Short, Hill, and Massey Double at DIS - 05/05/01

SHORT STORMS TO SECOND WIN OF SEASON IN DELAWARE MODIFIEDS

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (5/5/01) - "Stormin" Norman Short of Georgetown, Del. took the lead from Bobby Wilkins with four laps to go and went on to win the 25-lap, Valley National Gases Modified feature, Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Short became the first driver in the division to double this year. Erik McKinney of Dover, Del. waited until the final turn of the 15-lap Modified Lite main to take the lead. He became the fourth different winner in four races in the division.

Robert Dutton took the lead from the pole at the start of the modified feature. Rookie Andy Best held the second spot with Ricky Johnson running in third. Bobby Wilkins blasted through the pack from his eighth starting spot and took the lead on lap four just as the caution flew for Craig Mullins who had spun in the second turn collecting Bobby Watkins and Glenn Reed.

Wilkins pulled away in the lead as H.J. Bunting charged by Dutton for second. Norman Short followed into the third spot and at the halfway sign the top five were Wilkins, Bunting, Short, Dutton, and Kyle Strickler. Short moved by Bunting to take second on lap 14 as Cliff Foskey came charging into the top three.

On lap 20, Wilkins skated high in the fourth turn and Short ducked under him for the lead. Wilkins' car started to slow and Foskey grabbed second with Strickler following into third. The final yellow was out on lap 23 when Bunting and Mullins tangled in the second turn. On the restart, Strickler got by Foskey for second while Ricky Johnson and Adam Jarrell moved into the top five.

Short, in the Hair with Flair/Short Chassis No. 8M pulled away for his second win of the season, extending his point lead. "I just took it easy at the beginning and tried to stay out of trouble," said Short. Foskey got by Strickler of second just before Strickler ended a great drive spinning in the fourth turn. Johnson posted a personal best finishing in third as did Jarrell with his fourth place finish. Dutton ended a good night finishing in fifth. Sixth through tenth were Tim Millman, Mike Covey, Eddie Brown, Wilkins, and Bunting. Bunting, Chad Marvel, and Wilkins won the heats with Foskey winning the consolation.

Nick Hendricks moved by Ron Riccio and J.R. Steele to lead the first lap of the Modified Lite feature. Jon Callaway quickly grabbed second with Erik McKinney, Judd Mills, and David Dill battling for third. Callaway moved by Hendricks for the lead on lap three with Dill following into second.

At the halfway sign, Mills had climbed into second behind Callaway followed by Hendricks, Steve White, and McKinney in the top five. Mills got by Callaway to lead lap 12 but started to slow one lap later. Callaway moved by on top with Hendricks in second. McKinney got by Hendricks at the white flag and caught the leader in turn three. McKinney edged into the lead off the fourth turn and took the checkered by one car length in the Woods Construction/Al White Enterprises/Suzuki. Callaway, Hendricks, White and Dill rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Bobby Walls, Riccio, Steele, Mills, and Dana Walker. McKinney and Walker won the heats.

This Saturday night the Slide for 5 returns along with the "Dash for Cash" matching the modified heat winners against the late model heat winners. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m.

RESULTS: 25-Lap Valley National Gases Modified Feature: 1. NORMAN SHORT; 2. Cliff Foskey; 3. Ricky Johnson; 4. Adam Jarrell; 5. Robert Dutton; 6. Tim Millman, 7. Mike Covey; 8. Eddie Brown, 9. Bobby Wilkins; 10. H.J. Bunting; 11. Bobby Watkins; 12. Craig Mullins; 13. Darren Wroten; 14. Chris Glanden; 15. Howard O'Neal; 16. Scott Irwin; 17. Kyle Strickler; 18. Glenn Reed; 19. Danny Klair; 20. Chard Marvel; 21. Deron Rust; 22. Andy Best; 23. Jim Carey.

15-Lap Modified Lite: 1. ERIK MCKINNEY; 2. Jon Callaway; 3. Nick Hendricks; 4. Steve White; 5. David Dill; 6. Bobby Walls; 7. Ron Riccio; 8. J.R. Steele; 9. Judd Mills; 10. Dana Walker; 11. Jason Cahall; 12. Landis Musser; 13. Lucky Kohland; 14. Bucky McNatt; 15. John Curtis; 16. Joe Warren; 17. Danny Martin; 18. Clarence McNatt; 19. Tom Hutson; 20. Andy Hammond; 21. Eddie Collins; 22. Glenn Richards; 23. Mike Stratton; 24. George Richardson. DNS: Tom Curtis.

