Jr. was able to clear Ferrier with 4 laps to go and at the finish, he was a winner by 1.75 seconds over Ferrier with Judge finishing 3rd. Craig Mitchell was 4th and Randy Green 5th.
Completing the top 10 were Danny Tyler 6th, Eurich 7th, Tyler Johnston 8th, Scott Ferrier 9th and Chris Stevens 10th.
“Ken was fast and I was pushing it. I know we made some contact in the corner, but that’s short track racing.”
Rich gave much credit to Allison in his Victory Lane interview.
“When we scale this car, I sit in the chair and she does it all because I’m old school she says.”
Both the 1st and 2nd place finishers in Friday’s Modified feature received $250 in bonus money from Johnson’s Towing. Andy and Joseph Johnson are two of the hardest working individuals at Accord Speedway every Friday and they did these bonuses in memory of their dad, Dave Johnson.
Well done guys and thank you for all your hard work every week!!
Jared LaBagh was Friday’s winner in the 25 lap Sportsman race. LaBagh took the lead from Joey Conklin on lap 12 and kept the lead on two late race restarts to take the win. Nick Plumstead finished 2nd with Conklin 3rd, Ryan Behrent 4th and Joe Conklin Sr. 5th.
Lem Atkins was 6th, Jackie Brown Jr. 7th, Brayden Traver 8th, Mike Travis 9th and Pat Mann 10th.
Mikey Corbin made his first ever Pure Stock win a memorable one with a final corner pass of Aiden Demorest to take the win by less than a second.
“I didn’t even think I was going to get him at the line, said an elated Corbin in Victory Lane.” I had a huge run coming off of 4. I was waiting to hear the call, please be 26 and when I heard him say 26, I was like, hell yeah.”
Tanner Drongoski finished 3rd, Bill Deak Jr. 4th and Tom Campfield 5th.
Jeff DeGroat grabbed the lead from a slowing Brandon Conklin and raced his way to the victory in the 4 Cylinder feature. Tim DeGrote was 2nd and George Barringer was 3rd.
AJ Albreda continued his dominance in the All Star Slingshots by taking his 8th consecutive Accord Speedway win. Braxton Dembek finished 2nd and Walter Henry IV 3rd.
Breanna Reynolds was Friday’s Junior Slingshot winner. Michael Travis Jr. finished 2nd and Taylin Wingard 3rd.
Action resumes at Accord Speedway on Friday, May 24th with Modifieds, Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Slingshots and the NEWS Sprint Cars. It will be WRWD Salute to Veterans Night.
