Still Playing In The Clay In Delaware With Hot Action
June 2, 2004
Delmar, DE…..The action in Delaware still continues each Saturday night with all the stock cars playing in the clay. Each class continues to battle for position on the fastest half mile clay oval in DE every Saturday night. Last weeks action was once again no different, just hot, sizzling, fast paced cars. My NEED FOR SPEED itch has not had one complaint so far this season.
With all five classes, the big block Modifieds, super Late Models, mighty Street Modified, the impressive Modified Lites and of course the “new” striking AC Delco TSS Modified class any fan would be in heaven. Not all tracks offer such great, fast, furious, and quality racing each week. This coming weekend is NASCAR Dover weekend, and the Delaware International Speedway will be hosting the wicked fast winged monsters of the URC Sprint cars making their third appearance of the season.
So if you get a chance come on down to Delmar, you won’t be sorry to add a little dirt to your racing weekend. Gates open 4:30 PM and the cars take to the track between 6:30 and 7 Pm. Curt Michael currently holds the points lead, but the season is far from over. Those winged sprints climb to speeds over 100 MPH. So as I said it will be exciting along with all the other supreme classes racing.
Now for a little recap of last weeks steamy action, hold on, here we go! Mark West became the only second repeat winner in the last two weeks in the TSS Modified feature. While Mark Williams continues to dominate in the Street Modifieds, as Erik McKinney picked up his third win in the Modified Lites. David Pettyjohn picked up his second win in the Late Models in a new Rocket. While H. J. Bunting III claimed his fourth win of the year in a brand new Troyer.
Landis Musser in the Musser Racing numbered bright gold forty-five TSS Modified started on the front line; while Doug Beach (82), Mark West (91), and Rodney Cordrey (20) went three wide for second on the start. West staked the lead on lap five in turn two. At the halfway of the fifteen lap feature, West lead, Beach, Musser, Cordrey, and Dave Betts Jr. in the Betts Garage numbered twenty-two rounded out the top five. On lap eight Beach and Musser get together and both cars get around. But, Beach makes a miraculous move to stay on the gas and does a 360 degree to maintain that second place.
The yellowed waved, and on the restart its West, Beach, Cordrey, Betts, and Tom Curtis now in that fifth spot. As Cordrey, Beach, and Betts are three wide for second, as Cordrey quickly stole second from the others. Then on lap ten, Betts takes command of second, and Curtis gets to the inside of Beach for fourth on lap eleven. Now the action went to Bobby Watkins in the newest TSS numbered four and Beach for fifth position. Watkins quickly assumed fifth and retained his second top five finishes in just his second week of racing in this class.
One more yellow flies for Donnie Dutton Jr. (8) as he got around in turn two as Beach gets around in turn two by him self. On the green, white, checkered restart, Betts tried to get by West for the lead but not enough time and West was just too strong. The field finished in that order with West, Betts Jr., Cordrey, Curtis and Watkins. Dale Hawkins had the track fast lap with a 21.887 second and 82.241 MPH speeds in lap five.
West said, “The track was good, and with the cars being pretty much the same, I had to work my way from the back.” “I wasn’t sure if I was going to get to run tonight. We broke a spring bar in practice or thought that was what it was. H. J. helped us with that and we made a make shift to get by with, so thanks to him. Also to Kelly Putz, he tunes my motor each week for us.” West said excitedly. One last thing West added, “I want to thank all my sponsors, First State Chevrolet, H. P. Speed Shop, Barry Joseph Construction, and Precision Small Engines.
David Pettyjohn picked up his second Late Model feature win Saturday in a brand new Hershey Engine, and a fresh Rocket Chassis that has only took to the track four or five times. Pettyjohn in the P. & A. Paving, J. W. Scott Construction Shop, Heck Masonry, Snookies Vent, and Midway Speedway numbered Route-nine had the track fast lap back on lap twenty when he ran a 20.660 second and speeds of 87.125 MPH. But in the first heat Pettyjohn burned a lap of 19.466 seconds and 92.469 MPH speeds. Pettyjohn said, “These guys do an awesome job every week, thanks to my owner John and Nicole Scott, and my crew Corey Davis, John, Wayne Pusey, And Troy Conrad.”
