Mike Covey Wins Big Block Modified Feature - June 15, 2002

TOM CURTIS GETS CAREER 1ST IN MODIFIED LITES

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (6/15/02) - "Mighty" Mike Covey of Seaford, Del. had to regain the lead twice during the 25-lap Modified feature to post his first career win at the Delaware International Speedway. Tom Curtis of Hartley, Del. got his first career win in the William J. Cathell Memorial makeup feature for the Modified Lites and Mike Stratton posted his second win of the season in the regular 15-lap Modified Lite main.

Mike Covey started on the pole in the feature and jumped out to the early lead over H.J. Bunting and Robert Dutton. Doug Rose got around on lap three collecting Craig Mullins and Ricky Johnson. Rick Bishop got by Dutton on the restart and one lap later moved by Bunting for second. Bishop had just gotten by Covey for the lead when Mullins rolled to a stop on the back straight. The yellow realigned the field from the last completed lap and Covey was back on top.

Cliff Foskey was on the move taking third but spun to bring out the yellow on lap 11. Bishop started to fade and Bunting moved back into second. At the halfway sign the top five were Covey, Bunting, Chard Marvel, Adam Jarrell, and Kyle Strickler. Covey continued to set the pace with Bunting turning up the heat. Bunting shot by for the lead on the outside with eight to go.

Covey wasn't done yet as he moved to the top grove and began following Bunting. With five laps to go the handling started to go away on Bunting's car and Covey was in the right place. Covey regained the lead to take the white flag then drove his Covey's Car Care/Troyer/Enders to his first win at DIS. Bunting finished 1.4 seconds back in second with Mavel third. Johnson came all the way from the rear of the field to finish in fourth with Jarrell rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Strickler, Dutton, Rose, Deron Rust and Andy Best. Covey and Bunting won the heats with Strickler taking the consolation.

In the first of the two Modified Lite mains, Mike Vammino set the pace in the caution filled event. Tom Curtis settled into the second spot with Dana Walker in third. Walker got by Curtis for second on a lap four restart but Curtis fought his was back behind Vammino at the halfway sign with Jon Callaway following into third.

With two laps left to go, Vammino slowed in the first turn and Curtis moved on top with Nick Hendricks now in second. On the restart, Hendricks slowed to a stop and Callaway was now in the runner-up spot. Curtis held of Callaway for the final two laps to take his first win in the division and claimed the Williams J. Cathell Memorial. Herb Tunis came on strong in the closing laps to finish in third with Bobby Walls, III and Lucky Kohland rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Ron Riccio, Mike Stratton, Glenn Richards, Tim White, and John Curtis.

In the second 15-lapper Ron Riccio set the early pace. Herb Tunis held down the second spot with Bobby Walls moving from tenth to third. Chris Collins got around to bring out the yellow on lap five. On the restart Walls took the lead and at the halfway sign was followed by Stratton, Hendricks, Tunis, and Riccio in the top five.

The final yellow was out on lap 10 when five cars tangled in the turn. On the restart, Walls drove to the checkered but was found to have switched to his backup car without reporting it to officials prior to the start which would have started him in the rear of the field. Walls was disqualified and Stratton, in the Trinity Transport/Northeast Modified Lite/Suzuki was credited with the win.

Rounding out the top five were Tunis, Tom Curtis, Callaway, and Landis Musser. Sixth through tenth were Riccio, Vammino, Tim White, Walker, and Kohland. Tunis and Hendricks won the heats.

This Saturday night the will feature the four weekly divisions of the Big Block Modifieds, the Late Models, the Street Modifieds, and the Modified Lites along with the Vintage Stock Cars. Gates open at 5 p.m. with heats at 7:30 p.m.