A Grand Finale Of A Racing Year
By Bonnie Nibblett
November 19, 2004
Delmar, DE…..This year Mother Nature was more cooperating than last year. Weather was a factor, but only four times over the eleven of last year at the speedway. All this was much pleasure to my addiction for my NEED FOR SPEED by not having to put up with Mother Nature interfering. This year the speedway had some mighty fine shows with all the perks I crave. The speeds, smells, sounds, victory for many, defeat for some, all take a role in my craving for this NEED FOR SPEED addiction.
It is official, and the race season at the Delaware Motorsports Complex is over for the 2004 season. The Delaware International Speedway wrapped up the year with the Thirty-first annual Delaware State Dirt Track Championship in the big two day weekend event on November 6 & 7. The U. S. 13 Dragway ended the last event on October 31, 2004, and the U. S. 13 Kart Club ended with a money race back on October 24. All the racing action is over with only the awards being left to give out at each of the series banquets in January.
The speedway hosted some mighty fine events for the season with the World of Outlaws Late Model feature back in July, along with another banner year for the Delaware State Police Camp Barnes Benefit races. The Super DIRT Modified and South East Dirt Series made an appearance this season in Aug. First time for the new formed SE Dirt tour and a long return waited visit for the Super Dirt tour. The Dragway hosted the Division I Brackets this year which was success even though Mother Nature tried to put a damper on things. A touring Super Thunder Charger made another event along with another event with Super Chevy Show.
The Delaware State Dirt Track Championship had over 259 cars on the grounds not including more than the 30 “Slide for Five cars. The weekend had a little lower car count than last years’ 70 degree weather had, but overall it was another great success. The track seem to have a little more passing of cars on the track rather than the usual day time track racing and a little side by side racing. The right rear tire was a factor for quite a few.
The winners on Saturday, Nov 6, were Tim Hindley (94), Monticello, NY, in the Small Block Modified Championship after Mike Gular (53) came up a mere 10 lbs short at the scales. Gular had started 22nd and made a great show with all his determination to do such a great job only to lose so easily.
Hindley had been the dominant factor the whole day even though his car was hard to handle. Hindley finished second but was given the win after Gular light woes plagued him. Hindley pocketed $5,155 for the win with second going to Kenny Brightbill (19), Craig VonDohren (0), Jimmy Chester (44) and Mike Iles (711).
Team USA a Regional Tour also raced on Sat. with the winner Tracey Fritter (59) of Ohio taking the win. Fritter had also made the win the night before at Middleford Speedway and was also 2003 TUSA Champion. Fritter was unbeatable all day long. In second, was Bobby Walls III (22), Brain Woodhall (8B), Mike Hay (22H), and Ron Riccio (3). The Little Lincoln and Delmar Vintage Club both participated with 10 lap features. John Scott (RT9) won the Little Lincoln feature and C. J. Schirmer (23) won the Modified vintage class, John McGarvey (07) won the Sportsman II, and Wayne Willing (71) winning the Sportsman Division I class.
On Sunday, Nov 7, the action was just as fast with qualifying speeds in the 93.633 MPH in the Big Block Modified heats and 93.293 MPH on the 50-lap feature setting the pace by winner Frank Cozze (44C), of Wind Gap, PA. Cozze was in command all day and lead all 50 laps to win his first win at Delaware in 26 years. Cozze said he knew he was fast when the car hit the track for hot laps on Saturday. Cozze picked up $7,305 with the purse and lap money.
