Mother Nature Only Winner Saturday

 

By Bonnie Nibblett

April 24, 2005

 

Delmar, DE…..This past Saturday night the Delaware International Speedway was scheduled to host the United Racing Club (URC) Sprints.  The URC Sprints were to begin the 58th season of racing and starting off with a vivid competitive racing night right here in Delmar.  There have been some shake ups in the driver’s seats this year and everyone was ready for the mighty winged returned series to appear.  Unfortunately, the only winner Saturday night was Mother Nature.  The threat of severe storms and rain forced track owner Charlie Cathell to call off the show.

 

The mighty URC winged sprints are scheduled to return to Delmar on May 14 for the first race of the Taylor & Messick Delaware State Sprint Series.  The Advance Auto Parts URC Sprint Series will begin their season with a double weekend of racing April 29 & 30, on Friday at Big Diamond Speedway and Saturday at New Egypt. 

 

The season looks to be thrilling as Curt Michael of Ocean View, DE aims to defend his URC Championship, this year driving the Palladino #99 sprint car.    Other strong contenders for the championship title include Dave McGough in the GEI #5G, Kevin Welsh has joined the Davis/Welsh  2W this season, and  Dave Ely, Tim Hogue, Scott Pursell and Bill Brian Jr., just to name a few will make this an interesting season.

 

Curt Michael got started earlier in April by traveling in the Palladino BK Leasing #99 to the I-20 Speedway in Batesburg, SC and won the thirty lap USCS 360 sprint feature event on Saturday night, April 16.    Michael, who started fifth, took the lead on lap ten and went on to score the victory over Paul Sides, of Memphis, TN.    Michael used this event as a "test and tune" to get ready for Saturday night, April 23 at the Delaware International Speedway which was called off.  This could be an indication of what the Michael/Palladino aim to do in URC this season. 

 

On April 16, 2005, the Delaware International Speedway officially opened for business with a lot of hot, fast pace action.  The night was a very cold night but fans ventured out to encounter a little bit of that action.  The night was not a let down as our favorite drivers took to the track and put on a tremendous show.

 

H. J. Bunting, III, won the Big Block Modified feature after some intense racing with the top five all 25 laps.  Beau Wilkins started on the pole but Ricky Johnson quickly took the lead and beginning to lap cars by lap 6.  Defending Champion Craig Mullins took the lead after a yellow and on lap 8 Mullins and Johnson resume a dog eat dog battle for the lead.  At the half way it was Mullins, Bunting, Cliff Foskey, Johnson, and Gary Simpson, lap 14 Johnson took the lead from Bunting on the outside in turn 2.  Johnson and Mullins run side by side and back and forth switching for the lead but Mullins takes it.  On lap 20 Steele and Smith are lap cars battling in front of the leader Mullins, giving Bunting and Johnson a chance to move by Mullins robbing him of the lead.  Lap 23 Johnson comes off turn 2 and almost looses it but keeps in the gas to maintain 2nd position.  The top 5 were Bunting, Johnson, Mullins, Robert Dutton, and Steve Downs; one of Downs’ greatest finishes in quite some time; Johnson and Dutton have both took on a new color scheme this season as well.  This is only a small sample of the hot racing action each Saturday night. 

 

Late Model action had Dale Lingo, IV picking up his first win since July 5, 2003.  Ray Davis, Jr., Mark Byram, Richard Jarvis, Jr., and G. G. Messick rounding out the top 5 on opening night.  The entry level AC Delco TSS Modified had 22 cars show up to get a crack at the win, but Jack Mullins, Jr. owned that win.  The Street Modified had Chris Sockriter claiming the first win of the season.  Lastly, the Modified Lite had Bobby Walls, III, taking the first win.  Track fact, H. J. Bunting and Bobby Walls both won season openers features in 2004. 

 

This is only a small portion of all the action to come each Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway this year.  For anyone that has never been, it is a true fun night encountering some of the best drivers in Delaware going head to head with good fun racing action. 

 

May 26, the track will host a 2005 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series.  100-lapper.  Come see top drivers compete with our Delaware drivers.  July 6, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will return with what was one of last years best night of speed, and some of cleanest racing with some of the top Late Model drivers in the Nation.  Tickets for both events are on sale by contacting the tracks office at 302.875.1911.

 

The U. S. 13 Dragway has been under full swing each Sunday.  May 1, will be the first Bad 8 Mandra & Outlaw Street and Real Street event.  Also a special date event has been added to the schedule for the first annual “Outlaw Pro Street Madness!” spectacular on Friday night May 20 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.  This will be part of the 15th Annual Crusin’ Ocean City, MD, 2005, May 19-22. 

 

The fastest and quickest Outlaw Pro Street door slammers in the nation will do battle in a tire-smoking, 6 second 200 mph quarter-mile shootout on U.S. 13 Dragways’ brand new racing surface. Cars and drivers scheduled to appear will include 2004 PRO Edelbrock Series champion Tim O’Hare’s Blown 69 Camaro, Steve King in his one-of-a-kind Blown Dodge Viper, second-generation Mid-Atlantic driver John Stanley (Camp Stanley Racing), and Pat Bennett’s awesome Mountain Motor/NOS-equipped 66 Chevy II.

 

Outlaw Pro Street Madness! will also feature an eighth-mile Quick 32 drag racing eliminator for all legally registered / insured street driven vehicles. In addition, there will be an open competition “King of the Burnouts” contest, with prizes and awards for the driver who smokes ‘em the farthest down track.

 

U. S. 13 Dragway gates will open at 4 PM, with time trials from 5 PM to 10 PM. Quick 32 race qualifying is from 5 to 7 PM.  The Outlaw Pro Street feature is set for 7:30 and 9 PM.  Spectator admission including pit pass is only $10.  In case of rain Friday night, May 20, the race event will be held on Saturday, May 21, starting at 12 noon.  U. S. 13 Dragway is only 20 miles west of Ocean City, 4 miles north of Salisbury, Maryland on Route 13.  For more Outlaw Pro Street Madness! info call the Race Hot Line at 302.846.3968, or the tracks office at 302.875.1911.

 

The last track on the Delaware Motorsports Complex left to speak about is the U. S. 13 Kart Club.  The club has had 3 events with one being the Delaware Dirt Divisional State Series and the other 2 club events.  A lot of karters made their way to participate in all the events.  Winners Macklin, Hitchens, Evans, Collins, Beale, Argo, Hearn, Tucker, Davis, Jr., Tingle, and Dryden all celebrated victory last Friday.  Come on out this Friday to see more action of all ages taking to clay oval for action.  For more news on the go-kart track visit their web at www.dekarting.net or call the tracks line at 302.846.2646.

 

The season is just getting underway, and there is something there for all race enthusiasts each weekend.  Just a little sample can be put in words, come out for your self to get your fix fulfilled for that NEED FOR SPEED.  For all your updates, news, and happenings at the complex visit the www.redbud69racing.com or visit www.delawareracing.com for all the speedway and dragway updates and schedule of events.