March 30, 2005
“Let’s Get It Started”
By Bonnie Nibblett
Delmar, DE…..What NO Racin’? April Fool! The wait has been long enough to hear purring, loud rumble sounds of those powerful engines and the sweet smell of fumes from hot rubber and exhaust. It is time “Let’s Get It Started. In here” It’s been a long wait and the season is about to start and will be in full swing by the middle of this month for all three tracks at the Delaware Motor Sports Complex.
The U. S. 13 Dragway has already started their 42th year a few weeks back but points chases just started last weekend. The drag strip has been repaved and new concrete starter pads installed as part of a $100,000 renovation. The new surface will provide quicker times for the drivers in weekly NHRA divisions that include Super ET, Heavy ET, Pro Bike, Import Eliminator, Street Eliminator, Bike Trophy and two age groupings in Jr. Dragster.
Tilcon, Inc. of Dover, DE, completely redid the asphalt with a new compound that should improve traction along the quarter-mile. Richard Whaley Concrete of Millsboro, DE, added the concrete starting pad extending the old pad's length by 40 feet and now making the concrete 180 feet in length from the starting line. Chesapeake Paving did the cosmetic finishing work around the pad to top off the project.
Blistering speeds has already started with each weekend’s competition. So the season for the dragway is under full speed. The dragway will run each Sunday until June when it will switch to Friday nights. On April 10, the competition heats up when running; will get you “Double Points in the first of five events to come. Also a date has just been added for May 20, details will be coming forth soon. Check the tracks web at: www.delawareracing.com or call the tracks office at 302.875.1911 for all dates so you don’t miss out on your favorite event at the dragway.
Now on April 9, 2005, the Delaware International Speedway will begin with the Test and Tune night. The 35th season will officially start with the season opener on the following Saturday, April 16. Where each week you can see competing classes of Big Block Modifieds, Super Late Models, AC Delco TSS Modifieds, Mighty Street Modifieds, and the Fast Modified Lites. The URC Sprints will be hitting the track on April 23, for the first of seven events after starting their 58th season in 2005.
There have been some seat changes in the URC Sprints drivers during the off season. The 2004 URC Champion Curt Michael will be running Pat and Kathy Palladino number 99 for 2005 and Kevin Welsh has teamed up with Frank Davis team number 2W. Michael drove the 2, last year and Welsh drove the 18W. Ashley Parlett (5A) will be heading south to move to Huntersville, NC in the nearing future. More changes are to come as the season begins.
Some of the Delaware drivers have been competing in and around some of the neighboring tracks that have already opened before Delmar. H. J. Bunting, III (91) placed 3rd at Hagerstown’s season opener in the small block modified week before last. Just this past Saturday night, Ricky Elliott and David Pettyjohn both raced at Clary’s Speedway, Inc, South Carolina. “The Rocket” Elliott, picked up a Super Late Model Feature Win to claim a $3,000 purse; D. Pettyjohn finished 12th. Elliott will be piloting a Late Model for the 2005 season and some Modified racing.
All drivers have been busy getting ready for the 2005; points between the guys were close last year, looking for this year to be as well. More cars are expected to join the TSS Modified class and taking to the oval. Next month will have some of the changing news on other drivers.
Another change this year will be the “Team Slide” where two cars are attached and ride around the wet track together. In the past it has been called “Slide for Five” and only one car at a time went around the track. This change will be interesting to see. Final rules just finished being written and can be seen on www.redbud69racing.com or the tracks web, any questions you can contact the tracks office.
Last year, Steve Stamps a Street Modified driver ran his first year at Delmar and finished in 6th place at the seasons end claiming 2 wins. This year Stamps has big plans for the 2005 season. Stamps will be running a theme for “Race Against Cancer.” Stamps informed me that for a $50 dollar donation a fan or crew members, anyone, can have the name of a loved one lost to cancer or a survivor of cancer on the hood of the number 83. “When we run out of room there, we will start on the back top panel,” Stamps said. Stamps lost his sister to cancer a few years ago and dedicated his first win to the memory of his Sister Judy Frazier last year. All precedes Stamps raises go to the American Cancer Society.
The season will be exciting to get started where my NEED FOR SPEED will begin to be fed again; withdrawals are getting harder to handle. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series event scheduled for July 6; the tickets are on sale now at the tracks office, 302-875-1911. Better get yours, the event last year was a huge success with some mighty fine racing.
Other events are the annual Delaware State Police “Camp Barnes Benefit” a crowd pleaser will be on Wednesday, June 29. Many regional drivers come to get a crack at the big purse the State Police raise through a lot of sponsors and other fund raising. The “Diamond State 50” is set for Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005 with a rain date of Aug. 11; just another big opportunity for a big pay off for drivers. The Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series should be secured soon for the 100 lap race on May 26. Schedules are subject to change though; for all your updates check www.delawareracing.com or www.redbud69racing.com.
The U. S. 13 Kart Club will have a practice session this Saturday, on April 2, 2005, gates open at 9:00 AM. Last weeks practice was canceled due to wet grounds. On April 9, the WKA sanction Delaware Dirt Divisional Series will be held, gates open at 7:00 AM. The U. S. 13 Kart Club’s first race will be April 15 with gates opening 5:00 PM. Also note the tracks gate admission for the 2005 Kart Club season has changed to $5.00 this year. See you at the track!