Cliff Foskey Gets 1st Career Modified Win - June 29, 2002
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (6/29/02) - Saturday night's O'Neal Bros. Lumber & Home Center 25-Lap Modified feature at the Delaware International Speedway appeared to be a rerun of last week's main with Rick Bishop of Greensboro, Md. taking the lead from the "Underdog" Cliff Foskey of Farmington, Del. and driving to the win. This week however had an unusual twist as in the post-race inspection, Bishop's car was found to not have the mandatory rear track tire. Bishop's disqualification handed Foskey his first career win in the division. Nick Hendricks of Laurel, Del. turned in a smooth performance in the companion Modified Lite feature to earn his second win in 2002.
It took three attempts to get the first lap into the books as Craig Mullins and Glenn Reed brought out the yellow on the first attempt. On the second attempt, Norman Short came to a stop. Finally, pole-sitter Mike Covey would lead lap one with Cliff Foskey and Kyle Strickler running second and third. A chain reaction on lap two saw Strickler spinning after contact and Robert Dutton, David Gerhart, and Sparky White involved.
Three more yellows would keep the field in close quarters with Covey staying on top until lap 12 when he pulled into the infield with his engine overheating. Foskey now the leader and at the halfway sign was followed by H.J. Bunting, Rick Bishop, Kenny Pettyjohn, and Ricky Johnson in the top five.
The field settled down in the second half with Bishop getting by Bunting with ten to go. Foskey remained flawless in the high groove but the yellow would come out for a final time on lap 21. On the restart, Bishop increased his pressure on the leader with Foskey making a bobble in the second turn with two laps to go. Bishop took the lead and the final lap and cruised to what appeared to be his second straight victory until the infraction was found after the race.
Foskey, in the Scott's Furniture/Hunter Creek Homes/Olsen was declared the winner. "I guess you need to be lucky sometimes," said Foskey. "I had trouble on the restarts getting my rhythm down and struck the ruts wrong. I was mad with myself." Bunting finished in the second spot with Johnson third. Strickler crossed the line in fourth but also failed the post-race inspection due to low tire pressure giving fourth to Deron Rust and Glenn Reed rounded out the top five.
Sixth through tenth were Jim Carey, Sparky White, Scott Irwin, Doug Beach, and Ellsey Conover. Dutton, Norman Short, and Bunting won the heats with Howard Mullins taking the consolation.
John Curtis started on the pole but it would be Nick Hendricks, bolting from his fifth starting spot to take the lead by lap one in the 15-lap Modified Lite feature. The only caution of the event was on lap four when Ron Riccio spun to a stop. Hendricks maintained the quick pace with Mike Vammino, Jon Callaway, Bobby Walls, and Herb Tunis all battling in the top five. Vammino closed to Hendricks' back bumper with two to go but Hendricks was not to be denied his second win of the season as he crossed the line 0.356 seconds ahead in the Coastal Marine/Hatteras Press/Lightning Chassis machine.
Vammino, Callaway, Tunis, and Landis Musser rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mike Stratton, Dana Walker, Tom Curtis, Lucky Kohland, and George Richardson. Winners were presented with DeWalt Tool Industrial Radio/Chargers along with trophies from O'Neal Bros. Lumber & Home Center. This Saturday night will feature the four weekly divisions plus the Slide for 5 and a gigantic fireworks display at intermission. Gates open at 5 p.m. with heats at 7:30 p.m.