RICK BISHOP GETS 2ND MODIFIED WIN - July 20, 2002

MIKE VAMMINO TAKES MODIFIED LITES FEATURE

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (7/20/02) - "Quick" Rick Bishop of Greensboro, Md. had his Clearwater Farms/Matco Tools/Teo in top form as he cruised to his second win of the season in Saturday night's Valley National Gases feature at the Delaware International Speedway. Mike Vammino of Lincoln, Del. held off Nick Hendricks to win the companion modified Lite 15-lap main.

Mike Covey led the first lap of the Modified feature but the yellow was quickly out as Glenn Reed tangled with Doug Rose in the first turn and flipped. No one was injured in the crash. Covey resumed setting the pace with Andy Best and Adam Jarrell running in the top three.

Rick Bishop was on a mission to get to the front from his seventh starting spot and dropped Jarrell from third on lap three. One lap later he moved under Best for second and continued to advance, taking the lead from Covey on lap five.

Jarrell moved into the second spot as H.J. Bunting was making his climb from ninth into third. At the halfway sign the top five were Bishop, Jarrell, Bunting, Ricky Johnson and Covey.

Bunting took second on lap 14 but Bishop was barely in sight. The final yellow would fly on lap 19 when Chad Marvel and Scott Irwin tangled in the turn, erasing Bishop's lead. On the restart, Bishop once again opened an advantaged and powered to a 1.354 second margin at the checkered over Bunting.

"I call Bobby Hearn every week and tell him how much I appreciate him selling me a car," smiled Bishop referring to his new Teo chassis. "A new coil and a new mag made the engine come to life and the chassis worked great."

Rounding out the top five were Jarrell, Covey, and Johnson. Sixth through tenth were Norman Short, Craig Mullins, Kyle Strickler, Deron Rust, and Cliff Foskey. Covey and Robert Dutton won the heats.

Mike Vammino took off at the drop of the green in the 15-lap Modified Lite feature and never looked back. Nick Hendricks driving the Ellis No. 45 for the first time moved by Lucky Kohland for second with Dana Walker taking third. Vammino was solidly in command at the halfway sign followed by Hendricks, Walker, Steve White, and Jon Callaway.

The order would remain the same to the finish with Vammino taking his second win in the Speed Werks/Pro/Suzuki. Hendricks, Callaway, Walker, and White rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Herb Tunis, Bobby Walls III, Kohland, Tom Curtis, and Dale Hawkins.

This Saturday night will be another exciting program with the Modifieds, Late Models, Street Modifieds, Modified Lites, plus the Vintage Stock Cars. Gates open at 5 p.m. with qualifying starting at 7:30.

25-Lap Valley National Gases Modified Feature: 1. RICK BISHOP; 2. H.J. Bunting; 3. Adam Jarrell; 4. Mike Covey; 5. Ricky Johnson; 6. Norman Short; 7. Craig Mullins; 8. Kyle Strickler; 9. Deron Rust; 10. Cliff Foskey; 11. Robert Dutton; 12. Andy Best; 13. Sparky White; 14. Darren Wroten; 15. Ellsey Conover; 16. Jim Carey; 17. Scott Irwin; 18. Chad Marvel; 19. Dave Simmons; 20. Doug Rose; 21. Glenn Reed; 22. Ernie Lowe.

15-Lap Valley National Gases Modified Lite Feature: 1. MIKE VAMMINO; 2. Nick Hendricks; 3. Jon Callaway; 4. Dana Walker; 5. Steve White; 6. Herb Tunis; 7. Bobby Walls, III; 8. Lucky Kohland; 9. Tom Curtis; 10. Dale Hawkins; 11. Joe Warren; 12. Danny Martin; 13. Andy Hammond; 14. John Curtis; 15. George Richardson; 16. Landis Musser; 17. Ron Riccio.