JAMIE MILLS CAPTURES MODIFIED WIN - August, 17, 2002
DANA WALKER CAPTURES MODIFIED LITE FEATURE
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (8/17/02) - "Jamin" Jamie Mills of Milford, Del. swapped the lead with Rick Bishop on the final lap to claim his first win of the season in the Pepsi 25-lap Modified Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Dana Walker of Sharptown, Md. added his name to the win column for 2002 by taking the companion 15-lap Modified Lite feature.
Robert Dutton and Kyle Strickler captured the heats with H.J. Bunting winning the consolation. Jamie Mills started on the pole with Andy Best and Dutton in pursuit. Rick Bishop moved into the top five behind Strickler just before the first yellow flew for Dave Simmons. On the restart, Dutton went to work on Best taking second on lap eight.
Craig Mullins shot into the top five and was running third just before halfway. A three car tangle involving Cliff Foskey, Ricky Johnson, and Norman Short brought out the yellow for a second time. The field restarted at halfway with Mills, Dutton, Mullins, Bishop, and Best in order in the top five.
Mullins got by Dutton for second and quickly began to challenge Mills. Cautions on laps 18 and 20 kept the field tightly bunched and Mills appeared to have the stronger car on the restarts. Bishop took advantage of a slip by Mullins to take second with three to go just as the final caution came out for Ellsey Conover.
Mills led to the two to go sign but it was Bishop edging on top for the white flag. Mills pulled even in the third turn as the crowd came to their feet. Bishop got a little loose in the fourth turn and that was all the Mills needed to regain the lead and take the win. Mills, in the I.G. Burton/Dairy Queen No. 30 crossed the stripe just 0.095 seconds ahead of Bishop. Rounding out the top five were Mullins, Strickler, and Dutton. Sixth through tenth were Bunting, Johnson, Best, Adam Jarrell, and Foskey.
"We got the job done," said Mills. "It just capped off a good weekend. We wrapped up the points last night at Susquehanna. It has just been a good week for us to come here and win."
Erik McKinney set the early pace in the Modified Lite feature. Dana Walker got by Bobby Walls on lap three and one lap later moved on top. Landis Musser climbed to the second spot and at the halfway sign the top five were Walker, Musser, Walls, McKinney, and Ron Riccio.
Musser took the lead on the next lap and the race settled into a three-car challenge between Musser, Walker, and Walls. Walker pulled even with two laps to go and moved back on top to take the white flag. At the checkered it was Walker, in the Wayside Body Shop/Donald Wheatley Trucking/Pro by 1.009 seconds over Musser. Walls, Riccio, and Herb Tunis rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Lucky Kohland, Mike Vammino, George Richardson, Joe Warren, and John Curtis.
"We've been this good all year. We have just had a lot of bad luck," said Walker. "We've just had a couple of top five finishes and just built up and tonight we had a good run."
This Saturday night the Slide for 5 cars return along with the four weekly divisions and the Little Lincoln Vintage Cars. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m.
RESULTS: Pepsi 25-lap Modified Feature: 1. JAMIE MILLS; 2. Rick Bishop; 3. Craig Mullins; 4. Kyle Strickler; 5. Robert Dutton; 6. H.J. Bunting; 7. Ricky Johnson; 8. Andy Best; 9. Adam Jarrell; 10. Cliff Foskey; 11. Gary Simpson; 12. Glenn Reed; 13. Dave Gerhart; 14. Deron Rust; 15. Steve Downs; 16. Ernie Lowe; 17. Ellsey Conover; 18. Dave Simmons; 19. Norman Short; 20. Sparky White; 21. Doug Beach; 22. Duane Rust; DNS: Mike Covey.
Pepsi 15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. DANA WALKER; 2. Landis Musser; 3. Bobby Walls, III; 4. Ron Riccio; 5. Herb Tunis; 6. Lucky Kohland; 7. Mike Vammino; 8. George Richardson; 9. Joe Warren; 10. John Curtis; 11. Jon Callaway; 12. Andy Hammond; 13. David Dill; 14. Dale Hawkins; 15. Tom Curtis; 16. Erik McKinney; 17. Mike Stratton.