BUNTING LEADS FLAG TO FLAG TO WIN MODIFIED FEATURE - May 25, 2002
MUSSER GETS SECOND WIN IN MODIFIED LITES
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (5/25/02) – The “Quiet Riot” H.J. Bunting of Milford, Del. was back on track as he started on the pole and never allowed anyone to get close in the 25-lap Modified feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. It was his first win since winning on opening night. Landis Musser of Laurel, Del. doubled his career wins in claiming the 15-lap Modified Lite feature. Mike Karr of Georgetown, Del. headed a 48 car-starting field to win the Slide for 5 and Oscar Fields of Bridgeville, Del. topped the Vintage Cars.
H.J. Bunting took advantage of his pole starting position and shot out front at the drop of the green. The yellow was quickly out as Bobby Watkins, Ellsey Conover, and Chad Marvel tangled in the turn. On the restart the back of the field got crossed up with Jim Carey, Norman Short, Scott Irwin, and Doug Rose involved.
The remainder of the first half was run under the green with Bunting’s only concern being lapped traffic. Ricky Johnson settled into second with Adam Jarrell running in third. By the halfway point, Craig Mullins, who had started in ninth, was running in third with Rick Bishop and Jarrell rounding out the top five.
Mullins slowed to bring out the yellow on lap 14. Bishop moved into the third spot with Kyle Strickler entering the top five. Bishop was stuck to the bottom groove and got by Johnson with five laps to go. Bunting, in the J&M; Roofing/First State Chevy Olds/Speed Palace car made no mistakes and rode the top groove to the checkered 1.359 seconds ahead of Bishop. “I think starting spot has a lot to do with it,” joked Bunting. “I seem to find trouble when I start at the back.” Johnson, Jarrell, and Strickler rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Rose, Gary Simpson, Mullins, Cliff Foskey, and Robert Dutton. Bunting and Mullins won the heats.
Lucky Kohland led the first lap of the Modified Lite feature before Landis Musser came powering from fourth to the front. Tom Curtis climbed into second on lap five and one lap later, Mike Stratton dropped Kohland to fourth. At the halfway sign the top five were Musser, Stratton, Tom Curtis, Steve White, and Nick Hendricks.
Hendricks mounted a charge climbing to second with two laps to go. He was able to close to within half a second of Musser at the finish but it was Musser taking his second win of the season in the Carey’s Towing/Pro Chassis/Suzuki. Hendricks, Stratton, Tom Curtis, and Herb Tunis rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Dana Walker, Steve White, Ron Riccio, Kohland, and Bobby Walls, III. Musser and Walker won the heats.
Mike Karr continued to prove that he is the master of the mud as he drove to his seventh career win in the Slide for 5. Karr started deep in the field as John Penuel led lap one and Jeff Karr led on lap 2. Mike Karr avoided all problems and slid across the finish line in first. Karr’s engine gave up shortly after the checkered and he had to be pushed back to the front straight. “I’m glad that it wasn’t a slide for six,” laughed Karr as he shared victory lane with his twin five-month-old sons. Kevin Donovan and Penuel finished second and third.
Oscar Fields in his Ritter Farms Chevy Coupe dominated the 10-lap Vintage feature. Fields took the lead from Lou Johnson then held off Eddie Pettyjohn in the famed 8 Ball replica to take the win. Tony Steele, Johnson, and Harold Warrington rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were D.J. Calhoun, Pete Cobb, Phil Barkins, Jim Reed and Larry Glass.
Saturday night will be Scott’s Furniture Night with the United Racing Club making their third appearance of the 2002 season. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with heats at 7:30 p.m.