SIMPSON ENDS FOUR YEAR DROUGHT - September 6, 2003

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (9/6/03) – Gary Simpson of Denton, Md. completed his comeback in 2003 by winning the 25-Lap Hertrich Pontiac/Buick/GMC Big Block Modified Feature Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Simpson took the lead from Cliff Foskey late in the race and drove to his first win in four years. In the companion Modified Lite feature, third generation driver, Nick Sapp of Milford, Del. captured his first career win in the division and did so in his rookie year.

Simpson and Beau Wilkins started the night by capturing the Modified heats. Foskey started open the pole and quickly established himself as the car to beat. Deron Rust kept within striking distance in second with Simpson moving by Wilkins for third on lap two. Craig Mullins dropped Tim Millman from fifth as the field clicked off the laps.

The order remained the same until lap eight when H.J Bunting got out of shape and Ricky Johnson spun to miss him bringing out the first yellow. On the restart, Simpson fought his way by Rust for second behind Foskey. Rust got the spot back one lap later just before a multi-car tangle saw Johnson flipping off the first turn. Johnson exited the car quickly and was not injured.

At the halfway point Foskey was holding off the challenges of Simpson with Mullins getting by Wilkins for third and Rust dropping to fifth. Simpson grabbed the lead on lap 15 and Mullins moved in to challenge Foskey for second. Mullins took the second spot on lap 19 with Wilkins following into third one lap later. The final yellow was out on that lap when Norman Short came to a stop.

Mullins tried the low groove on the restart but Simpson never abandoned his high groove and drove his Greensboro Homes/Queen Anne’s Tractor/Teo to the checkered. The margin of victory was just .3 seconds with Mullins in second. Wilkins finished in the third spot with Foskey fourth and Tim Millman rounding out the top five.

"We needed this tonight," said Simpson. "We started off good then had a bad middle of the season then we have been running good lately. We needed just needed at win. This is the first win we have had in four years."

In the 15-lap Modified Lite feature, Nick Sapp moved by George Richardson for the lead but the yellow was out as Craig Mullins, making his first Modified Lite start, barrel rolled the Jimmy Ellis car in the second turn. Mullins was not injured in the crash. Sapp repeated his pass on the restart but the yellow was out again on lap two when Herb Tunis got over the wheel of Richardson and rolled six and a half times off the third turn. Tunis was not injured in the violent crash.

The rest of the race would run caution free and Sapp would lead every lap. Mike Stratton would close to within a car length but Sapp remained in the high groove and made no mistakes to take his first career win in the Taylor & Messick/Pro Chassis House Car. Stratton finished .5 second back in second with Danny Martin, Landis Musser, and Tom Curtis rounding out the top five. Bobby Walls and Stratton won the heats.

This Saturday night a regular point show has been added to the schedule. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.

RESULTS: Hertrich Pontiac 25-Lap Modified 1. GARY SIMPSON; 2. Craig Mullins; 3. Beau Wilkins; 4. Cliff Foskey; 5. Tim Millman; 6. Sparky White; 7. Larry Crouse; 8. Rick Bishop; 9. Bobby Watkins; 10. Scott Smith; 11. Robert Dutton; 12. Mike Roscoe; 13. Dana Walker; 14. Larry Crouse; 15. Jesse Hill; 16. Craig Ott; 17. Norman Short; 18. Deron Rust; 19. Glenn Reed; 20. Ricky Johnson; DNS: Adam Jarrell; Duane Rust;

Hertrich Pontiac 15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. NICK SAPP; 2. Mike Stratton; 3. Danny Martin; 4. Landis Musser; 5. Tom Curtis; 6. Mike Vammino; 7. Joe Warren; 8. Jon Callaway; 9. Glenn Richards; 10. George Richardson; 11. Porkchop Davis; 12. Bobby Walls; 13. Herb Tunis; 14. Craig Mullins; 15. John Curtis; 16. Mike Hovatter; DNS: Steve White.