In the Late Model 50 lapper Booper Bare (00) of Rockbridge Baths, VA took the win over Devon Friese (12F). Bare held off Friese but had a near lost when the two got caught up in lap traffic on lap 45. Bare was leading but slowed to get by the lap car only to be pushed up the track. Friese got by Bare, but before the lap was over the yellowed waved, and the move by Friese was nulled. Friese finished second, followed by Ricky Elliott (91), Kenny Pettyjohn (38S) and Mark Pettyjohn (18). Mark Pettyjohn completed his rookie year in Late Model racing and seems to have inherited the same skills of Father Eddy Pettyjohn and the brothers. Brother David was the 2004 Delaware Late Model Champion too. Also Kenny Pettyjohn was not at the track on Saturday to get a top qualifying spot for competing at another track. Kenny came to DIS on Sunday and set a record pace in the second consi with a speed of 96.056 MPH and 18.739 seconds. Wahoo! Talk about movin’
Other feature winners were Mike Wilson (12) in the 25 lap Street Modified Championship feature to win his first career win ever. Wilson was strong all year, and had to work to keep the lead with Eric Reed (25), and Rick Eskridge (56) both giving Mike a workout in this feature. Second were Eskridge, Steve Bunting (19), and Reed who slipped back in the ending lap with tire ware, and the 2004 Champion Mark Williams rounded out the top five. The Modified Lite 25 lap feature had a wild ride for rookie Kirk Miles when he hit a tire on the restart of lap 7 in turn three and went flipping in the air. 2003 Track Champion Jon Callaway won the feature with Brian Woodhall (8B), Nick Hendricks (02), Mike Hay (22H), and Tracey Fritter (59) rounding out the top five. The Slide for Five was won by Joey Sinclair, Jr. (20).
The last class was the 2004 Delaware TSS Modified Track Champion of Tom Curtis (57), who powered his car to win the first appearance of this class to the champ show. Curtis was followed by Kelly Hastings (2), Bobby Watkins (4), Dale Hawkins (83), and Calvin Musser (4).
This year marked the introduction of the AC Delco TSS Modified (Technician Service Specialist) and what a success it seemed to be. Just in case you have not heard of this new class, it’s a Crate Motor will be a factory sealed GM motor. The motor comes with cylinder heads, intake, distributor, and competition oil pan. The advantage of this class and motor is the cost. The motor sells at a mere cost of under $3,000, a much more reasonable cost than any other class. Most of the motors run an average of anywhere from $10,000 to much more. The hopes of track owner Charlie Cathell, is that if a driver or when a driver decides to upgrade, the only changes really necessary would be the motor and shocks basically. The cars had pretty much the same rules as the big block Modifieds with the exception of shock absorbers and maybe another thing or two; other things such as weight, tire pressure are factors too.
This distinct new class seems to be a hit maybe more so than anyone anticipated. On opening night back in April there were twelve cars. But each week the class grew to have over thirty-one different drivers to climb behind the wheel through out the season. There were twenty-one cars that made the field for the Championship on Sunday. During the off season I hope to bring how the drivers felt as the first year closed. The cars were on a more level playing field but yet competitive with one another. The field had both first timers, rookies, and even brought some drivers back to the track that had not been racing for a while.
The U. S. 13 Kart Club held a final money race to end the year and a little Halloween Costume contest for the kids. The event was a great success, so thank you to all those that participated and all the sponsors making it a success. The Kart Club next event will be the year end Banquet to be held on January 15, 2005 at the Laurel Fire Hall, Laurel, DE. For more information on cost and time contact Phyllis Hayes at 302-856-7835, or view www.dekarting.net web site.
The U. S. 13 Dragway will host their 2004 Banquet on January 29, 2005 at the Delmarva Inn & Conference Center, Delmar, MD. Cocktail hour starts 5 PM, dinner at 6 PM, awards presentation & dance following dinner. Tickets are $30 each and available by calling the Dragway Office at 302-875-1911.
The speedway will hold their banquet on January 22, 2005 at Dover Downs Hotel & Conference Center, Dover, DE. Cocktail hour starts 5 PM, dinner at 6 PM, awards presentation & dance following dinner. Tickets are $30 each and available by calling the Speedway Office at 302-875-1911. For more information on either the dragway or speedway news go to www.delawareracing.com or www.redbud69raciing.com.
With all the action on the Delaware Motorsports Complex this season you can see why it was a grand year of racing. I can’t wait to get started for 2005 but for now we all can catch out breath. See you at the track!