Bachetti Is Back: Former Track Champion Andy Bachetti Returns To Orange County Glory, Earns $5,637-plus In Inaugural NDRL Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP ‘Hard Clay Open’ Event Over Strong 59-Car Field; Brian Krummel Tops GRIT Series Sportsman Field
MIDDLETOWN, NY – Andy Bachetti shook off the bad luck that has plagued him at Orange County Fair Speedway in a big way Sunday afternoon.
The Sheffield, Mass., driver wired the field, leading from start-to-finish to win the inaugural National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP big-block/small-block Modified event at the ‘Hard Clay Open’ presented by United Pump & Tank, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto and West Point Golf. The event was a co-promotion involving Brett Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC and track managers Michael Gurda IV and Howard Commander.
Bachetti, 38 years old, staved off the race-long advances of young Anthony Perrego, who succumbed to a flat right-rear tire in the final laps, and outdistanced defending Orange County track champion Tim Hindley, who drove from 19th to finish second in the Joe Sarvis-owned No. 94.
“Man, it feels good to be back in Victory Lane again at Orange County,” noted Bachetti, a former track regular who now competes weekly at Accord and Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) speedways. “With all these fans and cars here today, it’s even better.”
Bachetti – past three-time Orange County 358-Modified champion – earned $5,000 from the base purse, $400 cash as the Halfway Leader from Rock Fantasy Concert, Smoke Shop & Pinball Room and an additional $237 in lap money and contingency awards for a total of $5,637 plus.
A field of 59 NDRL Modifieds vied for 28 feature starting spots, with a large crowd filling the grandstands and drive-in section at the venerable fairgrounds oval.
Bachetti opted for big-block power in his No. 34 Teo-Pro car. Following a redraw of the top-12 passing-points earners from heat races, he started the 50-lap main from the pole.
Bachetti launched into the lead from the outset. But all eyes were on Perrego early on. The 20-year-old, who started eighth, cracked the top five on lap six in Gary Mann’s New York Truck Parts No. 55. Perrego drove to fourth on lap seven and vaulted to second at the 18th circuit. During the mid-portions of the race, Perrego closed to within a car-length of race-leading Bachetti.
Lapped traffic proved to be a scare for Bachetti at lap 31. In turn two, he briefly tangled with Darwin Greene. The yellow flew for Greene’s ensuing spin. Another quick caution for debris on lap 32 set the stage for a green-flag run.
Perrego chased Bachetti around the five-eighths-mile until his right-rear tire went down on lap 47 to draw the caution.
Hindley, the Fair Oaks, N.Y., driver who had methodically worked through traffic from his 19th starting spot, inherited second. Hindley’s bid ended one spot short, as Bachetti made history earning the first-ever NDRL Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP triumph.
Hindley’s second-place finish was worth $4,000, plus $500 in lap money, $250 from Simplicity Design as the highest-finishing track regular and an additional $210 from McGannon Excavating as the Hard Charger for a total of $4,960!
Accord Speedway short-track ace Danny Tyler of Cottekill, N.Y., finished a solid third, racing inside the top-three for the entire distance in his family owned No. 97T. Tyler earned $2,500 for third, $200 in memory of Judy Tuit courtesy of the Tuit family and Mike Sparta Trucking and $323 in lap money for a total of $3,023 plus contingencies.
Danny Johnson of Rochester, N.Y., guided the Chris Gennarelli-owned No. 86 from 18th position to finish fourth and veteran Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill, N.Y., advanced from 15th to finish fifth in Mel Schrufer’s No. 2a small-block.
Completing the top-10 were track regular Billy Van Inwegen of Sparrowbush, N.Y. driving the Sherlock Motorsports No. TEN ($200 bonus in memory of Judy Tuit); Lebanon Valley regular J.R. Heffner of Valatie, N.Y. ($250 bonus in memory of Judy Tuit); Tommy Meier of Waldwick, N.J., who started 25th in Jeff Behrent’s No. 3 small-block; Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., who recovered from a lap-18 restart tangle in Tom Cullen’s Westmoreland Golf Club No. 1WGC; and Capital District star Jimmy Davis of Ballston Spa, N.Y., who started 23rd.
Top passing points earners in the six, 10-lap NDRL Modified heats were Matt Billings (Brockville, Ont.), Heffner, Jeremy Markle (Port Jervis, N.Y.), Jerry Higbie Jr. (Newburgh, N.Y.), Donnie Corellis (Averill Park, N.Y.) and Tyler.
