Speedway Winds Down But, Dragway Winds Up!

September 25, 2005

By Bonnie Nibblett

Delmar, DE…..The Delaware Motorsports Complex has much going on before all the racing in Delaware is over.  Saturday night, the Delaware International Speedway had the last point’s race and racing of the season until November 5 & 6 for the Delaware State Dirt Track Championship will be held.  Plus the fate of the Taylor & Messick Delaware State Series ended, and the URC Sprint Series championship was sealed by Curt Michael.  This weekend U. S. 13 Dragway will be holding the NHRA Division 1 Bracket finals starting this Thursday through Saturday. 

The NED Bracket finals will start on Wednesday with gates opening 7 AM all three days, a 3 day pass is only $30 and Saturday pass is $12.  For more information contact the race office 302-875-1911 or check the web at www.delawareracing.com. 

The dragway still has a few dates in the books before ending.

The Delaware Divisional Dirt Series Champions champs are in for the kart track.  This year’s champions are Derek Magee (2), Cameron Collins, Brandon White, Mike Mobray, Jr. (2), Charles Vallandingham, Chad Hayes (2), Charles Hayes, III (2), Rick Argo, Chad Reed (2), and John Macklin, Jr.   

The U. S. 13 Kart Club Track as well has a few dates on Friday nights left, gates open at 5 PM for the next 3 weeks.   Points are winding down but still heating up in some of the classes with mere digits separating the guys.  The complete champs in the club are still being declared.    

October 14, 2005 will be the annual MONEY race and Halloween Costume Party to the US 13 Kart Club Track.  Last year, the first costume party for the kids 10 & under was held and what a hit it was.  During intermission judges will be asked to come to the flag stand and watch the lit’ ghost & goblins parade around while collecting goodies from members of karter teams.  That way everyone will be out of arms way for racers preparing to take to the grid.  Prizes and refreshments will be scattered about.  Anyone wishing to dress up in costume rather kids or adults will be allowed by the Wizard Master this night only and Welcomed If You Dare!  The Wizard says enter at your own risk and he will let you leave on your own, Ha Ha Ha! Check www.dekarting.net for more details.   

Last Saturday, the fastest clay half-mile oval in Delaware ended the speedways racing action in a bang.  The mighty URC Sprint Series made their final appearance where Curt Michael of Ocean View, DE clinches his second straight Advance Auto Parts URC Sprint Series URC Championship and third career win.  Michael powers the Palladino owned BK Leasing no. 99 sprint car.

2004 URC Rookie of the Year, Kyle Purks of Langhorne, PA earned a flawless first career win in the URC 25-lap feature.  Purks has given a strong contention each time at DIS only to fall prey to mechanical ailments or another; but not on Saturday night.  Purks said, “Delaware is my favorite track on the URC schedule.  The track was awesome, just the way I like it; around the top."  Purks is only 19 years old winning $1,600 first place prize and looks to have more wins in the future. 

Tim Hogue started on the pole followed by Miller, Zimmerman, Ely, Bitner.  Trevor Lewis lost an engine or had a big puff of smoke let go just after one circuit lap and rolled to stop top side of turn 2.  At halfway it was Hogue, Miller, Ely, Williamson, Brian.  Junior Martin took a wild ride on lap 21 when he got a tire over another cars tire and got out of shape and clips another wheel and just gets dug in and starts flipping.   Dave Ely finished second followed by Bill Brian Jr., Kramer Williamson and Hogue.  The Taylor & Messick Delaware Sprint Series title was won by Kramer Williamson for the 2005 season.

H. J. Bunting, III, in the 1W Will Brown Truck Repair has claimed the big block Modified Championship with a good margin and well earned.  Bunting lost by mere 34 pts last year.  Bunting had 3 wins, 13 top 5’s and 3 top 10’s in his favor this year.  Defending 2004 Champion Craig Mullins has been right there every week as the two battled all year long.  But it is not over until it is over.  In racing as with many things in life a little luck, can always heed about anytime, and Mullins has been certainly been down the last few weeks.  Although Mullins too, had 3 wins, 8 top 5’s, and 4 top 10’s he could not pull it off again.  Mullins had a shock fall off when a bolt broke Saturday; where Bunting finished 7^th but just clinched the championship before last week.  Ricky Johnson won the 25 lap feature Saturday.

