DERON RUST ENDS TWO YEAR DROUGHT IN MODIFIED WIN - June 28, 2003
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (6/28/03) - Deron Rust of Georgetown, Del. debuted his new Speed Palace/Woods Contracting/Bella Capri Restaurant Big Block Modified Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway and drove it to his first victory in more than two years in the 25-lap O'Neal Brothers Hardware & Home Center main. It was not an easy win as he lost the lead to Ricky Johnson coming to the white flag but regained it in the first turn of the final lap to go on to the checkered. Bobby Walls, III of Ridgely, Md. took the lead from Glenn Richards with two laps to go to post his first win of the season in the Modified Lite 15-lap feature.
The first half of the modified feature was a crash fest with eight multi-car crashes in the first nine laps. The most serious of the tangles occurred when Norman Short got turned sideways in front of the pack on a lap one restart. The resulting chain reaction sent Mike Covey flipping down the front straight with Adam Jarrell, Steve Downs, Glenn Reed and Judd Mills all involved. Covey walked away from the crash but was transported to the hospital complaining of pain in his rib area.
Ted Taylor led the first three laps before Deron Rust moved on top when Taylor got around collecting Duane Rust. H.J. Bunting gave chase through lap seven before tangling with Craig Mullins and spinning. Ricky Johnson was the next driver to step up and at the halfway point the top five were Deron Rust, Johnson, Robert Dutton, Norman Short, and Beau Wilkins.
The race settled down in the second half with Johnson glued to Rust's back bumper while Dutton cruised in third and Wilkins got by Short for fourth. The final yellow was out on lap 23 when Larry Crouse spun to a stop. On the restart, Johnson went to work on Rust taking the lead coming to the white flag. Rust pulled even in the first turn and there was contact between the two with Johnson getting high in the second turn.
Rust went on to the win with Dutton and Rick Bishop getting under Johnson for second and third. Johnson and Short rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Don Hallowell, Reed, Duane Rust, Bunting, and Mullins. Taylor, Deron Rust, and Cliff Foskey won the heats with Bishop taking the consolation. Rust became the fifth different winner in five events at the speedway this season.
Glenn Richards looked impressive from the drop of the green in the Modified Lite feature. Richards pulled away from the field while Tom Curtis moved by John Curtis for second. Mike Stratton climbed into the second spot by lap five with Bobby Walls following into third. Walls took second from Stratton on the next lap and at the halfway sign the top five were Richards, Walls, Stratton, Jon Callaway, and Tom Curtis.
Richards' lead was erased on lap 11 when Mike Vammino came to a stop bringing out the yellow. On the restart Walls went to work on the leader as Callaway pulled into third. Walls took the lead with two laps to go as Richards, Callaway, and Stratton battled for second. Walls, in the Snappy's Grill/Durham Racing/Pro/Suzuki went on to the checkered. Callaway got by Richards for second on the final lap with Richards finishing a career best in third. Danny Martin came on strong in the closing laps to finish in fourth with Tom Curtis rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Nick Sapp, Joe Warren, Andy Hammond, Herb Tunis, and Jason Musser.
Winners in both divisions were presented with DeWalt power tools courtesy of O'Neal Brothers.
This Saturday night the speedway will present a giant firework display during intermission. The Big Block Modifieds, Late Models, Street Modifieds, and Modifieds Lites will all be in competition. Coming Wednesday night, July 9th will be the exciting Camp Barnes Benefit race.
RESULTS: 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. DERON RUST; 2. Robert Dutton; 3. Rick Bishop; 4. Ricky Johnson; 5. Norman Short; 6. Don Hallowell; 7. Glenn Reed; 8. Deron Rust; 9. H.J. Bunting; 10. Craig Mullins; 11. Doug Beach; 12. Nick Anderson; 13. Cliff Foskey; 14. Beau Wilkins; 15. Larry Crouse; 16. Gary Simpson; 17. Ted Taylor; 18. Bobby Watkins; 19. Mike Covey; 20. Steve Downs; 21. Judd Mills, 22. Adam Jarrell; DNS: Dana Walker; DNQ: Jesse Hill; Tim Millman, Ellsey Conover.
15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. BOBBY WALLS, III; 2. Jon Callaway; 3. Glenn Richards; 4. Danny Martin; 5. Tom Curtis; 6. Nick Sapp; 7. Joe Warren; 8. Andy Hammond; 9. Herb Tunis; 10. Jason Musser; 11. John Curtis; 12. Dale Hawkins; 13. Mike Stratton; 14. Mike Vammino; 15. George Richardson; 16. Mike Hovatter.