Consolation victors were Hindley, Friesen and Duane Howard (Oley, Pa.).
Bob McGannon of Garnerville, N.Y., nipped Chuck McKee at the line to earn the final, 28th, starting spot in the main via a 3-lap Last Chance Race of drivers missing a transfer spot by one position in the three consolations.
Defending track champion Brian Krummel of Middletown, N.Y., swept by Connor Cleveland on the 14th lap and was never headed en route to a $1,000 victory in the 25-lap Dig Safely New York GRIT Series Crate 602 Sportsman main event. Cleveland, of Corinth, N.Y., settled for second, followed by Rocky Warner of Gloversville, N.Y., Andrew Reeves of Stony Point, N.Y., and Chris Stevens of Cornwall, N.Y.
The NDRL Short Track Super Series resumes on Tuesday, May 20 (rain date: May 21) at Thunder Mountain (N.Y.) Speedway with the Olum’s ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ presented by Rochinski Contracting Services & Husqvarna. NDRL big-block/small-block Modifieds run 50 laps for $5,000-plus to win and $500 just to take the green flag: the richest night in Thunder Mountain history. Sportsman (Open vs. Crate 602) join the program in a $1,000-to-win, 25-lap event. Thunder Mountain Speedway is located in Center Lisle, N.Y., 25 miles north of Binghamton.
To learn more about the NDRL Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP, visit www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 or e-mail Deyo99H@aol.com. Like “BD Motorsports Media” on Facebook or follow @BrettDeyo on Twitter.
HARD CLAY CLIPS: The Orange County pit area was buzzing with 96 total race cars in the pit area: 59 NDRL Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Modifieds and 37 Dig Safely New York GRIT Series Sportsman….
The traditional NDRL ‘Kings of Dirt’ four-wide pace lap made its debut in Modified racing Sunday much to the delight of the crowd. Jeff Ahlum and Leon Andrus handled the day’s announcing duties….
Delaware’s Matt Jester, making his first appearance in New York State, ran inside the top-five until contact on a lap-18 restart ended his day. Jester made the redraw in his Orange County debut….
Jimmy Horton’s Lincoln Auto Body No. 5 was done in hot laps following a plume of white smoke….
Stewart Friesen and Brett Hearn elected not to run sail panels for the main event, switching to conventional windows. The highest “non-sail panel” car belonged to track regular Billy Van Inwegen in sixth spot….
Canadian Matt Billings held second in his first OCFS effort until a flat right-rear tire sent him to the pits on the 28thlap. Billings, of Brockville, Ont., reported more than two feet of snow remained on the ground at home….
The use of passing points qualifying and sail panels were a first in Orange County’s long history….
All of the podium finishers stated their plans to attend the next NDRL Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP event at Thunder Mountain May 20….
‘HARD CLAY OPEN’ RACE SUMMARY – SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014
NDRL Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Modified Feature Finish (50 Laps): ANDY BACHETTI, Tim Hindley, Danny Tyler, Danny Johnson, Jeff Heotzler, Billy Van Inwegen, J.R. Heffner, Tommy Meier, Stewart Friesen, Jimmy Davis, Brett Hearn, Bob McGannon, Ryan Watt, Matt Billings, Rich Eurich, Anthony Perrego, Jeremy Markle, Donnie Corellis, Darwin Greene, Danny Creeden, Duane Howard, Chris Whitehead, Matt Jester, Gary Edwards Jr., Tim Kerr, Michael Sabia, Jerry Higbie Jr., Craig Mitchell.
Did Not Qualify: Chuck McKee, Gary Tomkins, Elmo Reckner, Marcus Dinkins, Peter Britten, Mike Ruggiero, Darrell Ford, Mike Mahaney, C.G. Morey, Bob Hamm Jr., John Siedlecky, David Van Horn Jr., Tyler Dippel, Rob Rowe, Tim Currier, Craig Hanson, Nick Nye, Rich Ricci Jr., Frank Doty, Dom Roselli, Willy Auchmoody, Tyler McKee, Rob Pitcher, Jackie Brown Jr., Eric Kormann, Ray Jashembowski, Bill Pascual, Clinton Mills, Chris Shultz, Nick Rochinski, Jimmy Horton.
