MULLINS DEFENDS TITLE WITH 7TH WIN OF SEASON IN DELAWARE MODS

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE - Craig Mullins or Bridgeville, Del. topped off an amazing comeback this season in winning his seventh Valley National Gases Modified Feature of the year and defending his 2000 point championship by clenching the 2001 title. Mike Vammino of Milford, Del. put on a great drive to win his second feature of the season in the 15-lap Modified Lite main.

Rookie Andy Best worked by pole sitter Glenn Reed to grab the lead at the start of the 25-lap Modified main. H.J. Bunting shot from fifth to second on lap two. Craig Mullins was on the move and quickly worked into the top four from ninth. Mullins got by Reed for third on lap five and one lap later passed Bunting for second.

At the halfway sign, the top five were Best, Mullins, Bunting, Reed, and Chad Marvel. While the first half of the race was run caution free the second half was run caution full. Rick Bishop came to a stop to bring out the first yellow followed by similar woes being suffered by Dave Simmons and Bobby Watkins.

Mullins took advantage of a restart on lap 16 to get by Best for the lead. Ricky Johnson was on the move in his new car and got by Bunting for third with three to go. Mullins, in the Gene's Auto Sales/Subway/Troyer went on to collect his seventh win of the season and put a lock on the 2001 point title. Best ended a super run in second with Johnson, Bunting, and Bishop rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Reed, Deron Rust, Kyle Strickler, Duane Rust, and Cliff Foskey. Bishop, Bobby Wilkins, and Best won the heats with Deron Rust taking the consolation.

Mike Stratton led the first circuit of the Modified Lite feature before Mike Vammino moved on top. Dana Walker quickly climbed from sixth to second. At the halfway sign the top five were Vammino, Walker, Judd Mills, Stratton, and Bobby Walls.

Walls' hopes of defending his point title ended when he got over and wheel and went off the third turn on lap ten. On the restart, Walker chased Vammino the rest of the way to the checkered with Vammino posting his second win of the season in the Exchange/Speed Works/Suzuki Pro. Walker finished in the second spot with Mill, clenching his second point crown by finishing in third. Stratton and Jason Cahall rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Joe Warren, David Dill, Timmy White, John Curtis, and George Richardson.

RESULTS: 25-Lap Modified Feature: 1. CRAIG MULLINS; 2. Andy Best; 3. Ricky Johnson; 4. H.J. Bunting; 5. Rick Bishop; 6. Glenn Reed; 7. Deron Rust; 8. Kyle Strickler; 9. Duane Rust; 10. Cliff Foskey; 11. Robert Dutton; 12. Al Shawver, Jr.; 13. Dave Simmons; 14. Adam Jarrell; 15. Gary Simpson; 16. Mike Covey; 17. Kenny Pettyjohn; 18. Bobby Wilkins; 19. Chad Marvel; 20. Norman Short; 21. Don Hallowell; 22. Bobby Watkins.

15-Lap Modified Lite Feature: 1. MIKE VAMMINO; 2. Dana Walker; 3. Judd Mills; 4. Mike Stratton; 5. Jason Cahall; 6. Joe Warren; 7. David Dill; 8. Timmy White; 9. John Curtis; 10. George Richardson; 11. James Marshall; 12. Andy Hammond; 13. Landis Musser; 14. Bobby Walls, III; 15. Herb Tunis; 16. Jon Callaway; 17. Danny Martin; 18. J.R. Steele.