JIMMY HORTON PROFITS FROM DELAWARE WEATHER - June 21, 2003
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (6/21/03) - With rain once again blanketing tracks throughout the northeast, Jimmy Horton of Neshanic Station, N.J. headed south to the Delaware International Speedway on Saturday night. It was a wise choice as Horton, in the Jay James, J&J; Shop modified took advantage of a lap 19 restart to shoot by H.J. Bunting and lead the final five laps of the 25-lap feature. Horton became the fourth different winner in four events this season. Jon Callaway drove from last to first in the 15-lap Modified Lite feature for his second win of 2003.
Numerous invaders pushed the Big Block Modified car count on Saturday night to 33 on Saturday night. Bunting, Norman Short, Beau Wilkins won heats, while the consolation were taken by Jimmy Chester and Glenn Reed.
At the drop of the dream Bunting took control with Rick Bishop, Wilkins, Ricky Johnson, and Short swapping spots in the top five. Horton started in eighth but had cracked the top five when the first caution came out for Chester who turned around in turn four. On the restart Horton got by Johnson for fourth just as Dave Adams got around collecting Short, Bucky Kell, and Judd Mills.
Bunting continued to set the pace as Wilkins and Bishop exchanged second. The battle for second ended when Wilkins made contact with Bishop and spun collecting Bobby Watkins and Ted Taylor. Wilkins was able to continue but Watkins and Taylor received heavy damage in the crash.
Horton had now inherited the third spot and by lap 11 had taken second from Bishop. At the halfway sign the top five were Bunting, Horton, Bishop, Johnson, and Craig Mullins. Mullins came to a stop in turn four once again bringing out the caution. Cliff Foskey was now in fifth and Horton was continuing to pressure Bunting for the lead.
The final yellow flew on lap 18 when Steve Downs spun in the fourth turn. Horton got a good run off the turn on the restart and went around the outside of Bunting in the second turn. Horton opened a three-car length advantage over Bunting to take the checkered.
"I got a good run on H.J. coming off the turn on the restart," said Horton. "I came up a little short a couple of weeks ago here and didn't want that to happen again."
Bunting finished in second with Bishop, Foskey, and Johnson rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Gary Simpson, Chester, Short, Wilkins, and Reed.
In the companion 15-lap Modified Lite feature, Tom Curtis led lap one before tangling with Jon Callaway in a battle for the lead on lap two. Bobby Walls, III controlled the restart with Dale Hawkins in second. The yellow was out as Mike Hovatter got upside down in the second turn. Mike Stratton took second on the restart but lost the spot to Mike Vammino on lap six. At the halfway point, Stratton regained second behind Walls with Vammino, Hawkins, and Danny Martin running in the top five.
Callaway was on a mission running the top rim of the speedway. With three to go he was running in sixth. One lap later her had climbed by both Vammino and Hawkins for third and he took second from Stratton as the white flag waved. On the final turn, Callaway pulled even with Walls and edged him for the win by .07 seconds at the wire in the Bennie's Junction/Delmarva RV/Lightning. Stratton, Vammino, and Hawkins rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Landis Musser, Glenn Richaeds, Martin, Tom Curtis, and Nick Sapp. Stratton and Walls won the heats.
O'Neal Brothers Home Center and Hardware will sponsor this Saturday night. The United Racing Club Sprint Cars will be featured along with the four weekly divisions. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with warm ups at 7 p.m.
RESULTS: 25-Lap Modified feature: 1. JIMMY HORTON; 2. H.J. Bunting; 3. Rick Bishop; 4. Cliff Foskey; 5. Ricky Johnson; 6. Gary Simpson; 7. Jimmy Chester; 8. Norman Short; 9. Beau Wilkins; 10. Glenn Reed; 11. Adam Jarrell; 12. Mike Covey; 13. Dave Adams; 14. Duane Rust; 15. Robert Dutton; 16. Doug Beach; 17. Steve Downs; 18. Craig Mullins; 19. Deron Rust; 20. Judd Mills; 21. Bobby Watkins; 22. Ted Taylor; 23. Bucky Kell. DNQ: Greg Humlhanz; Tim Millman, Mark Forte; Doug Rose; Don Hallowell; Dana Walker; Ellsey Conover; Scott Smith; Jamie Mills, Bud Hayes.
15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. JON CALLAWAY; 2. Bobby Walls; 3. Mike Stratton; 4. Mike Vammino; 5. Dale Hawkins; 6. Landis Musser; 7. Glenn Richards; 8. Danny Martin; 9. Tom Curtis; 10. Nick Sapp; 11. John Curtis; 12. Andy Hammond; 13. Herb Tunis; 14. Matt Hubbard; 15. Joe Warren; 16. Jimmy Ellis; 17. Mike Hovatter; 18. George Richardson; DNS: David Dill.