H.J. BUNTING WINS 2ND CONSECUTIVE MODIFIED FEATURE - August 2, 2003
JON CALLAWAY WINS 4th MODIFIED LITE FEATURE OF SEASON. By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (8/2/03) - H.J. Bunting of Milford, Del. managed to beat Mother Nature and avoid a second lap pile-up that involved three-quarters of the field to power to his second consecutive Big Block Modified victory in the Pepsi 25-lap feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Jon Callaway of Harrington, Del. continued his bid to defend his Modified Lite championship by winning his fourth of the season in the Pepsi 15-lap main.
Gary Simpson got by Doug Rose and Glenn Reed to lead the first lap of the modified main. The caution was quickly out as Deron Rust came to a stop. On the restart, Rose got out of shape in the second turn and got hung into Craig Mullins who was trying to make the pass on the bottom side. The two spun collecting the rest of the field. In all, fourteen cars were involved. The restart saw only 11 cars take the green although several cars would return to action laps down.
Simpson continued to hold off Reed until Bunting took the second spot on lap four. The next lap, Bunting used the low groove coming off the second turn to move into the lead. At the halfway sign, Bunting had a large advantage over Simpson with Beau Wilkins climbing to third and Rick Bishop moving by Reed for fourth.
The race stayed green until Ellsey Conover came to a stop at the top of the fourth turn bringing out the caution on lap 18 and erasing Bunting's big lead. Bunting had no problems pulling away from Simpson on the restart as he drove to his second consecutive win in the J&M; Roofing & Building/O'Neal Bros. Home Center/Teo/Morrison.
Bunting was thankful that he was out in front of the second lap mishap when it happened. "Luckily I out was out in front of it and it got everything clear and out of the way. It was a good spot to be in." Simpson had his best finish of the season in second with Wilkins posting a career high third. Bishop and Norman Short rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Reed, Mullins, Rose, Robert Dutton and Jim McCallion. Mullins and Bunting won the heats.
Nick Sapp used the outside to move from third to first on the first lap of the Modified Lite feature. Danny Martin gave chase in second with Joe Warren running in third. Martin took the lead at the halfway point as Sapp started to fade with mechanical problems. The yellow was out at this point for debris on the speedway and Martin was sent to the pits after losing his back bumper.
Jon Callaway took control at this point with Warren and Mike Vammino battling for second. Landis Musser picked up the pace taking both Vammino and Warren to move into the second spot. Two late race cautions for spins by Porkchop Davis keep the field tightly bunched but Callaway was up for the challenge.
Mike Stratton took second with one lap to go but cold not catch Callaway who recorded his fourth win of the season in the Callaway Furniture/Bennie's Junction/LC3 car. Stratton settled for second with Warren, Vammino, and Glenn Richards rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were George Richardson, Andy Hammond, Lloyd Adkins, Musser, and Davis.
This Saturday night will feature the Big Block Modifieds, Late Models, Street Modifieds, and Modified Lites. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.
RESULTS: Pepsi 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. H.J. BUNTING; 2. Gary Simpson; 3. Beau Wilkins; 4. Rick Bishop; 5. Norman Short; 6. Glenn Reed; 7. Craig Mullins; 8. Doug Rose; 9. Robert Dutton; 10. Jim McCallion; 11. Ricky Johnson; 12. Dana Walker; 13. Scott Smith; 14. Ellsey Conover; 15. Sparky White; 16. Tim Millman; 17. Nick Anderson; 18. Deron Rust; DNS: Bobby Watkins; Adam Jarrell.
Pepsi 15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. JON CALLAWAY; 2. Mike Stratton; 3. Joe Warren; 4. Mike Vammino; 5. Glenn Richards; 6. George Richardson; 7. Andy Hammond; 8. Lloyd Adkins; 9. Landis Musser; 10. Porkchop Davis; 11. Bobby Walls; 12. Matt Hubbard; 13. Tom Curtis; 14. John Curtis; 15. Danny Martin; 16. Nick Sapp; DNS: Herb Tunis.