HORTON & HILL SHARE MID-WEEK DIAMOND STATE 50'S - August 14, 2002
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (8/14/02) - Jimmy Horton of Neshanic Station, N.J. and David Hill of Trappe, Md. both gambled and won in Wednesday night's Diamond State 50's at the Delaware International Speedway. Both Horton in the Big Block Modifieds and Hill in the Late Models put up a $100 gamblers fee that increased each of their first place winnings from $3000 to $5000 dollars! Duke Walsen of Milford, Del. celebrated his birthday by recording his first career win in the 10-lap Little Lincoln Vintage feature.
Making his first appearance of the season, Horton defended his Diamond State 50 victory of a year ago after taking the lead from Kyle Strickler on lap eight and dominating the remainder of the race. Hill took the lead from Jamie Eichholz on lap three of the Late Model 50-lapper and spent the remainder of the race holding off the challenges of Eddie Pettyjohn.
Jamie Mills, Horton, and Strickler won the heats for the 31 Modifieds with David Pettyjohn taking the consolation. Strickler, coming off a win the Saturday night prior, drew the pole starting position but was immediately challenged by Horton from second. Howard Mullins and Rick Bishop tangled before one lap was complete to bring out the yellow. The field settled into some solid green flag racing on the restart with Mills, Kenny Brightbill, and Craig Mullins running in third through fifth.
The leader started to encounter traffic by lap seven and one lap later, Horton moved by Strickler for the lead. Brightbill got by Mills for third on lap nine and three laps later took second from Strickler. The second caution was out on lap 18 when Chad Marvel slowed. Horton was able to sprint away from Brightbill on the restart as Mullins got by Mills for fourth. Mullins climbed to the third spot just as the yellow flew for a tangle between Mike Covey and Ricky Johnson.
At the halfway sign the top five were Horton, Brightbill, Mullins, Mills and Jimmy Chester. A long stretch of green allowed Horton to once again open a big advantage but once more the caution would fly as Robert Dutton rolled to a stop. Mills and Strickler battled for the fourth spot on the restart with Mills getting the advantage. The yellow was out for a final time with just three laps to go as David Pettyjohn came to a stop.
Horton made no mistakes in the final laps but Brightbill blew a tire coming off the second turn on the final lap. Horton, in the Bill Hewlett/Miles Concrete/Olsen/Feil took the checkered with Mullins 2.003 seconds back in second. Mills and Strickler finished in the third and fourth spots as Brightbill limped across the finish line in fifth. Sixth through tenth were Covey, Johnson, Adam Jarrell, Doug Beach, and Darren Wroten.
The action was hot from the drop of the green in the Late Model 50-lap main. Jamie Eichholz headed a three-car battle with David Hill and Eddie Pettyjohn. Hill took the lead for lap four with Pettyjohn following into second. Pettyjohn nosed out front just as the caution flew for Mike Wharton which put Hill back on top. The yellow was out again on the next lap as invader Scott Cross spun. The three-car battle continued on the restart until lap nine when Cross brought out the yellow for a second time. On the restart, Dave Hertz moved by Dale Bounds for fourth and a lap later veteran Hal Browning pulled into the top five. Cautions for Jason Dean and Jim Bernheisel kept the field tightly bunched. Pettyjohn shot on top for a second time on lap 18 but again Hill was saved by a caution.
Hill opened a slight advantage on the restart with Pettyjohn, Eichholz, Hertz, and Browning following in the top five at the halfway point. With Hill in control, Pettyjohn and Eichholz continued to battle side-by-side. The final yellow came out on lap 36 when the roof blew off of Lou Johnson's car, narrowly missing the flagman. Hertz wrestled third from Eichholz on the restart but could not close on either Pettyjohn or Hill. Hill crossed under the checkered just 1.161 seconds ahead of Pettyjohn with Hertz and Eichholz third and fourth. "Topless" Lou Johnson took fifth on the final lap. It was Hill's sixth win of the season in the Hertrich Pontiac/Dorchester Lumber/Rocket/Draime and his third straight win.Rounding out the top ten were Browning, Cross, Bobby Dryden, Ray Davis, Jr., and Tim Booth. Eichholz and Hill won the heats.
Randy Clark led the first three laps of the Little Lincoln Vintage feature before Duke Walsen marched by Virgil Davis, John Scott, Hank Thompson, and Clark to lead lap four. Once out front, Walsen, in the Budweiser '57 Chevy would not make any mistakes as he drove to his first win of his career. Scott, Joey Tracey, Clark and Thompson rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Tony Daisey, Dominic Mallory, Matt Tipton, Davis, and Bill Brittingham.
RESULTS: Diamond State Modified 50 - 1. JIMMY HORTON; 2. Craig Mullins; 3. Jamie Mills, 4. Kyle Strickler; 5. Kenny Brightbill; 6. Mike Covey; 7. Ricky Johnson; 8. Adam Jarrell; 9. Doug Beach; 10. Darren Wroten; 11. Robert Dutton; 12. Jimmy Chester; 13. Greg Coverdale; 14. David Pettyjohn; 15. Gary Simpson; 16. Keith Hoffman; 17. Rick Laubach; 18. Mike Isles; 19. Chad Marvel; 20. Steve Downs; 21. Howard Mullins; 22. Rick Bishop; 23. Ted Taylor; 24. H.J. Bunting; DNQ: Ellsey Conover; Andy Best; Scott Vangorder; Howard O'Neal; Norman Short; Deron Rust.
Diamond State Late Model 50 - 1. DAVID HILL; 2. Eddie Pettyjohn; 3. Dave Hertz; 4. Jamie Eichholz; 5. Lou Johnson; 6. Hal Browning; 7. Scott Cross; 8. Bobby Dryden; 9. Ray Davis, Jr.; 10. Tim Booth; 11. Mike Wharton; 12. Tim Murphy; 13. Kirk Confair; 14. Jim Bernheisel; 15. Dale Bounds; 16. Mike Christopher; 17. Jeson Dean; 18. Dean Heck; 19. Kenny Pettyjohn; DNS: Shawn Ennis.