Camp Barnes June 30, 2005 Late Vs. Modified Shoot Out - Richard Jarvis, Jr. 47, Craig Mullins 2, and Danny Johnson 27

photo by Don Marks

 

 Plenty Of Hot, Fast, Racing Action Going On In Delaware

 

 

By Bonnie Nibblett

 

July 25, 2005

 

Delmar, DE…..As sweltering as the air has been, just goes along with how hot all the non-stop action at the Delaware Motorsports Complex has been cooking up all month.  The end of June kicked off the 33RD Annual Delaware State Police Camp Barnes Benefit, the beginning of July had the World of Outlaws Late Model Series running in town, to the First Delaware Championships as part of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, a Benefit Race for Glen and Bryant Renfro at the go-kart track, to the usual weekend blistering racing action.  The NEED FOR SPEED and desire for racing has given us many advantages to fill that void with the special shows that have been appearing in the last month. 

 

June 30, the 33Rd annual Camp Barnes Benefit brought some top dogs to town to run up against the Delaware boys.  The original night of action fell short of being with raining spoiling the plans, but everyone headed out on the following night to take in some serious intense racing.  The show this year may have had a few less cars with a WoOLMS event in a neighboring New Jersey track that was running the same night as the rain delayed benefit was scheduled.  But each feature had some mighty fine racing action going on all night.

 

Modified action had invader Danny Johnson of Rochester, NY starting second but early on proved no one could beat him in the J & J Shop # 27.  Kyle Strickler (a JD3/Bridgeport Young Guy) held the lead until lap 7 even though the first few circuits were filled with cautions, but it soon became all green flag racing from that point.  The remaining top five were Strickler, defending speedway champion of Craig Mullins (2), Rick Bishop (62), and Kevin Hirthler (117) last  years Camp Barnes winner.  With that win and the dash win, Johnson left with just about $5000. 

 

Late Models had another invader driving at Delaware in his only second appearance to drive the Steve Nutall’s Mid-Coastal Siding Rocket at Delaware with Anthony Rushing of Kosciusko, MS.  Rushings’ first visit in May earned a fourth place finish, but this visit Rushing claimed the win and at least $4000.   Lou Johnson drove the Warrington Pro Power Rocket # 91 to start, and after 2 yellows Rushing moved in to take the lead.  David Hill gave all he could running almost up to him to the flag stand, but Rushing was just too strong.  Hill was second, followed by Johnson, Richard Jarvis, Jr. and Donald Lingo, Jr.

 

Every year the benefit holds the Modified vs. Late Model 12 lap shootout where the two classes run side by side.  First 6 laps are run and then the yellow waves for the top five to draw for a new starting position, and the remaining five head to the pits.  The redraw had Danny Johnson lead Craig Mullins, Rushing, Strickler, and Richard Jarvis, Jr.  the final two laps has Strickler and Johnson putting on a good show with Strickler getting wide on the last lap in turn four, as Johnson would gone on to win the shoot out picking an extra $1,000.

 

The A/C Delco TSS Modified had 26 cars to start the field, where the Gene’s Auto Sales, Chuck’s Heating & Air, and Shockley’s Lawn Service of Bobby Watkins # 4 claimed victory; his first Camp Barnes win.  Exciting action had Watkins and Jack Mullins (1) running wheel to wheel to half way and then Watkins grabs the led in turns 3 and 4.   Last lap Mullins struggled out of turn 4 and got around.  Finishing seconds was Matt Jester (38), Richard White, Jr. (27), Billy Carr (29), and Robert Dutton, Jr. (8). 

 

Street Modified action had one of the fans favorite make his second appearance of the year just to support the benefit as he has in years past.  Jeff Patilla appeared the Saturday night before to see how the car ran after not running all year and finished 8th.  But on Camp Barnes night the story looked a little different.  Steve Bunting started on the point.  Patilla started 5th but by lap 2 Patilla, and Mark Williams (26) drove fender to fender through turn 2 and then 3 wide out of the turn with Wayne Nailor (61) adding to the mix all the way down the backstretch.  All three of them head in turn 3 as the crowd watched to see who was going to give in and claim the real estate of second.  No one gave any space, as Patilla does not let up a bit and aces reaching in and diving to the inside groove to take second.  Lap 6 Williams and Patilla were still at it with great side by side action.  Patilla almost gets by Bunting at the half way point but a yellow waved.  Patilla goes back to work as the two stay nip in tuck each circuit.  Lap 12 Patilla, caught Bunting as the two had been fender to fender each pass by, and Patilla takes the lead on lap 13.  Rounding the top 5 were Bunting, Williams, Rick Eskridge, and Mike Wilson. 

 

The Modified Lite feature was just as racy with nose to tail action between Steve A. White (76), and Ryan Walls (14W).  These two have matched each other in many battles among the season.  After the first half of the laps filled with cautions passing a good long conflict of wheel to wheel broke out with the two all the way to the flag stand.  White and Ryan edged each other out every pass but White would dove to the inside as Walls got a little high and claimed the win; White’s first at DIS with .031 of a second.  Meanwhile, Tim White (78) and winning Jon Callaway (95) performed an exciting side by side battle for third; Brandon Dennis rounded the fifth spot. 

 

July 6, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series hit Delaware where the “Bluegrass Man” Darrell Lanigan (29) picked up his second win for the WoOLMS/Stacker II racing series in 2005.  The Delaware or locals that made the show were Richard Jarvis, Jr., Anthony Rushing (car he raced owned by local), Matt Hubbard, Mark Pettyjohn, Ricky Elliott, David Pettyjohn, Rick Whaley, and Kenny Pettyjohn.  Elliott lost a cylinder and slowed with six laps remaining after leading the first half.  Richard Jarvis finished 9th and Matt Hubbard just missed the top ten with his 11th place which is still great running up again these champions.  2004 Rookie of the year Tim McCreadie finished a close second.  After this event in Delaware, McCreadie won three races.  If you missed the show you missed some fantastic late model racing action, hopefully they will return definitely worth seeing.  Also during the time trials to determine heats line up had Richard Jarvis, Jr. with the fastest time of 19.028 seconds and 94.597 MPH, and Ricky Elliott set the second fastest time of 19.064 seconds and 94.419 MPH.

 

The Drag strip featured the Delaware 1st State Championships which was part of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series the weekend of July 15-17.  Rain threatened all weekend along with heat, and humidity.  A complete run down of the event can be found on the dragways web page at www.delawareracing.com.

 

The U. S. 13 Kart Club Track held a non-points event for Glen and Bryant Renfro who were burned at a national kart race.  The night was a big success.  Special thanks to Crown Trophy, Laurel, DE, for donating trophies for the winners.  A complete list of winners and how to contact the Renfro’s to contribute or updates as they heal can be viewed on the tracks web site www.dekarting.net.

 

August 10, sets the date for the Diamond State’50’s” at the speedway, another annual event with hot action on the half mile oval.  Purse includes $3,000 for both Late Models and Modifieds, but if you feel like gambling, you can the pay the gamblers fee of $100 to win $5000 or pay $50 to win $4,000.  Gates open 5:00 PM, with first heat race taking to the track at 7:30 PM.  General Admission is only $15 and Pits are $20 bucks.  Should it be needed the rain date is set to be the next night Thursday, Aug. 10, 3005.  Also, for all your Delaware news view my web for updates, events, photos and more visit www.redbud69racing.com  See you at the track!