Momentum Builds For Accord Speedway Post-Thanksgiving ‘Gobbler’ Special Saturday, November 29; Top Drivers Taking Aim At Special Event; Holiday Toy Drive Planned
ACCORD, NY – One final dirt-track event remains on the 2014 Northeast calendar and it continues to build momentum.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, Accord Speedway plays host to the second edition of the post-Thanksgiving ‘Gobbler’ special. The co-promotion involving Brett Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC and speedway owners Gary and Donna Palmer is headlined by a 50-lap big-block/small-block Modified main paying $7,117.11-plus to win thanks to marketing partner Mike Sowle of Sowle Trailer Repair.
Joining the Modifieds on the card are Open vs. Crate 602 Sportsman in a 25-lap main paying more than $1,500 to the winner, the Pure Stock/Street Stock division in the Ron Wright Memorial 20-lap event offering $600-plus to the victor and Allstar Slingshots, racing a 20-lap main for $350 to win.
The ‘Gobbler’ rain date in the event of inclement weather is Saturday, Dec. 6.
A Holiday Toy Drive is again planned for the ‘Gobbler’ event. Unwrapped, new toys will be accepted at the track on race day: last year more than 100 toys were collected. All toys will be donated to the Accord Town of Rochester Youth Commission and will directly benefit underprivileged children in the local area. Toys should be geared toward the 10-year-old age group. All those bringing a toy to the track will receive a coupon for a free hot chocolate from the concession stand.
Invading drivers are beginning to take aim at the special event.
Pennsylvania 358-Modified star Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., has set plans to compete in the ‘Gobbler’ special piloting the potent Mike Petruska-owned No. 66. Howard and Petruska completed their first full season competing at Pa.’s Grandview Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 358-Modified division, where the combination finished second in the point standings and registered the American Racer Cup overall championship.
Car owner Dave Zubikowski will field a Zubi’s Racing No. 11 at the ‘Gobbler’ for Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., a 10-time Grandview Speedway champion.
On the heels of his second Modified track championship at N.Y.’s Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Bobby Varin of Sharon Springs, N.Y., will drive the Nelson Motorsports No. 85 at the ‘Gobbler’ event.
Mike Mahaney, a regular on the Empire State I-88/Thunder Mountain/Utica-Rome circuit, was just laps away from winning the ‘King of the Catskills’ special at Accord in September: contact while battling with eventual victor Mike Ricci resulted in Mahaney’s car slapping the outside wall. Mahaney returns in search of retribution at the ‘Gobbler’ with the Charlie Davis-owned No. 21.
Quakertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach earned a guaranteed ‘Gobbler’ starting position via his 358-Modified conquest at N.J.’s Bridgeport Speedway last weekend. Laubach is planning to attend driving the Gary Spotts/Earl Fellin No. 91.
First State driver Matt Jester, a two-time winner at Del.’s Georgetown Speedway this season, plans to make the long trek north to enter the ‘Gobbler’ driving his Clearview Farms-backed No. 62. Jester, of Milford, Del., made his Accord debut in August during the track’s ‘Battle of the Bullring’ midweek show.
Chuck McKee, a multi-time champion at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., plans to compete in the ‘Gobbler’ driving the Chic Sloat-owned No. 211 small-block Modified.
Via their victories during the Short Track SuperNationals weekend in October at I-88 Speedway, Shaun Walker(Modified) and Cory Costa (Sportsman) head to the ‘Gobbler’ with guaranteed redraw positions in their respective divisions. Both Masonville, N.Y.’s Walker, a regular competitor at I-88, and Corning, N.Y.’s Costa, a Woodhull (N.Y.) Raceway campaigner, plan to attend the ‘Gobbler’ event.
Defending ‘Gobbler’ Modified winner Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y., leads the list of Accord Speedway regulars looking to defend their home turf and take home the cash. Among the top regulars at the Ulster County facility planning to attend are track champion Rich Ricci Jr. of New Paltz, N.Y., ‘King of the Catskills’ victor Mike Ricci of Tillson, N.Y., veteran Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill, N.Y., Tommy Meier of Waldwick, N.J., Danny Tyler of Cottekill, N.Y., and more.
Lap sponsorships remain on sale for the ‘Gobbler’ special and all cash collected will be distributed directly to competitors. Modified laps are $20 each, Sportsman laps are $15 per lap and Pure Stock/Street Stock and Slingshot laps are $10/each. Contact bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com to reserve a lap.
‘Gobbler’ pit gates open at 10 a.m. Grandstand gates open at 11 a.m. The drivers’ meeting will take place at noon, with hot laps to follow (approximately 12:20 p.m.). Race time is 1 p.m. sharp.
‘Gobbler’ grandstand admission is $22 for Adults, $20 for Seniors (ages 65 and over) and $5 for Kids 11 and under. Limited indoor seating is available at $35 per seat. Contact the speedway office at 845.626.1142 to reserve a seat with a credit card. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.
Rules and other general information for the ‘Gobbler’ can be found at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/gobbler-general-information/
Marketing opportunities are available now for the ‘Gobbler’ event. To learn more, contact Brett Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail at bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. BD Motorsports Media is on the web at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. “Like” BD Motorsports Media on Facebook or follow @BrettDeyo on Twitter.
Accord Speedway, a neat-and-tidy quarter-mile clay oval nestled in the hills of Ulster County, is located at 299 Whitfield Road Accord, NY 12404. The speedway is on the web at www.accordspeedway.com.
The Gobbler is presented by Sowle Trailer Repair, Above All Auto Repair, ASI Trophy & Awards, American Racer/Lias Tire, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, DMJ Racing Photo’s, Dwy’s Automotive, Hunt’s Machine, Jay’s Pool Service, Par 5 Landscaping, Rock Fantasy Hard Rock, Metal & Classic Rock and Smoke Shop, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, United Pump & Tank and Zubi’s Racing.
Sources: BD Motorsports Media