BUNTING GETS SEASON'S FIRST IN MODIFIED MAIN - July 26, 2003

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (7/26/03) - A new engine made all the difference on Saturday night as H.J. Bunting of Milford, Del. ran and hid from the field to post his first win of the season at the Delaware International Speedway. Bunting lapped all but the top nine cars as the non-stop 25-lap feature was run in eight minutes and forty-eight seconds. Danny Martin of Townsend, Del. turned the opportunity to drive for the injured Dale Hawkins into a win as he captured the 15-lap Modified Lite feature.

H.J Bunting started in the third spot but immediately to the top groove and moved by Deron Rust and Adam Jarrell to lead the first lap of the Modified feature. Beau Wilkins moved into the third spot with Tim Millman following into fourth by lap three.

As Bunting pulled away from the field Millman was putting in one of his best performances and took third from Wilkins on lap six as Rick Bishop settled into the top five. At the halfway sign Bunting was out front by nine and a half seconds followed by Jarrell, Millman, Bishop, and Wilkins.

Bunting was cutting through traffic having more than one close call as he picked his way through. Bishop got by Millman for second on lap 16 as Craig Mullins battled for fourth with Wilkins.

Bunting, in the J&M; Roofing/O'Neal Bros. Home Center/Teo took the win 8.14 seconds ahead of Bishop in second. "We put a fresh motor in this week and it made all the difference in the world," said Bunting. "We got the car working a little bit better."

Bishop finished in the second spot with Millman, Mullins, and Wilkins rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Norman Short, Rust, Robert Dutton, Gary Simpson, and Sparky White. Wilkins and Mullins won the heats.

Danny Martin took control from the point in the 15-lap Modified Lite feature. The yellow was out on lap one as last week's winner, Joe Warren spun. Herb Tunis turned up the heat and edged out front on lap four. Martin regained the top spot just before the halfway sign and was followed by Tunis, Glenn Richards, Jon Callaway, and Bobby Walls in the top five at the crossed flags.

Martin got the edge in the seesaw battle on lap nine but Martin built up the momentum and took the lead for good on lap 11 as Tunis started to fade. Callaway was now in the second spot but Martin would make no mistakes and took the win in the Hawkins Motorsports car. Callaway, Mike Stratton, Tom Curtis, and Warren rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mike Vammino, Walls, Matt Hubbard, George Richardson, and Richards. Tunis and Callaway won the heats.

This Saturday night the Advanced Auto Parts United Racing Club Tour returns along with the four weekly divisions. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.

RESULTS: 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. H.J. BUNTING; 2. Rick Bishop; 3. Tim Millman; 4. Craig Mullins; 5. Beau Wilkins; 6. Norman Short; 7. Deron Rust; 8. Robert Dutton; 9. Gary Simpson; 10. Sparky White; 11. Bobby Watkins; 12. Ricky Johnson; 13. Glenn Reed; 14. Dana Walker; 15. Nick Anderson; 16. Ellsey Conover; 17. Judd Mills; 18. Adam Jarrell; 19. Jesse Hill; 20. Dennis Edwards.

15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. DANNY MARTIN; 2. Jon Callaway; 3. Mike Stratton; 4. Tom Curtis; 5. Joe Warren; 6. Mike Vammino; 7. Bobby Walls; 8. Matt Hubbard; 9. George Richardson; 10. Glenn Richards; 11. Herb Tunis; 12. Andy Hammond; 13. Nick Sapp; 14. John Curtis; 15. Virgil Davis; 16. Landis Musser.