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Cody Dawson # 36 was the 2011 Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year in the Crate Model Division

Tyler Reed # 72 was the 2011 Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year in the AC Delco Modified Division

Have The Young Guns Hit The Jackpot? How did They Do?

October 27, 2011
By Bonnie Nibblett

Delmar, DE….. Ever since the Crate motor came into play (2004) it might seem like the jackpot of racing for all ages in racing locally and other areas. Why?

As the nation continues to be plagued by the poor economical state of affairs affecting our daily living conditions, racing and all other sports are as well hit with expense issues.

Drivers, owners are able to move into this class much easier for any age to compete over the big block modified & super late model demanding monies. Is it a way to increase car counts? Sure, but not as a means to fore front the bigger divisions yet? I personally don’t believe it will, and I could be wrong of course.

The attention of young drivers has grown ever after in racing. Who will take over for the veterans in years to come? Who will dominate? Who’s the man of man’s (or girl of girl’s) to beat? Who’s the next Jimmy Johnson, or Kyle Busch or Kenny Brightbill or Jamie Mills to be? It’s the young drivers that will pave their way into history now and in the future, it’s inevitable.

Here we are with another racing season in the books and how did some of them do?

Tyler Reed (72) just turned eighteen years old and he’s a 2011 graduate from Laurel High School, in Laurel, DE. Reed was the highest rookie driver in points in the AC Delco class finishing 8th overall in track points and was also recognized as the Redud69racing.com Rookie of the Year in the AC Delco Modified. Tyler D. Reed (not the same Tyler Reed # 44 in crate model) has started to attend Del-Tech College for a Mechanical Engineer Degree. Tyler started racing go-karts at 6 yrs old then went into the 600cc mod lite for 2 yrs at Middleford Speedway. The following year he ran 1000cc mod lite & a full season at Delmar collecting 5 wins and was also the 2010 TUSA Mid Atlantic Champion.

For 2011 Reed wanted to step it up by switching to the AC Delco Modified division. Reed commented this class was an open wheel style, which is what I like, similar to the mod lites yet little bigger and more horsepower. In the first race, this year I finished 5thand 2nd race next week I won? So I was happy the way the year started, and just tried to be consistent each week. I did, but in qualifying and the inversion at times I had to start further back than 10th a few times causing it harder to get through the pack while being patient too. I really like racing in this class and hoped I would earn the respect by these drivers just as I respect them. I’m pretty hard on myself, expecting to do the very best every time but overall I am happy with my first season. Next year I want to be consistent and finish in the top 5 every week. I’d like to thank my sponsors Bonnevilles Roofing, Greg Hitchens Services, Shore Pressure Washing, Aqua Tech Water Specialties, Extreme Graphics, L & S Diesel Repair, and Robert Coulbourn Farms.

Trent Willey # 17T was the Youngest Rookie of the Year in the crate divisions

Trent Willey (17T) turned 15 years old at the start of 2011 and attends Cape Henlopen High School in Lewis, DE he had ran the last three years in mod lite then switched up to AC Delco class too. Willey responded saying, I love racing the big track here at Delmar and hoped I would get a couple wins my first year. I did get 1 win and the drivers in this class are all good where either one of us could win any week. I think I handled the car pretty good all year, I liked the faster speed plus I stayed top rookie in points almost all year. Tyler snuck up at the end just 85 pts over me. Overall, I really loved racing in this class, I just felt comfortable behind the wheel, with the handling much better than I did in the mod lites. I hope to win more next year & just stay consistent. I had a lot of help from my family and enjoy being with my family. Thank you to them and my sponsors, Bob Willey & Sons Heating Oil & Propane Gas, PJ 1 Race Bodies, Bicknell and special to my Uncle Johnny.

Another new driver crate mod was Dwayne Crockett of Laurel, DE in # 1 AC Delco Modified. He’s young but not one of the teenagers that ran. For his 1st year Crockett stayed consistent all season and finished 11th in the tracks points system. Right out of the gates opening night he finished 9th. He plans to return in this class for 2012. Shawn Weber of Cambridge MD, in the 19Z also competed in this class from the mod lite class. Some of the other drivers that only raced a few races were Scott Banks (7), Justin Jones (7), Paul McGinley (978), and Matt Slater (5X).

