KEVIN HIRTHLER WINS BIG IN DELAWARE SMALL BLOCK'S - November 2, 2002
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (11/02/02) - Twenty-two year old Kevin Hirthler of Perkiomenville, Pa, took a gamble and won big in Saturday's Delaware State Dirt Track Championship at the Delaware International Speedway. Hirthler, who was winless on the season, paid the $100 gamblers fee that would double the winners share of the 50-lap Small Block Championship from $2000 to $4000. The gamble paid off big as Hirthler won his heat, drew the pole starting spot, and led 48 of the 50 laps to collect another $1060 in lap money making his first win of 2002 worth $5060! Erik McKinney of Dover, Del. had a different sort of luck as he was involved in a first lap heat crash, qualified through the consolation, then came from the back to win the Team USA 25-lap Modified Lite Championship.
"We had a couple of seconds this season but this was our first win," said Hirthler as he climbed from his Green Lane/Tak-Ful Builders/Olsen in victory lane. Hirthler took control from the pole at the drop of the green. Doug Hoffman's chances to defend his title in the race ended with just one lap in as he suffered suspension damage in turn four. Jamie Mills in the Will Brown No. 1 challenged from the start with John Willman, Kyle Strickler, and H.J. Bunting running in the top five.
Willman's day ended early with a blown engine on lap four bringing out the yellow. On the restart Chuck Shutz got around and the caution was out for a third time. Jimmy Horton in the Grosso No. 24 climbed from fifth to third on the restart. The yellow was out for a fourth time on lap seven when Judd Mills, making his small block debut, got turned around.
The field settled into some solid green flag racing with Hirthler being hounded by Jamie Mills as Wade Hendrickson entered the top five. The fifth caution was not until lap 17 when Robert Dutton slowed. Under the yellow Bunting headed to the pits with problems. Back under the green a great battle was raging just inside the top ten between Deron Rust, Danny Johnson, and Shawn Reimert. Rust and Johnson got together and Reimert shot by both for seventh.
At the halfway sign the top five were Hirthler, Jamie Mills, Horton, Ray Swinehart, and Hendrickson. Hirthler got a little high in traffic and Mills shot by to lead lap 28. Mills' fate quickly turned around as he and Mike Covey brushed wheels coming down the front straight. Covey's car jumped in the air and landed on the side rails of Mills' car. The two cars locked together and slid off the first turn bringing out the yellow.
Hirthler good fortune continued as Horton had shot by him as he tried to avoid the tangle. Under the yellow the scoring went back to the last completed lap and Hirthler was once again on top. From that point on he would make no mistakes. The next twelve laps were all green with Horton chasing Hirthler and Swinehart running in third. The final yellow of the event flew on lap 43 as Dave Gerhart came to a stop.
Hirthler controlled the final laps and went on to his first Delaware checkered crossing the line 1.301 seconds ahead of Horton. Hirthler's fastest lap of the day came on lap 48 when he turned a 19.633. Time of the race was 46:18. Horton, Swinehart, Hendrickson, and Rick Shaffer rounded out the top five. Danny Johnson finished in sixth after having to start in the rear for staging late. Mike Gular, Reimert, Kenny Brightbill, and Deron Rust rounded out the top ten. Heats for the 51 cars were won by Jamie Mills, Willman, Johnson, Strickler, Hirthler, and Bunting. Consolations were won by Rick Laubach, Tom Hager, Barry Readinger, and Brightbill.
In the companion Team USA 25-lap main, Nick Hendricks jumped out to the early lead. The caution was out on lap two when track champion, Jon Callaway and Steve Dutton tangled. On the restart, Steve White got by Hendricks to lead lap four. Erik McKinney was rocketing to the front after starting in 19th and was running second by lap seven. McKinney took the lead coming to the halfway sign and was followed in the top five by White, Hendricks, Bobby Walls, III, and Landis Musser.
The second caution didn't fly until lap 20 when John Curtis got around. On the restart Lucky Kohland went off the first turn and the yellow was quickly out again. McKinney made no mistakes in the final laps and brought his 2002 Bandit home to the win. White and Hendricks crossed the finish in second and third but failed the post race technical inspection due to excessive compression. Musser was credited with second with Ron Riccio, David Dill, and Danny Martin rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Herb Tunis, James Marshall, Hal Merrick, Jeremy Duncan, and Dana Walker. Hendricks, White, and Musser won the heats with McKinney taking the consolation.
RESULTS: 50-LAP SMALL BLOCK CHAMPIONSHIP 1. KEVIN HIRTHLER; 2. Jimmy Horton; 3. Ray Swinehart; 4. Wade Hendrickson; 5. Rick Shaffer; 6. Danny Johnson; 7. Mike Gujlar; 8. Shawn Reimert; 9. Kenny Brightbill; 10. Deron Rust; 11. Tom Hager; 12. Rick Laubach; 13. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 14. Ryan Watt; 15. Barry Readinger; 16. Scott VanGorder; 17. Jim Stong; 18. Mike Covey; 19. Thomas Soiderich; 20. Kyle Strickler; 21. Dave Gerhart; 22. Judd Mills; 23. Robert Dutton; 24. Jamie Mills; 25. H.J. Bunting; 26. Danny Radd; 27. Craig VonDohren; 28. Chuck Schutz; 29. John Willman; 30. Doug Hoffman. DNQ: Ryan Godown; Kenny Roth; C.J. Schirmer; Ellsey Conover; J.R. Crouse; Dave Wiszniewski; Rich Scagliotta; Benn Hatt; Billy Briggs; Jimmy Chester; Rodney Cordrey; Hal Browning; Norman Short; Bill Devine; Scott Hulmes; Ron Roberts, Jr.; Rich Kuiken; Phillip McCloughan; Terry Chaney; Lenny Leibold, Jr.
Team USA 25-Lap: 1. ERIK MCKINNEY; 2. Landis Musser; 3. Ron Riccio; 4. David Dill; 5. Danny Martin; 6. Herb Tunis; 7. James Marshall; 8. Hal Merrick; 9. Jeremy Duncan; 10. Dana Walker; 11. Ryan Charland; 12. Mark Heim; 13. Dale Hawkins; 14. Steve Dutton; 15. Bob Charland; 16. Lucky Kohland; 17. Jon Callaway; 18. John Curtis; 19. Bobby Walls, III; 20. John Witkowski; 21. Ray Charland; DQ. Steve White; Nick Hendricks; DNS. Mike Vammino. DNQ. Joe Warren; George Richardson; Tim White; Matt Hubbard.