MULLINS REPEATS BUSBY GETS CAREER 1ST - 7/21/01
MULLINS REPEATS IN DELAWARE MODIFIEDS - BUSBY GET CAREER 1ST IN URC SPRINTS
By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (7/21/01) - Defending Point Champion, Craig Mullins of Bridgeville, Del. is back in top form as he won his second consecutive feature in the Banks Company, Inc. 25-lap Modified main, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Eddie Towers of Milford, Del. has quickly established himself as the car to beat in the Modified Lite division as he won his third straight in five starts. Second generation rookie driver, Jeff Busby of Bridgeville, Del. turned in a flawless performance as he led wire-to-wire to win his first career feature in the 25-lap United Racing Club main.
The yellow was out before the first lap was complete in the Valley National Gases Modified feature when the rear broke in Norman Short's car. On the restart, Darren Wroten led the first lap before Craig Mullins moved on top. Mullins quickly opened a large advantage as Wroten and Glenn Reed battled for second. Reed took the second spot on lap eight as Cliff Foskey and H.J. Bunting moved into the top five.
At the halfway sign, the top five were Mullins, Wroten, Foskey, Rick Bishop, and Ricky Johnson. The yellow was out at this point as Jim Carey and Scott Irwin tangled and under the caution Bobby Wilkins headed to the pits with mechanical problems. Foskey grabbed second on the restart with Bishop taking third. Three more yellows would keep the field tightly bunched but Mullins was able to pull away on each green and went on to record his second win of the season in the Gene's Auto Sales/Subway/Troyer. "This is my oldest car," said Mullins in victory lane. "The crew went back to the setup that we used last year and the car was great."
Rounding out the top five were Foskey, Bishop, Ricky Johnson, and Reed. Sixth through tenth were Wroten, Andy Best, Bunting, Mike Covey and Kyle Strickler. Reed, Wroten, and Mullins won the heats for the 30 cars with Short taking the consolation. The Banks Company presented the winner with a new 25 inch color television.
Jeff Busby made winning his first career URC sprint feature look easy as he shot away from the field from his pole starting position. Jason Clauss settled into second with Bill Brian running in third. Trevor Lewis got upside down to bring out the yellow on lap six. Busby again pulled away on the restart as Brian worked into second and Mike Haggenbottom into third. At the halfway sign the top five were Busby,. Brian, Haggenbottom, Doug Emory, and Curt Michael in the Eldreth No. 25.
The second half of the race was all under the green and Busby made no mistakes as he drove the JOB Construction No. 47J to his first win. Busby became the 11th different winner in 12 events this season with the URC and the third first time winner. Brian, Haggenbottom, Emory, and Curt Michael rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Midge Miller, Jeremy Trout, Chris Coyle, Jimmy Martin, and Greg Coverdale. Tommy Martocci, Lewis, Clauss, and Fran Hogue won the heats for the 41 cars with Coverdale winning the "C" Main and Sam Ross winning the "B" main.
Mike Vammino jumped out to the early lead over Jon Callaway in the Modified Lite feature. Steve White moved into second on lap three with Bobby Walls following into third. Eddie Towers was on the move and charged from fourth to second on lap six. Vammino held the top spot at the halfway sign as Walls battle back into second followed by Towers, Dana Walker, and Judd Mills in the top five.
Walls took the lead on the next lap with Towers taking second with five laps left to go. One lap later, Towers moved on top and pulled away for his third straight win in the Coastal Marine/Pro Suzuki. Walls finished in the second spot will Mills, Callaway, and Walker rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Vammino, Mike Statton, Landis Musser, Jason Cahall, and John Curtis. The Banks Company present Towers with a 25 inch color TV.
This Saturday night will feature along with the four weekly division the "Dash for Cash" with the heat winners from the Modifieds going up against the Late Model heat winners plus the Little Lincoln Stock Cars. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.
25-Lap Valley National Gases Modified Feature: 1. CRAIG MULLINS; 2. Cliff Foskey; 3. Rick Bishop; 4. Ricky Johnson; 5. Glenn Reed; 6. Darren Wroten; 7. Andy Best; 8. H.J. Bunting; 9. Mike Covey; 10. Kyle Strickler; 11. Adam Jarrell; 12. Sparky White; 13. Scott Irwin; 14. Jim Carey; 15. Robert Dutton; 16. Doug Beach; 17. Chad Marvel; 18. Deron Rust; 19. Bobby Wilkins; 20. Doug Rose; 21. Howard O'Neal; 22. Charlie Moore; 23. Norman Short.
15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. EDDIE TOWERS; 2. Bobby Walls; 3. Judd Mills; 4. Jon Callaway; 5. Dana Walker; 6. Mike Vammino; 7. Mike Stratton; 8. Landis Musser; 9. Jason Cahall; 10. John Curtis; 11. Joe Warren; 12. Glenn Richards; 13. Andy Hammond; 14. Tim White; 15. Erik McKinney; 16. Herb Tunis; 17. George Richardson; 18. Steve White; 19. Danny Martin; 20. Justin Collett; 21. Nick Hendricks.
25-Lap URC Sprint Feature: 1. JEFF BUSBY; 2. Bill Brian, Jr.; 3. Mike Haggenbottom; 4. Doug Emory; 5. Curt Michael; 6. Midge Miller; 7. Jeremy Trout; 8. Chris Coyle; 9. Jimmy Martin; 10. Greg Coverdale; 11. Fran Hogue; 12. Ray Staats; 13. Becca Anderson; 14. Scott Purcell; 15. Brian Brittingham; 16. Tommy Martocci; 17. Mike Kostic; 18. Tim Hogue; 19. Jason Clauss; 20. Danny Massey; 21. Joe Zuczek; 22. Sean Michael; 23. Brian Seidel; 24. Trevor Lewis.