The Crate Model class had some close racing in points going on too. The top rookie driver in track points this year went to 16 yr old Cody Dawson (36), a junior at Arcadia High School in Oak Hall, VA. Dawson will be 17 in Nov. Dawson started running go-karts at a very young age and raced 12 years. The plan was to start the 2012 season in crate model. However, while traveling home at the end of the racing season from a southern kart track last year, the hauler trailer caught on fire while speeding down the interstate. They lost everything in karting that they had. So instead of having to replace all that equipment for one more season it didn’t’ seem feasible so they went ahead and moved into the crate this year. Dawson was also the top rookie in points and awarded the Redud69racing.com Rookie of the Year in Crate Model. For next year I hope to travel a little and finish in the top 10 in Delmar’s points. He finished 15th in track points. Dawson wants to thank his sponsors R & J Poultry, Aqua Electric, Dawson & Bedsworth Electric, special thanks to Ray Huffman and my Dad, John.

Derek Magee # 96 crate model diver was the second youngest driver in the crate divisions

The second rookie driver highest in crate model points and was only 13 pts behind Dawson and 16th in track points. Fifth teen yr. old Derek Magee (96) of Millsboro, DE comes from kart racing too. In the change up of racing in this class it has completely nothing to do with what we learned in karts, Dave Magee (father) stated. Its taking us longer to get this racing down but we’ve getting there, slowly. Derek attends Sussex Technical High School and the 2nd youngest driver in the two crate classes this year by just 4 mos, over Trent Willey. Magee would like to thank his sponsors of Seacoast Salon, Virgil P. Ellwanger Insurance, EZ Loans, Oak Construction and Hazzard Auto Parts.

Kellie Lewis (88) of Georgetown, DE has been driving a little while, lastly she ran in the 270cc Micro Sprints before the crate model. Kellie goes to Sussex Central Senior High School. Reese Masiello (22R) of Centerville, MD is 16 yrs old and attends Queen Anne's County High School. Some other drivers new in this class were Stacy Roberts (14Z) of Georgetown, Kevin Witcher (34), T J Williams (69), and Nick Sapp (45).

Brandon Watkins #2 mod lite was the youngest rookie at Delmar and will be coming to the

AC Delco Modified Division in 2012 where he will be eligible for rookie of the year in this class

Brandon Watkins (4) officially was the youngest driver in all the classes, being only 14 yrs old. Watkins attends Dover Central Middle School and has run mod lites the last 3 years but he was not old enough to race at Delmar until this year. In his first year at Middleford Speedway he ran Rookie Mod Lite to take home 10 straight wins in a row, then 2 more wins plus the track Championship at Middleford speedway. His 2nd year he moved to Jr. Mod Lite collecting 10 wins but not in a row. 2011 he started at Middleford Speedway and switched to Delmar doing the year. Near the end of the year he moved into the AC Delco class with only 2 events. He plans to run a full season in 2012 in this class and he will still be a rookie next year as far as the requirements to be eligible according to Redbud69racing.com rookie program. So keep you eye on him.

Nick Nash # 27N will be coming to the AC Delco Modified Division for 2012

Nick Nash, (27N) of Smyrna, DE began the year in mod lites but changed to the AC Delco crate class in Aug. but only ran 4 races; qualifying to run as a rookie in the Redbud69rcing.com for 2012 season. Nash has run the last 3 yrs in Mod Lites at Middleford in Jr. Mod Lite a year and ½ then went into Open Mod Lite ad started this year in that class then moved to Delmar to run. He said he has a lot of respect for the Mod Lite community. However, I always wanted to run a big block mod so the AC Delco will be good to learn in. It seems to be the right move for us since we were racing at Delmar now. The level of competition feels like the driver, not the motor, and makes you more competitive. I loved running in bigger pack of cars and think it will produce better learning more about really driving. A lot of mod lite drivers I raced with will upgrade as well. I would like to finish in the top 10 each feature race next year.

The last race at the US 13 Dragway is this Sunday, Oct 28 for the Halloween Shoot-Out. Gate opens at 10 AM. Call the track hotline for more information at 302-846-3968 or check the track web at www.delawareracingaol.com. Be sure to Like us n Facebook or follow us on Twitter. The office is open m-f, 9-4 office phone is 302-875-1911.

At the time of this writing the Delaware State Dirt Track Championship was scheduled the weekend before this was turned in, so we will talk about that events outcome next time.

The award Redbud69racing.com Rookie of the Year is not associated with the Delmar track. It is an award presented from the Redbud69racing.com to the highest in points as a new racer in all of regular five classes that run at Delmar. The 8x10 plague has been sponsored by John Theofiles, of AutoWorld in Salisbury since 2004.

For all your Delaware news visit www.redbud69racing.com, Your Delaware and Surrounding tracks race news plus NASCAR, and also home of the largest racing message board on the shore. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. Visit the largest racing message board on the shore at http://redbud69racing.proboards2.com/index.cgi powered by Redbud69racing.com. See you at the track!