‘Lucky 7’ Lap Money Breakdown: Andy Bachetti ($637), Tim Hindley ($500), Danny Tyler ($323), Anthony Perrego ($257), Billy Van Inwegen ($202), Matt Billings ($142), J.R. Heffner ($140), Jeff Heotzler ($65), Tommy Meier ($48), Danny Johnson ($45), Jeremy Markle ($40), Matt Jester ($40)
Dana Distributors ‘Lead A Lap, Drink A Beer’ Bonus: Andy Bachetti (60 beers)
Rock Fantasy Halfway Leader ($400 Cash): Andy Bachetti
Teo-Pro Halfway Leader ($500 Product): Andy Bachetti
Allstar Performance Bonuses ($50 Gift Certificates): Danny Tyler (third) and Tommy Meier (eighth)
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (One Tire Each): Tommy Meier (eighth) and Rich Eurich (15th)
Behrent’s Bonuses ($50 Gift Certificates): Danny Johnson (fourth) & Stewart Friesen (ninth)
BFP Specialty Bonus ($100 Credit Toward Shock Service): Ryan Watt (13th)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Bonuses ($100 Credits): Tim Hindley (second), J.R. Heffner (seventh) and Anthony Perrego (16th)
DRACO ‘Spring Forward’ Award: Tim Hindley
Elmo’s Auto Body Bonus ($50 Cash): Jeremy Markle
Judy Tuit Memorial Awards: Danny Tyler ($200 – third), Billy Van Inwegen ($200 – sixth), J.R. Heffner ($250 – seventh)
McGannon Excavating Hard Charger Award ($210 Cash): Tim Hindley
PM3 Digital Imaging Hard Charger Bonus ($25 Certificate): Tim Hindley
Rochinski Enterprises ‘Bad Day’ Bonuses ($20 Each): Darwin Greene, Danny Creeden, Duane Howard, Chris Whitehead, Matt Jester, Gary Edwards Jr., Tim Kerr, Michael Sabia, Jerry Higbie Jr., Craig Mitchell
Schaeffer Racing Oil Bonus (Two Cases Of Oil): Andy Bachetti
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award (Bumpers & Rubrails): David Van Horn Jr.
Simplicity Design Orange County Regular Bonus: Tim Hindley ($250)
Vahlco Wheels Bonus (One Wheel): Jeff Heotzler
Dig Safely New York GRIT Series Crate 602 Sportsman (25 Laps): BRIAN KRUMMEL, Connor Cleveland, Rocky Warner, Andrew Reeves, Chris Stevens. John Illanovsky, L.J. Lombardo, Dave Marcuccilli, Ivan Joslin, Brian Pessalono, Troy Arnold, John Scarborough, Jessie Leiby, Eric Giguere, Dave Constantino, Derrick McGrew, Anthony Stockman, Corey Lowitt, John Virgilio, Curtis Hohensholett, Alan Houghtaling, Frank Venezia, Matt Hitchcock, Dion Naples.
Did Not Qualify: Dave Hinsch, Mike Traver, Mike Folchetti, Jay Papp, Jim Introne, Ray Zemken, Scott Duell, Danny Cronk, Rich Ricci III, John Corry, Tim Barone.
The ‘Hard Clay Open’ is presented by United Pump & Tank, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, West Point Golf, Rock Fantasy Concert, Smoke Shop & Pinball Room, Simplicity Design, 673 Racing, Mike Sparta Trucking, Elmo’s Auto Body, Zubi’s Racing, McGannon Excavating, Teo-Pro Car, Rochinski Contracting Services, Bob Hilbert Sportswear & many other fine marketing and lap sponsors.
The National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) Short Track Super Series is presented by VP Racing Fuels, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Rochinski Contracting Services, Allstar Performance, American Racer/Lias Tire, Art’s Radiator, ATL Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, BFP Specialty, Bicknell Racing Products, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, COMP Performance Group, Dirt Track Digest, DRACO Springs, Driven Racing Oil, ERK Steering, Finish Line Web Design, FOX Shox, H.B. Steele & Son, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab Chassis, Jack’s Used Race Car Parts & More, Kirkey Racing Products, PM3 Digital Imaging, Quarter Master, Race Pro Weekly, Schaeffer Racing Oil, Shiley Fabrication, Sleepy Hollow Golf, Teo-Pro Car, Troyer Race Cars & Vahlco Wheels.
Sources: BD Motorsports Media