Mike Wharton in the Scott's Furniture, Lawn Works Landscaping, Pizza Palace, and Race Track Auto, numbered one hundred Warrior went to work at the drop of the green to stay out front. As soon as the first lap was in and the cars went into turn two, Wharton leading hits a tire or something and gets around in the inside of turn two. The number eighty-four of Ray Davis Jr., started sixth and fast approaches the turn with no where to go but into Wharton; pretty much ending both of their nights. Both of these guys run well and its times like these it makes it hard to be consistent in the point’s chase. Both of these guys will be getting the Redbud69racing Headache Award for all their headaches of the night.
On the restart, Mark Byram in the Whaley Construction four-B became the new leader with Pettyjohn right in the rear view on laps three and four. Lap three Pettyjohn jumps to the inside of Byram and then moved to the outside of Byram on lap four, and in turn two takes the lead from Byram on lap five working the outside groove. The field spread out some until lap nine when Donnie Lingo in the fifty-five-L goes wheel to wheel with the number four of Rick Whaley for third.
At the half way signal it was Pettyjohn, Byram, Lingo, Whaley, and Dale Lingo in the ninety-nine-L. On lap twelve David Hill in the seventy-five has snuck up to sixth place just snug behind Lingo. Lingo continues to hold off Hill, as Whaley managed to keep both Lingo and Hill off for fourth. The field remained the same from the half way point. Pettyjohn took the lead on lap three of the first heat to win. While heat number two was won by Donnie Lingo. Mike Givens started on the pole of heat two but rolled to a stop just outside of turn two in lap four. Not sure what happened but Givens was not able to start the feature.
H. J. Bunting III won his third feature, straight in a row but his fourth overall win of 2004. Bunting in the Will Brown owned Troyer sponsored by Will Brown Truck Repair, Inc., Delmarva Excavations of Harrington, DE, First-State Chevy Olds, and Courtland Manor Inc., started seventh for the twenty-five lap feature. Bunting commented that, “We wrecked the other car back a few weeks ago, and I’m sorry, but then again this car has been real good.” “Thanks to Will Brown again, and my crew, cause this guys are getting it back to victory lane each week.”
Stormin Norman Short in the eight-M red hot car started on the pole for the feature. As the cars come out of turn four in the first lap, with Short, Gary Simpson (12), and Tim Millman (410) all wanting first. Down the backstretch in lap two Short and Simpson ride door to door. In lap three Simpson takes the helm as he and Short come out of turn two. But only into lap four Bunting takes that lead away from Simpson as the come out of turn two and just as the yellow waves before the lap is complete. Simpson restarts in the lead on laps five and Short is in second as Bunting is third just as a big pile up in the back of the pack happens. Involved in turn two collecting Scott Smith (55), Chuck Tucker (39W), Colby Steele (39), Glen Richards (98), and 2003 Rookie of the year Dana Walker in the twenty-eight-J.
On the start over of lap five Simpson leads, while Short and Bunting run rim to rim for second as the 2003 champ of Craig Mullins slides into third, as Bunting does claim second. The yellow is out for a couple of cars over the top side of turn one, just as Tim Millman (410) pulls into the pits while riding fifth; giving Beau Wilkins that fifth spot now.
This start put Simpson, Bunting, Mullins one, two, three, while Wilkins and Rick Bishop battle for fourth, then Bishop and Short for fourth. Mullins and Bunting are still fender to fender for second at the half way as Simpson still leads, and Wilkins and Short in the fourth and fifth spots. On lap fourteen, Mullins and Simpson is dead eye even on the front stretch as Mullins takes the lead. Now Bunting and Simpson race side by side on lap fifteen as on the following lap Bunting takes second for sure. Bunting keeps working that outside lane on lap seventeen with Mullins as they progress side by side until lap eighteen when Bunting takes the lead in turn three still working that outside groove. Once there, Bunting said see ya later and checks out.
Mullins finished second for the third straight week in a row. Bunting won the first heat and Mullins one the second heat. In the second heat Short got around for the second week in a row while leading. Short made a recovery to third in that heat, so great job Norman.
