MULLINS HOLDS OFF HORTON IN MODIFIED THRILLER - May 24, 2003

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (5/24/03) – Former two-time champion, Craig Mullins of Bridgeville, Del. held off the late race challenges of invader, Jimmy Horton, to win the 25-lap Big Block Modified feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Defending point champion, Jon Callaway, debuted his new Lightning Chassis and promptly won both his qualifying heat and the 15-lap Modified Lite feature.

Mullins started in the third starting spot but at the drop of the green he moved by both Adam Jarrell and Tim Millman to grab the lead on lap one. Mullins immediately set sail away from the pack. The yellow was out on lap three when Norman Short got around in the fourth turn and was tagged by Rick Bishop. Short initially refused treatment but later was transported to the hospital complaining of shortness of breath.

Lap four got in just before the yellow flew for a second time when Cliff Foskey came to a stop. Attention was already starting to turn to Horton who had used the bottom groove to move from 14th to seventh in four short laps. Mullins again powered away from the field as Adam Jarrell took second from Ted Taylor. Gary Simpson was on the move passing both Millman and Taylor for third and the charging Horton followed into fourth. Horton took third from Simpson on lap nine and two laps later dropped Jarrell from second.

At the halfway sign the top five were Mullins, Horton, Simpson, H.J. Bunting, and Jarrell. Mullins had open more than a five second advantage over the rest of the field but was now encountering heavy lapped traffic. Horton quickly erased the advantage and began playing a cat and mouse game in traffic with the leader.

Mullins made a daring move going into the first turn using the outside to get around a lapped car. The move worked as Horton was trapped behind the car allowing Mullins some breathing room. The final yellow was out on lap 20 when Ryan Watt slowed and Bobby Watkins came to a stop.

The fans were pumped for the five lap showdown and they were not disappointed. Mullins drifted high coming off the fourth turn and Horton edged ahead by a bumper with two laps to go. Mullins stayed to the high side and regained the lead coming off of turn two. Horton would make one final bid for the win going into the third turn on the final lap but pushed high as Mullins streaked to the checkered flag.

“I didn’t know where anyone was – I was just worried about the traffic,” said Mullins about the early laps. “When I realized he (Horton) was there, I started running a little harder. I still had a little left if I needed it.” It was his first win of the season and his first win driving the Gene’s Auto Sales/Subway/Speed Palace car.

Horton finished .697 seconds back in second with Gary Simpson keeping his run of top five finishes intact by finishing in third. Bunting and Jarrell rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mike Isles, Dave Adams, Millman, Beau Wilkins, and Deron Rust. Millman, Simpson, and Mullins won the heats for the 31 cars with Adams and Watt winning the consolations.

Mike Stratton grabbed the lead from Dale Hawkins at the start of the Modified Lite feature. Jon Callaway worked his way into second by lap three. Callaway went to the high groove and took the lead on lap six. At the halfway sign the top five were Callaway, Stratton, Bobby Walls, Hawkins, and Herb Tunis.

Walls went off the top of turn four to bring out the yellow with five to go. Callaway continued to hold off Stratton as Tunis moved into third. Callaway in the Bennie’s Junction/Callaway Furniture/Lightning 4, crossed the checkered with a nine-tenth of a second advantage over Stratton. Tunis , Walls, and Hawkins rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mike Vammino, Landis Musser, George Richardson, Nick Sapp, and Mike Hovatter. Callaway and Walls won the heats.

This Saturday will be Scott’s Furniture Night featuring the first appearance of the Untied Racing Club Sprints. Gates open at 4: 30 with hot laps at 7 p.m.

RESULTS: 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. CRAIG MULLINS; 2. Jimmy Horton; 3. Gary Simpson; 4. H.J. Bunting; 5. Adam Jarrell; 6. Mike Iles; 7. Dave Adams; 8. Tim Millman; 9. Beau Wilkins; 10. Deron Rust; 11. Ted Taylor; 12. Ricky Johnson; 13. Glenn Reed; 14. Troy Ale; 15. Mike Covey; 16. Robert Dutton; 17. Duane Rust; 18. Ryan Watt; 19. Bobby Watkins; 20 Doug Rose; 21. Cliff Foskey; 22. Norman Short; 23. Rick Bishop. DNQ: Kyle Strickler; Judd Mills; John Keller; Doug Beach; Scott VanGorder; Don Hallowell; Ellzey Conover; Dana Walker; Steve Downs.

15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. JON CALLAWAY; 2. Mike Stratton; 3. Herb Tunis; 4. Bobby Walls; 5. Dale Hawkins; 6. Mike Vammino; 7. Landis Musser; 8. George Richardson; 9. Nick Sapp; 10. Mike Hovatter; 11. John Curtis; 12. Tom Curtis.