DUANE HOWARD CAPTURES BIG BLOCK CHAMPIONSHIP - 11/02/2003
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE – Duane Howard of Oley, Pa. drove a flawless race to capture his first Delaware State Dirt Track Big Block Modified Championship, Sunday at the Delaware International Speedway. Howard got by pole sitter, Sam Wescott on lap eight of the 50-lap event and held off the race-long challenges of Doug Hoffman for the win. With the gamblers bonus and lap money Howard earned a whopping $7035 for the win.
Sam Wescott started on the pole and set the early pace in the in the big block main. Duane Howard was running in second with Doug Hoffman in third. Kevin Hirthler’s bid for a repeat sweep of the Fall Championship ended on lap four when in spun to the inside of turn two to bring out the first caution.
On the restart the back of the pack got anxious triggering a five car tangle in the second turn. Involved were Rick Bishop, Jim Stong, Duane Rust, Ryan Watt, and Robert Dutton. Howard pulled by Wescott on the restart but the yellow was out again before the lap could get in when Craig VonDohren slowed off the second turn.
Wescott restarted back in the lead and held the top position until lap eight. Howard got a nose under Wescott and moved by on the bottom side the Doug Hoffman following into second. Scott Irwin was having a good run in fourth and Jimmy Chester filled out the top five.
The field settled down to green flag racing until lap 14 when Watt detonated a rear tire going down the front straight. On the restart, Glenn Reed and Bishop tangled and the yellow was quickly out again.
Howard was running on a string but was not able to pull away from Hoffman. Kenny Brightbill called it a day on lap 19 and pulled to the pits. Rich Scagliotta got around bringing out the caution just before the halfway sign. At the halfway point the top five were Howard, Hoffman, Wescott, Irwin and Ricky Johnson.
Westcott run ended two laps later when he and Irwin tangled while battling for position to bring out the yellow. Johnson was now in the third spot with Doug Rose and Steve Botcher in the top five. Johnson’s drive ended with a flat tire on lap 38.
The final yellow flew on lap 44 when Beau Wilkins got turned around. Howard never faltered on the restart and he pulled away to a .809 seconds margin over Hoffman for the win.
“Day shows are kind of tough,” commented Howard. “You just have to keep it on the bottom and keep the tires on it. This is a good win for us and this team really seems to be clicking here at the end of the year.”
Rose, Botcher, and Ricky Elliott rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Shawn Reimert, Gary Simpson, Mark Forte, Jamie Mills, and Keith Hoffman. Doug Hoffman, Howard, Rose, Wescott, Irwin, and Chester won the heats. Deron Rust, Keith Hoffman, Craig VonDohren, Mills, Rich Scagliotta, and Richie Pratt, Jr. won the consolations.
RESULTS: 50-Lap Big Block Modified Championship: 1. DUANE HOWARD; 2. Doug Hoffman; 3. Doug Rose; 4. Steve Botcher; 5. Ricky Elliott; 6. Shawn Reimert; 7. Gary Simpson; 8. Mark Forte; 9. Jamie Mills; 10. Keith Hoffman; 11. Rick Bishop; 12. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 13. Craig Mullins; 14. Rich Scagliotta; 15. Robert Dutton; 16. Beau Wilkins; 17. Ricky Johnson; 18. Ryan Watt; 19. Kevin Hirthler; 20. Dave Gerhart; 21. Deron Rust; 22. Glenn Reed; 23. Craig VonDohren; 24. Sam Wescott; 25. Scott Irwin; 26. Rick Laubach; 27. Kenny Brightbill; 28. Jim Stong; 29. Jimmy Chester; 30. Duane Rust.