LEADERS TANGLE - BUNTING RAMBLES TO 3RD WIN - August 23, 2003
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (8/23/03) - Milford, Delaware's H.J. Bunting got shuffled back through the field early in the 25-lap Modified feature but the breaks went his way as he drove back to the front and posted his third win of the season, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Landis Musser of Laurel, Del. took the lead with five laps to go and went on to his third win of 2003 in the Modified Lites.
Bunting started in the fifth starting spot but quickly moved into third behind pole sitter, Adam Jarrell and Tim Millman in second. Gary Simpson worked by Beau Wilkins for fourth with Rick Bishop following into fifth. As Jarrell continued to set the pace Bunting almost tangled dropping him from the top five.
"We got jammed up there a couple of times," Bunting commented. "We made a couple of good moves on restarts and had to go back but it all worked out in the long run." The first of those restarts came on lap 10 after Ron Myers spun in front of the leaders. Bishop had moved into the second spot with Simpson taking third. A hard crash occurred on lap 11 when Ricky Johnson got out of shape while battling for third with Simpson. Johnson shot across the track causing Craig Mullins to make a hard right sending both Mullins and Sparky White into the wall. Neither driver was injured and Mullins would return minus most of his sheet metal.
At the halfway sign the top five were Jarrell, Bishop, Simpson, Johnson, and Wilkins. Johnson got by Simpson and was headed for the lead. Bishop had been pressuring Jarrell on the low side and when Johnson went to the outside for the lead, Bishop tried to make it by Jarrell on the low side with the two tangling in the fourth turn. Jarrell went to the rear and Bishop was sent to the pits for a consultation with the officials and also returned at the rear of the field.
Johnson was the new leader with Simpson in second and Wilkins in third. Bunting had climbed back into fourth but the yellow was out this time as Johnson lost power and coasted to a stop on lap 19. Simpson was the new leader and Bunting got by Wilkins for second.
Bunting became the fourth different leader on lap 21 as he got by Simpson. Bunting almost got the wall coming of the fourth turn coming to the white flag but made the save. The yellow was out for a final time when Mullins and Scott Smith tangled in the first turn setting up a one-lap shootout for the win. Bunting, in his J&M; Roofing/O'Neal Bros. Hardware/Teo held off Simpson by .756 seconds for the checkered. Wilkins, Cliff Foskey, and Deron Rust rounded out the top five. Bishop and Wilkins won the heats with Dana Walker winning the consolation.
In the Modified Lite feature, Danny Martin made a bold move on the first lap to take the lead. Andy Hammond moved by George Richardson for second. Landis Musser got by Hammond on lap five with Bobby Walls following into third. Walls would drop from the chase with engine problems while Musser was able to move on top on lap 10.
Musser opened a 1.2 seconds lead over Martin to take the win. It was the second straight victory for the driver of the Carey's Towing/Musser Racing/Pro. Martin had to settle for second with Mike Stratton, Joe Warren and Tom Curtis rounding out the top five. Martin and Hammond won the heats.
This Saturday night the United Racing Club Sprints join the four weekly divisions. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.
RESUTLS: 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. H.J. BUNTING; 2. Gary Simpson; 3. Beau Wilkins; 4. Cliff Foskey; 5. Deron Rust; 6. Tim Millman; 7. Norman Short; 8. Rick Bishop; 9. Adam Jarrell; 10. Michael Roscoe; 11. Larry Crouse; 12. Scott Smith; 13. Craig Mullins; 14. Jim Wingo; 15. Scott Hulmes; 16. Ron Myers; 17. Dana Walker; 18. Duane Rust; 19. Glenn Reed; 20. Ricky Johnson; 21. Sparky White; 22. Jesse Hill. DNQ: Robert Dutton.
15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. LANDIS MUSSER; 2. Danny Martin; 3. Mike Stratton; 4. Joe Warren; 5. Tom Curtis; 6. Jon Callaway; 7. Herb Tunis; 8. Andy Hammond; 9. George Richardson; 10. Glenn Richards; 11. John Curtis; 12. Lloyd Adkins; 13. Porkchop Davis; 14. Rick Loveland; 15. Bobby Walls; 16. Nick Sapp.