Winners Bunting, Hill, Brown, Sockriter, McKinney, and the URC Winner Kevin Welsh All Make A Racing Action Night At The Delaware International Speedway
May 17, 2004
Delmar, DE.....This past Saturday night the Delaware International Speedway hosted the mighty URC Sprints along with a regular night of racing. Mother Nature could have been a factor but action was the only thing Stormin in Delmar. The winners Bunting, Hill, Brown, Sockriter, McKinney, and the URC winner Kevin Welsh, all made racing action tonight at the Delaware International Speedway.
The URC Winner Kevin Welsh would claim his first win for the 2004 at the Taylor and Messick Sprint Sponsored Series tonight. A total of thirty-three winged-cars fought for position to line up in an only availability of twenty-four spots, in this twenty-five lap feature. Kevin Welsh in the eighteen-W Maxim Chassis, Davey Brown Racing Engine, Penske Shocks, Castrol, Roach Wing, Zemco Headers, and Welsh Jeep Chrysler sponsored sprint began the feature in eighth starting spot. Welsh qualified second in the third heat to get that position but, he was almost untouchable throughout the night.
At the drop of the green, the zero-eight of Jason Clauss bolted out front as soon as the flagged waved. The field would not even complete turns one and two before a three or four car pile up occurred. The announcer said on the replay of the tape, "it looks as the sixteen-A of Ed Akin got up over the wheel John Zuczek (50) which caused the Zuczek sprint to almost go all the way over; and the ninety-nine of Sean Michael had no where to go as he stops, but hits Zuczek to keep it upright. Wow! That isn't something you see often, it does not take much for these sprints to flip over." Akin and Zuczek were out of contention, but Sean Michael was able to restart.
The restart Clauss had the lead but would be threatened with the one of Scott Pursell on lap five, while Welsh and Bill Brian Jr. (16) battled for third wheel to wheel until lap seven when Welsh moved into second. Just as the lap was complete and Welsh had took the lead, the yellow was out for number thirty-seven of J. J. Grasso getting over on his top side; Grasso was okay and uninjured. On the restart it was Welsh, Clauss, Pursell, Brian, and the fifty-six of Chris Coyle. Another caution was out on lap eight as Justin Collett (69) and Mike Haggenbottom (5G) get around in turns four as Sean Michael gets around after hitting the brake to avoid them, and it was back to the rear again for Michael. Haggenbottom was done and Collett could not get refired.
Lap eight was still not in the record books, but the top five positions had not changed. Its lap nine and the 2003 Champion Dave Ely (3) and the two of Curt Michael were side by side for sixth while Welsh had cleared the lead and had a huge stretch. Half-way signal waves with Welsh leading, Clauss, Pursell, Brian and Ely rounding out the top five. Lap sixteen Pursell was closing in on Clauss for second, as Brian takes over the third spot. With five laps to go the top five were Welsh, Brian, Clauss, Pursell and Ely now. The cars pretty much spread out single file except the lap cars were now in the picture and slowing the leaders. There was still plenty of action between Ely and Pursell for second along with, Curt Michael, and Brian Seidel (6) for fourth and fifth positions. Lap twenty-four Welsh has the lead for sure, but Ely and Clauss fight for third as Michael battled for fourth. The top ten were Welsh, Brian, Clauss, Ely, Michael (2), Seidel (6), Pursell, Dave McGough (669), Chris Coyle (56), and Williamson.
Welsh of Far Hills, NJ, would claim his fourth career win and first of 2004 season. Welsh said, "The car was hooked up. The track was much better after the intermission or heats and I could just get that push." " I want to thank my sponsors and my crew chief Keith Wolfe and Pete Welsh and the crew, those guys had the car set up just right tonight." Hats off the Welsh for a great run tonight!
Three heats were held with six cars taken in each and the B-Main would take another six cars. Ashley Parlett (5A) started on the point for the first heat, but it was veteran Gary Gollub in the Six-G that took the lead after the first lap and would go on to win the first heat. Grasso and Tim Hogue battled for second with some door to door action until Hogue went wide and lost some positions. The second heat John Zuczek was on the point but Pete Green quickly charged to the lead. But on Lap three Green and Brian were neck and neck for the lead as Randy West (00) and Zuczek were for second. Brian won the heat with Ely stealing second from Green on the last lap.
The third heat Mike Kostic in the number black forty had the helm as the cars switch back and forth for ranks. The fifty-four of Dave Gable is running in the top five and gets around in turn four. Everyone gets by except for Sean Michael who goes over on his wing and out of the heat. On lap four the thirty-three of Kramer Williamson get by Welsh for the lead and would win the third heat. The B-Main Akin was on the point but Randy West (00) quickly took the lead, as Haggenbottom gave West a work out and Haggenbottom had to settle for second.
The New AC Delco TSS Modified would yet have the fifth different winner of the year when Jeff Brown in the number nine, gasoline run, Chesapeake Paving and Sealing, Mid-Eastern Oil , Inc., Mr. Rooter, Polar Quality, KB Builders, and Atlantic Portable Buildings sponsored would stake his first Modified win. Brown was formerly driving go-karts on the U. S. 13 Kart Club track at the Delaware Motor Complex. Brown decided to go up a stage to invest in learning the new class as it debut this season. Looks like Brown made a wise decision, not bad for a rookie who never has run in any type Modifieds or any stock car for that fact. Brown said when asked how it felt to be in victory lane , "Yeah, this is my first time in victory and it sure is sweet. My crew had the car right, so thanks to all of them for their hard work each week."
Brown started third for the feature while Morris Tucker (28) was on the point. At the start Brown moved to the outside to take the lead right away. Lap four Dale Hawkins in the eighty-three made the pass to catch up to Brown after starting ninth and the other cars were way on back there. Dave Betts Jr.in twenty-two-B gets into the front stretch wall on laps five as the yellowed waved. For the restart Tucker moves back into second, while Hawkins did not get up to speed that time. The top five were now Brown, Hawkins, Morris, Bobby Comstock (31), and Jack Mullins in the Gene's Auto Sales numbered one.
Hawkins definitely has his speed back on lap nine as he peaks up on the side of Brown as the cars approach turns one and two. Brown retains the lead back until lap eleven when Rodney Cordrey (20) gets around and the caution was out. Four laps to go Brown seems to be safe. On lap fourteen Hawkins back on the door of Brown and looks to see if he can get around Brown in turn two. Brown bobbles just a tad and Hawkins starts to get the lead. But Brown just keeps the throttle to the floor to win his first ever Modified win. Look for Hawkins to be in victory lane anytime as he has finished third in the first three races and second the last two races; it just a matter of time. Congratulations to Brown and the team for a well done job!
More to come, but this will have to hold you over for now.
Bonnie Nibblett