Mark Williams continues to show he has control of his Atlantic Screening Inc. and Kenny Pettyjohn Consulting number twenty-six race car winning his third win of 2004 while really cushioning his points lead. Williams said, “Kenny Pettyjohn sets up my car, and it was a little tight last week, so he worked on it some this week. It helped a lot. I want to thank Bill Lawson, my owner, the track for such a nice track to run each week, my team, crew and the girls.”
Kenny Pearson lucked out once again to start on the pole for the feature. Pearson leads the first two laps until Kelly Putz (59) took the lead just outside of turn four and the flag stand. Putz has been running strong each week, but so has Ripp Johnson (8R). As Putz took the lead Putz follows and on lap four into lap five Johnson took over the lead. Just at lap five Vic Thomas (A-1) rolls to a stop at the entrance of pit road with the first caution. On the start over, Johnson leads Putz, Pearson, Steve Stamps (83), and David Nailor (9) in fifth.
On lap six Stamps and Williams ride side by side for fourth, while Williams on lap seven moves into third and by lap eight Williams’s moves by Putz for second. Its half way now with Johnson leading, followed by Williams, Putz, Stamps and Rick Eskridge in fifth. Just after half way Pearson gets shuffled about into the infield as Eskridge gets around in turns three and four. On the restart of lap nine Johnson and Williams ride metal to metal to lap twelve when Williams took over the lead. The top five were Williams, Johnson, Putz, Stamps, and Nailor.
Stamps picked up his first top five in the Century 21 Rehoboth Bay Realty, Dragon's Lair, Wings To Go, and Moore's Powder Coating, just to name of few of his sponsors. Last week’s winner Jason Cahall had problems again this week and did not make the show. Eric Reed has had a run of bad luck lately and earned the Headache Award. Heats were won by Kerry King (K&B), and Ripp Johnson.
The Modified Lite feature captured Erik McKinney winning for the third time this season. McKinney currently is leading in the points but has had to work for those wins. McKinney says, “Durham Racing Motors gives me a great car each week. We were going to go to S. Carolina, but glad we stayed now.” McKinney rides in the North East Lightening Chassis, R & F Auto Sales and Woods Construction numbered seventy-six lite. McKinney had the track fast lap on fourteen with a 22.060 second and 81.596 MPH speeds.
Tim White in the sixteen and new to DIS this season finished second tonight, and has been running pretty well so far. Everyone has a bad night now and then. Another new driver to the track and this class is Kirk Miles of Saxis, VA, in the number twenty-one who had a little freak accident occur. The feature just got going when Miles is coming down the backstretch, and looks to be having steering problems as he attempts to take it into pit road. Miles slows almost to a stop, starts’ back up moving the car and just misses or goes off the road into the pits winding upside down in the ditch area. My sources told me, when Miles hit pit road there’s a oil slick and without much in steering the car just slide right on over without Miles having any control. So the Headache Award once again rolled out for Miles tonight too.
White and McKinney put on some good side by side action in the feature. The top five were McKinney, White, Herb Tunis (85), Andy Best (0), and Kevin McKinney (V74) to round out the top five. That class has been really putting on a grand show each week.
The Little Lincoln’s visited with a field of eighteen cars. You should see those cars get around that track. They really put on an impressive race each time they visit just like the older days. Donald Robinson in the True Quality Construction, Donald Duck Towing, and Four-Nu-Car numbered sixty-four would claim the win. Robinson said, “It has been a while since I've been in victory lane and it feels good, thanks to my sponsors, and Mom and Dad.”
The Lincolns had some mighty fine three wide actions almost every lap back and forth in the top ten. Rounding out the top five were, Robinson, Duke Watson (9), Tony Daisey (7), Ron Wilson (15), and Hank Thompson (55).
So don’t forget to come on out this weekend to see all the drivers, in each class rub and turn on the oval. The URC Sprints visit this weekend, and if your from out of town, in town for Dover racing, make your way to see some extreme fast supreme racing, we're just a skip away. Reminder that Camp Barns will be Tuesday, July 6, 2004, always a big turn out of drivers for that and has a rain date of Thursday, July 8. Stacker II is still tentatively scheduled for July 21, and the Super Dirt Series invades DE on August 17. Don’t forget if you have any news on your team let us know so we can post it for you. See you at the track!
Bonnie Nibblett