KYLE STRICKER GETS CAREER FIRST - 9/15/01
18 YEAR OLD KYLE STRICKLER GETS FIRST BIG BLOCK WIN IN DELAWARE
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (9/15/01) - He was the runner-up last week but this week he was not to be denied as 18 year old Kyle Strickler of Sinking Springs, Pa. held off defending point champion, Craig Mullins to post his first career win the 25-lap Valley National Gases Modified feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Dana Walker of Sharptown, Md. was back in top form as he earned his second career win in the Modified Lite 15 lap main. It was an emotional night as the tragic events of the week prior were not forgotten when many of the drivers took to the track with American flags flying from their cars.
Andy Best was scheduled to start on the pole but was sidelined with mechanical problems after the heat. This moved Kyle Strickler to the point and Strickler hammered the throttle at the drop of the green. The pressure was there as first Rick Bishop and then Norman Short put on the challenge in the opening laps. Bishop worked his way back into the second spot and grabbed the lead at lap seven.
That would be the only lap the Strickler would not lead as he wrestled the lead back away from Bishop on lap eight. Mullins was on the climb from his 15th starting spot and was running in third at this point. Mullins climbed past Bishop on lap 11 and at the halfway sign the top five were Strickler, Mullins, Short, Bishop, and Kenny Pettyjohn.
Bobby Wilkins all but eliminated his chances for the point championship when he headed to the pits with mechanical problems on lap 16. One lap later the caution was out when Don Hallowell spun to a stop. On the restart, Gary Simpson slowed to a stop in the second turn and the yellow was out once again.
On the restart, Strickler left no doubts that he was in control as he pulled away from the field. With the crowd on their feet applauding and drove to his first big block checkered in the Becker Painting/Glenn Miller Demolition & Excavating/Troyer. Strickler jumped to the roof of his car in celebration. Rounding out the top five were Mullins, Bishop, Short, and Pettyjohn. Sixth through tenth were Cliff Foskey, Sparky White, Bobby Watkins, Doug Beach, and Glenn Reed. Strickler and Bishop won the heats.
Mike Vammino jumped out to the early lead in the non-stop 15-lap Modified Lite feature. Dana Walker worked by Landis Musser for second with Herb Tunis following into third. At the halfway sign the top five were Vammino, Walker, Tunis, Judd Mills, and Eddie Towers. Walker grabbed the lead position for lap 11 as Towers moved by Mills for fourth.
Walker opened a large lead and went on to post his second win of the season in the Winners Circle Collectibles/Central Ready Mix, Inc./Sparky White Pro. Vammino finished in second with Towers getting by Tunis for third on the final lap. Tunis held on for fourth with Jon Callaway rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Bobby Walls, Mills, J.R. Steele, Musser, and Mike Stratton. Callaway and Vammino won the heats.
This Saturday night the United Racing Club Sprint Cars return along with the Valley National Gases Modifieds, the Late Models, the Street Modifieds, and the Modified Lites. Gates open at 4:30 with heats at 7:30 p.m.
RESULTS: Valley National Gases 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. KYLE STRICKLER: 2. Craig Mullins; 3. Rick Bishop; 4. Norman Short; 5. Kenny Pettyjohn; 6. Cliff Foskey; 7. Sparkey White; 8. Bobby Watkins; 9. Doug Beach; 10. Glenn Reed; 11. Deron Rust; 12. Ricky Johnson; 13. Chad Marvel; 14. Mike Covey; 15. Don Hallowell; 16. Ellsey Conover; 17. Johnny Johnston; 18. Robert Dutton; 19. Gary Simpson; 20. Bobby Wilkins; 21. Tim Millman; 22. H.J. Bunting.
15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. DANA WALKER; 2. Mike Vammino; 3. Eddie Towers; 4. Herb Tunis; 5. Jon Callaway; 6. Bobby Walls, III: 7. Judd Mills; 8. J.R. Steele; 9. Landis Musser; 10. Mike Stratton; 11. David Dill; 12. David McNatt; 13. John Curtis; 14. Danny Martin; 15. Jason Cahall; 16. George Richardson; 17. Andy Hammond; 18. Lucky Kohland; 19. James Marshall; 20. Edward Cadle; 21. Bucky McNatt; DNS: Joe Warren.