KYLE STRICKLER GETS 2ND WIN IN MODIFIED FEATURE - July 6, 2002
BOBBY WALLS III GETS MODIFIED LITE WIN
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (7/6/02) - Eighteen year old Kyle Strickler of Sinking Springs, Pa. had his car working to perfection as he dominated the 25-lap Big Block Modified feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. It was his second win of the season and the third of his career at the track. Bobby Walls, III of Ridgely, Md. finally shook the bad luck that had plagued him all season as he won the 15-lap Modified Lite feature.
Doug Rose jumped out to the early lead with Mike Covey in second. Covey got around in the turn to bring out the first caution. On the restart, Kyle Strickler immediately mounted the challenge and took the lead on lap three. Ricky Johnson used the outside to get by Rick Bishop for third just as the yellow flew for a tangle between Doug Beach, Howard Mullins, Kenny Pettyjohn, Sparky White, and Cliff Foskey.
Johnson grabbed second from Rose on the restart and H.J. Bunting entered the top five. The red was out on lap eight for a hard crash that eliminated Craig Mullins, Mike Covey, Duane Rust, and Dave Gerhart.
The top five battle tightened and at the halfway sign, Stickler was holding off the challenges of Johnson while Bunting and Bishop dueled for third and Rose held on to fifth. Strickler started to open some breathing room over Johnson. Bunting moved into third but got together with Bishop and spun in turn four to bring out the final yellow with two laps left to go.
Strickler, in the Miller Demolition/Becker Painting/Troyer continued his flawless run he crossed under the checkered 0.415 seconds ahead of Johnson. "My dad is trying to teach me more and more and this week I set the car up with the crew and I just want everyone to know that," reported a happy Strickler in victory lane. "We did a pretty good job I guess!"
Johnson finished a hard fought second and with that finish moved into the point lead. Bishop, Rose, and Andy Best rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Robert Dutton, Pettyjohn, Scott Irwin, Foskey, and Deron Rust. Mullins, Bishop, and Strickler won the heats with Best winning the consolation.
Second place start, Mike Vammino had a scary moment as he broke an axle coming to the green and spun to bring out the yellow. Ron Riccio set the pace back under the green with Nick Hendricks challenging. Hendricks had just moved on top when the yellow came out for Steve White. The race went back to the last completed lap and Riccio was back on top.
Bobby Walls was on the move and took second on lap seven. Walls moved into the lead at the halfway sign followed by Riccio, Hendricks, Jon Callaway, and Herb Tunis. The final yellow was out with five to go when Riccio and Hendricks tangled. Callaway edged on top on the restart but could not hold off Walls who regained the lead with two laps to go. Walls, in the Hill's Electric/Pro/Suzuki, drove to his first win of the season. Tunis made a nice pass on the final lap for his best finish ever in second. Callaway finished in third with Tom Curtis and Landis Musser rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mike Stratton, Joe Warren, Lucky Kohland, Dale Hawkins, and Andy Hammond. Riccio and Vammino won the heats.
This Wednesday night will be the 30th Annual Camp Barnes Benefit race with gates opening at 5 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.