Back on September 3, 2005, driver Bunting (1W), car owner Will Brown, Teene Muir and the crew, all put together a young boys dream to come true.   Track Owner/Promoter Charlie Cathell met on several occasions with Muir to make this wish come true for the 10 year old Garrett Roe.  Roe has suffered all his life with health problems after being born 2 months pre-mature.  He lost an arm and circulation in his spinal cord affecting the use of his legs; later broken bones, and other surgeries. 

Roe has endured far more than any child that age should, but you would never know it by his spirits.  Roe never missed a beat and acted as car owner, crew chief, fan, to riding in the pace car, and participating on the one way radio communications to the driver.  Roe told Bunting that he better get busy to win that feature and Bunting made an action packed feature when he pulled it off.  Roe made his way around to just about every driver to have his picture taken.  In the drivers meeting drivers were in their race suits and several pictures were taken.  Drivers brought souvenirs of autographed shirts, & pictures.  Announcer Charlie Brown interviewed Roe in victory circle, Delmarva Sports Action Magazine and other media, The State News had the pleasure of his presence. 

You would never know it, but, before Saturday night Garret had never been to a dirt track or any track for that matter, it was Roe’s very first visit.  His father likes NASCAR and Garrett has grown to love racing as well, to the point he wants to be a driver, own a team, or announce a race even someday.  But with everyone working together Garrett lived part of his dream last night. 

Garrett was so happy, and just too cool.  When asked how he would describe tonight, Garrett, stated, "Awe Man!  Fun! Exciting! A lot of souvenirs! It has been just awesome, it was like Christmas here."  I hope Garrett visits to keep up with racing around here and email so we can be new friends too.  That kid was simply such an inspiration to many in all the hard times going on in the world and US and how he shines above it all.  The personality of this kid Garrett, he will be able to accomplish anything he desires.  His health problems seem not to exist when you see the energy and vitality he had that night and in life in general.  He’s truly an inspiration for all and to all that night. 

In the last few weeks Bobby Wilkins has come out of retirement and drove the Jake Marine’s no. 85.  What a treat that has been for fans, first week Wilkins raced to a 4^th place finish and raced against his son Beau, for the first time.  Early in the month the Wilkins lost his father John Wilkins.  That night Wilkins said, “It was a good feeling driving with Beau tonight, and yes I did feel my fathers presence over my shoulder,” when asked how it felt while scorching the track in laps.  “My father was a big fan of racing for many years, he was cheering us on.”  Wilkins commented.     Bobby had the transmission yoke break last Saturday night.  The week before the ageless Hal Browning join the Marine’s team and hit the clay running strong. 

Richard Jarvis, Jr. sailed to his first Late Model Championship in the Leath no. 47.  Jarvis has held the lead for a while but anything can happen but now it is in the bag officially.   Jarvis in just his 2^nd year of dirt late model racing pulled off 7 wins, 7 top’s, and 5’ top 10’s all year.  Last week Jarvis brought the new powerful big black dog to the track in a new gas powered engine with a lot more horses; Jarvis has been running alcohol all year in the white horse car.  

Late Model action had Mark Pettyjohn picking up a second win last week, he has been knocking at the door all year with a fast car but either something would break or some type of other woes would happened.  So his win was a well deserved victory. 

The AC Delco TSS Modified Championship was in a bit of undetermined champion until the end of the night.  Bobby Watkins, of Harrington, DE earned his very first career Championship Saturday.  Last season Watkins switched from big block to the new class TSS Modified class after losing he engine.  The economical cost was the determining factor for the change.  Watkins was strong in the 3D Auto/Bicknell no. 4, all season but was consistent with 2 wins 14 top 5’s and 3 top 10’s.  Jack Mullins, Jr. in Bi-Rite Auto/Skipjack’s Restaurant no. 1 never waived from a supreme performance all year.  But just as it goes, lady luck and other factors come into play.  Mullins seemed he might be the one to beat all year as he held the lead for a while with 7 wins and 7 top 10’s.  Week after week his crew had the car in prime formation each week; all the factors go into play in this sport Mullins was 2^nd in the points at the end with only 50 pts separating the two. 

