RPW Exclusive: Daniel Morgiewicz Grabs First Ever Modified Checkers At Accord Speedway

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ACCORD, NY – New winners of their respective divisions were able to score that coveted first ever victory and take that special drive into Victory Lane Friday night at the Accord Speedway.

It has been a rough 2024 on the track for Daniel Morgiewicz Jr. Numerous issues had kept him from showing what he could accomplish behind the wheel of his #15M machine.

But after an impressive heat race win on Friday, the likeable young driver backed it up with an equally impressive first ever Modified feature win.

“This car is a rocket ship,” said the elated Morgiewicz in Victory Lane. “We got it at the beginning of the year and we just had lousy luck. We spun out a few weeks ago in turn one with another car, so we junked it and put the motor in this car and came back.”

And Morgiewicz started to show just what he could do upon his return.

“Before we had issues in the feature last week, we went from 26th to 12th in 10 laps before it shut off. But tonight, it showed the speed,” Daniel said.

Morgiewicz took the lead from Kevin Ward early on in the feature and was easily able to sustain the lead. The only time he was threatened was by Chris Stevens after a lap 12 restart.

“I pushed a little going into turn one and I saw Chris get below me. That just gave me more motivation to hit the marks better and just drive on,” he said.

After the lap 12 restart, the race went green the rest of the way as Morgiewicz was able to open it up on Stevens.

“I was really hooked up in the top groove. Whatever Gary Palmer did this week really showed. I was able to move around to get around lapped traffic. From the middle to the top seemed to prevail tonight.”

With lapped traffic, Stevens was able to close in some on Morgiewicz, but Daniel had more than enough and at the conclusion of the 35 lap run, he had a 1.39 second margin of victory. Following Stevens in 2nd was Scott Ferrier in 3rd. Rich Ricci Jr. returned after a few weeks off with a new look on the #55 and finished 4th. Danny Tyler rebounded after an early race pit stop to finish 5th.

Completing the top 10 were Tyler Johnston 6th, Ward 7th, Ken Ferrier 8th, Randy Green 9th and Michael Storms 10th.
Ryan Behrent led all 25 laps of the Sportsman feature to win his first ever at Accord. Ryan got the lead at the start and outran the field to get the big win.

John Kendall chased Behrent for all 25 laps and finished 2nd. Brian Krummel, in a rare 2024 start, crossed the line in 3rd spot, but the #17 did not make it through post race tech. This elevated Eddie Owens to 3rd with Jared LaBagh 4th and Connor Prokop 5th.

Rounding out the top 10 in the Sportsman feature were Steve Williams 6th, Nick Plumstead 7th, Whitey Slavin 8th, Brayden Traver 9th and Jackie Brown Jr. 10th.

As the laps wore down in the Pure Stock feature, it was looking to be a 2nd place finish for Brian Chirico as Gary Ronk was comfortable out front. But as Ronk’s car began to show smoke, Chirico startec to close in. Even with 2 laps to go, Ronk still looked to be in good shape, but Brian poured it on and made the move on the outside of Ronk on the final corner to take his first ever Pure Stock win at the Bullring.

Wayne Taylor, back after missing many weeks while awaiting an engine, also got by the slowing Ronk to finish 2nd and likewise, Jayden Sleight made the pass for 3rd. Ronk ended up 4th and John Rood finished 5th.

Dave Viall took the lead with 3 to go as multi time winner AJ Albreada slowed and was the All Star Slingshot winner. Walter Henry IV finished 2nd with Amariah Wright 3rd, Jaden Prince 4th and Mikayla Predmore 5th.

Chase See was Friday’s Junior Slingshot winner with Addisyn Roger 2nd and Brayden Marks 3rd.

Tim DeGrote picked up the win in the 4 Cylinders with Cadin Biondin 2nd and Joe Smith 3rd.

Next Friday will see the Sportsman division on center stage at Accord Speedway as they compete in the Jablonka Memorial Race as Stan and Travis Jablonka will be remembered. It will be 44 laps with a $4,444 payday for the winner. Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Slingshots and the Accord Speedway Vintage Modifieds will also be on tap.