BUNTING TAKES LEAD ON FINAL LAP FOR MODIFIED WIN - August 24, 2002
BOBBY WALLS, III CAPTURES MODIFIED LITE FEATURE
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (8/24/02) – H.J. Bunting of Milford, Del. ended a 20 lap battle with Kyle Strickler by taking the lead coming to the white flag and driving to his fifth checkered of the season in the 25-lap Big Block Modified feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Bobby Walls, III of Ridgely, Md. took command of the 15-lap Modified Lite feature just before the halfway point and drove to his fourth win of 2002. Jim Miller of Baltimore, Md. captured the 10-lap Little Lincoln Vintage feature for his first win of the year.
The Modified feature got off to a scary start when something apparently broke on Jamie Mills’ car at the drop of the green. The car shot right coming off the fourth turn collecting Craig Mullins and slamming head-on into the wall. Deron Rust hit the pair with Glenn Reed driving under Rust and Rust flipping upside down. Sparky White was also involved. There were no injuries but all five cars were done for the night. On the restart Dave Simmons and Steve Downs tangled ending the night for Downs. The third attempt saw Simmons and Gary Simpson getting together and Simmons was unable to continue.
Amazingly when the first lap got into the books the race would run non-stop for the entire 25-lap distance. Adam Jarrell held off the challenges of Kyle Strickler for the first two laps before Strickler moved on top for lap three. H.J. Bunting charged from sixth into second on lap four and the battle was on. While Bunting dueled with Strickler for the lead Rick Bishop challenged Jarrell for third.
`At the halfway sign the top five were Strickler, Bunting, Bishop, Jarrell, and Ricky Johnson. The lead challenge continued through the second half as Strickler maintained the faster high line while Bunting pulled even in the turns on the bottom. Johnson got by Jarrell for fourth with five to go.
Coming to the white flag Strickler made a bobble and Bunting pulled even in turn four. Bunting edged ahead going into the first turn and held on for the final lap to take the win in the J&M; Roofing/Sullivan’s Landscaping/Speed Palace/Bunting by a car length over Strickler. Bishop finished in the third spot with Johnson fourth and Robert Dutton taking fifth on the final lap. Sixth through tenth were Jarrell, Andy Best, Duane Rust, Simpson, and Scott Smith. Heats were won by Mills, Jarrell, and Strickler with White taking the consolation.
Erik McKinney set the early pace in the Modified Lite feature as Bobby Walls, III and Mike Vammino diced for second. Herb Tunis worked by Steve White for third but White would spin to bring out the first yellow on lap six just as Walls took the lead. At the halfway sign the top five were Walls, McKinney, Vammino, Tunis and Dana Walker.
Vammino worked into the second spot just before the second and final yellow flew for Dale Hawkins. Vammino mounted a challenge on Walls for the lead on the restart with Tunis taking third. Walls was up for the challenge and held off Vammino to take the checkered by 0.640 seconds in the Hill’s Electric/Pro/Suzuki. Tunis finished 1.08 seconds back in third with Walker and Jon Callaway rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Landis Musser, Mike Stratton, Lucky Kohland, McKinney, and Joe Warren. McKinney and Tunis won the heats.
Pat McNeil led the first lap of the Little Lincoln Vintage feature before John Scott moved on top. Scott held the lead through the halfway point with Jim Miller taking the lead on lap seven. Joe Tracey followed into second and challenged to the finish but it was Miller, in the Jim’s Racing Tires ’57 Chevy getting the win. Tracey, Tony Daisey, McNeil and Randy Clark rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Dominic Mallory, Bill Brittingham, Albert Mitchell, Bobby Watkins, and Scott. Donald Robinson, Jr., Herman Powell, Porkchop Davis, Matt Tipton, Duke Walsen, and Hank Thompson rounded out the field.
This Saturday night the United Racing Club Sprint Cars join the Modifieds, Late Models, Street Modifieds, and Modified Lites for a big five division program. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m.
RESULTS: 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. H.J. BUNTING; 2. Kyle Strickler; 3. Rick Bishop; 4. Ricky Johnson; 5. Robert Dutton; 6. Adam Jarrell; 7. Andy Best; 8. Duane Rust; 9. Gary Simpson; 10. Scott Smith; 11. Doug Beach; 12. Dave Simmons; 13. Steve Downs; 14. Tim Millman; 15. Jamie Mills; 16. Craig Mullins; 17. Deron Rust; 18. Cliff Foskey; 19. Glenn Reed; 20. Sparky White; 21. Ellsey Conover; DNS: Norman Short; DNQ: Larry Crouse; John Lynch; Mike Covey; Darren Wroten; Ted Taylor; Chad Marvel.
15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. BOBBY WALLS, III; 2. MikeVammino; 3. Herb Tunis; 4. Dana Walker; 5. Jon Callaway; 6. Landis Musser; 7. Mike Stratton; 8. Lucky Kohland;9. Erik McKinney; 10. Joe Warren; 11. David Dill; 12. Andy Hammond; 13. Dale Hawkins; 14. Tom Curtis; 15. John Curtis; 16. Steve White; 17. George Richardson; DNS: Ron Riccio.