This class has had more new comers both years since this class has started, and more than 42 drivers hit the clay throughout the season proving to be a success for many drivers.  Top honors go to Brad Trice, Richie Walls, Sr. for 3^rd & 4^th in points in their first season, and Adam Jarrell in his returning full time to drive in this class and finishing 5^th. 

The Street Modified Championship won his first Street Modified title at DIS.  Bunting had 3 wins but 14 top 5’s all year and stayed consistent all year for the most part.  He started driving DIS in 1997 after Georgetown Speedway closed and he claimed 3 Thunder Championships, 92, 93, & 95.  Bunting said growing up his favorite driver was Harold Bunting (H J’s father) and that was how he came to claim the # 19. 

During 1st feature last week Bunting broke a rear, during the break between features; Rick Whaley's crew helped him get a rear and helped him to get back to driving.  (Twin features were run with a rain out during the week before events.)  Bunting also said that Jason Cahall offered to let Bunting drive his car if did not get his fixed in time for features.  Cahall had clinched 3^rd in points so he would not loose either.  Bunting would like to thank both or them and others for all the help that night from those guys.

Jon Callaway, of Harrington, DE proved all season he was the one to beat in the Modified Lite division.  Callaway was not there last week, as competing elsewhere in nationals but had already sewed up the points with 10 wins, 3 top 5’s and 5 top 10’s. 

Last week Tim White finally earned his first win of the year in the Lites.  He had come in 2^nd many times but something always just happened turning the victory away.  White claimed 13 top 5’s, 3 top 10’s all year and was consistent to finish 2^nd in points followed by Herb Tunis, Steve A. White (team-mate), and Ryan Walls. 

The week before Tim White had his father come out of retirement to shake down his no. 16 Lite so NASCAR owner Ray Evernham (Kasey Kahne # 9 & Jeremy Mayfield # 19 owners) could drive it last Saturday night.  Last Saturday White brought the whole family out there to get-R-done.  Three generation of drivers participated.  With NASCAR in town Tim’s brother, Kevin, (tire specialist on Mayfield team) came to drive the Tom Turnbaugh no. 19, his father Dave, drove Tim’s backup car no. 16 & finished 11th, his cousin Sparky drives the no. 45, whose father Bunky drove no. 45E, and cousin Matt White in the no. 946.   So altogether six members of Tim White's family drove.  Then there was one more, Mike White who’s not related and a regular driver in that class. 

Ray Evernham drove the 16 of Tim Whites' Mod Lite in hot laps.  However, his night did not go as planned as he did some flipping as he reached to throw it in turn 3.  Yet the car was not damaged badly and Dave White still made the show.  Evernham left his autograph on the car quoting "Ray Evernham 9-19 Had a flippin good time." 

Evernham’s night was not over as he drove the Jake Marine’s no. 85H small block modified.  Evernham came from modified driving in his racing career but it had been 14 years since he was last in one.  He never relinquished and hopped in the car to place 13^th.  Evernham’s night was not over when he made his first venture in a sprint car.  He drove the regular driver of Mares Stellfox, no. 56M URC Sprint tonight in some hot laps.  Evernham held it pretty good, and seem to take control right away but sorry no speeds were taken.  Overall, the night was much fun for Evernham.  Craig Strickler (personal driver for Ray's motor coach and to other events) accompanied Ray to DIS.  Also Bob Decker (Carl Edwards’s car hauler) had a night out with the guys too. 

The Redbud’s Rookies’ Award in each class were Dale Hawkins in Modified, Kerry King in Late Model, Richie Walls, Sr., in TSS Modified, Jeff Keller in Street Modified and Aaron Bada in the Modified Lite class. 

The end is near for racing and the NEED FOR SPEED itch will need replenishing, so take all you can get in before it is over for the season and suffer from withdrawals as I do.  Mark on your calendars for the Nov. Champ show Nov. 5 & 6 with rain dates of 12^th & 13^th.  Many invaders will come but the DIS boys will be ready to challenge them on for the top honors and purses.  For all your Delaware & racing news plus NASCAR visit www.redbud69racing.com for more information.  Tickets and hours will all be listed on there as soon as they are available.  See you at the track!