RICK BISHOP GETS FIRST WIN OF SEASON IN MODIFIEDS - July 19, 2003
JOE WARREN COLLECTS MODIFIED LITES VICTORY...By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (7/20/03) – Defending Big Block Modified point champion, Rick Bishop of Greensboro, Md. finally got the monkey off his back as he captured the 25-lap Scott’s Furniture feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Bishop captured his heat race then served notice on the first lap by charging from his sixth starting spot to the front and leading wire-to-wire. In the companion 15-lap Scott’s Furniture Modified Lite main, Joe Warren of Georgetown, Del. put together his best ever performance as he started on the pole and led all the way to the checkered.
Bishop charged to the front on the first lap with Glenn Reed in second. The yellow was out quickly when Gary Simpson, Doug Beach, and Robert Dutton tangled in the second turn. Norman Short got by Reed for second on the restart with Ricky Johnson climbing into third. Bishop’s crew had to have some concerns as the car started to puff smoke by lap 10.
At the halfway sign the top five were Bishop and Short with Johnson and H.J. Bunting battling for third and Craig Mullins in fifth. The second yellow flew at this point as Doug Rose stopped in the third turn. The top five remained consistent on the restart. Beach slowed on lap 21 and the yellow was out again. Bishop controlled the restart but it was Dana Walker coming to a stop regrouping the field once again.
On the final green, Bishop pulled away with Bunting taking third from Johnson and Mullins battling Beau Wilkins for fifth. Bishop, in the Clearview Farms/Jeff Layton’s Matco Tools/Teo took the checkered .857 seconds ahead of Short in second.
"After last week everybody was down," said Bishop. "We concentrated a little more on things this week and realized that we are out here for fun. It's not a stress builder - our nine to five jobs are that. This here is supposed to be for fun." Bunting, Johnson, and Mullins rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Wilkins, Deron Rust, Adam Jarrell, Reed, and Tim Millman.
Reed, Bishop, and Bunting won the heats with Wilkins winning the consolation.
Former motorcycle drag race, Joe Warren has been steadily improving in the Modified Lites. Saturday night Warren started on the pole in the Big Fish Grill/K&L; Sales/Fab Shop/Pro and was chased by the rest of the field to the checkered flag. Herb Tunis and Nick Sapp gave chase for the first half which went caution free with Mike Stratton and Tom Curtis running in fourth and fifth.
Stratton got by Sapp for third as the one and only caution of the event came out for Tom Curtis on lap ten. Stratton got by Tunis for second and closed to within half a second at the checkered flag. Warren celebrated his first career win with Stratton, Tunis, Sapp, and Jon Callaway in the top five. Sixth through tenth were Tom Curtis, Landis Musser, Matt Hubbard, Bobby Walls, and Mike Vammino.
The top finishers in both divisions received cash bonuses from the sponsor, Scott’s Furniture. This Saturday night the Little Lincoln Vintage Cars will join the four weekly divisions. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.
RESULTS: 25-Lap Scott’s Furniture Modified Feature: 1. RICK BISHOP; 2. Norman Short; 3. H.J. Bunting; 4. Ricky Johnson; 5. Craig Mullins; 6. Beau Wilkins; 7. Deron Rust; 8. Adam Jarrell; 9. Glenn Reed; 10. Tim Millman; 11. Ellsey Conover; 12. Judd Mills; 13. Bobby Watkins; 14. Nick Anderson; 15. Jim McCallion; 16. Cliff Foskey; 17. Gary Simpson; 18. Doug Beach; 19. Dana Walker; 20. Doug Rose; 21. Sparky White; 22. Robert Dutton. DNS: Ron Myers; Steve Downs.
15-lap Scott’s Furniture Street Modified Feature: 1. KELLY PUTZ; 2. Mike Williams; 3. Rick Eskridge; 4. David Nailor; 5. Mark Williams; 6. Kerry King; 7. Jason Cahall; 8. Steve Bunting; 9. Chris Sockriter; 10. Richard White, Jr.; 11. Vic Thomas; 12. Rob Massey; 13. Mike Wilson; 14. Kenny Pearson; 15. Ripp Johnson; 16. Jason Nibblet; 17. Eric Reed.