MULLINS VAULTS INTO POINT LEAD - 09/08/01

MULLINS' STREAK VAULTS HIM INTO POINT LEAD IN DELAWARE MODIFIEDS

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE - Craig Mullins may have started out the season slow but out of his last eight starts he has won six times, tied once, and finished second once. His third straight victory in Saturday night's Hertrich Pontiac/Buick/GMC/GMAC & Hertrich Ford 25-lap Modified feature moved him into the points lead for the first time this season. Eddie Towers picked up his third straight win in the Modified Lites and his seventh win of the season and Oscar Fields made a last lap charge to finish in a dead heat with Tony Steele in the Vintage Stock Cars.

Eighteen-year-old Kyle Strickler started on the pole and quickly established himself as the car to beat. Andy Best held second with Chad Marvel running in third. Norman Short worked his way into the third spot bringing Craig Mullins, who had started in eight with him into fourth.

Mullins was headed to the front and took third from Short on lap eight. Three laps later he worked by Best for second and pulled past Strickler for the lead on lap 12. At the halfway sign the top five were Mullins, Strickler, Best, Short, and Rick Bishop. The first of only two yellows was out at this point when Howard O'Neal came to a stop.

Short dropped Best to fourth on the restart. The final yellow flew on lap 19 when Ted Taylor spun to a stop. On the restart, Strickler made a bid for the lead pulling along side of Mullins in turn one. Mullins held off the challenge and powered to the checkered in the Gene's Auto Sales/Subway/Troyer. Strickler capped his outstanding drive finishing in second with Short third. Short finished in the fourth spot as Bobby Wilkins made a late race charge to finish in fifth after starting in 13th. Rookie Andy Best finished in the sixth spot with Ricky Johnson, Marvel, H.J. Bunting, and Duane Rust rounding out the top ten. Strickler and Best won the heats.

Eddie Towers used his patented outside line to past Jon Callaway, Dana Walker, Mike Stratton and Herb Tunis to lead lap one of the Modified Lite feature. Erik McKinney followed from sixth to second with Callaway settling into third. Nick Hendricks tangled with McKinney going into the third turn to bring out the yellow. Under the caution the two restarted then locked horns again ending the night for both of them.

At the halfway sign the top five were Towers, Callaway, Stratton, Bobby Walls, and Walker. Towers made no mistakes and drove to his seventh win of the season in the Glenn Richards/P.J.'s Armory/Pro Suzuki. Callaway, Walls, Walker and Stratton rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Tunis, Landis Musser, Judd Mills, Timmy White, and J.R. Steele. Stratton and McKinney won the heats.

Tony Steele grabbed the lead at the start of the Vintage Car feature and looked to be headed to a wire-to-wire victory. On the final turn, Steele made a slight bobble and Oscar Fields pulled even. That's how the two crossed the finish line and after review of the tape, the race was declared a dead heat for the two Ritter Racing drivers. Harold Warrington finished in the third spot with Harry McConnell and Brad Picard rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Jerry Carr, Ben Simpson (first sportsman), Ken Dobb, Phil Barkins, and Wayne Willing.

This Saturday night will feature the Valley National Gases Modifieds, the Late Models, the Street Modifieds, and the Modified Lites plus the Little Lincoln Vintage Cars. Gates open at 5 p.m. with heats at 7:30 p.m.

RESULTS: 25-Lap Valley National Gases Modified Feature; 1. CRAIG MULLINS; 2. Kyle Strickler; 3. Rick Bishop; 4. Norman Short; 5. Bobby Wilkins; 6. Andy Best; 7. Ricky Johnson; 8. Chad Marve; 9. H.J. Bunting; 10. Duane Rust; 11. Gary Simpson; 12. Bobby Watkins; 13. Doug Beach; 14. Sparky White; 15. Cliff Foskey; 16. Tim Millman; 17. Ellsey Conover; 18. Dave Simmons; 19. Ted Taylor; 20. Howard O'Neal; 21. Adam Jarrell; 22. Glenn Reed.

15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. EDDIE TOWERS; 2. Jon Callaway; 3. Bobby Walls; 4. Dana Walker; 5. Mike Stratton; 6. Herb Tunis; 7. Landis Musser; 8. Judd Mills; 9. Timmy White; 10. J.R. Steele; 11. Joe Warren; 12. Jason Cahall; 13. David McNatt; 14. John Curtis; 15. Andy Hammond; 16. George Richardson; 17. Bucky McNatt; 18. Steve White; 19. Eric McKinney; 20. Nick Hendricks; 21. Lucky Kohland.

10-Lap Vintage: 1. tie - TONY STEELE & OSCAR FIELDS; 3. Harold Warrington; 4. Harry McConnell; 5. Brad Picard; 6. Jerry Carr; 7. Ben Simpson; 8. Ken Dobb; 9. Phil Barkins, Jr.; 10. Wayne Willing; 11. Lou Johnson; 12. Eddie Pettyjohn.