The Season End Is Nearing

By Bonnie Nibblett

Delmar, DE…..Just one more race at the Delaware International Speedway before the final point’s results will be in and then the Delaware State Dirt Championships in Nov. 6 & 7.  The heat is on with the top five in points in all the classes.  The final point’s race will be Saturday, October 16, 2004.  This coming weekend the U. S. 13 Dragway will have the bracket finals and will be closing in on their finish before long.

Fall is here and the racing season has almost dwindled to all but a few races left.   I can feel withdrawal symptoms already started to be aroused.  It has been a really good season with a lot of fast, furious, talented drivers, and events all along.  I hate for it all to end, but there will still be plenty of action before it is over. 

The Dragway had the Bars Leak sponsored Super Charged Thunder Show with a great turn out just last Sunday.  The winner of the Super Chevy was Paul Martin, of Breslau, Ontario Canada, in his 57’ Chevy with 7.591/ 184.27 on a 7.60 dial in and with a reaction time of .203.  The runner up was Scott Braskett, of Galena, OH, in a 53’ Corvette, and a better reaction time of .093, with 6.697/205.80 MPH but the dial in was 7.60

Back on Sept 19, 2004, the dragway also held the once a year “King of the Track” competition where they take the six division winners from the day and match them in eliminations. This year’s “King” was Paul Riddle of Millsboro, DE, who first won the Super ET final then went on to defeat two other division winners for the title. Other winners included Phillip Truitt of Parsonsburg, MD, in Heavy ET, James Farmer of Felton, DE, in Pro Bike, Humphrey Maddox of Crisfield, MD, in Hot Rod Trophy, Ray Devers of Denton, MD, in Import, and Marvin McCove of Dover, DE, in Bike Trophy.  Mark Benston of Frankford, DE took the Jr. Dragster I win and Marshall Fowler of Ocean City, MD, was the Jr. II Dragster winner.  

This coming weekend starting a three day weekend on Sept 30, Oct 1 & 2, the Dragway will have the Bracket Finals for the year followed by Oct. 10, with Summit ET Racing and Jr. Dragster Challenge and on Oct. 17,  for Foot Brake Nationals.  For more information contact the office at 302.875.1911. 

Now back to the speedway action.  The track had the Diamond State “50” back on September 16, where Delaware’s own “Rocket” Ricky Elliott in the TEO, Feil Motor, TACO Carburetor, Jake Marine Machine owned and an Bridgeport regular picks up the $3,000 Modified win and his first win in a long while at Delmar.  In the Late Model, Delaware’s Kenny Pettyjohn in the ASI, Inc, Bruno, Chalabala Electric, Custom Engine, and Warrior Chassis made a special appearance and won the $3000 purse.  Both guys had gambled an extra $100 bucks for an additional $2,000 added to the $3,000 to win a total of $5,000.  The event brought out some other contenders from nearby tracks such as Gary Stuhler, Rick Eckert, Jerry Foster in Late Models, and in the Modifieds Doug Hoffman, Kenny Brightbill, Craig VonDohren, Donny Radd, and Kyle Strickler just to name a few. 

In the 50 lap Modified, before 10 laps were in the leaders, Hoffman, Elliott, Horton, Radd, and Mullins were lapping the field.  On lap 23, Hoffman and Smith got together forcing Hoffman to go up the track making contact with Horton.  Horton had no where to go and spun the car in turn two, but before 8 circuits were in Horton was back up to 5th.

There was a wild wide on lap 42 when Norman Short 8M, got around as he was coming out of turn four.  The other cars coming were charging hard and had no where to go.  The first to arrive was Rick Bishop 62, whose car tilted up on the front two wheels with the momentum of the stop and impact.  Then Scott VanGorder, 17, and Chris Glanden 15, come hard in the turn with VanGorder getting up and over on his roof and on part of the Glanden car. 

In Late Model it was on from the start with Eckert, Stuhler, and Hill.  On lap 3 Hill looked to the inside of Stuhler who was leading; lap 4 the cars go in turn 2 and Hill and Stuhler were door to door as Stuhler slides up the track.  Eckert looks to the inside and claims the lead.  Lap 8 Eckert took second from Hill. 

A lot of good cars dropped out of the race with problems.  Geiger only got 2 laps in, Byram was out by lap 4 when the radiator busted, Christopher only got 6 laps in.  Lou Johnson was out with 16 laps because of steering breaking and he dropped to the rear of the field.  Whaley dropped out when he ran hot after only 23 laps.  Hill had a right rear flat on lap 26 while in 2nd, Hill left to get the tire replaced and returned a lap down and had other problems. 

On the restart of lap 25, Eckert rolled to a stop, powered back up but had more troubles like front end damage when Hubbard (lap traffic) slowed in turn 2 on original lap 25 and Eckert hit the rear of him, Eckert appeared to be one of the cars to beat before that.  Lap 26 Pettyjohn was now the new leader.  Lap 28 Stuhler got around in turn 2.  Others with problems were Davis, King, Christopher, Ennis on lap 11, and Beale on lap 14.  On lap 9 makes the move for the lead from Stuhler while on the outside of turn 2. 

Just this past weekend the first annual Taylor & Messick Delaware Thunder was held with the URC Sprints and a purse of $3,000.  Kevin Welsh picked up his second win of the year at Delmar, with a track fast lap of 105.889 MPH in the feature.  In time trials the fastest speed was held by Trevor Lewis with a 106.447 MPH lap and 16.905 second. 

This was the last show of the URC sprints for this year, where Welsh clinched the Taylor & Messick Delaware Sprint Series points over Curt Michael.  But Michael has the points lead in the Advanced Auto Parts Sprint Series this year and will be the champion of the series.   The track was fast all night, and some mighty fast, fun racing went on all evening. 

In more circle track action, the guys have really heated up on points and only one more show will finalized the results.  On Saturday, October 16, 2004 it will be the last point’s race and the scores are still close for some of the drivers.  

I will bring some of the highlights of the season as the months go by.  The New AC/Delco TSS Modified class has proven to stick around for a while with the field growing each weekend.  In April, the field started with 13 cars, Saturday night there were 23 cars to start the feature.  There seem to be a vast variety of drivers still continuing to try this class.  Returning drivers, new drivers and even other divisions such as Modified Lite drivers or go-kart drivers have added to the group. 

There have been many first time winners this year picking up a first time ever career winners, first time in a different division or even first time winner at Delmar. 

The U. S. 13 Kart Club has continued to play in the clay each weekend.  Only one more club race remains, this Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, will end the season and also it is the last point’s race.  There’s a few that are still battling for position with close points chase. 

The last WKA Delaware State Dirt Divisional was held on Saturday with winners in all the classes.  Final 2004 champs will be coming later. 

The season has offered a lot of fun, determination in drivers and teams, fans have had much excitement through out, along with some of the best racing around.  The facility has been in tip top shape all year long and offered some of the supremacy of racing.  There is still time to get out to the track to get some family fun in.  But the season will be ending shortly way before I am ready.   Don’t for get the Dirt State Championship Show will be on Nov. 6 & 7.  For all your updates visit my web at www.redbud69racingcom or visit the tracks at www.delawareracing.com for any details about upcoming events call the tracks office at 302.875.1911 or the hot line at 302.846.3968.  See ya at the track!