Irwin, Hertz, Byram, Walls, and Morton Get Wins - 04/21/01

Delmar, DE - It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time as Scott Irwin of Reading, Pa. took advantage of a tangle by the leaders in the final turn to win the 25 lap Valley National Gases Modified feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Bobby Walls, III of Ridgely, Md. got a good start on his title defense as he captured the 15 lap Modified Lite main.

The modified drivers were fired-up when feature time arrived and it took five attempts to get the first lap in the record books. Tangles involved Darren Wroten, Johnny Bailey, Jim Carey, Ricky Johnson, Kyle Strickler, Danny Klair, and pole sitter Craig Mullins. When the race was finally under the green, Scott Irwin was out front with Cliff Foskey and H.J. Bunting in chase.

The top three continued to battle for the lead with Foskey moving on top on lap 12. At the halfway point he was followed by Bunting, Irwin, Glenn Reed, and Norman Short. The caution was out on lap 15 when Bobby Wilkins slowed with a flat.

While Foskey continued to hold off Bunting, Short moved into fourth and Mullins charged back from the rear to take fifth. On the final lap, the leaders came up on lapped traffic. Foskey hesitated going into the third turn and was tagged from the rear by Bunting. Bunting got by into the lead but Foskey recovered and tangled with Bunting in the final turn.

Irwin shot to the low side as Bunting spun and Foskey continued. The two drag raced to the finish line with Irwin, in the C. Scott Irwin & Sons Food Distributors/Teo taking the win by about two feet. It was his first win at he speedway. Foskey finished in second with Mullins taking third from Short on the final lap. Reed rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Deron Rust, Chris Glanden, Rick Bishop, Wroten, and Andy Best. Heats were won by Wilkins, Short, and Bunting with Rust taking the consolation.

Nick Hendricks set the early pace in the Modified Lite main. Bobby Walls moved on top on lap three with Danny Martin taking second on lap six. At the halfway point the top five were Walls, Martin, Judd Mills, Tom Curtis, and Erik McKinney.

Mills took second with four laps to go and a last lap yellow put him on the rear bumper of Walls. Walls made no mistakes on the final lap and took the win in the Hills Electric/Suzuki. McKinney got by Mills on the final lap for second with Mills, Martin, and Steve White rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Tom Curtis, Jon Callaway, Dana Walker, Hendricks, and Jason Cahall.

This Saturday night will be the William J. Cathell Memorial. The United Racing Club Sprint Cars will make their first appearance of the year to kick off the Taylor & Messick Delaware State Sprint Car Series. Also on the program will be the Valley National Gases Modifieds, the Late Models, the Street Modifieds, and the Modified Lites. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.

RESULTS: Valley National Gases Modified 25 Lap Feature: 1 SCOTT IRWIN; 2. Cliff Foskey; 3. Craig Mullins; 4. Norman Short; 5. Glenn Reed; 6. Deron Rust; 7. Chris Glanden; 8. Rick Bishop; 9. Darren Wroten; 10. Andy Best; 11. Johnny Bailey; 12. Jim Carey; 13. H.J. Bunting; 14. Bobby Watkins; 15. Chad Marvel; 16. Bobby Wilkins; 17. Mike Covey; 18. Robert Dutton; 19. Kyle Strickler; 20. Howard O'Neal; 21. Danny Klair; 22. Ricky Johnson. DNQ: Sparky White; Ted Taylor; Adam Jarrell; Elzie Connover.

15 Lap Modified Lite: 1. BOBBY WALLS, III; 2. Erik McKinney; 3. Judd Mills; 4. Danny Martin; 5. Steve White; 6. Tom Curtis; 7. Jon Callaway; 8. Dana Walker; 9. Nick Hendricks; 10. Jason Cahall; 11. Lucky Kohland; 12. Landis Musser; 13. J.R. Steele; 14. John Curtis; 15. Glenn Richards; 16. David Dill; 17. Joe Warren; 18. Clarence McNatt; 19. Bucky McNatt; 20. Herb Tunis; 21. Mike Stratton; 22. Ron Riccio; DNS: Andy Hammond; David McNatt; Patrick Argo.

"ROCKETMAN" DAVE HERTZ BLASTS DELAWARE LATE MODEL FIELD

Delmar, DE - The "Rocketman" Dave Hertz of Upland, Pa. started on the pole and never looked back as he collected his first win of the 2001 season in the 20 lap Late Model feature Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Mark Byram of Georgetown, Del. looked equally impressive as he dominated the 15 lap Street Modified Main and Mitchell Morton of Lincoln, Del. dodged all the obstacles as he slid to his first win in the Slide for 5 division.

Dave Hertz bolted away from the field at the drop of the green in the late model main. Michael Givens held off John Emory for second with Donald Lingo, Jr. running in fourth. Kenny Pettyjohn started in the eighth spot and was running in third by lap four. Pettyjohn took second from Givens one lap later but Hertz was already a full straightaway ahead.

While Hertz cruised comfortably out front, David Hill moved into to duel with Kenny Pettyjohn for second while Givens and Lingo held down the top five. The one and only caution in the race came on lap twelve when Emory blew a rear tire.

On the green, Hertz pulled away from Hill, who was running in second. Kenny Pettyjohn's car started to smoke on the final two laps. Bob Vickers made a late race charge to take third on the final lap.

At the checkered, it was Hertz, in the Koski Trucking/Leco Builders/Rocket taking the win. Rounding out the top five were Hill, Vickers, Givens, and Kenny Pettyjohn. Sixth through tenth were David Pettyjohn, Lingo, Richard White, Jr., Jamie Eichholz, and Lou Johnson. David and Kenny Pettyjohn won the heats.

Mark Byram jumped out to the early lead in the Street Modifieds. The yellow was out on lap two when Mark Williams, Jason Dean, Dwayne Heck, and Rob Massey all tangled in the third turn. David Nailor worked by Keith Hobbs for second with Elwood Driscoll following into third at the halfway point.