DAVID HILL MAKES LATE RACE CHARGE TO WIN DELAWARE LATE MODELS

By Charlie Brown, Delmar, DE (5/5/01) - David Hill of Hurlock, Md. put on an outstanding drive as he took the lead with two laps to go and went on to win the 20-lap Late Model feature Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. Rob Massey of Ellendale, Del. proved that his first career win one week ago was no fluke as he captured the checkered again in the Street Modified 15-lap feature. Bill Brittingham of Felton, Del. came out on top of a race long battle with Donald Robinson, Jr. to win the 10-lap Little Lincoln Vintage feature.

Last week's winner, Mike Christopher looked determined to double as he shot from his fifth starting spot to lead lap one of the late model feature. Richard White, Jr. held second until lap three when Dave Hertz moved into the runner-up spot. Kenny Pettyjohn powered into the third spot from tenth by lap five.

At the halfway sign the top five were Christopher, Hertz, Kenny Pettyjohn, David Hill, and White, Jr. The second half of the race developed into a great three-car battle with Christopher holding off Hertz until lap 16 when Hertz took the lead at the stripe. Christopher charged right back on top in the first turn bringing Hill with him into second. With two laps to go, Hill edged into the lead just as the yellow flew for John Emory.

On the restart, Hill shot away in the final two laps to post his second win of the season and the 108th of his career in the Hertrich Pontiac/Dorchester Lumber/Rocket Pontiac. Hertz and Christopher were both awarded second due error made on the final restart. Kenny Pettyjohn and David Pettyjohn rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were White, Jr., Bob Vickers, Michael Givens, Mike Wharton, and Bobby Williamson. Kenny Pettyjohn and Hill won the heats.

Mark Williams led the first four laps of the Street Modified feature before Mark Byram moved on top. Rob Massey followed into the second spot at the halfway sign with Steve Bunting and Elwood Driscoll charging in fourth and fifth. Byram opened a comfortable lead but began to slow coming off the second turn on lap 11. Massey moved on top with Bunting and Driscoll following into second and third.

Bunting was able to get by Driscoll for second but could not catch Massey as he posted his second consecutive win and his second career win in the CBM Enterprises/Matco Tool/X Factor Camaro. Bunting, Driscoll, Brian Gladden, and Williams rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were David Nailor, Kevin Cooper, Kerry King, Eric Reed, and Layton Pritchett. Massey and Byram won the heats.

Bill Brittingham and Donald Robinson, Jr. started side-by-side in the front row of the Little Lincoln Vintage feature. The two remained side-by-side for almost the entire race. Brittingham nosed ahead on lap one with Robinson edging ahead for laps three and four. Brittingham went on top on lap four and was followed by Robinson, Hank Thompson, Jr., Duke Walsen, and Brian Tracey at the halfway sign.

The second half of the race was all green with Robinson moving back on top as the front pair remained door-to-door. Brittingham won the drag race off the fourth turn on the final lap to take the win in the Carl King Inc./Trader Funeral Home/Chevy. Robinson finished in the second spot by half a car length with Walsen coming on strong for third. Wayne Wilkerson and Tracey rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Stevie Mitchell, Tony Daisey, Randy Clark, Albert Mitchell, and Matt Tipton.

RESULTS: 20-Lap Late Model Feature: 1. DAVID HILL; 2. (both) Dave Hertz & Mike Christopher; 4. Kenny Pettyjohn; 5. David Pettyjohn; 6. Richard White, Jr.; 7. Bob Vickers; 8. Michael Givens; 9. Mike Wharton; 10. Bobby Williamson; 11. John Emory; 12. John Chamberlain; 13. Rob Schirmer; 14. Lou Johnson.

15-Lap Street Modified: 1. ROB MASSEY; 2. Steve Bunting; 3. Elwood Driscoll; 4. Brian Gladden; 5. Mark Williams; 6. David Nailor; 7. Kevin Cooper; 8. Kerry King; 9. Eric Reed; 10. Layton Pritchett; 11. Mark Byram; 12. Charlie Lutes; 13. Jason Dean; 14. Mike Williams; 15. Mark Fields; 16. Kelly Putz; DNS: Robert Walker.

10-Lap Little Lincoln Vintage: 1. BILL BRITTINGHAM; 2. Donald Robinson, Jr.; 3. Duke Walsen; 4. Wayne Wilkerson; 5. Brian Tracey; 6. Stevie Mitchell; 7. Tony Daisey; 8. Randy Clark; 9. Albert Mitchell; 10. Matt Tipton; 11. Wade Perdue; 12. Jim Miller; 13. George Tice; 14. Hank Thompson, Jr.; 15. Dale Lingo.